Alina Habba Pushes Back as Senate Fight Blocks Her Confirmation
Alina Habba, serving as interim U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, is facing an increasingly bitter confirmation battle in Washington. Over the weekend, she leveled sharp criticism at members of both parties, accusing them of politicizing her appointment while she continues to lead one of the busiest federal prosecutor’s offices in the country.
Habba was tapped earlier this year by President Donald Trump to serve in the interim role, and she currently oversees several high-profile cases — including the prosecution of Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.), who faces charges of allegedly assaulting a federal officer. While Habba has remained in her post, her path to permanent confirmation has become entangled in Senate traditions and political maneuvering.
A Senate Roadblock
At the heart of the fight is the Senate’s “blue slip” tradition. This unwritten rule allows home-state senators to effectively block a judicial or U.S. attorney nominee by refusing to submit an approval slip. In Habba’s case, New Jersey’s two Democratic senators, Cory Booker and Andy Kim, have withheld their support — a move that prevents her nomination from advancing.
Without both senators backing the nomination, Habba cannot secure the necessary committee hearing or full Senate vote. The process, critics say, has been used by both parties over the years to exert control over nominees, often creating lengthy delays.
Habba’s Counterattack
In an interview with Fox News host Maria Bartiromo, Habba accused senators of playing politics rather than evaluating her on her record. She insisted that her office has been aggressively pursuing crime and defending public safety, yet her confirmation is being used as leverage against President Trump.
“The president was rightfully voted in by a majority of Americans, and he is entitled to pick his U.S. attorneys, his Department of Justice officials, his judges, so that we can continue the agenda that the American public voted for,” Habba said. “The truth is, it has nothing to do with the work that we’re doing. It has nothing to do with the crime that we’re stopping. It has to do with trying to prevent President Trump from continuing his agenda, and it has to stop.”
GOP Resistance Adds Fuel
While the sharpest criticism has been directed at Democrats, Habba also called out Republican senators on the Judiciary Committee. Bartiromo noted during the interview that Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) has openly said he would oppose moving a nominee through the committee without blue slip approval. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), the committee’s top Republican, has expressed a similar stance, aligning their positions with Democrats.
“You know, they’re trying to look at this as they all need to get along to go along, but they’re not looking at what this does,” Habba said. “It’s a game of politics when what we need is law and order.”
Her comments highlight a growing frustration within Trump’s circle, where loyalty and alignment with the president’s agenda are seen as non-negotiable. Habba has framed the opposition not as a reflection of her qualifications, but as an effort to derail Trump’s broader justice priorities.
Stakes for New Jersey
The battle has real implications for New Jersey, where Habba’s office handles cases involving organized crime, terrorism, corruption, and public safety. Supporters argue that keeping the office in limbo undermines confidence in the justice system. Critics counter that a thorough confirmation process is necessary to ensure impartiality and independence.
Habba, for her part, maintains that her office is fully functioning. “We’re continuing the work, day in and day out. Nothing stops. But it is clear this opposition is not about performance, it’s about politics,” she said.
Broader Implications
The showdown illustrates the increasingly partisan battles over appointments that were once routine. Where past presidents often saw quick confirmations for U.S. attorneys, today’s climate has turned the process into a proxy war over presidential authority.
If Habba remains blocked, Trump may be forced to either nominate another candidate or extend her interim appointment — a move that would keep the fight alive while setting up further clashes in the Senate.
For now, Habba remains on the job. But the standoff underscores the growing tension between an administration determined to push its agenda and a Senate deeply divided over how far to let it go.
