Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• U.S. District Judge Kate Menendez imposed restrictions on ICE's tactics in response to protesters' lawsuits, but the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals quickly stayed her decision at the Trump administration's request. — U.S. District Judge Kate Menendez, overseeing lawsuits by protesters contesting illegal arrests and retaliation by ICE officers, imposed restrictions on ICE's ability to use pepper spray and other munitions against demonstrators. However, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals quickly granted a Trump administration request to stay her decision, a move that led to public celebration from top DOJ and DHS officials. Attorneys for protesters subsequently urged the federal appeals court to reinstate the restrictions, arguing that expected further protests in response to Pretti's death create "an urgent need for intervention."
• Federal appeals court allows tear gas and pepper spray against Minnesota protesters — A federal appeals court decision paved the way for federal officers to continue using tear gas and pepper spray against peaceful protesters in Minnesota. Following the ruling, a senior U.S. Border Patrol official, Greg Bovino, used tear gas against protesters in Minneapolis.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — Tincher v. Noem (D. Minn.) 0:25-cv-04669 — The Eighth Circuit stayed the lower court's preliminary injunction restricting ICE officers' actions during protests and denied Plaintiffs' emergency motion to lift the administrative stay, finding that the injunction was overbroad and vague. The panel granted Plaintiffs' request for expedited merits briefing.

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• Utah GOP files notice of appeal to revive gerrymandered congressional map — Days before revealing a court-packing plan, Republican legislators in Utah filed a notice of appeal challenging the state Supreme Court's unanimous 2024 ruling that rejected their attempt to undermine a constitutional ban on gerrymandering. The appeal seeks to revive a gerrymandered congressional map that the court had struck down as violating voter-approved redistricting protections.
• Utah GOP lawmakers introduce articles of impeachment against Judge Dianna Gibson — Utah Republican lawmakers introduced articles of impeachment against Judge Dianna Gibson for her role in protecting the voter-approved ban on gerrymandering and striking down unfair congressional districts. The impeachment effort is part of a broader pattern of legislative attacks on judges whose rulings limit GOP legislative power.
• Utah GOP lawmakers propose partisan judicial elections — House Majority Leader Casey Snider floated the idea of electing Utah Supreme Court justices in partisan races, citing a desire to instill "confidence in the impartiality" of the courts. The proposal follows similar moves in North Carolina and Ohio, where GOP-backed partisan appellate court races resulted in the election of new high court majorities that reversed constitutional bans on gerrymandering.
• Utah Republican legislators announce plan to expand state Supreme Court — Utah Republican legislators, led by House Majority Leader Casey Snider, announced an intention to pack the state Supreme Court by adding two justices to the five-member bench. Governor Spencer Cox signed on to the proposal. Snider justified the expansion by claiming the court "has moved so far afield from where we expect them to be," citing the court's rejection of the legislature's gerrymandering scheme and other rulings limiting legislative power over voter-approved amendments.

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• Federal immigration agents detain two-year-old girl and father in Minneapolis, defy judicial release order — US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents detained a two-year-old girl and her father in Minneapolis on January 22 after stopping them near their home. A federal judge issued orders around 8:10pm prohibiting transfer outside Minnesota and mandating immediate release of the child into attorney custody. Despite the orders, federal officials placed both on a flight to Texas around 8:30pm. The child was later returned to her mother in Minnesota; the father remains detained. The father has a pending asylum application and no final removal order.
• ICE arrests asylum seeker and two-year-old daughter without warrant; defies court order by flying them to Texas — ICE agents arrested Elvis Joel TE and his two-year-old daughter without a warrant on January 22, 2026, in Minneapolis as they returned home from a store. Agents broke the car window while the child was inside and refused to allow the father to hand his daughter to her mother. Within hours, Judge Menendez issued an order prohibiting removal from Minnesota. Despite this order, ICE placed both on a flight to Texas approximately 20 minutes later. The daughter was returned to Minnesota the next day and released to her mother, but the father remained detained.

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• Trump Justice Department argues Epstein Files Transparency Act cannot be enforced by courts — The Trump Justice Department filed arguments in federal court asserting that the Epstein Files Transparency Act cannot be enforced by any judge because the law does not explicitly provide a private right of action. According to the administration's legal position, courts are powerless to compel the release of the Epstein files. The administration is effectively asserting that no court can force it to comply with the law, placing itself beyond judicial oversight.

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• Trump declares national emergency, shields Venezuelan oil revenue from U.S. court attachment — President Trump signed Executive Order 14373 on January 9, 2026, declaring a national emergency under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and National Emergencies Act to protect Venezuelan government oil-revenue deposits held in U.S. Treasury accounts from judicial attachment or garnishment. The order invokes foreign policy and national security rationales—border control, narcotics interdiction, and regional stability—and directs the Treasury Secretary to hold these funds in custodial status, immune from private creditor claims, pending State Department disposition.
• Trump issued executive order declaring national emergency to shield Venezuelan government oil revenue deposits from U.S. judicial attachment — President Trump signed an executive order on January 9, 2026, declaring a national emergency under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and National Emergencies Act to protect Venezuelan government oil revenue deposits held in U.S. Treasury accounts from judicial attachment or garnishment. The order prohibits courts from issuing liens, judgments, or other judicial process against these "Foreign Government Deposit Funds" derived from Venezuelan natural resource sales. The order asserts these funds are sovereign Venezuelan property held in custodial capacity and invokes national security and foreign policy interests, citing efforts to combat illegal immigration, narcotics trafficking, and malign actors like Iran and Hezbollah.
• Trump signed executive order shielding Venezuelan government oil revenue from U.S. judicial attachment — President Trump signed Executive Order 14373 on January 9, 2026, declaring a national emergency and prohibiting judicial attachment, liens, garnishment, or other legal process against Venezuelan government oil revenue held in U.S. Treasury accounts. The order asserts that such attachments would harm U.S. national security and foreign policy, specifically efforts to stabilize Venezuela, reduce immigration and narcotics trafficking, and counter Iranian influence. The order directs the Treasury Secretary to hold the funds in custodial status and comply with State Department instructions on their disposition.
• White House issues fact sheet on executive order protecting Venezuelan oil revenue in U.S. Treasury accounts — The White House published a fact sheet on January 9, 2026, describing an executive order signed by President Trump declaring a national emergency to shield Venezuelan oil revenues held in U.S. Treasury accounts from judicial attachment or process. The order blocks garnishment, liens, judgments, and other legal claims against these Foreign Government Deposit Funds, affirming them as sovereign Venezuelan property held for diplomatic purposes. The fact sheet states the order advances U.S. foreign policy objectives, including countering narcotics trafficking and illegal immigration, and prevents seizure that could "empower malign actors like Iran and Hezbollah."

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• D.C. Circuit Appeals Court pauses Boasberg contempt probe and questions judicial authority — Trump appointees on the D.C. Circuit Appeals Court paused Judge Boasberg's contempt investigation last month and introduced a question about whether he has the power to investigate potential contempt or whether he must refer it to the DOJ. Former DOJ officials and legal experts have warned that this line of questioning could create a loophole through which the president and his subordinates can ignore court orders without fear of being held in contempt, as the DOJ would almost certainly ignore such referrals.
• Judge Boasberg investigates Trump officials for contempt of court — U.S. District Judge James Boasberg is investigating whether Trump officials deliberately ignored court orders blocking flights of hundreds of people to a notorious Salvadoran megaprison. This is the first criminal contempt inquiry against the second Trump administration. The investigation is significant because it tests courts' inherent authority to investigate and punish contempt of court orders.

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• Wisconsin judge resigns following impeachment threats — Wisconsin circuit judge Hannah Dugan resigned from her post on January 3 following threats from state Republicans to impeach her after she was found guilty last month of obstruction after being accused of misdirecting federal agents to help an immigrant evade arrest in her courthouse. In her resignation letter to Governor Tony Evers, Dugan warned that the "unprecedented federal legal proceedings" against her "threaten the independence of our judiciary."
• Wisconsin judge Hannah Dugan resigns after federal obstruction conviction — Judge Hannah Dugan, a Milwaukee county circuit court judge, resigned on January 4, 2026, following her conviction on December 19, 2026, for obstruction of justice. She was convicted for directing ICE and FBI agents away from her courtroom while an undocumented immigrant defendant, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, escaped via a private jury door. State Republicans had threatened impeachment if she did not resign. Dugan cited the need to remove the judiciary from partisan political conflict and allow Milwaukee County Branch 31 to have a permanent judge.

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• Federal judge orders Trump administration to continue CFPB funding — DC District Judge Amy Berman Jackson issued a 32-page ruling ordering the Trump administration to continue funding the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The administration, through acting director Russell Vought, had claimed the Federal Reserve's operating losses made it unable to fund the agency. Jackson rejected this as a "manufactured" workaround designed to "starve" the agency, noting funding had continued seamlessly since 2011 despite prior Fed losses. The ruling upheld an earlier injunction blocking dismantling of the consumer watchdog and mass firings of its staff.

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• Vice President JD Vance announced list of judges and prosecutors for "swifter justice" — Vice President JD Vance stated at the TPUSA event: "Greatness awaits every single one of you in the America First movement we are building together, but we need your help to get there. Do you want more prosecutions? Great. So do we. Trump and I have a list of better judges and prosecutors to enact swifter justice." The statement indicates the administration is preparing to appoint judges and prosecutors based on loyalty to the "America First" movement rather than judicial independence.

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• Wisconsin judge Hannah Dugan convicted of obstruction for helping immigrant evade ICE arrest — A jury in Milwaukee found Wisconsin circuit judge Hannah Dugan guilty of obstruction of justice (felony) but acquitted her on a concealment charge. Federal prosecutors alleged she deliberately misdirected ICE agents and helped Mexican immigrant Eduardo Flores Ruiz escape arrest at her courthouse in spring 2025 by falsely claiming their warrant was insufficient and directing them away while she led Ruiz out a private exit. She faces up to five years in prison and is expected to appeal. The case occurred amid Trump's immigration crackdown and drew criticism from judicial advocates and Democrats who characterized it as political retaliation.

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• Supreme Court Denies Stay in Margolin v. National Association of Immigration Judges — On December 19, 2025, the Supreme Court denied the federal government's request for a stay in the case of Margolin v. National Association of Immigration Judges. The case involved a challenge by the National Association of Immigration Judges against a rule that barred immigration judges from speaking in their personal capacities about immigration and their employing agency. The Fourth Circuit had remanded the case back to the trial court, citing concerns about the functioning of the Civil Service Reform Act's adjudicatory scheme. The Supreme Court's denial means the appeals court's order remains in effect, allowing the case to proceed in the lower court.
• Supreme Court denies stay in Margolin v. National Association of Immigration Judges — The Supreme Court denied an application for stay in the case Margolin v. National Association of Immigration Judges (Docket 25A662). The Chief Justice had referred the application to the full Court. The Court found that the Government had not demonstrated irreparable harm sufficient to warrant a stay at this stage. The denial is without prejudice to reapplication if the District Court begins discovery before the Government's forthcoming certiorari petition is resolved. The Chief Justice's prior order was vacated.

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• Democrats release new Epstein photos ahead of DoJ transparency deadline — Democrats on the House oversight committee released a new batch of photos from Jeffrey Epstein's estate as the Department of Justice faces a deadline to release its files related to Epstein under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The images, which include undated photos of prominent figures and text from Vladimir Nabokov’s novel "Lolita" written on a woman's body, aim to maintain pressure on the Trump administration. The Justice Department has less than 48 hours to comply with the law, which was signed by Trump after bipartisan support ensured its passage.
• Ghislaine Maxwell files habeas petition to vacate conviction — Ghislaine Maxwell, serving a 20-year sentence for sex-trafficking crimes, filed a habeas petition in federal court to vacate her conviction, citing "substantial new evidence" from various sources that she claims supports her argument of an unfair trial. The petition alleges that exculpatory information was withheld and false testimony was presented during her trial. This filing is Maxwell's latest attempt to overturn her conviction following several unsuccessful appeals since her 2021 conviction.
• Trump administration faces Epstein Files Transparency Act deadline with incomplete DOJ redaction process — The Trump administration's Department of Justice faces a less-than-48-hour deadline to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law on November 19, 2025. Internal sources report that DOJ attorneys have been processing over 1,000 documents each since Thanksgiving with only four pages of redaction guidance, raising concerns about over-redaction, errors, and potential exposure of sensitive information. Legal experts warn the rushed review could compromise the transparency mandate.
• Senate Majority Leader Schumer called DOJ Epstein release a cover-up — Senator Chuck Schumer stated that the Trump administration violated the law by releasing only partial Epstein files instead of all documents within the 30-day statutory window. He accused the DOJ, Trump, and Bondi of hiding the truth and covering up Trump's past, and announced Senate Democrats are working with victim attorneys and legal experts to assess what documents are being withheld.
• DOJ released partial Epstein files in violation of federal law — Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche released only a portion of the Epstein documents on the statutory deadline, with heavy redactions, violating federal law requiring full release with minimal redactions to protect victim identity only. The law mandated all documents be released within 30 days of enactment; DOJ interpreted this as permission to release documents over several weeks. Senate Democrats and House Judiciary members announced they are examining legal options to compel full compliance.
• DOJ released Epstein files with initial photo removal and restoration — The Department of Justice met a court-ordered deadline on December 19 to release Jeffrey Epstein investigation materials, including a searchable photo database. Officials initially removed a widely-circulated photograph showing Trump with Epstein from the database; after immediate public criticism, the department restored the photo on Saturday, attributing the removal to technical issues. Documents were released with heavy redactions that victim advocates said protected prominent names inconsistently.
• DOJ Releases Redacted Epstein Files, Restores Trump Photo — The Department of Justice released heavily redacted materials related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, meeting a court-ordered deadline. Initially, a photograph of Trump with Epstein was removed from the database but was restored after public criticism, with officials citing technical issues. The redactions have been criticized for inconsistently protecting prominent names, raising concerns about transparency and accountability.
• Department of Justice releases heavily redacted Epstein files under court-ordered deadline — The Department of Justice released a large tranche of documents from its investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Friday, December 19, 2025, in compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act signed by President Trump on November 19. The release included photographs and investigative materials dating back to 2006, though significant portions were redacted, including identifying details of over 1,200 victims and family members. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche acknowledged the redactions and indicated additional documents would be released on a rolling basis. Congressional Democrats and some Republicans criticized the release as failing to fully comply with the law's requirement to disclose all unclassified materials.
• Department of Justice releases partial Epstein files in violation of congressional mandate — The Department of Justice released several hundred thousand documents related to Jeffrey Epstein on Friday, but Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the release would not include the full set of files held by DOJ, contrary to the Epstein Files Transparency Act signed into law on November 19, 2025. The law required release of all unclassified materials within 30 days. Congressional Democrats and legal experts immediately threatened legal action, accusing the administration of violating federal law and obstructing transparency.
• DOJ partially releases Epstein investigative files, missing statutory deadline — The Department of Justice released investigative documents on Jeffrey Epstein on December 19, 2025, under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which mandated full disclosure by that date. However, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the release was incomplete and stated additional documents would be released over subsequent weeks. Lawyers representing Epstein survivors condemned the partial release, arguing the DOJ had "dragged its feet" for 18 years and repeatedly failed victims, while some survivors expressed mixed emotions—validation that obstruction was now public, but also devastation over the incomplete accounting.
• House Democrats release Epstein estate photos ahead of DOJ transparency deadline — House Oversight Committee Democrats released a batch of photographs from Jeffrey Epstein's estate on Thursday, including images with Lolita passages written on women's bodies, photos of Bill Gates, Noam Chomsky, and other public figures. The release occurs as the Trump administration faces a 48-hour deadline under the Epstein Files Transparency Act to release DOJ files. The administration had initially refused to release additional files despite campaign promises, then reversed course when bipartisan support became evident.
• Justice Department misses congressionally mandated deadline for Epstein files release — The Trump administration's Justice Department failed to meet the December 19, 2025 deadline mandated by the bipartisan Epstein Files Transparency Act to release all investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein. Although some files were disclosed by the deadline, subsequent releases represented only a fraction of the estimated 2+ million documents in the department's possession. Victims' advocates and the act's co-sponsors have called for a special master to oversee compliance; the Justice Department opposed the request in court filings.
• Trump administration fails to fully release Epstein files by congressional deadline — The Trump administration released only partial Epstein investigative documents on Friday, falling short of the congressionally mandated full release required by the Epstein Files Transparency Act deadline of December 19. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Representative Ro Khanna criticized the incomplete release, with Khanna calling for impeachment proceedings against Attorney General Pam Bondi. The administration cited the need for additional victim-protection redactions, while Democrats argued the law required written explanation for withheld documents within 15 days.
• Trump DOJ fails to comply with Congressional deadline for Epstein Files Transparency Act — The Trump Department of Justice missed the December 19, 2025 statutory deadline mandated by Congress's Epstein Files Transparency Act to disclose all investigative files on Jeffrey Epstein. One month after the deadline, DOJ has released only approximately 12,285 documents (125,575 pages) while acknowledging over 2 million additional documents remain under review. Congressmen Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie requested a federal judge appoint a special master to compel compliance; DOJ opposed the request.
• Trump justice department releases limited, heavily redacted Epstein files in apparent violation of transparency law — The Trump justice department released a limited, heavily redacted trove of Jeffrey Epstein investigative files on Friday, December 19, falling short of the Epstein Files Transparency Act's requirement for near-complete disclosure by that date. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the department would release documents in tranches over weeks rather than all at once. Subsequently, at least 16 files disappeared from the department's public webpage without explanation, including an image containing a photograph of Trump with Epstein. Lawmakers from both parties condemned the release as non-compliant with law.
• Trump's DOJ missed December 19 deadline for releasing Epstein files under EFTA — Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act (EFTA) in 2025, which Trump signed into law, mandating the Department of Justice release investigative files by December 19, 2025. The deadline passed with the DOJ releasing only a fraction of required disclosures. Legal experts including Mitchell Garabedian, Spencer Kuvin, and Neama Rahmani told the Guardian that enforcement mechanisms are weak, the special master route has failed, and future options include court intervention, FOIA litigation, and congressional oversight, though complications abound given the DOJ itself is the target of enforcement.
• Department of Justice released only a fraction of Epstein files required by law on December 19, 2025 — On December 19, 2025, the deadline established by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, the Department of Justice released only a partial set of materials despite the law's requirement to release all unclassified records. Missing from the release were FBI interviews with survivors and internal Justice Department memos about charging decisions. The release was heavily redacted, with entire pages blacked out, and focused disproportionately on former President Bill Clinton rather than other named individuals.
• Trump administration fails to meet December 19 deadline for releasing Epstein files — The Trump administration failed to meet the legal deadline of December 19 established by Congress for releasing the Epstein files. The failure to comply with the congressional mandate represented a violation of the law and an assertion of executive power over legislative authority.
• Trump Justice Department fails to comply with Epstein Files Transparency Act deadline — The Trump Justice Department, led by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, announced it will not release all unclassified Epstein-related records by the statutory 30-day deadline mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Instead, officials stated they will release "several hundred thousand" documents today with additional materials possibly arriving weeks or months later. The statute explicitly requires all unclassified records related to Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and their trafficking operation be made publicly available in searchable and downloadable form within 30 days of enactment. The staggered disclosure approach violates the law's clear mandate.

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• US military conducts lethal strikes on boats in Eastern Pacific — The US Southern Command announced that, at the direction of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the US military conducted lethal strikes on three boats in the Eastern Pacific, killing a total of eight people.
• U.S. military strikes three boats in eastern Pacific, killing eight people — U.S. Southern Command announced that the military conducted strikes on three small boats in the eastern Pacific at the direction of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, killing eight people. The command claimed intelligence confirmed the vessels were engaged in narco-trafficking. This brings the total death toll from U.S. strikes to at least 95. Legal experts dispute the administration's claim of an "armed conflict" against drug cartels and say the U.S. has no legal basis for the strikes.
• Sen. Rand Paul warned against regime change wars in South America — Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) warned on NBC that if the Trump administration continues toppling regimes in South America, there is "no amount of money that could be printed to pay for that" and lives should not be lost without a congressional vote. Paul's statement was made in response to Trump's warning to Colombia that it "could be next" after the administration's military escalation against Venezuela.
• Rep. Mike Turner expressed grave concern about boat strikes in Venezuela — Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) stated on ABC that there is "very grave concern in Congress" about boat strikes occurring in Venezuela. Turner noted that the individuals conducting the strikes are not being subject to criminal prosecution, and if they were, there would be no capital punishment available. Turner's statement indicates congressional concern about the legality and accountability of military operations against Venezuela.
• Sen. Jack Reed warned about consequences of violating laws of war — Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) stated on Fox that the U.S. must follow the law of war and can expect other countries to do the same. He warned that if the U.S. does not follow the law of war, it cannot expect other countries to protect American service members in distress, refrain from shooting wounded personnel in the water, or avoid leaving wounded soldiers to die. Reed's statement was made in response to the administration's military operations against Venezuela.
• Pentagon lawyers proposed sending boat strike survivors to El Salvador megaprison — The New York Times reported on December 9 that Pentagon lawyers raised the prospect of sending survivors of a mid-October boat strike in the Caribbean to El Salvador's megaprison in an effort to ensure they don't end up in the US court system, where the Trump administration could be forced to present evidence justifying their strikes in the region. The proposal represents an attempt to evade judicial accountability.
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced mounting Republican criticism over a potentially illegal order to kill survivors of a Caribbean boat strike. — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth received criticism from Republican lawmakers regarding an order that allegedly directed the killing of survivors from a Caribbean boat strike. The order was characterized as potentially illegal. This incident contributed to broader concerns about dysfunction within the Trump administration and raised questions about the legality and ethics of military directives under the current leadership.
• Pentagon conducts military strikes on Venezuelan vessels; at least 95 killed since September — The Pentagon conducted strikes on three boats accused of drug trafficking in the Pacific near Venezuela, killing eight people. This action is part of an escalating campaign that has included more than 20 strikes since September 2, resulting in at least 95 deaths. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has refused to release video footage of a September 2 attack, citing national security and "longstanding Department of War policy." The administration defends the strikes as preventing drugs from reaching U.S. shores, though Trump's chief of staff Susie Wiles confirmed in a Vanity Fair interview that the campaign aims to oust Maduro.

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• Federal judge orders release of Kilmar Ábrego García from ICE custody; DHS vows appeal — U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis in Maryland ordered the release of Kilmar Ábrego García from an immigration detention facility in Pennsylvania on Thursday, December 11, 2025, finding that the federal government lacked lawful authority to detain him without a final deportation order. Ábrego, a Salvadoran national and construction worker, was freed shortly before 5pm ET. The Department of Homeland Security immediately condemned the ruling as "naked judicial activism" and announced plans to appeal. Ábrego plans to return to Maryland, where he has lived with his U.S. citizen wife and child.
• Judge Xinis ruled ICE could not hold Ábrego García without final deportation order — On Thursday, December 12, U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis ruled that ICE could not hold Kilmar Ábrego García because there was no final deportation order for him, noting that the judge had not ordered one in the original 2019 decision protecting him from deportation.

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• Bondi fires or ousts judges' selected U.S. attorney replacements — Attorney General Pam Bondi has fired or helped oust the officials that federal judges in New Jersey and eastern Virginia selected to lead U.S. attorney's offices under vacancy statutes. This action undermines the judicial authority established by courts that determined Habba and Halligan were unlawfully appointed and that vacancy statutes grant judges the power to select who will lead these offices.
• DOJ lists Lindsey Halligan as permanent U.S. attorney despite disqualification — The Department of Justice's official website describes Lindsey Halligan as leading the Eastern District of Virginia U.S. attorney's office, omitting the word "acting" or "interim" from her title. This assertion suggests she is a permanent U.S. attorney despite never being confirmed by the Senate or appointed by judges under vacancy statutes. Halligan herself has claimed the title of full U.S. attorney in court documents filed after her disqualification.

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• Alina Habba resigned as US Attorney for New Jersey following Third Circuit ruling — Alina Habba, who held the position of US Attorney for New Jersey through an illegal appointment, announced her resignation following a Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruling. In her statement, Habba said she was stepping down "to protect the stability and integrity of the office" but framed her compliance as not a surrender of her position or principles.
• Alina Habba stepped down as top federal prosecutor in New Jersey — On December 8, Alina Habba, Trump's former personal lawyer whom he maneuvered to keep as the top federal prosecutor in New Jersey, announced she would step down from her post after an appeals court ruled she was disqualified from the position. Habba said she would continue at the Justice Department as a senior adviser to the attorney general for US attorneys. Attorney General Pam Bondi tweeted that the DOJ "will seek further review" of the decision and that Habba "intends to return" if the ruling is overturned.
• Alina Habba resigns as U.S. Attorney for New Jersey after courts rule her appointment unlawful — Alina Habba, Trump's former personal lawyer appointed U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, resigned after federal courts ruled her interim appointment unlawful and she lacked Senate confirmation. The Trump administration had attempted to keep her in place by reappointing her as a "special attorney" after her 120-day interim term expired in July. Habba announced her resignation on social media but stated she would serve as a senior adviser to Attorney General Pam Bondi, who indicated the DOJ would seek further review of the ruling.

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• Indiana legislature enacts court-restriction provisions to expedite redistricting litigation — Indiana lawmakers enacted legislation accompanying the redistricting plan that restricts lower state courts from issuing temporary restraining orders (TROs) to block the new map and channels all challenges directly to the Indiana Supreme Court on an expedited, priority basis. The provisions eliminate the ability of lower courts to delay implementation and are designed to prevent meaningful judicial review by accelerating the process past the point where courts would typically intervene due to proximity to elections.

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• DOJ and Habba continue asserting authority despite disqualification ruling — Despite the Third Circuit's ruling disqualifying Alina Habba from serving as acting U.S. attorney for New Jersey, both Habba and the Department of Justice continue to claim she holds the position. Habba maintains the title on her personal and official DOJ X accounts and publishes pro-Trump content. The DOJ's official website lists her as acting U.S. attorney for New Jersey. The DOJ has not publicly acknowledged the court order or clarified who now leads the office.

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• Indiana Republicans add language to gerrymander blocking court review — Indiana Republican legislators added explicit language to their new gerrymandered congressional map designed to prevent courts from blocking or reviewing the map. The provision represents an attempt to shield the redistricting from judicial oversight.

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• Utah Governor Cox signs bill removing state Supreme Court's power to select its own chief justice — Governor Spencer Cox signed legislation that strips the Utah Supreme Court of its authority to choose its own chief justice. Under the new law, the governor will appoint the chief justice for an eight-year term, subject to state Senate approval. The bill was passed in response to the court's ruling striking down the state's gerrymandered congressional map.

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• Utah Republican lawmaker files impeachment charges against Judge Dianna Gibson — State Rep. Matt MacPherson filed impeachment charges against Utah District Judge Dianna Gibson after she struck down the state's gerrymandered congressional map and ordered adoption of a new map complying with a voter-approved constitutional amendment. MacPherson accused Gibson of "gross abuse of power, violating the separation of powers, and failing to uphold her oath of office." The ruling would likely give Democrats one of Utah's four congressional seats. Gibson was appointed by a Republican governor.

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• National Trust for Historic Preservation files federal lawsuit to block White House ballroom construction — In December 2025, the National Trust for Historic Preservation filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block construction of the White House ballroom. The lawsuit argues that the administration violated multiple laws by demolishing parts of the White House "without any review whatsoever." The suit challenges the legality of the demolition and the construction project itself.

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• Detained immigrants file motion to sanction DHS and Noem — A class of immigrants detained in a holding facility in Manhattan filed a motion to sanction the Department of Homeland Security and hold Secretary Kristi Noem in civil contempt for failing to improve conditions. The motion noted that conditions "appeared to worsen" after a judge's August order and that DHS "appear never to have implemented many of the required procedures, particularly those regarding attorney access, hygiene, and the provision of the Notice of Rights."

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• DOJ discloses Kristi Noem directed Venezuelan deportations — In a court filing, Justice Department lawyers disclosed for the first time that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem directed the deportations of 100 Venezuelan men to El Salvador's mega-prison in March, despite Judge James Boasberg's court order for them to remain in US custody. The disclosure reveals potential violation of a judicial order.

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• Deportation of college student to Honduras within 48 hours of detention — Any Lucia López Belloza, a 19-year-old Babson College student, was detained on November 20 at Boston airport while traveling to visit family in Austin, Texas for Thanksgiving. She was deported to Honduras within 48 hours, despite an emergency court order issued the day after her detention barring her removal for at least 72 hours pending case review. López Belloza had lived in the United States since age seven and had no record of a valid deportation order, according to her lawyer.
• ICE arrests Amy Lucia López Belloza at Boston Logan Airport and deports her to Honduras within 48 hours — On 20 November 2025, federal ICE agents arrested 19-year-old Amy Lucia López Belloza, a Babson College freshman on a business scholarship, at Logan Airport in Boston just before she boarded a flight to Texas. She was deported to Honduras within 48 hours, despite having fled that country at age seven seeking asylum. López Belloza had been living in the US and was pursuing education when arrested during what she described as a surprise trip home for Thanksgiving.