Trump Nominates Phil Williams and Thomas Govan as U.S. Attorneys for Alabama
Washington, D.C. — Former Alabama lawmaker and radio host Phil Williams has been nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, the White House announced Wednesday.
Williams, an attorney and former state senator from Rainbow City, currently hosts the conservative talk program Rightside Radio and manages the law firm Williams, Driskill, Huffstutler & King, LLC, based in Gadsden. His nomination now moves to the U.S. Senate for confirmation.
If confirmed, Williams would oversee federal prosecutions across much of north Alabama, including Birmingham, Huntsville, and Tuscaloosa. He said his priorities would include strengthening public safety, promoting accountability, and ensuring consistent application of justice.
“The rule of law is the cornerstone of a free society, and the mission of the U.S. Attorney’s Office is to make sure that justice is applied fairly and consistently,” Williams said. “My goal is to support law enforcement at every level and ensure that Alabama families can feel safe in their communities.”
Williams also emphasized closer cooperation between federal and local authorities. “Federal prosecutors must be partners, not spectators,” he said. “We will work closely with sheriffs, police departments, and district attorneys to bring the full weight of the justice system against violent crime, public corruption, and those who prey on the vulnerable.”
A decorated U.S. Army veteran, Williams served as a Paratrooper, Army Ranger, and Pathfinder, with multiple overseas deployments. He later served two terms in the Alabama Senate, where he sponsored legislation on criminal justice and ethics reform.
Williams said he views the nomination as a duty that transcends politics. “This office doesn’t belong to me. It belongs to the people of the United States,” Williams said. “If confirmed, I intend to approach every case with integrity, impartiality, and fidelity to the Constitution.”
President Trump also nominated Thomas Govan to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama. Govan currently works in the Alabama Attorney General’s Office and ran unsuccessfully for the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals in 2024.
Both nominations now await Senate approval. The Northern District position has been held by an acting U.S. attorney since the last presidential appointment. A confirmation vote has not yet been scheduled.
