The Trump administration recently made headlines by firing a small number of US attorneys appointed during the Biden administration who had chosen to remain in their positions. This decision was confirmed through an email from the Executive Office of US Attorneys, which informed the affected individuals about the termination of their service.
While most Biden-appointed US attorneys had already resigned at the end of the previous administration, a few had opted to continue their roles. The exact number of individuals impacted by these terminations remains unclear, but it is worth noting that the turnover of politically appointed top prosecutors in 93 districts across the country is a customary practice during a transition of power.
In some instances, the Biden political appointees had previously served as career prosecutors and faced potential loss of benefits if they left their positions without being formally terminated by the new administration. This move is distinct from the removal of career prosecutors who were reassigned or dismissed, primarily due to their involvement in cases related to the January 6, 2021, US Capitol riot or Trump-related prosecutions.
President Donald Trump has put forth nominations for a few US attorney positions in key districts, signaling a shift in leadership within the Justice Department. Notably, former President Joe Biden had terminated nearly all Trump-appointed US attorneys shortly after assuming office in 2021. However, he had requested two top prosecutors to continue in their roles in Chicago and Delaware due to their oversight of politically sensitive cases.
