GOP lawmakers urge novel replacement strategy for US attorneys on Trump's Day 1

Sixteen House Republicans are asking the Trump administration to find and appoint 94 acting U.S. attorneys to take over on Day 1 of the transition, a move they said will sidestep short-term leadership from those who may be “an ideological protégé” of those currently serving in the post.

The U.S. attorneys who serve as the top prosecutor in each of the 94 federal court districts typically resign when there is a change in president, with the first assistant U.S. attorney then leading the office until a new presidential appointee is confirmed by the Senate.

But the lawmakers argued President-elect Trump should not delay in trying to reshape the Justice Department.

“The First Assistant is always an ideological protégé of the U.S. Attorney, and thus the transition does not typically result in a change of judicial policy or practice. Allowing the First Assistants to serve as the acting U.S. Attorney will delay the much-needed reforms that will reinstitute the American people’s faith in the Department of Justice,” they wrote.

Republicans have accused the Justice Department of having been weaponized and politicized under the Biden administration.

Still, those claims are often directed at the top leadership of the department, not U.S. attorneys who largely bring criminal charges against those who commit federal crimes within their district.

Among the Republicans on the letter are Reps. Darrell Issa (Calif.), Chip Roy (Texas), Kat Cammack (Fla.) and Andy Biggs (Ariz.). The lawmakers suggest Trump turn to current federal prosecutors to fill the roles.