The United States Senate voted 50–45 to confirm Judge Jeanine Pirro as the next U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, advancing one of President Donald Trump’s high-profile nominees despite staunch opposition from Senate Democrats.
Pirro, a longtime New York prosecutor and former judge, was confirmed late Saturday evening after days of debate and political tension in the upper chamber.
Republican senators voted nearly unanimously in favor of Pirro, who has built her reputation on a tough-on-crime approach and has frequently spoken out on issues related to political corruption and illegal immigration.
Democrats criticized her record and public rhetoric, but were unable to block her confirmation.
Pirro’s confirmation vote followed a breakdown in eleventh-hour negotiations over a broader package of nominations.
Senate Republicans had been working to advance a larger group of Trump’s appointees before lawmakers departed for the August recess, but talks collapsed late in the day.
As a result, the Senate confirmed only seven nominees before adjourning until September.
Among the nominees still awaiting confirmation are several slated for senior positions across multiple federal agencies.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., urged his colleagues to remain in the chamber on Saturday to expedite the remaining votes. No senators objected.
Pirro’s career in law began more than three decades ago.
She worked for 15 years in the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, where she served as both an assistant district attorney and, later, as the county’s elected district attorney.
In 1990, she was elected to the bench, and in 1993, she became the first woman elected as Westchester County District Attorney.
Her confirmation adds another Trump-aligned official to the ranks of the federal justice system at a time when the administration is seeking to advance a broader law enforcement agenda.
Republican senators emphasized her prosecutorial experience and strong track record in courtroom litigation during floor debates leading up to the vote.
Earlier in the week, the Senate confirmed another Trump nominee—Emil Bove, the President’s former defense attorney—to a seat on a U.S. Court of Appeals.
Democrats have continued to express frustration with the pace and direction of judicial and legal appointments under President Trump, citing concerns over ideological alignment and the administration’s influence over the justice system.
Republican senators countered that the delays amounted to political obstruction.
With Congress now in recess until September, it remains unclear when the remaining nominees will be brought forward for votes.
