It comes after a panel of federal judges in New Jersey declined to extend Habba's term as the state's interim top prosecutor.

New Jersey's U.S. District Court judges opted to appoint someone else, but a Justice Department maneuver has kept Alina Habba in the post.

Ms. Habba’s tenure as interim U.S. attorney was slated to end this week, but the Trump administration’s appointment will allow her to remain the top law enforcement official in the state.