Bill would let the president appoint D.C.'s attorney general, not voters
Placed on the calendarH.R. 5179Latest action
Sponsor: Pat Fallon · Representative · TX
AIDecoded by AI · checked against the recordRead the official text
Official title: District of Columbia Attorney General Appointment Reform Act of 2025
119th Congress
Topics: Crime & justice
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govIn plain words
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HR 5179 would replace D.C.'s elected Attorney General with a presidential appointee, ending the current officeholder's term immediately.
40-second read · 4 questions answered below
What does this do?
This bill would change D.C.'s Attorney General from an elected position to one appointed by the president without Senate approval. The appointee would serve at the president's will, with the term ending when the president's term ends. It would also immediately end the current elected Attorney General's term upon enactment.
Who does it affect?
D.C.'s roughly 700,000 residents, who would lose the ability to vote for this office. The D.C. Attorney General's office, which handles consumer protection, civil rights enforcement, and local prosecutions, is also affected.
Why does it matter?
The change shifts control over a locally elected D.C. office to the federal government, ending direct resident input on who leads local legal enforcement. It is likely to be viewed differently by supporters and critics of D.C. home rule.
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Read the official bill on Congress.govMake the call
Where does it stand?
- IntroducedSep 8, 2025
- House committee
- House voteYou are here · Sep 30, 2025
- Senate
- The president's desk
Right now: it was placed on the , and the official record shows no floor action on it since. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the president.
Latest action: — Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 270.