District of Columbia Attorney General Appointment Reform Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5179
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Law
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-30: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 270.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-11T23:26:34Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation amends the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to shift appointment authority for the District’s Attorney General from local processes to the President of the United States.
Key Provisions
- The Attorney General for the District of Columbia is appointed by the President.
- The appointee serves at the pleasure of the President without requiring Senate confirmation.
- The term of office aligns with the President’s term.
- Employees of the Office of the Attorney General remain District employees except where federal law expressly provides otherwise.
- The term of the individual serving as Attorney General on the day before enactment ends immediately upon enactment.
Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill replaces the current method of selecting the District Attorney General—previously an elected position under the Home Rule Act—with direct presidential appointment. It also eliminates any requirement for local voter approval or District Council involvement in the selection process.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: The District’s Office of the Attorney General becomes directly accountable to the President rather than to District voters or officials.
- Citizens: Residents of the District lose the ability to elect their chief legal officer.
- Federal-District relations: The change increases federal oversight of District legal matters without altering the District’s overall non-state status.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- District of Columbia residents and voters.
- The President and executive branch.
- The current and future Attorney General for the District.
- The District government and its Office of the Attorney General.
- Congress, through its oversight role under the Home Rule Act.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The measure tests the boundaries of District home rule by removing an elected local office and placing it under presidential control. It raises questions about the extent of congressional authority over District governance and the balance between federal oversight and local autonomy.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2025-09-30: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 270.
- 2025-09-30: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. H. Rept. 119-316.
- 2025-09-30: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. H. Rept. 119-316.
- 2025-09-10: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 25 - 20.
- 2025-09-10: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 2025-09-08: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- 2025-09-08: Introduced in House
- 2025-09-08: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- District of Columbia Attorney General Appointment Reform Act — issued 2025-09-08 — PDF (3 pages)
- District of Columbia Attorney General Appointment Reform Act of 2025 — issued 2025-09-30 — PDF (6 pages)