AUSA/USAO hiring Forum

[Anonymous User]

Has there been any movement on the CDCA AUSA positions from last month (August 2024)?

Bump

[Anonymous User]

Any movement on NDIL?

Anybody know if NDIL is done hiring for their July posting?

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone have any insight into AUSA hiring at this point of a presidential election year? There have been many postings in the last couple of months but the security clearance process takes so long that it seems like most people wouldn’t be eligible to start until after the inauguration, at which point there could be a hiring freeze. I’m far along in the process at one office and I’m concerned that even if I’m lucky enough to get an offer, I wouldn’t start before late January.

To piggyback off of this question, what if you get an offer before the election but you’re not cleared to start until the transition between the election or inauguration? Or after the inauguration? Other than the change in who is US Attorney, what else would change? I assume that if you’re hired then you shouldn’t worry about suddenly losing your slot?

[Anonymous User]

Will the election reduce the number of AUSA openings that USAOs can hire?

[Chokenhauer]

Will the election reduce the number of AUSA openings that USAOs can hire?

There could be a hiring freeze for a bit. But I wonder how the Trump admin could push for “law & order”/securing the border without increasing the number of AUSAs. And, if past practice is anything to go on, I doubt that they will halt AUSA hiring entirely: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/500th-da ... ant-united

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone have any insight into AUSA hiring at this point of a presidential election year? There have been many postings in the last couple of months but the security clearance process takes so long that it seems like most people wouldn’t be eligible to start until after the inauguration, at which point there could be a hiring freeze. I’m far along in the process at one office and I’m concerned that even if I’m lucky enough to get an offer, I wouldn’t start before late January.

To piggyback off of this question, what if you get an offer before the election but you’re not cleared to start until the transition between the election or inauguration? Or after the inauguration? Other than the change in who is US Attorney, what else would change? I assume that if you’re hired then you shouldn’t worry about suddenly losing your slot?

Yeah, you shouldn’t lose your slot. I was in this situation at the last Trump admin. The office was able to finagle my start date to beat the freeze. There was also a procedure in place for USAOs to apply for exemptions from the freeze for pending offers. I know someone whose start date was delayed, but that was it.

Obviously I can’t guarantee that will happen this time around, but if the office makes an offer it’s because they have funding for a position, which means they were able to justify the need for the position, so there will probably be some mechanism to complete the hire. It might not happen quickly, though.

[Anonymous User]

Any SDNY movement?

[Anonymous User]

SDNY has a hiring freeze as of now

[Anonymous User]

Any intel on the NDIL or NDIN openings? Heard nothing since interviewing and not feeling hopeful

[Anonymous User]

.

[Anonymous User]

Do current criminal AUSAs need to worry about getting fired in the new administration? What about term-limited AUSAs? All this talk of slashing the federal workforce is nerve-racking.

I don’t think criminal AUSAs are the Republicans’ preferred targets for cuts. (Most aren’t even in DC and they enforce LAW and ORDER.) But in any case, if you’re a current AUSA outside your probationary period, it’s currently extremely hard to fire you. You could get fired under a Reduction in Force, in which case there are criteria as to who gets to go/stay. But I think a RIF is a pretty drastic step.

I also don’t think the new admin really wants to move line prosecutors to Schedule F. (I think this article is relatively decent on the issue, https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/amp/rcna180393 although maybe I think that because I want it to be true.)

If you’re a term-limited AUSA, you probably already only have your job for as long as funding is guaranteed. Since the funding is already in place and designated, there’s no need to fire you, they can just not try to extend your position and just let you go once your term is up.

I do think there are a lot of awful-sounding plans floating around and they’re depressing and make me want to get a new job. I think there are a lot of ways that the next 4 years could suck. But while I realize this may be naive, I don’t think criminal AUSAs are really at risk of being cut. I’d be more more worried if I worked for HHS, or HUD, or the EPA.

[Anonymous User]

Any movement in the NDCA opening?

[Anonymous User]

Any intel on the NDIL or NDIN openings? Heard nothing since interviewing and not feeling hopeful

NDIN finished hiring

[Lifesonalex]

Any govt work is kind of embarrassing right now.
Don't you think so?

[Anonymous User]

Any govt work is kind of embarrassing right now.
Don't you think so?

No. Thoughtful question.

[Anonymous User]

Did anyone hear back from the NDCA opening?

[Anonymous User]

Did anyone hear back from EDPA civil opening?

[Anonymous User]

Any movement for the WDPA positions?

[Anonymous User]

Any movement for the WDPA positions?

There's been at least one round of initial panel interviews.

[Anonymous User]

Any movement for the WDPA positions?

There's been at least one round of initial panel interviews.

Lol, I severely underestimated how competitive these positions are...thought I had top credentials and experience. Was it criminal or civil or both? And thanks.

[Anonymous User]

Any movement for the WDPA positions?

There's been at least one round of initial panel interviews.

Lol, I severely underestimated how competitive these positions are...thought I had top credentials and experience. Was it criminal or civil or both? And thanks.

Criminal. And for what it's worth, I think this particular office values strong local ties.

[Anonymous User]

Any movement for the WDPA positions?

There's been at least one round of initial panel interviews.

Lol, I severely underestimated how competitive these positions are...thought I had top credentials and experience. Was it criminal or civil or both? And thanks.

Criminal. And for what it's worth, I think this particular office values strong local ties.

Thanks, kind internet stranger. I definitely have very strong local ties, but also applied only to civil. Will keep my fingers crossed, but also adjusting expectations.

[Anonymous User]

Sorry this is from a while back, but would you mind sharing results?

Not sure this is the right place to post, but I have an offer and am going through the background check. One area I am concerned about is the tax records form. My husband and I are all up to date on our taxes, but back in 2015-2017 we filed a few extensions and I think ultimately at least one of the years we ended up paying late. We worked with our accountant to get everything up to date, paid any necessary penalties and interest, but I am really concerned about this. There’s nothing else concerning in my profile - never done any drugs ever, decent credit, clean employment history, etc. Anyone have any insight into this and how worried I should be? I’m thinking about just calling the personnel contact coordinating my background check, but I’m scared to raise alarm or be told I won’t pass my background check.

[Anonymous User]

I’m guessing this hiring freeze affects AUSAs? Or are crim AUSAs “public safety” positions?

[Anonymous User]

I’m guessing this hiring freeze affects AUSAs? Or are crim AUSAs “public safety” positions?

Spoke to some local AUSA's today. They currently believe it applies to them. Moreover, many of their new AUSAs, of which there were many, were on a probationary status. They have no idea if they can keep them.

It's chaos. The order appears to have been issued without any consultation as to what it would cause downstream. The local AUSAs, many who were excited about a Trump term, are beside themselves.