I'm not so sure. 28 U.S.C. § 546 says a court-appointed U.S. Attorney can serve until the vacancy is filled, but it doesn't exempt that U.S. Attorney from normal removal under § 541.

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Is there an unavoidable conflict between § 541 and § 546?

Per #SCOTUS, a court "must read [two allegedly conflicting] statutes to give effect to each if [it] can do so while preserving their sense and purpose."

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I think it's over-reading § 546 to say it trumps § 541.

§ 546 says the district court "MAY appoint a U.S. Attorney to serve until the vacancy is filled.

It doesn't say the court-appointed USA "SHALL serve until the vacancy is filled."

In other words, § 546 does not expressly cabin the president's power to remove under § 541.

Interpreting it as doing so would raise a serious constitutional question, which we try to avoid when interpreting statutes.

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Per the First Circuit in Hilario:

"[I]nsofar as interim [USAs] are concerned, the Executive Branch holds all the trump cards. For one thing, the President may override the judges' decision and remove an interim United States Attorney."

The First Circuit reached this conclusion to avoid the separation-of-powers problem that would otherwise arise. United States v. Hilario, 218 F.3d 19 (2000).

(Thanks for flagging, @Bamer1can and @WildlyMediocre.)

As for who then fills the vacancy, I think the Vacancies Reform Act would control and the Attorney General would be able to appoint.

See this OLC memo (by @EdWhelanEPPC, interestingly enough; Ed, you've missed a ton of fun tonight):

https://www.justice.gov/file/18976/download

To be clear, I am NOT defending the move by Trump and Barr against Berman as a matter of policy or ethics.

To be honest, I think something fishy might be going on (to be diplomatic about it).

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I'm just trying to analyze the statutory and constitutional issues objectively, without the distorting influence of a certain Donald J. Trump, who provokes such strong reactions in people.

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If this is an abuse of power or obstruction of justice, which it might very well be (I don't think we know enough yet), then the remedy would be impeachment (cold comfort to some, perhaps, but I think that's the law).

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But remember: it doesn't have to be impeachment of President Trump (which turned out to be rather difficult). It could be impeachment of Bill Barr as attorney general, as some have suggested.