Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Preliminary injunction ruling — State of Minnesota v. Noem (D. Minn.) 0:26-cv-00190 — A magistrate judge denied Minnesota's motion for expedited discovery, holding that despite the “far-reaching and deeply traumatizing effects” of Operation Metro Surge, Plaintiffs had not shown good cause because they had not yet filed the contemplated preliminary injunction motion or narrowly targeted their request to support specific and necessary ends.
• Stay motion decided — Lesly Miot v. Trump (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-02471 — A coalition of 17 states and the District of Columbia filed an amicus brief in opposition to the emergency motion to stay pending appeal.
• Case update — Democracy Forward Foundation v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-04424 — Defendant answered Plaintiff's complaint and included the defense that its actions did not violate FOIA or other statutory provisions.
• Case update — State of Washington v. Federal Emergency Management Agency (D. Mass.) 1:25-cv-12006 — Plaintiff States filed a Motion to Enforce Judgment.
• Motion to dismiss decided — State of New York v. Department of Education (D. Mass.) 1:25-cv-11116 — Judge Young granted parties' joint motion to dismiss the complaint without prejudice after the administration withdrew its appeal in American Federation of Teachers v. Department of Education of a court order vacating the same challenged agency action.
• Ruling vacated — Lazaro Maldonado Bautista v. Ernesto Santacruz Jr. (C.D. Cal.) 5:25-cv-01873 — Judge Sykes granted Plaintiffs' motion to enforce judgment, finding that the government violated her prior order by continuing to detain noncitizens without a bond hearing. Judge Sykes vacated a Board of Immigration Appeals decision that conflicted with her order, finding that the administration's continued reliance on that decision “far crossed the boundaries of constitutional conduct.” Judge Sykes also ordered the government to provide notice to a nationwide class of detained noncitizens of their ability to seek bond hearings under her order.
• Stay motion decided — U.H.A. et al v. Bondi et al (D. Minn.) 0:26-cv-00417 — Judge Tunheim granted the motion to stay consideration of Plaintiffs' contempt motion for seven days.
• Case update — Center for Constitutional Rights v. United States Department of State (S.D.N.Y.) 1:25-cv-06879 — Defendants filed a status report which indicates that USAID had begun its production of priority documents to Plaintiff and that the parties would continue to confer on narrowing the scope of Defendants' searches in light of USAID initially locating over 17 million potentially responsive records and DOS initially locating over 900,000 pages of responsive records.
• Case update — Vizguerra-Ramirez v. Choate et al (D. Colo.) 1:25-cv-00881 — In a minute order , Judge Wang directed that the case be administratively closed.
• Complaint filed — Lemmon v. Trump (D.D.C. 1:26-cv-00544) — Private plaintiffs, including Vietnam War veterans, diplomats, and a historic preservation expert, filed a complaint in D.D.C. challenging President Trump's proposed 25-story "Independence Arch" on Memorial Circle between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. Plaintiffs allege the administration violated the Commemorative Works Act, National Historic Preservation Act, and National Environmental Policy Act by proceeding without required legislative approval and environmental review on an accelerated schedule ahead of July 4, 2026. They seek declaratory and injunctive relief to bar construction and have filed a motion for preliminary injunction.
• Complaint filed: Williams v. National Aeronautics and Space Administration — Two scientists and an association of engineers and scientists at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center filed suit in D.D.C. against NASA and the Archivist of the United States, challenging the September 2025 reversal of NASA's records-preservation framework and the closure of the Goddard Information and Collaboration Center and NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive. Plaintiffs allege the decisions violated the Administrative Procedure Act as arbitrary and capricious and seek vacatur, rescission, and an order requiring preservation of the database and records.
• Motion granted — Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance v. United States Department of the Interior (D. Utah) 2:25-cv-00657 — Judge Barlow granted a motion allowing Peak Minerals, the owner of mineral leases at stake in Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance's lawsuit against the government, to intervene in the case.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — Citizens For Responsibility And Ethics In Washington v. Department Of Justice (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-04426 — Judge Kollar-Kotelly issued an order which granted in part and denied in part Plaintiff's preliminary injunction motion . The DOJ was ordered to expedite its processing of CREW's FOIA requests, however Judge Kollar-Kotelly declined to direct the DOJ to process its requests at a specific rate, instead opting to direct the parties to develop a proposal for the expedited processing and production of the most urgent records.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — Tincher v. Noem (D. Minn.) 0:25-cv-04669 — The Eight Circuit stayed the appeal proceedings pending an indicative ruling by the district court on a motion to dissolve the preliminary injunction, following the reported end of Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis.
• Appeal filed — State of Illinois v. Noem (D.R.I.) 1:25-cv-00495 — The government appealed Judge McElroy's Dec. 22, 2025 order granting summary judgment to Plaintiffs to the First Circuit (Case No. 26-1182 ).
• Case update — Jorge Lujan v. FMCSA (D.C. Cir.) 25-1215 — The court severed Lujan v. FMCSA , 26-1032 from Lujan v. FMCSA , 25-1215. The court ordered Lujan v. FMCSA , 25-1215 remain in abeyance pending further order of the court following the disposition of Lujan v. FMCSA , 26-1032.
• Case update — Jorge Lujan v. FMCSA (D.C. Cir.) 26-1032 — Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint alleging they have exhausted administrative remedies under FOIA and are now entitled to an injunction.
• Case update — Protect Democracy Project v. U.S. Department of the Treasury (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-04101 — The court consolidated American Public Health Association v. EPA , 26-1037 with Elena Venner v. EPA , 26-1038. These cases will proceed under American Public Health Association v. EPA .
• Cases consolidated — American Public Health Association v. EPA (D.C. Cir.) 26-1037

Supporting reports

• Utah legislature passes law restricting redistricting jurisdiction to state supreme court — The Republican-controlled Utah legislature enacted a state law providing that only the Utah Supreme Court may hear redistricting cases going forward, a jurisdictional restriction designed to consolidate control over future redistricting disputes.
• Utah legislature pushes back congressional candidate filing deadlines — The Republican-controlled Utah legislature postponed congressional candidate filing deadlines as part of a broader effort to delay implementation of the court-ordered redistricting map and maintain the 2021 map for the 2026 election.

Supporting reports

• Immigration judges fired without cause under Trump's second term — Approximately 100 of 735 immigration judges nationwide have been fired without cause since Trump's second term began in 2025, including judges with low asylum grant rates. The Justice Department is actively recruiting replacements and has made clear through recruiting materials that "conscientious adjudication of asylum claims is no longer the point," explicitly advertising positions as "deportation judge" roles focused on maximizing deportations rather than fair adjudication.

Supporting reports

• U.S. District Court Judge Ana C. Reyes issued temporary restraining order blocking termination of Haiti's Temporary Protected Status — U.S. District Court Judge Ana C. Reyes issued a temporary restraining order stopping Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 353,000 Haitian nationals pending resolution of a lawsuit challenging the termination. The judge found that Noem ignored statutory procedures and criteria established by Congress, instead relying on ideological hostility to nonwhite immigrants. Reyes noted that Noem has terminated all twelve TPS designations that reached her desk and that the factual record contradicts the administration's characterization of TPS holders as criminals or economic drains.
• Federal judge temporarily blocked termination of Haitian TPS protections — A federal judge in Washington, D.C. issued a temporary halt to the planned termination of Temporary Protected Status for Haitian nationals scheduled to take effect on February 3, 2026. The injunction paused removal proceedings that would have exposed TPS-covered individuals to increased risk of deportation to Haiti.
• Federal judge blocks Trump administration's revocation of Haitian temporary protected status — Judge Ana Reyes issued a temporary stay blocking Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's decision to revoke temporary protected status (TPS) for approximately 350,000 Haitians. The revocation was scheduled to take effect on Tuesday. Reyes found that plaintiffs—five Haitian TPS holders including a neuroscientist, software engineer, laboratory assistant, college student, and registered nurse—were likely to prevail on the merits and that Noem's decision appeared preordained by "hostility to nonwhite immigrants." During the stay, the termination has no legal effect and TPS holders retain work authorization and deportation protections.
• Federal judge blocks Trump administration's termination of Haitian TPS, but ICE enforcement threat persists in Springfield, Ohio — U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes issued a ruling on Monday, February 3, 2026, blocking the Trump administration's attempt to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians. The decision pauses the termination while litigation proceeds. However, despite this legal victory, thousands of Haitians in Springfield, Ohio—where 10,000 to 15,000 remain—face ongoing fear of ICE raids. Local businesses have closed, families are making deportation contingency plans, and uncertainty persists about whether federal immigration enforcement will target the community.

Supporting reports

• Federal judge dismisses DOJ lawsuit in California voter data case — A federal judge, identified as Judge David O. Carter, dismissed the Department of Justice's lawsuit in California challenging the state's refusal to provide voter registration data. In his opinion, Judge Carter characterized the case as a fundamental threat to democratic governance, stating that the erosion of privacy and rolling back of voting rights should be decided by the Legislative Branch, not the Executive, and that the Executive may not unilaterally usurp authority over elections.

Supporting reports

• Federal judge summons ICE acting head Todd Lyons to court for alleged defiance of court orders — Minnesota's top federal judge summoned Todd Lyons, the acting head of ICE, to appear in court on Friday for allegedly defying court orders. The judge stated "The court's patience is at an end," signaling potential contempt of court proceedings against the ICE leader for failing to comply with judicial directives.
• Minnesota federal judge summons ICE acting director for contempt over defiance of court orders — Chief US District Judge Patrick Schiltz issued a three-page order summoning acting ICE director Todd Lyons to appear before him on Friday, warning of potential contempt charges. Schiltz accused the Trump administration of deliberately delaying or ignoring judicial directives across Minnesota's federal courts during "Operation Metro Surge," an aggressive immigration enforcement campaign. The judge cited a specific case in which he had ordered a man released on January 15 who remained in custody as of Monday night, and noted that detained immigrants had been sent to Texas or released far from home without means to return, causing "significant hardship."
• Multiple Minnesota federal judges weigh legal challenges to Operation Metro Surge immigration enforcement — Several Minnesota federal judges are considering broader legal challenges that could significantly restrict federal immigration enforcement in the state or halt Operation Metro Surge entirely. US District Judge Michael Davis accused the administration of attempting to "defy court orders" and "deny noncitizens their due process rights." Judge Kate Menendez ordered government lawyers to respond by Wednesday evening to claims the operation was designed to punish Minnesota for its sanctuary policies. Another federal judge is weighing whether the deployment of 3,000 immigration agents constitutes an unconstitutional occupation, a case that gained momentum following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal officers.
• Federal judge orders ICE director to appear in court and threatens contempt — Minnesota's chief federal judge, U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz (appointed by President Bush), ordered the head of ICE, Todd Lyons, to appear in his courtroom on Friday and threatened to hold him in contempt for repeated defiance of judges' orders in the state. Judge Schiltz stated "The court's patience is at an end." The order came in response to the Trump administration's massive immigration enforcement action in the Twin Cities, which has flooded courts with emergency lawsuits. Schiltz noted that the administration has been slow-walking or outright defying directives of many Minnesota judges, including at least one of his own orders for release that was not complied with.
• Federal judge orders ICE director to appear in court for contempt of court — Judge Patrick J. Schiltz of the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota ordered Todd Lyons, the acting director of ICE, to appear in court on Friday to explain why he was not in contempt of court after ICE officials apparently ignored Schiltz's order to permit a detainee to have a bond hearing or be released. On Tuesday, the government released the detainee. On Wednesday, Schiltz canceled the Friday hearing but identified "96 court orders that ICE has violated in 74 cases" and warned that he would haul Lyons or other government officials into court if they continued ignoring court rulings.
• Minnesota federal judge issues scathing order documenting 96 ICE court order violations — Minnesota's Chief Federal Judge Schiltz issued an order that included an appendix identifying 96 court orders that ICE has violated in 74 cases. The judge stated: "This list should give pause to anyone—no matter his or her political beliefs—who cares about the rule of law. ICE has likely violated more court orders in Jan 2026 than some federal agencies have violated in their entire existence."

Supporting reports

• FBI Director Kash Patel launches investigation into Signal group chats used by protesters — FBI Director Kash Patel announced on January 26 that he launched an investigation into Signal group chats used by protesters in Minnesota to share information about federal immigration agents, including their locations and license plate numbers. The move targets legally obtained information and the act of recording law enforcement officials, both protected by the First Amendment.
• Justice Department appeals to Eighth Circuit after judge declines to issue arrest warrants for CNN anchor and protesters — Federal prosecutors sought Chief Judge Schiltz's assistance in arresting former CNN anchor Don Lemon and others linked to an anti-ICE church protest. After Schiltz declined to overturn a magistrate's denial of arrest warrants, the Justice Department appealed directly to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. The circuit court rejected the government's request, prompting Schiltz to write letters criticizing the Justice Department's approach and highlighting the flood of "illegal" detention cases overwhelming Minnesota courts.
• FBI director announced investigation of Signal chats of Minneapolis observers — FBI Director Kash Patel told a right-wing podcaster that the FBI will investigate Signal chats of those organized in Minneapolis to observe and record federal agents, to determine if they endangered federal agents. Podcaster Benny Johnson suggested the chats were "coordinated infrastructure" and asked the FBI to "take a crack at trying to get rid of this infrastructure the way they approach the mob or cartels or other terrorist networks."
• TikTok suppresses anti-ICE videos following Oracle acquisition — Following TikTok's acquisition by an Oracle-led consortium in late January 2026, users reported inability to upload videos critical of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Law professor Stephen Vladeck reported his anti-ICE video remained "under review" for nine hours; comedian Megan Stalter and California State Sen. Scott Wiener also reported suppression. TikTok attributed the issue to a data center outage, but the timing coincided with Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison's known Trump loyalty, raising concerns about state influence over the platform's content moderation.
• Federal agents arrested journalist Don Lemon on FACE Act and civil rights conspiracy charges — More than two dozen federal agents arrested independent journalist Don Lemon late on January 29, charging him with violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act and conspiring to hurt the exercise of rights—a Reconstruction-era law originally used against the Ku Klux Klan. Lemon had filmed protesters disrupting a church service in St. Paul, Minnesota, on January 18 at a white nationalist church with ties to the Trump administration. A magistrate judge and federal judge had both refused to issue warrants; the administration then sought indictment via federal grand jury. Lemon stated he would plead not guilty and continue his journalism.
• Federal agents arrest Don Lemon and three journalists — On January 29, federal agents arrested Don Lemon and three other journalists in relation to their coverage of an anti-ICE protest inside a St. Paul, Minnesota church. Lemon has been charged with conspiring to deprive others of their civil rights and violating the FACE Act by allegedly obstructing access to a house of worship. The arrests come one week after a federal magistrate judge rejected the Justice Department's initial request to bring charges. Lemon's lawyer Abbe Lowell called the move an "unprecedented attack on the First Amendment" and a "transparent attempt to distract attention from the many crises facing this administration."
• Federal magistrate and district judge refused to issue arrest warrants for Don Lemon — A federal magistrate judge refused to issue a warrant for Don Lemon and his producer, stating prosecutors had not shown evidence justifying arrest. When the administration asked a federal judge to overturn that decision, the judge also refused, calling the request "unprecedented." The administration then escalated the case to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, which also refused to intervene.
• DOJ charges Don Lemon and three others with civil rights crimes related to Minnesota church protest — The Department of Justice charged former CNN anchor Don Lemon and three others with federal civil rights crimes, alleging they interfered with religious freedom at a church in Minnesota earlier in January. Lemon was arrested in Los Angeles on Thursday while covering the Grammy Awards and released Friday. The charges also invoked the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act. A federal magistrate judge had previously declined to sign an arrest warrant for Lemon, but the DOJ proceeded with charges anyway. The White House celebrated the arrest on social media.
• Don Lemon arrested on charges connected to Minnesota church protest — Ex-CNN anchor Don Lemon, 59, was arrested on charges related to a Minnesota church protest. Lemon, who was terminated by CNN in 2023 following allegations of problematic behavior toward female colleagues and controversial on-air remarks, has since worked as an independent journalist on YouTube. The arrest marks a significant development in his career trajectory following his departure from mainstream media.
• Federal agents arrest journalist Georgia Fort for covering ICE protest at Minnesota church — Georgia Fort, an independent Minnesota journalist, was arrested at her home on January 30 after covering a January 18 protest at St. Paul's Cities church, where a pastor reportedly works for ICE. Fort was charged alongside Don Lemon under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act) and conspiracy statutes—charges experts call unprecedented against journalists. The DOJ pursued the case aggressively after a federal judge and appeals court initially refused to charge the journalists; a grand jury eventually secured an indictment. Fort livestreamed her arrest and has since been unable to cover related stories due to legal and safety concerns.
• Federal agents conduct search of Fort's home and question her children — When federal agents arrested Georgia Fort at her home on January 30, approximately two dozen agents remained outside for hours after her arrest. As Fort's family attempted to leave, agents stopped them in the driveway and questioned her children about whether they possessed her laptop or cellphone. Fort's daughters, aged 17, 8, and 7, were terrified by the encounter. The youngest daughter now discusses ICE daily; the oldest has experienced nightmares. Fort stated agents could have waited until children left for school and questioned why so many agents were needed to arrest a journalist.
• Journalist Don Lemon arrested by Trump administration after covering anti-ICE protest — Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested on January 30, 2026, by federal agents at a Los Angeles hotel while covering the Grammy Awards. The Trump administration obtained a federal grand jury indictment against Lemon, independent journalist Georgia Fort, and others on charges of conspiracy and interfering with worshippers' constitutional rights during an anti-immigration enforcement protest at a Minnesota church on January 18. A federal magistrate judge had previously refused to sign an arrest warrant for Lemon. On February 8, Lemon spoke publicly about the arrest, characterizing it as an attack on press freedom and warning that democracy becomes "hollow" when the First Amendment is threatened.
• Federal agents arrested journalist Georgia Fort and two protest participants — Federal agents arrested independent journalist Georgia Fort of Minnesota, along with two protest participants, Trahern Jeen Crews and Jamael Lydell Lundy, in connection with the January 18 church protest in St. Paul. All four people arrested in the past 24 hours are Black.
• Don Lemon arrested on federal civil rights charges — Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested by federal authorities and charged with federal civil rights crimes in connection with a protest at a Minnesota church service earlier in January. The Department of Homeland Security stated Lemon was charged with conspiracy and interfering with the First Amendment rights of worshipers. His attorney Abbe Lowell stated Lemon's "constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than what he has always done" and characterized the arrest as "an unprecedented attack on the first amendment." Career DOJ prosecutors in Minnesota and Louisiana refused to be involved in charging Lemon and other journalists who covered the Minneapolis church protests, believing the evidence does not support the charges.

Supporting reports

• US District Judge Kate Menendez heard lawsuit challenging federal immigration surge in Minnesota — US District Judge Kate Menendez heard a lawsuit seeking to halt the federal immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota, with lawyers for the state arguing that the operation violates the 10th Amendment by coercing state compliance with federal demands. The judge repeatedly cited Trump's social media threats of "a day of reckoning and retribution" against Minnesota and Attorney General Pam Bondi's letter to Governor Walz (described by state lawyers as a "shakedown" and "ransom note") as evidence that the operation may be intended to strongarm state officials rather than solely enforce immigration law. The judge declined to rule immediately.
• Federal judge hears arguments on ending ICE surge in Minneapolis — A federal judge heard arguments on Monday regarding whether to end the federal officer surge in Minneapolis known as Operation Metro Surge. No ruling was expected imminently. The hearing follows the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti and represents judicial review of the legality and scope of the federal immigration enforcement deployment.
• Minneapolis federal court hears constitutional challenge to Trump's "Operation Metro Surge" ICE deployment — A federal court in Minneapolis heard arguments on whether the Trump administration's deployment of 3,000 ICE agents to Minnesota violates the 10th Amendment by functioning as an illegal occupation of the state. Judge Kate Menendez ordered the Trump administration to respond to claims that Operation Metro Surge was designed to punish sanctuary jurisdictions. The case was filed after a fatal shooting of a Minneapolis nurse by federal agents and involves allegations that the surge uses coercion and racial profiling to force policy changes unrelated to immigration enforcement.
• Federal judge denies Minnesota's request to halt ICE Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis — Minnesota's state government, along with Minneapolis and St Paul, sued to end the Trump administration's Operation Metro Surge after ICE agents killed two people—Renee Good and Alex Pretti—sparking weeks of protests. The plaintiffs argued the operation violated the 10th Amendment by exceeding federal authority. On Saturday, federal judge Kate Menendez denied the request, ruling the state failed to demonstrate a constitutional violation, though she acknowledged the operation's "profound and heartbreaking" impact and evidence of racial profiling and excessive force by ICE and CBP agents.

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.

Supporting reports

• Lindsey Halligan leaves US attorney position after judicial rulings of unlawful appointment — Lindsey Halligan, a Trump-appointed federal attorney with no prosecutorial experience who led failed cases against political opponents Letitia James and James Comey, departed her position as interim US attorney for the eastern district of Virginia. Multiple federal judges ruled her appointment unlawful and rejected the administration's argument for back-to-back interim appointments. A judge ordered her to cease using the title "US attorney" and threatened disciplinary proceedings; another judge declared the position vacant.
• Lindsey Halligan departs U.S. Attorney's Office following judicial criticism — Lindsey Halligan officially left the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia after serious judicial criticism and disputes over the legality of her authority. Courts determined that the executive branch could not unilaterally improvise authority and that appointments must follow established legal rules.
• Virginia U.S. Attorney resigns amid judicial criticism — Lindsey Halligan has resigned from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia following judicial criticism and disputes over the legality of her authority. This development underscores the judiciary's role in maintaining checks on executive appointments and authority.

Supporting reports

• Federal judge dismisses DOJ lawsuit seeking California voter data — U.S. District Judge David Carter ruled Thursday that the Trump administration's Justice Department is not entitled to sensitive California voter information, including dates of birth and last four social security digits. The DOJ had sued California after the state's secretary of state refused to provide unredacted voter rolls, claiming the data was needed to verify voter eligibility. Carter found the request threatened voting rights and democracy, noting evidence the government intended to use the data for immigration enforcement and create a centralized database. The ruling blocks one of 24 similar lawsuits filed across states.

Supporting reports

• Federal appeals court overturns detention challenge ruling in Mahmoud Khalil case — A federal appeals court overturned the ruling in the case of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate arrested in March 2025 for pro-Palestinian activism. The reversal opens the door to his eventual re-detention. Khalil, whose initial arrest was cited as the first target of Trump's effort to deport noncitizen students with pro-Palestinian views, plans to appeal the appellate decision.
• US appeals court reverses lower court decision freeing Palestinian activist from ICE detention — A three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit reversed a lower court's order releasing Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate student, from immigration detention. The court found that the district court lacked jurisdiction to hear Khalil's habeas petition, ruling that immigration courts—not federal courts—have authority over such claims. Khalil had been detained in March 2025 after the Trump administration argued his pro-Palestinian activism constituted a threat to US foreign policy. He was released in June 2025 but now faces potential re-detention.

Supporting reports

• Alina Habba resigns as New Jersey U.S. attorney after appeals court disqualification — Alina Habba became the first of Trump's unlawful appointments to resign after an appeals court disqualified her from serving as New Jersey's top federal prosecutor. Her resignation clears the way for judges in the federal district to select a new U.S. attorney. Habba's departure follows successful legal challenges to other Trump appointees who were placed in office through temporary appointments that bypassed Senate confirmation.
• Challenges to Trump's unlawful U.S. attorney appointments succeed; Lindsey Halligan defeated — Defendants successfully challenged several of Trump's temporary U.S. attorney appointments made to circumvent Senate confirmation. Most notably, former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James succeeded in challenging Lindsey Halligan, whom Trump had appointed to bring criminal cases against them. These legal victories demonstrate that courts are willing to invalidate Trump's unlawful appointments of loyalists to key federal prosecutor positions.
• Judge ruled Trump's acting U.S. attorney holds office unlawfully — U.S. District Judge Lorna Schofield ruled that John Sarcone, Trump's temporary nominee as acting U.S. attorney for the Northern District of New York, does not hold that position lawfully. Trump ignored the law to keep his loyalists in control of key Department of Justice offices. Although judges have said five of Trump-appointed U.S. attorneys are in office illegally, at least three have refused to step down.
• Federal judge removes Trump-appointed U.S. attorney for unlawful appointment — Ex-Trump campaign lawyer John Sarcone has been disqualified from investigating New York Attorney General Letitia James because he was unlawfully appointed. Sarcone is the fifth Trump-installed U.S. attorney to be removed by a federal judge for similar appointment violations.

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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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• Attorney General Bondi claims special attorney title allows U.S. attorney functions — In sworn court testimony, Attorney General Pam Bondi claimed that because she appointed Lindsey Halligan as a "special attorney," Halligan should be able to perform all the same functions as a U.S. attorney. The Third Circuit Court of Appeals rejected this argument, ruling that Bondi's maneuver was "plainly prohibited" by federal law and would allow officials to "avoid the gauntlet of presidential appointment and Senate confirmation and serve as the de facto U.S. Attorney indefinitely."

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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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• 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.

Supporting reports

• Third Circuit upholds ruling that Alina Habba's appointment as acting U.S. attorney for New Jersey was unlawful — A three-judge panel of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court ruling finding that President Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi violated federal vacancy laws and the Senate confirmation process in appointing Alina Habba as acting U.S. attorney for New Jersey. The panel rejected Bondi's argument that she could funnel U.S. attorney powers into a "special attorney" title to circumvent Senate confirmation. Despite the disqualification, Habba and the DOJ continue to claim she holds the position.
• Federal appeals court upheld ruling that Alina Habba's appointment was unlawful — A federal appeals court upheld a lower court ruling that Alina Habba, whom Trump placed in the position of acting U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey, was appointed unlawfully. Trump appointed her to a 120-day acting appointment, after which district court judges control the spot until Senate confirmation. The judges rejected Habba, who has no prosecutorial experience, and selected experienced prosecutor Desiree Leigh Grace instead. Attorney General Pam Bondi then fired Grace and maneuvered Habba back into control.
• Federal judges found illegal Trump appointments of multiple U.S. attorneys — Federal judges have found illegal Trump's appointments of U.S. attorneys for the Central District of California and the District of Nevada, in addition to the Eastern District of Virginia and District of New Jersey. These rulings indicate a pattern of the administration attempting to place unqualified or illegally appointed prosecutors in positions of power.
• Judge D. Michael Fisher issued opinion on Habba appointment — Federal judges have found illegal Trump's appointments of U.S. attorneys for the Central District of California and the District of Nevada, in addition to the Eastern District of Virginia and District of New Jersey appointments previously ruled unlawful.
• Appeals court upholds disqualification of Trump's interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey — Judge D. Michael Fisher wrote in the appeals court opinion that "It is apparent that the current administration has been frustrated by some of the legal and political barriers to getting its appointees in place," but stated that Trump cannot circumvent the law to place his preferred appointees in prosecutorial positions. The ruling affirmed that district court judges retain authority to select U.S. attorneys when the 120-day acting appointment expires and the Senate has not confirmed a nominee.
• Third Circuit Court affirms Alina Habba unlawfully occupied U.S. Attorney position — A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit unanimously upheld the disqualification of Alina Habba as interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey. The panel, composed of judges appointed by George W. Bush and Barack Obama, found that the Trump administration had attempted to circumvent the Senate confirmation process by appointing Habba as a perpetual "interim" U.S. Attorney after she failed to secure Senate confirmation votes. The court noted that citizens of New Jersey and loyal employees in the U.S. Attorney's Office deserve clarity and stability.
• Federal appeals court ruled Trump's attorney appointment unlawful — The Third Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed that Alina Habba was never legally acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey. Judges from across the political spectrum determined she unlawfully occupied the role after attempting to sidestep established rules governing vacancies. The ruling follows a pattern of Trump administration officials attempting to bypass Senate confirmation, destroy institutional norms, and consolidate power through procedural manipulation.
• Judge D. Michael Fisher criticized administration's circumvention of legal barriers — A federal appeals court ruled that Trump's efforts to keep Alina Habba, his former personal attorney, as the top prosecutor in New Jersey were unlawful, upholding a lower court's decision that disqualified Habba from her post. The ruling rejected Trump's attempt to place a personal loyalist in a federal prosecutorial position.
• — A federal appeals court upheld a lower court ruling that President Trump's appointment of Alina Habba as acting U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey was unlawful. Trump appointed her to a 120-day acting position, after which district court judges were to control the spot until Senate confirmation. The judges rejected Habba, who has no prosecutorial experience, and selected experienced prosecutor Desiree Leigh Grace instead. Attorney General Pam Bondi then fired Grace and maneuvered Habba back into control.
• — In the appeals court opinion upholding the ruling against Habba's appointment, Judge D. Michael Fisher wrote: "It is apparent that the current administration has been frustrated by some of the legal and political barriers to getting its appointees in place." The judges stated that Trump cannot simply ignore the law to place his preferred appointees in office.

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• Federal judge rules on Halligan appointment legality in Comey case — A federal judge overseeing the consolidated unlawful-appointment claim in the Comey and James cases indicated he would rule before Thanksgiving on whether prosecutor Lindsey Halligan was lawfully appointed to her position as temporary U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. Comey and James argue that Trump and Attorney General Bondi circumvented vacancy laws to install Halligan, rendering her effectively a private citizen with no authority to prosecute on behalf of the United States. If the judge dismisses with prejudice, the DOJ would be barred from bringing the same charges in the future.
• Federal judge dismisses DOJ cases against Comey and James for unlawful appointment of prosecutor — On Monday (November 24), a federal judge dismissed without prejudice the DOJ's cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James after finding that Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi circumvented vacancy laws in appointing U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan. The judge ruled that Halligan was serving unlawfully when she sought indictments, making her the fourth Trump-appointed acting U.S. attorney determined to be illegitimate. Because the statute of limitations on charges against Comey had expired, the DOJ is unlikely to resurrect its case against him.
• Federal judge dismisses criminal cases against Comey and James, ruling interim prosecutor unlawfully appointed — Judge Cameron McGowan Currie of the Eastern District of Virginia threw out criminal cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James on November 24, 2025, ruling that interim US Attorney Lindsey Halligan—appointed by Trump in September—lacked lawful authority to prosecute them. Halligan's appointment violated federal law governing interim prosecutor tenure. The judge found the Trump administration's attempt to circumvent Senate confirmation rules unlawful and dismissed both indictments without prejudice, though Comey's statute of limitations has expired.
• Federal judge found Trump's appointment of Lindsey Halligan illegal — A federal judge found that Trump's appointment of Lindsey Halligan to the post of U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia was illegal and threw out the cases she had brought against former FBI director James Comey and New York attorney general Letitia James. The ruling invalidated prosecutions brought by an illegally appointed prosecutor.
• U.S. District Judge Currie dismisses indictments of Comey and James, ruling interim U.S. attorney appointment unlawful — A federal judge found that President Trump's appointment of Lindsey Halligan to the post of U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia was illegal and threw out the cases she had brought against former FBI director James Comey and New York attorney general Letitia James.
• Judge Cameron McGowan Currie dismissed indictments against James Comey and Letitia James — U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie of South Carolina dismissed indictments against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, finding that President Trump's appointment of Lindsey Halligan as interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia violated both federal law and the Appointment Clause of the Constitution. Halligan, a former insurance lawyer and Trump aide, had obtained grand jury indictments against both officials after Trump removed interim U.S. attorney Erik Seibert for declining to prosecute them. Judge Currie ruled that Halligan's appointment circumvented Senate confirmation requirements and invalidated all prosecutorial actions undertaken by her.
• Federal judge dismisses criminal cases against Comey and James — Judge Cameron McGowan Currie of the Eastern District of Virginia dismissed indictments against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James on the grounds that Lindsay Halligan was unlawfully appointed as Interim US Attorney. The court found that the 120-day appointment clock expired on May 21, 2025, making Halligan's service invalid since September 22, 2025. The dismissal was issued "without prejudice," allowing potential re-indictment by a lawfully appointed official. However, the statute of limitations has expired in Comey's case, effectively barring future prosecution.
• Trump attorney blames DOJ official for Comey indictment dismissal — A federal judge dismissed criminal cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James after ruling that prosecutor Lindsey Halligan was illegally appointed as interim US Attorney of Eastern Virginia. Attorney General Pam Bondi subsequently announced the Justice Department would appeal and pursue "all available legal action" to hold James and Comey "accountable."
• 11th Circuit Court upheld $1 million sanction against Trump and Alina Habba — Trump personal attorney David Schoen told Fox's Laura Ingraham that the dismissal of James Comey's indictment was the fault of DOJ official Pam Bondi, claiming the dismissal was "avoidable" and that DOJ should have had someone in the room with Lindsey Halligan. Schoen praised Bondi for showing "great courage" in obtaining the indictment despite being "left without support." Trump's former NSA Michael Flynn posted that Bondi should be fired and replaced by Sidney Powell, who previously claimed Hugo Chavez rigged the 2020 elections using Italian satellites.
• Federal appeals court affirms penalty against Trump and Habba — The conservative 11th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a $1 million sanction against Trump and his lawyer Alina Habba for their frivolous conspiracy-laden racketeering lawsuit targeting Hillary Clinton, the DNC, and former FBI Director James Comey. The court agreed that Trump has a "pattern" of filing meritless lawsuits and spoke bluntly about the abuse, with the appeals court imposing penalties of this size being rare.
• — A federal appeals court affirmed a nearly $1 million penalty against Trump and lawyer Alina Habba, finding their lawsuit against Hillary Clinton and former FBI Director James Comey was "sanctionable conduct." The court found many of their legal arguments "were indeed frivolous" and rejected Trump's effort to revive a 2022 lawsuit targeting his political enemies.

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• US Supreme Court extends Trump administration pause on $4 billion in SNAP food aid — The US Supreme Court issued an administrative stay on Tuesday, upholding the Trump administration's request to extend a pause on a federal judge's ruling that would have required $4 billion in SNAP funding to be distributed. The freeze was extended by two additional days, remaining in place until midnight Thursday. The USDA had directed states to "immediately undo" benefits already issued, creating chaos as states faced potential penalties for providing aid they believed was authorized. The administration tied full funding to Congressional action on the government shutdown.
• Supreme Court extended pause of SNAP payment order — The Supreme Court extended its pause of a lower court order requiring the Trump administration to issue full SNAP payments on November 11 in anticipation of Congress passing a bill to end the federal government shutdown. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson noted in the order that she would have denied the extension.
• SCOTUS extends administrative stay in Rollins v. RI Council of Churches — The Supreme Court extended an administrative stay in the case Rollins, Secretary of Agriculture v. Rhode Island Council of Churches (Docket 25A539). The stay, originally entered on November 7, 2025, was extended until 11:59 p.m. EST on November 13, 2025. Justice Jackson noted in dissent that she would deny both the extension and the underlying application for stay.

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• First Circuit refused to halt SNAP payment order; administration appealed to Supreme Court — Three judges from the First Circuit Court of Appeals refused to stop a lower court order requiring the administration to pay full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The administration subsequently filed an emergency petition with the Supreme Court requesting a freeze on those payments.
• Temporary restraining order ruling — Rhode Island State Council of Churches v. Rollins (D.R.I.) 1:25-cv-00569 — The First Circuit Court of Appeals denied the government's request for a stay of the District Court of Rhode Island's temporary restraining order requiring the administration to provide full SNAP benefits for the month of November. Solicitor General John Sauer also wrote to the Supreme Court to confirm that the government would continue to seek a stay of court orders requiring disbursement of SNAP funding. On Nov. 7, Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson had released an order granting an administrative stay of the District Court's order requiring disbursement of SNAP funds, pending resolution of the government's appeal to the First Circuit Court of Appeals.
• SCOTUS expedites briefing in Rollins v. Rhode Island State Council of Churches stay application — The Supreme Court issued an emergency order in Rollins v. Rhode Island State Council of Churches (No. 25A539), requiring the applicants (Secretary of Agriculture and others) to notify the Court by 11:00 a.m. EST on November 10, 2025, whether they intend to pursue a stay of District Court orders. If they do, applicants must file a supplemental brief by 4:00 p.m. EST the same day, and respondents must reply by 8:00 a.m. EST on November 11. The order was issued by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson in response to the First Circuit's partial denial of a stay motion.

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• DC judge hears arguments on removal of 2,300 national guard troops from Washington streets — US District Judge Jia Cobb, a Biden nominee, on Friday heard arguments in Washington DC on a request from DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb for an order to remove more than 2,000 guard members from Washington streets. Trump had issued an executive order in August declaring a crime emergency in DC despite DOJ data showing violent crime at a 30-year low. More than 2,300 guard troops from eight states and the district were deployed under the army secretary's command, with attorneys indicating troops would likely remain through at least summer 2026.

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• Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals pauses lifting of Portland national guard block — The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday paused the lifting of Judge Immergut's first temporary restraining order blocking deployment of 200 Oregon national guard troops to Portland until the following Tuesday evening. The pause was granted to allow the court time to decide whether to rehear the appeal of that order before a larger 11-judge panel, effectively extending the deployment block for at least four additional days.