Trump Administration Fires Seattle U.S. Attorney After 54 Minutes, Prompting Legal Fight
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 15
Trump Administration Fires Seattle U.S. Attorney After 54 Minutes, Prompting Legal Fight
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 15
Summary
Roger Rogoff was dismissed by email less than an hour after federal judges unanimously appointed him interim U.S. attorney for the Western District of Washington.
The 54-minute tenure followed the administration's refusal to accept court-filled vacancies in offices where Trump has not named or secured Senate confirmation for a nominee.
Rogoff, 57, has hired an employment law firm and is weighing a challenge that could test whether a U.S. attorney can operate quasi-independently of the administration.
The dispute also clouds the role of Charles Neil Floyd, the first assistant U.S. attorney and the administration's preferred office leader, who has never been formally nominated for the top post.
Rogoff said he intended to carry out administration priorities such as immigration, human trafficking and drug-gang prosecutions, underscoring that the clash centers on appointment power rather than policy.
Can a U.S. attorney appointed by judges truly operate independently from the executive branch?
How will courts balance presidential power against the law allowing judges to fill prosecutor vacancies?
The 2026 Seattle U.S. Attorney Crisis: Rogoff’s Firing, Trump’s Executive Power, and Judicial Pushback
Overview
On July 15, 2026, federal district judges appointed Roger Rogoff as U.S. Attorney for Seattle after the Trump administration failed to nominate anyone for the position, invoking a law that allows judges to act when the executive branch does not. President Trump immediately fired Rogoff by email, sparking a major legal and political conflict over who has the authority to appoint and remove federal prosecutors. Rogoff announced plans to challenge his firing in court, setting the stage for a high-stakes battle over the separation of powers and the future of federal law enforcement appointments.