Trump fires Seattle US Attorney Roger Rogoff less than an hour after federal judges appoint him

Jul 16, 2026

President Donald Trump fired newly appointed Seattle U.S. Attorney Roger Rogoff on July 15, 2026, less than an hour after Rogoff was sworn in. Rogoff was unanimously appointed by 17 federal judges in the Western District of Washington after the 120-day interim term of the administration's choice, Charles Neil Floyd, expired. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the firing, arguing the court bypassed administration consultation. The incident mirrors national disputes over federal prosecutor appointments in New Jersey, Virginia, and New York.

Rogoff immediate firing

▪Roger Rogoff received an email notifying Roger Rogoff of the termination while waiting in the lobby of the U.S. Attorney's Office to meet with Charles Neil Floyd.
▪Roger Rogoff is consulting with attorneys regarding potential legal action to challenge the firing in court.
▪President Donald Trump fired Roger Rogoff less than an hour after Roger Rogoff was sworn in as the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington on July 15, 2026.

Federal judicial appointment authority

▪A group of 17 active and senior federal judges in the Western District of Washington unanimously appointed Roger Rogoff as the temporary U.S. Attorney.
▪The Western District of Washington judges opened an application process and appointed a bipartisan panel to review candidates before selecting Roger Rogoff.
▪Federal law authorizes federal district courts to appoint a temporary U.S. Attorney if an interim appointment expires before a Senate-confirmed nominee takes office.

Senate confirmation delays

▪Trump administration officials argue that the Senate's advise and consent role does not grant Democrats a hard block on the administration's priorities and nominees.
▪The Trump administration has used acting titles and personnel maneuvers to keep prosecutors in place due to confirmation delays in the narrowly held Senate.

Interim appointment procedures

▪A federal appeals court panel in May 2026 expressed skepticism regarding the legality of keeping Charles Neil Floyd in place by shifting Charles Neil Floyd's title.
▪After Charles Neil Floyd's 120-day interim term expired in February 2026, the Trump administration designated Charles Neil Floyd as first assistant U.S. Attorney.
▪President Donald Trump appointed Charles Neil Floyd as interim U.S. Attorney in October 2025 but never submitted Charles Neil Floyd's nomination to the Senate.

Administration legal justification

▪Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the firing, stating that district court judges can appoint a temporary U.S. Attorney but the President can fire them.
▪Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche asserted that the Western District of Washington judges abandoned the traditional consultation process with the administration.

Similar disputes nationwide

▪In New Jersey, Alina Habba resigned as the top federal prosecutor in December 2025 after an appeals court ruled Alina Habba had been serving unlawfully.
▪In Virginia, Lindsey Halligan left an acting U.S. Attorney post after a judge ruled the appointment unlawful and dismissed Lindsey Halligan's indictments against Letitia James and James Comey.
▪The Trump administration previously fired James Hundley, a court-appointed U.S. Attorney in Virginia, as well as a court-appointed U.S. Attorney in northern New York.