Federal Judges Challenge Trump Policies and Musk's Workforce Reductions
Federal judges issued multiple rulings Thursday targeting President Donald Trump's order rescinding birthright citizenship and billionaire Elon Musk's efforts to trim the federal workforce, as legal actions against these individuals escalate.
Lawsuits have been filed against various Trump administration directives, including:
- Pending cases on Trump’s immigration policies such as asylum restrictions and raids on sanctuary cities
- Lawsuits against transgender military bans and minors receiving gender-affirming care
- Challenges to restrictions on diversity, equity, and inclusion policies
- Lawsuits relating to Trump's "Schedule F" for civil servants and other administration actions
Multiple suits contend that Trump should not have formed Musk's "Department of Government Efficiency" by renaming the U.S. Digital Service.
None of the lawsuits have reached the Supreme Court yet, but many will likely make their way there eventually. The stakes are high, as conflicting rulings on a single policy may provoke a review from the high court. Legal experts remain divided on how the conservative court, composed of three Trump's appointees, will regard these legal challenges.
Georgetown Law professor Stephen Vladeck expressed skepticism about the court endorsing Trump's memo halting federal funding. He noted that while the court has historically granted Trump more authority, granting him the right to ignore appropriated funds would be a major leap.
Experts have criticized the legitimacy of the legal rationale behind the nullification of birthright citizenship. Mark Krikorian of the Center for Immigration Studies admitted that Trump's arguments might face rejection by the Supreme Court. Legal theorists have termed the justification for the order as fringe.
Trump's executive actions, such as withdrawing from the World Health Organization and altering funding for transgender issues, have also drawn attention, with many yet to be legally contested. Musk has faced backlash for his involvement with the government, raising concerns over accessing sensitive data.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries emphasized that a large influx of executive actions under Trump's presidency has led to a surge in litigation from Democrats as a countermeasure, asserting that this legal strategy will continue.
