The Trump administration on Saturday fired the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Washington, Annette L. Hayes, minutes after she was appointed to the post by a panel of federal judges. Hayes, a veteran prosecutor, had been chosen by the judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to fill the vacancy left by the previous U.S. attorney, who had resigned.

The move by the Trump administration has raised concerns among legal experts, who suggest it could lead to a legal challenge. The judges' appointment of Hayes was a rare move, intended to ensure continuity in the office during a period of transition. The Justice Department has stated that it intends to appoint its own interim U.S. attorney, but the circumstances of Hayes's abrupt dismissal have drawn criticism. The Biden administration has not yet commented on the situation.