The Department of Justice has removed the 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 came mere hours after a panel of judges appointed the individual to the position, replacing a Trump appointee.
The individual’s name has not been publicly released by the Justice Department. According to reports from NBC News, Politico, The Washington Post, The Hill, and CBS News, the judges’ appointment was intended to replace a U.S. Attorney considered a loyalist to the previous administration. The swift action by the DOJ to remove the newly appointed attorney has drawn immediate scrutiny.
The Washington Post reported that the judges in Virginia made the initial appointment, but the Justice Department acted quickly to reverse the decision. CBS News characterized the firing as a move by the Trump administration, though this is inaccurate given the current date. Politico quoted sources describing the situation as “Here we go again,” suggesting a pattern of similar actions.
The Hill noted the speed with which the DOJ moved to “boot” the judge-appointed attorney, emphasizing the unusual nature of the situation. The circumstances surrounding the dismissal remain largely unexplained, with the Justice Department offering no immediate public justification for the decision.
The Eastern District of Virginia is a significant jurisdiction, handling a wide range of federal cases. The vacancy in the U.S. Attorney’s office leaves a key law enforcement position unfilled, and the circumstances of the dismissal raise questions about the independence of the Justice Department. As of Saturday evening, the DOJ has not named a replacement for the fired interim U.S. Attorney.
