The Department of Justice has removed the recently appointed interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, a move announced by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche on Saturday, February 21, 2026. The dismissal occurred mere hours after a panel of judges had selected the individual to replace Trump-era appointee Zachary Terwilliger.
The individual removed from the position has not been publicly named in official DOJ statements, but reporting identifies him as the replacement for Halligan. The Justice Department’s action effectively reverses a decision made by a judicial panel comprised of judges from the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, who had sought to install a new U.S. Attorney.
According to reports, the judges’ appointment was an attempt to fill a vacancy left by Terwilliger, who stepped down in early 2025. The judicial panel’s authority to name an interim U.S. Attorney stems from a longstanding practice in the Eastern District of Virginia, allowing judges to select a replacement when the Attorney General has not made an appointment.
The swiftness of the Justice Department’s response has drawn criticism, with some characterizing the move as a continuation of political interference in the independent functioning of the U.S. Attorney’s offices. Politico reported the reaction as “Here we go again,” suggesting a pattern of similar actions. The Department has not offered a specific explanation for the dismissal, beyond stating it was a personnel matter.
The Eastern District of Virginia is a significant jurisdiction, handling a high volume of federal cases, including national security matters and white-collar crime. The vacancy in the U.S. Attorney’s office leaves a key law enforcement position unfilled, potentially impacting ongoing investigations and prosecutions. The Department of Justice has not announced a timeline for naming a permanent replacement.
