So, you’re looking for the acting attorney general. It’s a trickier question than you’d think. Honestly, if you check the official roster at the Department of Justice today, January 17, 2026, you won’t find an "Acting" Attorney General at the very top.
Pam Bondi is the 87th Attorney General of the United States. She’s been in the driver's seat since her Senate confirmation back in February 2025.
But here is where things get kinda messy.
The term "Acting" is currently haunting the lower levels of the DOJ like a ghost. While Bondi holds the permanent, confirmed title, there has been a massive legal firestorm regarding who is "acting" in various U.S. Attorney offices across the country.
The Confusion Over "Acting" Titles in 2026
You’ve probably seen the headlines. There’s a huge fight right now over people like Ryan Ellison in New Mexico and Lindsey Halligan in Virginia.
Just a few days ago, on January 14, 2026, a federal judge in Utah—David Nuffer—basically dropped a bomb on the New Mexico U.S. Attorney’s office. He ruled that Ryan Ellison can’t call himself the "acting" U.S. Attorney anymore. Why? Because the court says the way he was put there—a maneuver where he resigned as "interim" and was immediately re-appointed as "acting" by Bondi—was a total end-run around the Senate’s power to confirm people.
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It’s a technicality, sure. But in law, technicalities are everything.
Then you have Lindsey Halligan. She’s a former personal lawyer for President Trump who was installed to lead the Eastern District of Virginia. Judges there are literally striking her name from court filings. They’re saying she isn't legally the U.S. Attorney. On January 13, the DOJ fired back, calling these judicial orders a "gross abuse of power."
So, when people ask "who is acting attorney general," they are often actually sensing the chaos of these "acting" roles filling the vacuum where Senate-confirmed leaders should be.
Why There Isn't an Acting AG Right Now
In the past, we had long stretches with people like Matthew Whitaker or Sally Yates in the "Acting" role. That happens when a president hasn't gotten a nominee through the Senate yet.
Bondi moved through the process relatively fast in early 2025.
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She replaced Merrick Garland, whose term ended with the change in administration. Trump originally floated Matt Gaetz for the job, but that went south fast. Once Gaetz withdrew, Bondi—the former Florida Attorney General—stepped in and cleared the Senate.
The New "Fraud Czar" Reporting to the White House
If you really want to know who is wielding "Acting Attorney General" levels of power without the title, look at the brand-new Division for National Fraud Enforcement.
Just last week, on January 8, 2026, Vice President JD Vance announced this new branch. It’s wild. This division won't report to Pam Bondi at the DOJ like a normal department. Instead, the person leading it—a new Assistant Attorney General—will report directly to the President and Vice President.
Basically, it’s a DOJ office run out of the White House.
The administration is currently pushing Daniel E. Burrows for a high-level Assistant Attorney General spot. The Senate Judiciary Committee just advanced his nomination on January 15 with a tight 12-10 vote.
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What This Means for You
The "acting" drama isn't just for political junkies. It actually affects real court cases.
- Case Validity: If a judge decides an "Acting" official wasn't legally appointed, every indictment they signed could be challenged.
- Policy Shifts: With Bondi confirmed, the DOJ has shifted hard toward "America First" priorities, focusing on things like human trafficking and dismantling "pill mills," which were her hallmarks in Florida.
- Internal Friction: The friction between the White House-supervised fraud division and the traditional DOJ hierarchy is creating a "two-headed" justice system that lawyers are still trying to figure out.
The DOJ usually operates with a clear chain of command. Right now? It’s a bit of a jigsaw puzzle with some pieces missing.
To stay ahead of how these leadership changes affect federal law enforcement, you should monitor the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing schedule. Most of the "acting" titles currently being challenged in court will only be resolved once the White House submits permanent names for those specific regional roles and the Senate votes them through. Keep an eye on the U.S. Department of Justice "Meet the Leadership" page for any sudden "Acting" designations if a top official happens to resign.
Check the status of pending U.S. Attorney nominations in your specific district to see if your local federal prosecutor is currently facing a "validity challenge" in court.