After months of favorable rulings, the Trump administration faced a significant setback in the courts. Judges challenged key elements of its agenda, calling some actions “unlawful” and “unconstitutional.”
Recently, federal judges blocked several administration moves. One order halted the use of the Alien Enemies Act to expedite deportations. Another barred the National Guard from law enforcement tasks in California. Additionally, $2 billion in federal funds intended for Harvard were frozen, a decision met with disapproval from the courts.
This week marked a rough patch for Trump, following a previous defeat when an appeals court struck down some of his tariffs. Trump plans to appeal that decision to the Supreme Court, declaring that not overturning it would be a “disaster.”
Interestingly, a recent NBC News analysis found that the Supreme Court has granted emergency requests from the Trump administration in 17 out of 22 cases. A lawyer close to the White House suggested that flooding the courts with appeals may ultimately lead to more successes for the administration.
In a statement, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson defended the president’s legal record, pointing out that he’s won nearly 20 Supreme Court victories even amid numerous challenges.
Harvard Funding Cuts
A federal judge ruled against the administration’s decision to pull federal funding from Harvard. The judge deemed the actions “violative of the First Amendment” and characterized them as ideological retaliation. The administration claimed Harvard wasn’t doing enough to combat antisemitism, but the judge found this argument unconvincing. She noted that Harvard had been making strides to address antisemitism, indicating that the funding cuts were unrelated to this issue.
National Guard Deployment
In California, a judge ruled that deploying the National Guard for domestic law enforcement breaches a law from 1878, known as the Posse Comitatus Act. The Trump administration had sent military personnel to Los Angeles, citing protests against its immigration policies. The judge deemed this use of armed soldiers for crowd control and perimeter security as unlawful.
Deportations and the Alien Enemies Act
A separate ruling blocked the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members under the Alien Enemies Act. Judges found that the government didn’t substantiate claims of an invasion that would justify such deportations. Instead, they indicated there were alternative legal paths for addressing the issue.
Tariff Battle Continues
In a ruling on August 29, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit stated that Trump exceeded his authority with certain tariffs. The court asserted that tariffs are fundamentally a congressional power. This ruling remains in effect as Trump seeks to take the case to the Supreme Court, arguing for the urgency of a review to protect U.S. interests.
Overall, these recent court decisions illustrate the ongoing legal battles faced by the Trump administration. As it navigates a complex landscape of laws and court challenges, the implications for policy and governance remain significant.
For more in-depth legal analyses and updates on these cases, you can check out this NBC News article.
