President Donald Trump fired Roger Rogoff, the newly appointed US attorney for Western Washington, less than an hour after federal judges in Seattle selected him to the post on Wednesday.

Rogoff had been sworn in shortly before 8 am at the federal courthouse in Seattle after a unanimous decision by the district’s judges, but he was removed while he was still at the US attorney’s office complex, highlighting a dispute between the White House and the federal judiciary over the role.

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Who is Roger Rogoff?

Roger Rogoff is a veteran prosecutor and former Washington state judge who was appointed as the US attorney for Western Washington before being dismissed by the Trump administration.

Rogoff spent 20 years as a state prosecutor and six years as a federal prosecutor before serving on the bench in Washington state.

He was selected by a panel of federal judges in Seattle after a review process that included bipartisan recommendations.

His appointment was brief, but it placed him at the centre of a dispute over who should control top federal prosecutor posts when Senate-confirmed nominees are not in place.

A most abrupt turn

Rogoff said he had gone to the office to meet Charles Neil Floyd, whose interim term had ended, when he received the dismissal notice by email.

He said, “I’m consulting with other lawyers” about suing over the firing.

Rogoff’s removal came after he was appointed by a panel of 17 active and senior federal judges in the district, following a review process that used a bipartisan panel to recommend candidates.

A career tested at the highest table

Rogoff, who spent 20 years as a state prosecutor and six years as a federal prosecutor before serving as a Washington state judge, was presented by the courts as a seasoned pick for the post.

He described the appointment as “humbling and amazing” and said serving as US attorney was “the best job there is” for a prosecutor.

Senator Patty Murray, a Democrat from Washington, criticized the firing and said Rogoff had shown an “outstanding commitment to public service” and had been appointed legally by the federal judges in the Western District of Washington.

Was experience ever the real issue?

The dispute stems from the broader fight over who should fill top federal prosecutor posts when presidential nominees are not confirmed by the Senate within the usual timeframe.

Trump had named Floyd interim US attorney in October 2025, but the judges moved to appoint Rogoff after a federal appeals court questioned the legality of the administration’s workaround in May.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche defended Trump’s action in a post on X, arguing that district judges had abandoned the consultation process with the administration.

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FAQs

Q1: Why was Roger Rogoff fired as Seattle’s US attorney?

Roger Rogoff was dismissed by the Trump administration shortly after federal judges appointed and swore him in as US attorney for Western Washington.

Q2: Who is Roger Rogoff?

Roger Rogoff is a former Washington state judge and veteran prosecutor who was briefly appointed as the US attorney for Western Washington before being removed.