Justice Department Designates Chattah as “Acting” U.S. Attorney
Sigal Chattah will continue serving as Nevada’s top federal prosecutor after her 120-day interim appointment expired on July 29th. The Justice Department designated her as the “acting” U.S. Attorney, allowing her to stay in the position without Senate confirmation.
Chattah became the state’s interim U.S. attorney on April 1, a position with a shelf life of 120 days. Her original interim term was set to end today, but the new designation lets her continue in the role.
Background on Chattah’s Appointment
President Trump appointed Chattah as interim U.S. Attorney in March 2025. She is a Las Vegas attorney who has been licensed to practice in Nevada since 2002. She was elected Republican National Committeewoman at the state Republican Central Committee’s meeting in January 2023.
Chattah graduated from Widener University School of Law in Pennsylvania and has been licensed to practice in Nevada since 2002. She was born in Israel and came to the United States as a teenager before graduating from Valley High School and UNLV.
In 2022, Chattah ran unsuccessfully for Nevada Attorney General, losing to Democrat Aaron Ford. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she represented churches challenging government restrictions.
Senate Opposition
Both of Nevada’s Democratic senators oppose Chattah’s appointment.
Senator Jacky Rosen said she would:
“do everything in [her] power to block her confirmation”.
Senator Catherine Cortez Masto called her:
“an election denier who has advocated for political violence”.
Nevada’s U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen are vowing to attempt to derail Senate confirmation hearings for Chattah, should Trump appoint her. This opposition appears to be why Trump has not formally nominated her for the permanent position.
Controversial Background
Critics point to comments Chattah made during her 2022 attorney general race. During her unsuccessful run in 2022 for Nevada attorney general, Chattah declared her Democratic opponent, incumbent Attorney General Aaron Ford, a Black man, “should be hanging from a f–king crane”.
She lost to Ford in 2022 and previously said the expression was “tongue in cheek” and did not have “a racial context”.
Legal Workaround Strategy
The Justice Department used a legal workaround to keep Chattah in place. The expiration of Chattah’s term next week would trigger a provision of federal law that allows Federal District Court judges to either appoint her to an indefinite term, or make their own appointment.
This strategy has been used elsewhere. Federal judges for the Northern District of New York declined to appoint Trump’s interim U.S. Attorney John Sarcone III, so the Justice Department found a workaround and appointed him to be special attorney to the U.S. attorney, a position that can keep him in place for seven months.
What This Means for Federal Law Enforcement
U.S. Attorneys serve as the top federal prosecutors in their districts. They decide which federal crimes to prosecute and oversee major cases. The position carries significant power over federal law enforcement priorities.
During her short term, Chattah has overseen a number of cases, almost all of which were initiated by her predecessor, Jason Frierson, a former Democratic legislative leader.
From October 1, 2024, to July 16, 2025, more than $37 million was forfeited through asset forfeiture actions and returned to victims of crime under her office’s work.
Broader Pattern of Interim Appointments
Like Chattah, who was appointed April 1, a number of Trump’s interim appointees are facing the end of their terms and the possibility of being reappointed by the courts. This represents a broader strategy by the Trump administration to place loyalists in key positions while avoiding Senate confirmation battles.
Trump’s picks for U.S. Attorney have resulted in widespread resignations in some states. The Times of San Diego reported Wednesday that as many as 10 federal prosecutors have quit under Interim U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon, and other high-ranking lawyers have been demoted.
Why This Matters for Limited Government Conservatives
This appointment raises questions about executive power and Senate oversight. Some conservatives may support Trump’s ability to appoint his preferred candidates despite Senate opposition. Others may worry about circumventing the confirmation process designed to check executive power.
The situation highlights the ongoing tension between presidential appointment power and Senate advice and consent responsibilities. Federal law allows these workarounds, but they test traditional norms around the confirmation process.
What Happens Next
It remains unclear whether Trump will formally nominate Chattah for the permanent position. On Thursday, the Senate Judiciary Committee, which appears unfazed by Trump’s strategy of allowing some interim terms to expire, advanced seven of Trump’s interim picks for U.S. Attorney. Chattah was not among them.
The “acting” designation could allow Chattah to serve indefinitely without Senate confirmation, depending on how the Justice Department interprets federal law. This sets up a potential legal and political battle over executive appointment powers.
A spokesperson for the U.S. District Court in Las Vegas did not immediately respond to inquiries about whether judges there are taking up Chattah’s appointment.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
