 Before March 9, 2006, such interim appointments expired after 120 days, if a Presidential appointment had not been approved by the Senate.Vacancies that persisted beyond 120 days were filled through interim appointments made by the Federal District Court for the district of the vacant office.The USA PATRIOT Act Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005, signed into law March 9, 2006, amended the law for the interim appointment of U.S.