Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Trump calls for release of imprisoned Colorado election clerk Tina Peters, threatens "harsh measures" — Donald Trump posted on Truth Social demanding the immediate release of Tina Peters, a former Colorado election clerk serving a nine-year sentence for breaching election data and allowing unauthorized access to voting equipment. Trump called her a "brave and innocent Patriot" and threatened unspecified "harsh measures" if she was not released. Peters was convicted in 2024 by a jury on seven counts including felony misconduct and conspiracy; the judge noted she showed no remorse. Trump cannot pardon her as she was convicted of state crimes, though his DOJ previously filed a court notice indicating it would review the case for potential "abuses."
• Trump demanded release of convicted election officer Tina Peters — Trump demanded that Colorado officials release former election officer Tina Peters, whom a jury found guilty of four felonies for breaching election equipment to support Trump's false claims about election fraud. Trump posted on social media that Peters "did nothing wrong" and threatened "harsh measures" if she was not released.

Supporting reports

• Trump and DOJ execute maneuver to restore Habba as interim U.S. attorney — After Attorney General Bondi fired Desiree Leigh Grace, Trump and the DOJ executed a multistep maneuver to restore Alina Habba to the U.S. attorney position. Habba resigned as interim U.S. attorney, Trump withdrew her nomination before the Senate, Bondi appointed Habba to Grace's former first assistant position and designated her a "special attorney to the attorney general." The DOJ then claimed that Habba would automatically fill the vacant U.S. attorney role for a 210-day term under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act, circumventing the judges' selection of Grace and the statutory appointment process.

Supporting reports

• Rising threats and intimidation against federal judges, including copycat "pizza delivery" threats referencing murdered judge's son — Federal judges including Esther Salas, John McConnell, and Robert Lasnik reported an intensifying climate of threats and intimidation since Trump's return to office in January 2025. Judges described receiving threatening calls, death threats, and coordinated "pizza delivery" threats using the name of Salas's son Daniel, who was murdered in 2020 by a disgruntled lawyer. McConnell received ~400–500 hostile calls and six credible death threats after ruling against Trump's funding freeze; Lasnik reported pizzas sent to upwards of 50 judges. Chief Justice Roberts warned the threats undermine the rule of law.

Supporting reports

• Federal court proceedings in New Jersey cancelled due to Alina Habba authority questions — The New York Times reported that federal court proceedings in New Jersey were abruptly cancelled, including pretrial conferences, plea hearings, and a grand jury, due to questions about Alina Habba's authority to serve as acting US attorney. Maria Noto, a former president of the Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers of New Jersey, told the Times, "I've never seen anything like this," and added, "We're all incredulous."
• Federal criminal proceedings in New Jersey suspended over acting U.S. Attorney authority challenge — The New York Times reported that federal criminal proceedings across New Jersey were canceled due to questions regarding the constitutional authority of acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba. Court hearings, grand jury proceedings, plea deals, and other proceedings were put on hold. A drug trial scheduled to begin in Camden on August 4 was moved to Pennsylvania after a defense attorney filed a motion challenging Habba's appointment as unconstitutional.

Supporting reports

• Emil Bove confirmed to federal appeals court by US Senate — The Senate confirmed Emil Bove, a former Trump defense attorney and top DOJ official, to a lifetime seat on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals by a 50-49 vote. The confirmation proceeded despite whistleblower allegations that Bove advocated for ignoring court orders, misled Congress about dropping corruption charges against NYC Mayor Eric Adams, and participated in firing prosecutors who worked January 6 cases. All Democrats and two Republicans opposed the nomination.
• Senate confirmed Emil Bove as federal appeals court judge — The Republican-controlled Senate narrowly confirmed former Trump lawyer Emil Bove for a lifetime appointment as a federal appeals court judge, despite whistleblower allegations and widespread concerns over his fitness for office, including from over 900 former DOJ attorneys who penned a letter opposing his appointment.
• Senate confirms Emil Bove to federal judgeship despite whistleblower allegations — The Senate confirmed Emil Bove to a federal judgeship on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals with 50 Republicans voting in favor and 47 Democrats voting against. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) joined Democrats in opposition, with Murkowski stating that someone who counseled attorneys to ignore court orders should not receive a lifetime seat on the bench. Republican Thom Tillis (R-NC) voted in favor, illustrating Republican enablement of the administration's assault on the rule of law.
• Emil Bove confirmed to US Court of Appeals for Third Circuit on 50-49 Senate vote — The Republican-controlled Senate confirmed Emil Bove to a lifetime appointment on the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit on a 50-49 vote, despite opposition from over 80 retired judges and three whistleblowers alleging serious ethical violations. Bove, who served as acting deputy attorney general, faced allegations of disregarding court orders, firing prosecutors for political reasons, and pressuring DOJ lawyers to defy judicial rulings. The Senate Judiciary Committee chair dismissed whistleblower concerns as "delay-and-obstruction tactics" without substantive investigation.

Supporting reports

• Trump's special assistant ordered removal of interim U.S. Attorney Leigh Grace — An email from Trump's special assistant to First Assistant U.S. Attorney Leigh Grace claimed that district court judges lacked authority to appoint her as interim New Jersey U.S. Attorney because Alina Habba had resigned before her appointment. The email stated that even if the court had such authority, "the president hereby removes you from office" and declared Habba the acting U.S. Attorney. This action directly contradicted the court's appointment of Grace.

Supporting reports

• Attorney General Bondi filed misconduct complaint against Judge Boasberg — On Twitter, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that her office filed a misconduct complaint against Judge James Boasberg, who oversees the lawsuit against the Trump administration's removal of Venezuelan immigrants to El Salvador's megaprison. Bondi accused Boasberg of making "improper public comments about President Trump and his Administration," after he allegedly suggested at a meeting of judges in March that the Trump administration might "disregard rulings of federal courts" and trigger "a constitutional crisis."
• — Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that the DOJ filed a misconduct complaint against U.S. District Court Chief Judge James Boasberg, claiming he made "improper public comments" about President Trump and his administration that "undermined the integrity of the judiciary." According to reporting, Boasberg's actual comments were expressing concern that the Trump administration was liable to "disregard rulings of federal courts leading to a constitutional crisis" at a judicial conference. The complaint appears to target Boasberg for expressing professional judicial concerns.

Supporting reports

• ICE implements pattern of courthouse arrests targeting migrants with ongoing cases and longer US tenure — ICE agents have conducted arrests at immigration courthouses across multiple states (Texas, Illinois) targeting migrants whose cases remain ongoing and have not been dismissed by judges. The Guardian's reporting documents that ICE is arresting individuals who have been in the US longer than two years—exceeding the legal threshold for expedited removal—and those with legal pathways to remain in the country. After apprehension, detainees are transferred to often overcrowded, privately run detention facilities sometimes far from their homes and families, where they face limited access to attorneys and high-stakes deportation proceedings. The pattern is occurring under Trump administration pressure for ICE to achieve 3,000 daily arrests, a tenfold increase from Biden's final year.

Supporting reports

• Chicago immigration court attendance plummets as ICE arrests deter migrants from appearing — ICE plainclothes officers have been documented attending immigration court in Chicago with target lists, apprehending court attendees regardless of whether their cases are dismissed. Detainees are transported to detention facilities in Missouri, Florida, and Texas—often far from family and support networks. The lag in ICE's online detainee locator has caused some detainees to effectively disappear from public tracking. As word of these arrests has spread through immigrant communities, court attendance has dropped dramatically, creating a secondary enforcement effect: migrants now avoid court appearances entirely, risking automatic deportation orders for no-shows.

Supporting reports

• Government attorney moves to dismiss asylum cases in San Antonio court; judge grants one dismissal without stated reason — At San Antonio immigration court, a government attorney moved to dismiss the cases of two single adults—a man and a woman—both seeking asylum or other relief. The judge granted the man's case dismissal even before the government attorney provided a reason. The judge then informed the man, using a Turkish interpreter, that he would likely be placed in expedited removal despite having entered the US more than two years earlier—beyond the legal threshold for expedited removal. The woman, who had been in the country for nearly four years and was applying for a visa for victims of serious crimes, was not represented by counsel. The judge threatened to order her repatriation but the government attorney "saved" her by requesting dismissal instead. Both individuals were apprehended by ICE agents immediately after leaving the courtroom.

Supporting reports

• Trump signs Executive Order 14321 directing federal agencies to expand civil commitment, restrict homeless encampments, and redirect homelessness funding toward institutional treatment and enforcement. — President Trump signed Executive Order 14321 on July 24, 2025, directing the Attorney General, HHS, HUD, and DOT to pursue reversal of judicial precedents limiting civil commitment; prioritize federal grants to jurisdictions enforcing anti-camping and anti-loitering laws; redirect homelessness funding away from "housing first" and "harm reduction" programs toward institutional treatment and drug courts; require data-sharing between homeless assistance recipients and law enforcement; and freeze federal assistance to programs operating drug injection sites. The order frames homelessness as a public safety and disorder issue requiring civil commitment and enforcement-focused solutions.
• Trump signs executive order to remove restrictions on forcing unhoused people into treatment and institutional settings — President Trump signed an executive order on Thursday directing the federal government to reverse judicial precedents and terminate consent decrees that restrict local governments' ability to force unhoused people into mental health treatment and "long-term institutional settings for humane treatment through the appropriate use of civil commitment." The order redirects funds toward rehabilitation and treatment programs and aims to "restore public order" by removing people from streets. The White House framed it as delivering on commitments to make America safe and end homelessness.
• Trump issues executive order on homelessness, civil commitment, and street disorder — President Donald Trump issued an executive order titled "Ending Crime and Disorder on America's Streets" on July 24, 2025, directing federal agencies to expand civil commitment of homeless individuals with mental illness or substance use disorders, enforce prohibitions on street camping and loitering, and redirect federal homelessness grants to jurisdictions meeting enforcement criteria. The order instructs the Attorney General and HHS Secretary to reverse judicial precedents limiting civil commitment, prioritize law enforcement over "housing first" policies, and condition federal funding on compliance with enforcement standards.
• White House issues fact sheet promoting executive order on homelessness, vagrancy, and public order — The White House published a fact sheet on July 24, 2025, promoting an executive order signed by President Trump directing the Attorney General to reverse judicial precedents and consent decrees limiting state and local commitment of individuals on streets; requiring coordination among federal agencies to prioritize grants for jurisdictions enforcing prohibitions on open drug use, camping, and loitering; and redirecting funding toward institutional treatment settings. The fact sheet states the order aims to move individuals experiencing homelessness and mental illness or addiction into treatment centers and assisted outpatient facilities.
• White House signed Executive Order 14321 directing civil commitment, vagrancy enforcement, and federal resource redirection on homelessness — The White House issued Executive Order 14321 on July 24, 2025, directing the Attorney General and federal agencies to pursue reversal of judicial precedents limiting civil commitment, prioritize federal grants to jurisdictions enforcing vagrancy and camping prohibitions, redirect federal homelessness funding away from "housing first" and "harm reduction" programs, and require data-sharing between homelessness service providers and law enforcement. The order states the homeless population reached 274,224 in the previous administration and claims the majority suffer from addiction or mental illness.

Supporting reports

• Maryland federal judges filed motion to dismiss Trump lawsuit against state judges — Federal judges in Maryland filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit by the Trump administration against all 15 of the state's judges, the court clerk, and the state US District Court, calling it a meritless "assault on the separation of powers." The motion noted that "this unprecedented lawsuit is fundamentally incompatible with the separation of powers." The suit came in response to an order blocking the administration from deporting immigrants in Maryland until at least 4 p.m. on the second day after they file a habeas corpus petition.

Supporting reports

• Appeal filed — Jenner & Block v. Department of Justice (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00916 — The Department of Justice appealed Judge Bates' May 23 summary judgment to the D.C. Circuit.
• Appeal filed — Protect Democracy Project v. OMB (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01111 — Defendants appealed the court's grant of summary judgement to the D.C. Circuit.
• Case update — American Association of University Professors v. Rubio (D. Mass.) 1:25-cv-10685 — The bench trial concluded.
• Case update — National Academy of Education v. Department of Education (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01266 — Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint , which added multiple APA claims to the action and removed the ultra vires and separation of powers doctrine claims.
• Motion granted — Slaughter and Bedoya v. Trump (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00909 — The D.C. Circuit unanimously granted an administrative stay of Judge Alikhan's ruling that had ordered the reinstatement of former FTC Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter . The court set a briefing schedule with filings due before July 29.
• Motion granted — VERA Institute of Justice v. U.S. Department of Justice (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01643 — Judge Mehta granted in part Plaintiffs' emergency motion for an injunction pending appeal of its order denying their preliminary-injunction motion and dismissing the case. Although the court declined to reinstate Plaintiffs' grants pending appeal, it found a narrower injunction appropriate-“one that prevents the re-obligation of the five named Plaintiffs' cancelled grant funding … [and] prohibits Defendants from re-obligating or otherwise diminishing the sums awarded but terminated under Plaintiffs' grant agreements.”
• Motion to dismiss decided — American Federation Of Government Employees, AFL-CIO v. Trump (N.D. Cal.) 3:25-cv-03698 — Defendants filed a motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — American Gateways v. U.S. Department for Justice (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01370 — Judge Ali granted a preliminary injunction blocking the administration from terminating the NQRP. The court found that the termination of the program is likely arbitrary and capricious under the APA, and the court is empowered to “set aside” such agency action. The court also denied defendants' motion to dismiss as to Count I of the complaint and held it in abeyance as to Counts II and III.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — National Endowment for Democracy v. United States (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00648 — Plaintiffs filed a motion for a preliminary injunction and supporting memorandum in which they request that the court enter an order that would stop Defendants and those they supervise from withholding or otherwise interfering with NED's congressionally mandated funding.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — Planned Parenthood Federation of America v. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. et al (D. Mass.) 1:25-cv-11913 — Judge Talwani granted a preliminary injunction prohibiting the administration from enforcing Section 71113 of the “ One Big Beautiful Act ” against the Planned Parenthood Association of Utah and other Planned Parenthood Federation of America Members. The injunction applies only to affiliates that are either barred from providing abortions due to state law or that received less than $800,000 in Medicaid reimbursements in 2023. The court found that the statute likely violates the First Amendment right of association by defunding affiliates based solely on their relationship to abortion providers-even when they do not themselves provide abortions or share funds. The court has not yet ruled on whether to extend relief to additional Planned Parenthood members.
• Summary judgment ruling — Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington v. Office of Management and Budget (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01051 — Judge Sullivan granted a summary judgment in part for the plaintiffs, holding that the administration's deletion of the Public Apportionments Database violates public disclosure requirements. The court noted “there is nothing unconstitutional about Congress requiring the Executive Branch to inform the public of how it is apportioning the public's money.”
• Summary judgment ruling — Protect Democracy Project v. OMB (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01111 — Judge Emmet Sullivan granted a summary judgment in part for the plaintiffs on the Administrative Procedure Act claim, holding that the administration's deletion of the Public Apportionments Database violated public disclosure requirements. The court further ordered that the Defendants must restore the Public Apportionments Database, make available the apportionment information required by the 2022 and 2023 Acts, and are permanently enjoined from removing the database without statutory authorization. The court noted “there is nothing unconstitutional about Congress requiring the Executive Branch to inform the public of how it is apportioning the public's money.”
• Temporary restraining order ruling — Washington State Association of Head Start and Early Childhood Assistance and Education Program, et al, v. Robert F. Kenned — Plaintiffs filed a motion for a temporary restraining order and proposed order seeking emergency relief for new claims arising from the Immigrant Exclusion Directive issued on July 14, 2025.
• Appeal filed — Harper v. Bessent (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01294 — Judge Ali granted a summary judgment in favor of Plaintiffs, ruling that the administration's firing of two Board members of the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) was unlawful. The court held that the statutory basis and structure of NCUA limits the president's power to fire board members at will, and such restriction is lawful under the Separation of Powers since the “NCUA Board fits comfortably within the traditional model of a multimember expert agency that does not wield substantial executive power.” The administration appealed to the D.C. Circuit and filed a motion to stay the judgment pending appeal (Case No. 25-5268 ).
• Appeal filed — Planned Parenthood Federation of America v. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. et al (D. Mass.) 1:25-cv-11913 — Following Judge Talwani's preliminary injunction , which prohibited the enforcement of Section 71113 of the “ One Big Beautiful Bill Act ” against certain members of Planned Parenthood Association, the administration appealed the decision to the First Circuit.
• Case update — American Oversight v. U.S. Department Of Government Efficiency (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01251 — Plaintiff amended its complaint to add additional APA claims and enumerate which of Defendants' actions applied to each of the claims.
• Case update — National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association v. Kennedy (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01265 — Plaintiff filed a motion for an order directing Defendants to hold the disputed funds pending a resolution on the merits.
• Case update — Project on Government Oversight, Inc. v. Trump (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00527 — The case was stayed.
• Case update — Smith v. Trump (D. Me.) 1:25-cv-00158 — Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint , which noted that the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) had set forth regulations promulgating the EO. The amended complaint added a claim under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) alleging the regulations are not in accordance with law and requesting that the court declare the regulations to be unlawful.
• Motion denied — The Associated Press v. Budowich (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00532 — The D.C. Circuit denied Plaintiffs' motion for en banc reconsideration, holding that the standard for en banc review was not met because the stay was a non-precedential order that did not resolve the appeal's merits.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — Valuta Corporation, Inc. v. Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (W.D. Tex.) 3:25-cv-00191 — Judge Schydlower granted Plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction, temporarily enjoining Defendants from “enforcing, implementing, and otherwise giving effect to the Border GTO as to the named Plaintiffs.”
• Appeal filed — Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington v. Office of Management and Budget (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01051 — Following Judge Sullivan's summary judgment in part, which rules the administration's deletion of the Public Apportionments Database violates public disclosure requirements, the administration appealed to the D.C. Circuit and filed a motion to stay the judgment pending appeal.
• Case update — American Academy of Pediatrics v. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (D. Mass.) 1:25-cv-11916 — Plaintiffs filed a first amended complaint adding two additional Plaintiffs - Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (MCAAP) and Jane Doe 2 - and provided amended and additional factual allegations and legal background.
• Certiorari petition filed — Boyle v. Trump (D. Md.) 8:25-cv-01628 — In a 6-3 opinion, the Supreme Court granted the administration's application to stay a Judge Maddox's June 13 summary judgment and injunction pending the government's Fourth Circuit appeal and any petition for a writ of certiorari, allowing the administration to remove three Commissioners from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The court noted that the case is similar to Trump v. Wilcox , which also involves the removal of members in the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB). Justice Kavanaugh concurred. Justice Kagan, alongside Justices Sotomayor and Jackson, dissented, writing “[o]nce again, this Court uses its emergency docket to destroy the independence of an independent agency, as established by Congress.”
• Stay motion decided — Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington v. Office of Management and Budget (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01051 — Judge Sullivan denied the administration's motion to stay the court's summary judgment , which found the administration's deletion of the Public Apportionments Database violates public disclosure requirements. Judge Sullivan noted the administration's conduct “unequivocally violates federal law.” He further wrote “[t]he Court will not be complicit in further delaying Plaintiff and the public of information they are entitled to know as a matter of federal law!!” On that same day, the D.C. Circuit administratively stayed Judge Sullivan's July 21 summary judgment order.
• Stay motion decided — Protect Democracy Project v. OMB (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01111 — Judge Sullivan denied Defendants' motion to stay pending appeal, however the D.C. Circuit stayed Judge Sullivan's orders from July 21 pending their review of the appeal on that same day.
• Stay pending appeal decided — CASA, Inc. v. Noem (D. Md.) 8:25-cv-01484 — Following the Fourth Circuit's July 21 refusal to stay pending appeal the termination of TPS for Afghanistan and Cameroon , Plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed their appeal. The case now continues before Judge Chuang.
• Summary judgment ruling — State of Illinois v. Federal Emergency Management Agency (D.R.I.) 1:25-cv-00206 — Defendants moved for summary judgment as well.
• Temporary restraining order ruling — Pallek v. Rollins (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01650 — Judge Jia M. Cobb denied Plaintiffs' motion for an emergency temporary restraining order.
• Case update — State of Maryland v. Corporation for National and Community Service (D. Md.) 1:25-cv-01363 — The Plaintiff States filed an amended complaint . The updates included specifying which alleged APA violations applied to the AmeriCorps Defendants and OMB Defendants as well as the addition of an allegation against all Defendants requesting mandamus relief.
• Case update — State of New Jersey v. Bondi (D. Md.) 1:25-cv-01807 — All Plaintiffs and Defendants stipulated the dismissal of the non-federal defendants-specifically Kevin Maxwell; Lawrence DeMonico; Rare Breed Triggers, LLC; Rare Breed Firearms, LLC; National Association for Gun Rights, Inc.; Texas Gun Rights, Inc.; Patrick Carey; James Wheeler; and Travis Speegle.
• Complaint filed — Gordon v. Executive Office of the President — Three Department of Justice employees filed suit in D.D.C. challenging their terminations by Attorney General Pamela Bondi in June and July 2025. The plaintiffs, who had been involved in high-profile prosecutions including January 6th cases, allege the firings were politically motivated and retaliatory, violated the Administrative Procedure Act, the Fifth Amendment's due process clause, and the Civil Service Reform Act. They seek reinstatement, backpay, and a name-clearing hearing.
• Dismissal entered — Corporation for Public Broadcasting v. Trump (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01305 — Plaintiff Board member Laura Ross voluntarily dismissed her claims, which was approved by the district court the next day. All other Plaintiffs are otherwise proceeding with their claims.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — National Job Corps Association v. Department of Labor (S.D.N.Y.) 1:25-cv-04641 — Judge Carter issued an amended preliminary injunction order which narrowed the scope of applicability of the order to the 31 centers operated by the Operator Plaintiffs and the 5 additional centers at which Plaintiff Transportation Communications Union/IAM provides training services following the Supreme Court's June 27 ruling in Trump v. Casa . The court enjoined Defendants "from enforcing, implementing, maintaining or giving effect to the closure of the private Job Corps centers, including the stop work orders and termination and non-renewal notices delivered to Job Corps center operators starting May 29, 2025, from issuing, enforcing, implementing, maintaining or giving effect to any shutdown tasks, job terminations, or student removals; and from taking any further action to close any Job Corps Centers." Sept.18, 2025: Plaintiffs submitted an amended complaint . In addition to adding more plaintiffs and providing further detail as to the factual allegations, the complaint clarified the National Job Corps Association (“NCJA”) standing to bring suit on behalf of their harmed members. Additionally, the amended complaint supplements claims with more specific violations of the Administrative Procedure Act (“APA”) and the Workplace Innovation and Opportunity Act.
• Stay motion decided — Harper v. Bessent (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01294 — Judge Ali denied the administration's motion to stay the court's summary judgment , which reinstated two Board members of the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). The court distinguished itself from recent Supreme Court opinions that blocked the courts' reinstatements in the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Labor Relations Board, noting that NCUA does not exercise the same “considerable executive power” in those cases.
• Stay motion decided — Slaughter and Bedoya v. Trump (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00909 — Judge Alikhan denied the administration's motion to stay her earlier summary judgment , which reinstated former FTC Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter . The court again reaffirmed that Supreme Court precedent limits the president's authority to remove FTC Commissioners. The court distinguished this case from recent Supreme Court opinions that stayed reinstatements at other agencies, noting those decisions did not mention FTC.
• Case update — Melgar-Salmeron v. Bondi (2d Cir.) 23-7792 — The Second Circuit ordered the government, in addition to its weekly status updates, to file by Aug. 1 a declaration from someone with personal knowledge explaining the basis for its assertion that Petitioner has been charged with illicit association and homicide, is housed at the Tecoluca maximum-security prison, and is awaiting trial, along with any corroborating documentation (with leave to seek sealing as needed). The court also noted it had held the petition in abeyance in early 2024 and, absent objection by Aug. 1, intends to lift that hold in due course.
• Case update — Quintero Chacon v. Dickerson (a.k.a. Q.C.E. v. Stewart Detention Facility) (M.D. Ga.) 4:25-cv-00050 — Petitioner Quintero filed a voluntary dismissal, based on the fact that he was removed to Venezuela on July 18, 2025, pursuant to an exchange between the United States and Venezuelan governments. The case has been closed.
• Complaint filed — State of Washington v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security — Washington State filed a federal complaint on July 25, 2025, challenging the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency's termination of the Shelter and Services Program (SSP), a congressionally established grant program. The administration zeroed out and revoked Washington's $4 million SSP grant in spring 2025, disrupting shelter, food, medical care, and hygiene services for thousands of newly arrived migrants. Washington names DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, FEMA, and Senior Official David Richardson as defendants, alleging violations of the Separation of Powers, the Spending Clause, and the Administrative Procedure Act, and seeking declaratory and injunctive relief to restore funding and prevent future executive interference with the grants.
• Notice of appeal filed — Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr v. Executive Office of the President (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00917 — The Trump Administration filed a notice of appeal to the D.C. Circuit, challenging Judge Leon's summary judgment on May 27, which found Executive Order 14250 , targeting WilmerHale, was unlawful and void.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — Cabrera v. Department of Labor (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01909 — Judge Dabney L. Friedrich issued an order and opinion granting Plaintiffs' preliminary injunction motion and stayed DOL's directive to effectuate the closure of all privately-operated Jobs Corps centers pending the resolution of this litigation.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — Personal Services Contractor Association v. Trump et al (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00469 — The court found that it likely lacks jurisdiction over the case's claims and consequently denied Plaintiff's motion for a preliminary injunction.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — Porwancher v. National Endowment for the Humanities (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01180 — Judge Carl J. Nichols granted Porwancher's June 2, 2025 motion for a preliminary injunction preventing the NEH from treating the grant as terminated and enjoining future actions regarding the grant unless they comply with procedural requirements under applicable regulations.
• Summary judgment ruling — Corporation for Public Broadcasting v. Trump (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01305 — The remaining Plaintiffs filed a motion for summary judgment requesting that the district court enter judgment declaring Trump's attempt to terminate CPB's Board members as unlawful.
• Summary judgment ruling — Harper v. Bessent (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01294 — The D.C. Circuit granted an administrative stay of the district court's July 22 summary judgment order, pending further order of the Court of Appeals.
• Supreme Court Grants Stay in Trump v. Boyle — On July 23, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court granted the federal government's request for a stay in the case of Trump v. Boyle. This decision temporarily halts the enforcement of a lower court's order that had reinstated three commissioners of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission who were terminated by the Trump administration. The stay was granted in a 6-3 decision, with Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissenting. The stay allows the Trump administration to maintain the commissioners' termination while the case proceeds through the courts.

Supporting reports

• Attorney General Bondi fires Grace and attacks judges — Hours after the federal judges selected Desiree Leigh Grace as U.S. attorney on July 22, 2025, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on social media that Grace was no longer first assistant and attacked the judges who appointed her. Bondi stated, "This Department of Justice does not tolerate rogue judges — especially when they threaten the President's core Article II powers," characterizing judicial exercise of statutory authority as a threat to presidential power.
• Federal judges reject Trump's interim US attorney pick Alina Habba for New Jersey — A panel of federal judges in New Jersey declined to permanently appoint Alina Habba, Trump's former defense lawyer, as the state's US attorney after her interim status expired on July 22. The judges offered no explanation but appointed career prosecutor Desiree Leigh Grace as her replacement. In retaliation, Attorney General Pam Bondi removed Grace hours later, citing judicial overreach of presidential Article II powers. The removal sparked Democratic condemnation of what senators called an attempt to intimidate the judiciary.
• AG Bondi removes Desiree Grace as US Attorney for New Jersey — Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the removal of Desiree Grace from her position as US Attorney for New Jersey, immediately after Grace was appointed by judges to replace Alina Habba. Bondi stated that "politically minded judges refused to allow her to continue in her position" and claimed the DOJ "does not tolerate rogue judges—especially when they threaten the President's core Article II powers."
• AG Bondi accused judges of refusing to appoint Alina Habba — Hours after judges on the US District Court in New Jersey declined to appoint Trump's former lawyer and interim US attorney for the state, Alina Habba, for a permanent position, AG Bondi accused the "politically minded" and "rogue" judges of refusing to allow her to continue in her position. Bondi also removed Habba's court-appointed successor, Desiree Grace, who had been serving as the second-highest-ranking official in the US attorney's office.
• Deputy AG Blanche defends Habba; urges judges to retain her — Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who served as Habba's co-counsel in Trump's criminal cases, issued a statement defending Habba and urging the district judges to retain her. Blanche stated that Habba has "the full confidence of DOJ leadership" and is performing her duties "aggressively, independently, and by the book." He characterized criticism as a "smear campaign" and urged judges to disregard "political noise."

Supporting reports

• Trump attacked federal judge overseeing Harvard funding case — On Truth Social, Trump lashed out at the federal judge overseeing Harvard University's lawsuit against his administration over $2 billion in federal funding cuts, calling her a "TOTAL DISASTER," an "automatic 'loss' for the People of Our Country!," and a "Trump-hating Judge."

Supporting reports

• Trump demands Senate end blue-slip judicial confirmation tradition — On July 20, Trump posted on social media demanding the Senate immediately abandon the blue-slip tradition, an informal process allowing minority-party senators to block judicial nominees for their state. Trump characterized the practice as preventing him from appointing his chosen nominees and demanded Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley end it, while reposting attacks calling Grassley a "RINO" and suggesting he hates America. Grassley refused, stating he was offended by Trump's personal insults.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration makes undocumented immigrants ineligible for bond hearings — The Washington Post reported that the Trump administration implemented a policy making undocumented immigrants no longer eligible for bond hearings while they challenge their deportation proceedings in court. Under the new policy, only DHS officials can release detainees on parole, rather than judges, affecting millions of immigrants.

Supporting reports

• Trump publicly attacks Federal Reserve Chair Powell and threatens removal over tariff-driven inflation — President Trump has launched a series of public attacks on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, claiming Powell is "too late" to cut interest rates and that Fed inaction is harming the economy. Trump has called for Powell's resignation and raised the prospect of firing him, citing a $2.5 billion Fed building renovation as potential grounds. This occurs as Trump's tariff rollout—now at 20.6% average effective rate, the highest since 1910—drives consumer prices upward, contradicting Trump's campaign promise to reduce prices. Powell has stated tariff costs will eventually reach consumers.
• Trump denied needing explanation about firing Federal Reserve Chair Powell — Trump posted on Truth Social responding to a Wall Street Journal report that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had explained to him that firing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell would be bad for the market. Trump denied needing such an explanation, stating "I know better than anybody what's good for the Market, and what's good for the U.S.A." The post reflected Trump's continued interest in removing the Fed chair he had appointed.
• Trump visited Federal Reserve headquarters to pressure Powell — President Trump visited the Federal Reserve headquarters to pressure Fed Chair Jerome Powell, claiming the Fed may be committing fraud by going over budget on building renovations by approximately $3.1 billion. Powell publicly contradicted Trump on camera, stating he was not aware of the claimed overages and correcting Trump's assertion that a building was being built when it had actually been completed five years ago. When asked what would cause him to back off his criticism, Trump stated he would like Powell to lower interest rates.

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• ICE acting director issues memo restricting bond hearings for detainees — Todd Lyons, ICE's acting director, issued a memo this week changing ICE policy to argue that detainees are not entitled to bond hearings before their deportation case is heard in court. Immigration advocates expect to challenge the move in court. The policy change affects detainees like Guevara, whose family was prevented from paying a $7,500 bond after the immigration judge granted it, because government attorneys appealed the bond order.
• Trump administration makes undocumented immigrants ineligible for bond hearings — The Washington Post reported that the Trump administration implemented a policy making undocumented immigrants no longer eligible for bond hearings while they challenge their deportation proceedings in court. Under the new policy, only DHS officials can release detainees on parole, rather than judges, affecting millions of immigrants.

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• Former judges urge Senate to reject Emil Bove nomination — A group of more than 75 former federal and state judges urged the Senate Judiciary Committee to reject Trump's nomination of Emil Bove to serve as a federal appeals court judge, writing that his "egregious record of mistreating law enforcement officers, abusing power, and disregarding the law itself disqualifies him for this position."
• Senate confirms Anthony Tata as Pentagon undersecretary — The Senate voted to confirm Anthony Tata to serve as the Pentagon's undersecretary for personnel and readiness. Tata, a former Fox commentator, once called Barack Obama a "terrorist leader" and spread conspiracy theories that a former CIA director tried to overthrow Trump during his first term and even have him assassinated.
• Senate Judiciary Committee advances Emil Bove nomination to federal appeals court despite Democratic walkout — The Republican-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance Emil Bove's nomination to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals on July 18, 2025, clearing the way for a full Senate confirmation vote. Bove, a former Trump defense attorney and DOJ official, faced opposition from Democrats over allegations by whistleblower Erez Reuveni that Bove advocated ignoring court orders, and over his role in firing January 6 prosecutors. Democrats walked out in protest after Republicans refused to call Reuveni as a witness and rejected a motion to delay the vote.

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• Supreme Court grants stay on Education Department layoff order — The Supreme Court's right-wing majority granted a stay on a lower court order blocking the Trump administration from gutting the Department of Education while litigation proceeds. Federal Judge Myong Joun had ordered reinstatement of 1,378 fired workers after nineteen states and D.C. sued to stop the layoffs. The stay permits the layoffs to continue. Justices Sotomayor, Kagan, and Jackson dissented, arguing the majority enabled executive defiance of law and violated separation of powers.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — Somerville Public Schools v. Trump (D. Mass.) 1:25-cv-10677 — The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to grant a stay of a preliminary injunction that had blocked the administration's plans to dismantle the Department of Education and fire thousands of department employees. The majority did not provide any reasoning. In dissent , Justice Sotomayor, joined by Justices Kagan and Jackson, warned that the Court's order enables the executive branch to functionally “abolish” an entire department “by executive fiat.”
• Preliminary injunction ruling — State of New York v. McMahon (D. Mass.) 1:25-cv-10601 — The Supreme Court granted the federal government's request for a stay in the case of McMahon v. New York. This decision temporarily allows the Department of Education to proceed with a reduction in force that impacts nearly 50% of its workforce, approximately 1,378 employees. The stay was granted in a 6-3 decision, with Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissenting. The case was initially brought by twenty states and the District of Columbia, challenging the reduction in force as unlawful.
• Supreme Court Grants Stay in McMahon v. New York — The Supreme Court granted an emergency appeal from the Trump administration, allowing it to move forward with gutting the Department of Education by firing nearly half of the agency's workforce. The decision bypassed lower-court review and normal appellate procedures.
• Supreme Court grants emergency appeal allowing Department of Education workforce cuts

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• Trump administration fires 15 immigration judges — NPR reported that the Trump administration fired 15 immigration judges last week and two more on Monday, July 14, despite the GOP tax and spending bill allocating an additional $3 billion in immigration-related funding to the Justice Department, including funds to hire about 100 more immigration judges.

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• Senator Durbin stated Bove should not be appointed to federal bench — On July 10, 2025, Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), the top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued a statement that Emil Bove "belongs nowhere near the federal bench." Durbin characterized the allegations as "a declaration of defiance of our courts at the highest level of our government by a man who now seeks a lifetime appointment to one of the highest courts in our land."

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• Judge Boasberg finds probable cause for criminal contempt against Trump officials — Federal Judge James Boasberg found probable cause to hold Trump administration officials in criminal contempt of court for showing "a willful disregard" toward his orders regarding the detained Venezuelan migrants. The contempt proceedings were temporarily halted by an appeals court but may resume, with the El Salvador U.N. disclosure now serving as significant evidence against the officials.

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• Trump administration issues policy barring bond hearings for undocumented immigrants in removal proceedings — The Trump administration, through Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), issued a memo on 8 July reversing prior policy to bar millions of undocumented immigrants from requesting bond hearings before immigration judges during removal proceedings. ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons stated that the Homeland Security and Justice departments had "revisited" their legal position and determined such immigrants "may not be released from ICE custody." The policy applies to immigrants who entered without legal status and are in removal proceedings that can span years. Immigration attorneys and judges have signaled legal challenges.