Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
September 12, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Civic Brief • Lawyer

Lindsey Halligan

Lindsey Robyn Michelle Halligan is an American lawyer and former White House aide who also worked on Donald Trump’s personal legal team.

Updated September 12, 20261 min readCited sources

Lindsey Halligan is an American lawyer and former White House aide who worked on Donald Trump's personal legal team. She was briefly appointed interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia before a judge ruled the appointment unlawful.

What it is

Lindsey Robyn Michelle Halligan (born July 21, 1989) is a lawyer who served as one of Donald Trump's personal attorneys from 2022 to 2025. She later joined the White House as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Associate Staff Secretary in 2025. Her background is in insurance law, not criminal prosecution.

Why it matters

In September 2025, Trump installed Halligan as interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. A federal judge ruled that appointment unlawful in November 2025, raising questions about the administration's use of interim appointments. By January 2026, reports indicated she was no longer employed by the Justice Department.

Key details

Halligan earned her J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law in 2013 and worked in insurance law at Cole, Scott & Kissane in Florida. She joined Trump's personal legal team in 2022 and moved to the White House in 2025. Her appointment as interim U.S. attorney was short-lived and legally contested.

In short

  • Worked as Trump's personal lawyer from 2022 to 2025
  • Appointed interim U.S. attorney in September 2025
  • Appointment ruled unlawful by federal judge in November 2025
  • No longer employed by the Justice Department as of January 2026
Canadian angle

Canadian readers may know Halligan through international coverage of Trump-related legal and political developments, especially reporting on federal prosecutions and White House personnel changes.

Quick questions

Who is Lindsey Halligan?
Lindsey Halligan is an American lawyer and former White House aide who worked on Donald Trump's personal legal team and was later appointed interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.
What did Lindsey Halligan do?
She worked as an insurance lawyer, served in the Trump White House, represented Trump personally, and was appointed interim U.S. attorney before a judge ruled that appointment unlawful.
Where did Lindsey Halligan go to law school?
She earned her J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law in 2013.

Sources

  1. Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lindsey_Halligan
    Supports: Birth date, education, White House roles, and general career timeline.
  2. U.S. Department of Justicehttps://www.justice.gov/archives/usao-edva/staff-profile/meet-us-attorney
    Supports: Official profile describing Halligan’s EDVA role, White House positions, and education.
  3. NPRhttps://www.npr.org/2025/11/25/nx-s1-5620636/lindsey-halligan-us-attorney-unlawful-comey-james
    Supports: Reports that a federal judge ruled Halligan was improperly appointed and summarizes her background and Trump-related work.
  4. NBC Newshttps://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/lindsey-halligan-not-employed-justice-department-us-attorney-rcna255969
    Supports: Reports that she was no longer employed by the Justice Department in 2026.
  5. CBS Newshttps://www.cbsnews.com/news/lindsey-halligan-trumps-former-defense-lawyer-sworn-in-as-interim-us-attorney/
    Supports: Trump legal team background and interim U.S. attorney appointment.