Lindsey Halligan, 36, has been sworn in as interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, a pivotal office handling high-profile national security and terrorism cases. Her appointment follows President Donald Trump’s removal of her predecessor, Erik Siebert, who resisted pursuing charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James and former FBI Director James Comey.
Halligan’s rapid rise—from Florida insurance attorney to federal prosecutor—breaks with Justice Department norms. She has participated in only three federal cases, all as part of Trump’s personal legal team. Before joining Trump, Halligan practiced insurance defense law and became a partner at a Fort Lauderdale firm.
She first joined Trump’s legal team in late 2021 during the FBI investigation into classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. Halligan later held a White House role overseeing initiatives to remove “improper ideology” from Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo.
Her debut in federal court has been rocky, with multiple filings rejected for procedural errors. Despite this, she has remained a visible defender of Trump in legal matters and on conservative media.
The Eastern District of Virginia serves over 6 million people and is known for its fast-paced “rocket docket.” Halligan can serve as interim U.S. attorney for 120 days unless extended or confirmed by the Senate.
Critics warn that appointing a lawyer with no prosecutorial experience to such a high-stakes role risks politicizing the Justice Department. Halligan now faces pressure to pursue cases that career prosecutors have deemed unsupported by evidence, a test of the office’s independence under the Trump administration.
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