District of Columbia Attorney General Appointment Reform Act of 2025
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The bill would strip District of Columbia voters of the power to elect their own Attorney General, instead giving the President sole authority to appoint the office holder without Senate confirmation.
It would also immediately end the term of the current, DC-elected Attorney General on the date the bill becomes law, replacing local self-governance over the office with direct presidential control.
What this bill would do
What it would do
The bill would amend the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to change how the District's Attorney General is selected. Instead of being elected by DC voters for a four-year term tied to the Mayor's term, the Attorney General would be appointed directly by the President, would serve at the President's pleasure, and the appointment would not require Senate confirmation. The Attorney General's term would coincide with the President's term of office.
The bill would also immediately terminate the term of whoever is serving as DC's elected Attorney General the day before enactment, effective on the enactment date itself. It includes a rule of construction clarifying that employees of the Attorney General's office would not be treated as federal employees except as otherwise specified in law.
Key provisions
- 1Would require the Attorney General for the District of Columbia to be appointed by the President rather than elected by DC voters.
- 2Would allow the Attorney General to serve at the President's pleasure and remove the need for Senate confirmation.
- 3Would set the Attorney General's term of office to coincide with the President's term.
- 4Would immediately terminate the term of the current DC Attorney General on the date of enactment.
- 5Would clarify that Office of the Attorney General employees are not treated as federal employees except as specified in law.
Who would be affected
District of Columbia residents who currently elect their Attorney General, the sitting DC Attorney General (whose term would end immediately), future Attorney General appointees, the President, and staff within the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia.
Why it matters
DC residents would lose their ability to elect a local law enforcement official directly accountable to them, shifting that power to the President. Because the appointee would serve at the President's pleasure with no Senate check, the office could become more directly tied to the White House's priorities than to DC's elected government.
What would change
Changes to existing law
Amends District of Columbia Home Rule Act (sec. 1-204.35, D.C. Official Code) (Sec. 2(a))
Replaces the elected Attorney General system with presidential appointment, service at the President's pleasure, and no Senate confirmation.
Agencies directed to act
Effective dates
- Termination of the current DC Attorney General's term
Funding and costs
Congressional Budget Office estimate
CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 5179 would have an insignificant cost to the federal budget over the 2026–2030 period.
H.R. 5179 would amend the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to overturn the election of the current D.C. Attorney General and authorize the President to appoint a new one, with the current attorney general's term ending on the date of enactment. Based on the cost of similar activities, CBO estimates the cost of implementing this bill would be insignificant over the 2026–2030 period. The estimate was published on October 3, 2025, as ordered reported by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on September 10, 2025. CBO did not identify any intergovernmental or private-sector mandates in the bill.
How implementation would work
Upon enactment, the current elected Attorney General's term would end automatically that same day, creating an immediate vacancy. The President would then appoint a successor without needing Senate confirmation, and that appointee would serve at the President's discretion for a term running concurrent with the President's own term. No transition period, rulemaking process, or reporting requirement is specified in the text.
Legislative status & sources
Latest action
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 270.
Official CRS summary
Show the CRS summaryHide the CRS summary
This bill vests the President with the authority to appoint the Attorney General for the District of Columbia (DC) for a term that coincides with the term of office of the President. The bill provides that the appointment is not subject to confirmation in the Senate.
Under current DC law, the Attorney General is elected by DC voters for a four-year term that coincides with the term of office of the DC Mayor.
The bill additionally provides that the term of the current Attorney General ends on the date of the bill's enactment.
Legislative subjects
District of Columbia; Law; Lawyers and legal services; Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Committee report
H. Rept. 119-316