Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Federal judge orders White House to restore press credentials for CNN, MS Now, and Politico — District Court Judge Timothy Kelly issued a preliminary injunction on October 14, 2026, ordering the Trump White House to restore and maintain White House press access for journalists from CNN, MS Now, and Politico. The three outlets had been banned on September 18, 2026, by presidential order citing "fake news." Judge Kelly found the plaintiffs likely to succeed on due process and First Amendment claims, noting that Trump's own public statements admitted the ban was retaliatory for editorial content rather than based on legitimate security concerns.

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• Trump banned journalists from White House press room; court ruled violation of free speech and due process — U.S. District Court Judge Timothy J. Kelly, a Trump appointee, ruled that Trump had banned more than 70 journalists from CNN, MSNBC, and Politico from the White House press room because he wanted more favorable coverage. Kelly ruled the ban violated both free speech and due process protections under the Bill of Rights and that Trump could not ban the organizations from the White House, though he did not address whether the administration could bar reporters from Air Force One or the Oval Office. The Justice Department announced it will appeal the ruling.
• Stay pending appeal decided — Cable News Network, Inc. v. Trump (D.D.C.) 1:26-cv-03287 — Judge Kelly issued an opinion and order granting Plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction, which keeps in place, while the case proceeds, the relief from the court's earlier temporary restraining order: Defendants other than the President, must restore the White House “hard pass” press credentials of CNN, MS NOW, and POLITICO employees. The court held that Plaintiffs are likely to succeed on their Fifth Amendment due process claim because they were not told in advance what conduct could cost them their passes or that revocation was a possible sanction. The court also found Plaintiffs likely to succeed on their First Amendment retaliation and viewpoint discrimination claims. The court concluded that the president likely revoked the passes “because he believes that their reporting is generally inaccurate and biased against him,” rejected Defendants' national security rationale as likely “a post-hoc justification” without support in the record, and denied Defendants' request for a stay pending appeal.
• Federal judge orders White House to restore press credentials for CNN, MS Now, and Politico — District Court Judge Timothy Kelly issued a preliminary injunction on October 14, 2026, ordering the Trump White House to restore and maintain White House press access for journalists from CNN, MS Now, and Politico. The three outlets had been banned on September 18, 2026, by presidential order citing "fake news." Judge Kelly found the plaintiffs likely to succeed on due process and First Amendment claims, noting that Trump's own public statements admitted the ban was retaliatory for editorial content rather than based on legitimate security concerns.

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• Preliminary injunction ruling — Democracy for the Arab World Now, Inc. d/b/a DAWN v. Trump (S.D.N.Y.) 1:26-cv-05957 — Judge Jesse Furman granted in substantial part Plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction. The injunction bars all Defendants except President Trump from enforcing IEEPA's civil or criminal penalties against Plaintiffs for the conduct described in their complaint, to the extent that conduct allegedly violates EO 14203's prohibition on providing “services” to or for the benefit of sanctioned persons. Following his earlier ruling in Rona v. Trump , Judge Furman held that Plaintiffs are likely to succeed on their First Amendment claim. He found that the prohibition is a content-based regulation of their speech-based activities, meaning it restricts speech based on its function or purpose. He also found that it fails strict scrutiny, which requires the government to show a restriction is narrowly tailored to serve a compelling interest. He did not reach Plaintiffs' statutory or APA claims. The court denied Plaintiffs' requests to enjoin the president, declare the order facially unconstitutional, and enter a universal injunction barring enforcement against anyone.
• Federal judge blocks Trump administration sanctions on human rights groups assisting ICC Gaza investigation — US District Judge Jesse M Furman issued a preliminary injunction on October 14, 2026, temporarily blocking the Trump administration from sanctioning two human rights organizations, Democracy for the Arab World Now (Dawn) and Taxpayer Alliance Against Genocide (Taag), for assisting the International Criminal Court's investigation into alleged war crimes in Gaza. The groups had challenged a February 2025 executive order imposing sanctions on entities supporting ICC investigations deemed threatening to US or Israeli national security. Furman ruled the order likely violated the groups' First Amendment rights as a content-based speech regulation that cannot survive strict scrutiny.

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• Stay pending appeal decided — Cable News Network, Inc. v. Trump (D.D.C.) 1:26-cv-03287 — Judge Kelly issued an opinion and order granting Plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction, which keeps in place, while the case proceeds, the relief from the court's earlier temporary restraining order: Defendants other than the President, must restore the White House “hard pass” press credentials of CNN, MS NOW, and POLITICO employees. The court held that Plaintiffs are likely to succeed on their Fifth Amendment due process claim because they were not told in advance what conduct could cost them their passes or that revocation was a possible sanction. The court also found Plaintiffs likely to succeed on their First Amendment retaliation and viewpoint discrimination claims. The court concluded that the president likely revoked the passes “because he believes that their reporting is generally inaccurate and biased against him,” rejected Defendants' national security rationale as likely “a post-hoc justification” without support in the record, and denied Defendants' request for a stay pending appeal.

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• Temporary restraining order ruling — DC Preservation League v. Department of Interior (D.D.C.) 1:26-cv-00477 — Judge Reyes issued an order and opinion granting Plaintiffs' emergency motion for a temporary restraining order (TRO), blocking Defendants through Oct. 26, 2026 from further carrying out NPS' Tree Management Plan, under which NPS had removed about 430 healthy trees from East Potomac Golf Course on Oct. 10, 2026 and planned to remove roughly 300 more. The court found that the individual Plaintiffs, two regular golfers at the course, likely have standing based on harm to their recreational and aesthetic interests, and that the plan is reviewable as a final agency action, without deciding whether the broader Washington National Plan is final. The court held that Plaintiffs are likely to succeed on their claim that NPS violated the NEPA by relying on categorical exclusions, which exempt routine actions from detailed environmental review, instead of taking the required “hard look” at environmental consequences. It noted that NPS removed about 200 more trees than its own exclusion form had identified, and it did not reach Plaintiffs' claim that the government improperly split the project into pieces to avoid reviewing its full impact. The court also rejected, on the limited record, the government's position that the plan only carried out a 2019 Cultural Landscape Report and was unrelated to President Donald Trump's June call for a redesigned course, observing that this account “asks rather a lot of coincidence.
• Case update — DC Preservation League v. Department of Interior (D.D.C.) 1:26-cv-00477 — Judge Reyes ordered Defendants to stop all tree removal at East Potomac Golf Course, including tree removal for routine maintenance, until 7 a.m. on Oct. 13, 2026, or further order of the court. The court found that Plaintiffs were likely to suffer “immediate and irreparable harm” because removing hundreds of trees would be permanent, while a short delay would not prejudice the government.

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• Motion granted — Common Cause v. Department of Homeland Security (S.D.N.Y.) 1:26-cv-08882 — Judge Jennifer Rochon granted a motion by three of the four Plaintiffs - excluding Common Cause, which did not join in the emergency motion - for a TRO and a stay under § 705 of the APA. The court stayed CBP's Sept. 20, 2026 purchase order with the advertising contractor LMD Agency (LMD), including future payments, and OMB's $20 million apportionment funding the challenged advertisements. It also enjoined Defendants from using DHS funds to develop, distribute, create or air the ads, and ordered them to cancel all scheduled placements, a directive that also binds LMD. Finding that the motion was not moot and that there was standing, the court concluded the moving Plaintiffs were likely to succeed on the merits and would suffer irreparable harm absent an injunction, and that the balance of equities and the public interest favored relief; it said a full opinion would follow. The order took effect at 6:45 p.m. on Oct. 11, 2026 and lasts 14 days unless extended, and Defendants must file a status report confirming compliance within 24 hours.
• Cases consolidated — Common Cause v. Department of Homeland Security (S.D.N.Y.) 1:26-cv-08882 — Judge Rochon issued an opinion explaining her Oct. 11, 2026 order . The court rejected Defendants' argument that the motion was moot because DHS had told its vendor to stop buying airtime after Oct. 11, 2026. It found DHS's assurance that it had “no plans” for further ad buys “equivocal,” noting that the purchase order runs through September 2027 and that its funds had not yet been released. The court also found Plaintiffs likely to show that the ads were “disseminated to support Republican candidates and impact the midterm elections.” On the merits, which Defendants did not contest, the court found a “clear and substantial likelihood” that OMB's apportionment and DHS's ad-placement contract violated two laws: the Purpose Statute, which limits appropriated funds to the uses Congress specified (here, commemorating border security efforts), and Section 718 of the 2026 Consolidated Appropriations Act, which bars using appropriations for “publicity or propaganda.” The court declined to reach Plaintiffs' equal protection and ultra vires claims.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — Common Cause v. Department of Homeland Security (S.D.N.Y.) 1:26-cv-08882 — Judge Rochon extended the TRO and stay for 14 additional days, until Nov. 8, 2026, finding good cause for the reasons stated on the record in the Oct. 11 order, Oct. 12 opinion, and Oct. 14 conference. The court also scheduled a Nov. 4 preliminary injunction hearing and ordered Defendants to submit evidence by Oct. 15 explaining why challenged advertisements aired on Oct. 12 despite contrary representations by counsel and in a declaration.

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• Federal judge voids DOJ policy collecting state voter rolls — US District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan ruled that the Trump administration's Department of Justice policy of collecting unredacted state voter rolls to cross-check against a federal immigration database violated federal privacy laws and exceeded DOJ authority. The policy, adopted under Trump's election integrity executive order, had already removed US citizens from voter rolls and risked further disenfranchisement. Sooknanan found Congress, not the federal government, controls voter roll maintenance. The lawsuit was brought by Common Cause after roughly 18 states complied with DOJ requests in May, providing voters' names, birth dates, addresses, and partial identification numbers.

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• White House bars Politico from Air Force One press pool; CNN also repeatedly excluded — The White House refused to allow Politico on Air Force One on Monday, preventing the news organization from fulfilling its press corps pool responsibilities. This follows a pattern: news outlets filed a lawsuit on September 21 alleging the ban violates the First and Fifth Amendments. Judge Timothy Kelly sided with the plaintiffs and issued a temporary restraining order requiring the Trump administration to reinstate journalists' press badges. Since then, the White House has repeatedly barred CNN from traveling on Air Force One on days when it was CNN's turn to be the TV pool representative. The Trump administration appears to be justifying these restrictions by claiming access to the White House complex differs from access to tight spaces like Air Force One. Judge Kelly is scheduled to hold a hearing on Thursday over the news outlets' request for a preliminary injunction.
• White House blocks Politico from Air Force One pool rotation — The White House decided to block Politico from riding on Air Force One and called numerous other outlets to ask one to fill the primary print slot for the out-of-town pool rotation. Each of those outlets declined to step in, leaving the pool slot unfilled.
• Trump administration defended restrictions on news organizations' press access — The Trump administration continued to defend its decision to restrict press access for reporters from CNN, MSNBC, and Politico on journalistic conduct grounds. CNN, MSNBC, and Politico filed a federal court challenge, asking a judge to continue blocking the restrictions and to rule on long-term protections. The judge previously ordered temporary relief and is expected to rule on permanent protections.

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• Federal judge dismisses DOJ lawsuit seeking Georgia voter data — On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Victoria Calvert dismissed the Department of Justice's lawsuit seeking unredacted Georgia voter-registration records, including Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and dates of birth. This marks the second unsuccessful attempt by the Justice Department to obtain the state's confidential voter information since 2025. Federal officials argued they needed the records to investigate Georgia's compliance with election law, but Calvert found that neither of the federal laws cited by DOJ required the state to surrender the confidential information.

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• Federal judge blocks DHS border wall waivers in Big Bend National Park — US District Judge Kathleen Cardone issued a temporary injunction blocking the Trump administration from expanding border wall construction in the Big Bend region of west Texas. The ruling, issued after a Friday hearing in El Paso, blocked Department of Homeland Security waivers that had suspended dozens of environmental and historical protection laws. Cardone found that plaintiffs—Friends of the Ruidosa church, Center for Biological Diversity, and river guide Billy Miller—were likely to succeed and would suffer irreparable harm. CBP is barred from border security construction unless it complies with federal environmental and historical laws.

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• Judge dismisses reflecting pool case against David Hearn with prejudice — Judge Todd Edelman of DC Superior Court dismissed charges against former Olympic canoeist David Hearn over alleged damage to the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool, ruling the case could not be refiled. The US Attorney's office, led by Trump ally Jeanine Pirro, had already conceded the damage resulted from flawed installation, not Hearn's actions. Trump had publicly pressured for prosecution in August, calling Pirro's decision to drop charges a failure. The court found prosecutors lacked factual support and acted under political pressure.
• Judge dismisses DOJ vandalism case against David Hearn with prejudice — A judge dismissed with prejudice the Department of Justice's Reflecting Pool vandalism case against former Olympian David Hearn. The judge warned that leaving the door open could expose Hearn to a "meritless, politically motivated prosecution" and what would "objectively" be harassment.
• Judge dismisses case against David Hearn with prejudice — Judge Todd E. Edelman dismissed the government's case against Olympian David Hearn with prejudice, meaning it cannot be resurrected. The government had accused Hearn of vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, although the contractors themselves acknowledged they were responsible for its torn lining. After the government acknowledged there was no merit in the prosecution, Trump continued to insist Hearn should be prosecuted. The judge stated the dismissal was necessary to protect Hearn from "what, objectively, would be harassment" from his own government and from the "extraordinary possibility that Mr. Hearn will nonetheless face a meritless, politically motivated prosecution."

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• Senate blocks Republican congressional stock-trading restriction bill — The US Senate voted 53–47 on Wednesday to block the Stop Insider Trading Act, a Republican bill that would have barred members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from buying individual stocks. Democrats opposed the measure, arguing it did not go far enough because lawmakers could retain existing holdings and reinvest dividends, and objected to bundled voter ID requirements they characterized as a "poison pill." The vote fell seven votes short of the 60 needed to advance debate.

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• California Supreme Court orders sheriff to return confiscated ballots — California's Supreme Court ruled that Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco unlawfully confiscated over 650,000 ballots during an inquiry into unsubstantiated fraud claims following a November 2025 special election. Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero found the seizure violated election law and created substantial risk to election integrity. Attorney General Rob Bonta had ordered Bianco to return the ballots; Bianco refused. The court rejected Bianco's argument that the AG could not direct a sheriff's investigation, affirming state authority over election materials. Governor Newsom signed legislation preventing future ballot seizures.
• California Supreme Court ordered sheriff to return confiscated ballots — The California Supreme Court ordered Sheriff Chad Bianco to return the confiscated ballots, ruling that it was Bianco, not voters, who was endangering elections. The court stated: "Allowing law enforcement unfettered access to ballots, or the ability to handle and count them in secret, based on unregulated protocols, itself creates a substantial risk to election integrity."

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• Texas Supreme Court lets stand acquittal in Crystal Mason voting case — Texas's highest criminal court declined to hear an appeal by the Tarrant County district attorney in the case of Crystal Mason, a Black woman convicted in 2018 of casting a provisional ballot while on supervised release for a federal tax felony. A lower court had acquitted her in 2024; the state's highest criminal court voted 5-4 on Thursday to let that acquittal stand without explanation, ending nearly a decade of litigation. Mason had maintained the ballot-casting was an innocent mistake and that she was never informed of her ineligibility.

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• Federal judge orders Trump administration to restore White House press credentials to banned outlets — U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly issued an early-morning order on Thursday requiring the Trump administration to restore press credentials to journalists from CNN, MS Now, and Politico for a 14-day period. The judge found the administration likely violated due process and First Amendment protections when it revoked the outlets' hard passes on Saturday without advance notice or opportunity to be heard. Kelly ruled the standards cited by the White House were "so vague" as to be constitutionally inadequate and expressed skepticism that national security was the actual motivation, noting Trump's content-based statements about the ban. A hearing on a preliminary injunction was scheduled during the 14-day restoration period.
• Federal judge ordered White House to restore press credentials for CNN, MS NOW, and Politico reporters — U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a 14-day restraining order requiring the White House to immediately restore press credentials for CNN, MS NOW, and Politico reporters after Trump banned them. The judge found the news organizations were likely to succeed on their claim that their passes were revoked without due process. When reporters attempted to cover Trump's event with Chinese President Xi, they were initially denied access in defiance of the court order, prompting attorneys to file an emergency motion. The White House eventually admitted the reporters after other media outlets joined a boycott.
• U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly granted media outlets' request to block Trump's White House ban on CNN, MS NOW, and Politico — After a hearing on Trump's Friday ban of CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House campus, U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly (appointed by Trump in 2017) granted the media outlets' request for a temporary restraining order, finding that the administration's national security justification was pretextual. Kelly noted that the stories the White House objected to were "routine" and that one was based on a White House press call. Kelly ordered the credentials of 78 journalists restored immediately.

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• Charges dropped against Stanford students in pro-Palestine protest case — Five Stanford University students who faced felony conspiracy to trespass and vandalism charges related to a June 2024 occupation of the university president's office had all charges dropped on Monday. The California attorney general's office, which took over the case after the original prosecutor was recused for conflict of interest, reached a resolution requiring 100 hours of community service and approximately $50,000 in restitution—far less than the $1 million initially threatened. Three additional students with prior misdemeanor pleas will have convictions withdrawn upon completing community service.

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• Federal appeals court rules third-country deportation policy unlawful — A three-judge federal appeals court panel unanimously ruled on Friday (date of ruling not specified, but referenced as occurring before the article's publication) that the Trump administration's third-country removal policy violated due process by failing to provide adequate notice of deportation decisions or opportunity for legal contestation. Human rights lawyers argued the ruling should ground deportation flights immediately. However, the Department of Homeland Security's general counsel stated the policy would continue, and the government indicated it would appeal within the 90-day window allowed by law. The ruling relates to a March 2025 lawsuit; a district judge had issued a preliminary injunction in April 2025, but the Supreme Court lifted it in June 2025, allowing flights to resume.

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• US appeals court rejects Trump's executive order restricting mail-in voting — The Boston-based First US Circuit Court of Appeals declined to stay a lower court injunction that blocked the USPS from implementing Trump's March executive order restricting mail-in voting. The three-judge panel, all Biden appointees, ruled that Trump lacks authority to regulate states' election policy and that the lower court did not err in finding the rule likely unlawful. The decision prevents the administration from tightening postal voting rules before November's midterm elections.

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• US Supreme Court rejects Missouri Republican-backed redistricting maps ahead of midterm elections — The US Supreme Court rejected Missouri's Republican-led effort to redraw congressional maps to gain electoral advantage before the November 2026 midterm elections. After conflicting rulings from multiple courts, Justice Brett Kavanaugh ordered the state to comply with the Missouri Supreme Court's decision to block the new maps and use the 2022 maps instead. Missouri's Secretary of State Denny Hoskins had attempted to implement the new Republican-friendly maps despite a state court ruling that they violated the state constitution and were subject to a voter referendum.
• Supreme Court grants stay in People Not Politicians v. Onder redistricting case — The Supreme Court granted an emergency stay of a September 8, 2026 order from the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri (case No. 4:26–cv–1424). The stay preserves the status quo pending appeal to the Eighth Circuit and potential certiorari review. The stay will terminate automatically if certiorari is denied, or upon issuance of the Supreme Court's final judgment if certiorari is granted.

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• Judges rule against Trump administration in 75 First Amendment cases — Reuters analysis found that federal judges ruled against the Trump administration on First Amendment grounds in 75 of 93 cases where such arguments were raised, compared to 13 rulings against the Biden administration in 27 cases. The rulings covered retaliation against law firms, journalist restrictions, university funding cuts, actions against pro-Palestinian students and faculty, and excessive force at protests. Ten decisions came from Republican-appointed judges. The administration appealed approximately two-thirds of the rulings and persuaded appeals courts to pause or overturn 15 decisions.

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• National Trust for Historic Preservation lawsuit against White House ballroom construction upheld by lower courts — The National Trust for Historic Preservation sued to halt construction of the White House ballroom, and lower courts ruled in favor of the organization, determining that the ballroom requires congressional approval. An appeals court on August 7, 2026, stated it was aware of no precedent in American history in which a president unilaterally demolished substantial portions of the White House that Congress authorized and taxpayers funded. Despite the court rulings, construction has continued with a 250-person crew working 20 hours daily, seven days a week.

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• US appeals court halts White House ballroom construction, upholds preliminary injunction — The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued a 2-1 ruling upholding a preliminary injunction that halts construction of Trump's $400 million White House ballroom project. The court found that the President lacks unilateral authority to demolish and rebuild the White House without Congressional authorization, stating each President is a "temporary tenant, not the owner." The ruling was placed on hold for two weeks to allow the administration to appeal to the Supreme Court.
• Federal Appeals Court Blocks Trump's White House Ballroom Project — A federal appeals court panel ruled against former President Trump's attempt to demolish parts of the White House to construct a massive ballroom, stating that such a project requires congressional approval. The decision halts the unprecedented project, emphasizing the need for legislative oversight in significant alterations to historic government properties.
• National Trust for Historic Preservation lawsuit against White House ballroom construction upheld by lower courts — The National Trust for Historic Preservation sued to halt construction of the White House ballroom, and lower courts ruled in favor of the organization, determining that the ballroom requires congressional approval. An appeals court on August 7, 2026, stated it was aware of no precedent in American history in which a president unilaterally demolished substantial portions of the White House that Congress authorized and taxpayers funded. Despite the court rulings, construction has continued with a 250-person crew working 20 hours daily, seven days a week.
• Federal appeals court blocks Trump's White House ballroom project — A federal appeals court has issued a ruling blocking former President Donald Trump's project to construct a ballroom at the White House. This decision represents a significant setback for Trump, who had been pursuing the project as part of his post-presidency initiatives. The court's ruling halts any further development on the ballroom, pending further legal proceedings or appeals.

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• Case update — Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments v. Zeldin (N.D. Cal.) 4:26-cv-03118 — The clerk entered judgment in favor of Plaintiffs and against EPA Administrator Zeldin in both related cases and terminated both actions.
• Case update — State of California v. Zeldin (N.D. Cal.) 4:26-cv-03500 — Judge Moss entered a minute order giving effect to the parties' joint stipulation and dismissed without prejudice Plaintiffs' remaining claims against the Federal Defendants concerning Sections 3(b) and 3(c) of EO 14290. The court directed the clerk to terminate the case.
• Dismissal entered — Public Broadcasting Service v. Trump (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01722 — Judge Ho granted the government's motion for a stay pending appeal, holding that the Supreme Court's decision in Mullin v. Doe , which upheld TPS terminations for Haiti and Syria and “considered the same issues presented in this case,” also forecloses Plaintiffs' statutory claim related to the termination of Yemen's TPS designation and the court “is bound by that decision.” The court also held that Plaintiffs are unlikely to succeed on their equal protection claim given that the cited statements by government officials about Yemen were “fewer in number and in some sense less specific” than the statements about Haiti in Mullin v. Doe , where the Supreme Court held was “insufficient to show that the termination…was based on race.” The court granted the government's request for an indicative ruling, stating that if the case were remanded, it would vacate and dissolve the May 1, 2026 postponement order .
• Stay pending appeal decided — Doe v. Noem (S.D.N.Y.) 1:26-cv-02103 — The government submitted an unopposed motion for voluntary dismissal of their appeal.
• Stay pending appeal decided — Doe v. Noem (S.D.N.Y.) 1:26-cv-02280 — Judge Nachmanoff granted Plaintiff's motion for partial summary judgment on her due process claims, finding that the government deprived Plaintiff of her property interest in continued federal employment and of “her liberty interest in her good name” without due process of law by terminating her without notice or an opportunity to respond and publicizing stigmatizing statements about the termination. The court also rejected the government's argument that the President's constitutional removal power overrides the Civil Service Reform Act's job protections for members of the Senior Executive Service, reasoning that even if she counted as an “inferior officer” rather than an ordinary employee, her role was advisory and her superiors - whom the President could remove at will - could override her decisions. The court directed the clerk to enter judgment for Plaintiff on those claims and ordered a name-clearing hearing before Magistrate Judge Fitzpatrickon.
• Case update — Pablo Sequen v. Albarran (N.D. Cal.) 5:25-cv-06487
• Summary judgment ruling — Comans v. Executive Office of the President (E.D. Va.) 1:25-cv-01237

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• US District Judge Kathleen Williams voided DOJ's $1.776 billion settlement with Trump — US District Judge Kathleen Williams voided the Department of Justice's $1.776 billion settlement with Trump, finding the litigation constitutionally defective under Article III because Trump, as head of the Executive Branch, controlled both the plaintiff and defendant agencies (Treasury and IRS), making them never genuinely adverse. The judge found no actual case or controversy occurred, no meaningful litigation preceded the settlement, and government lawyers never filed a response or defended the agencies. Williams imposed Rule 11 sanctions and referred one of Trump's attorneys for possible professional discipline.
• Federal Judge Voids Trump's $1.8 Billion IRS Settlement — A federal judge voided Trump's $1.8 billion settlement with the IRS that included an "anti-weaponization fund" and immunity from tax audits, ruling that the president's $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS was filed "to manipulate the judicial process." The judge sanctioned two of Trump's personal attorneys, banning one from practicing in the Southern District of Florida for at least one year, and suggested that acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and associate Attorney General Stan Woodward could face state bar investigations.
• Federal judge nullifies Trump tax-return settlement and sanctions president's lawyers — US District Judge Kathleen Williams in the Southern District of Florida voided a settlement agreement between the Trump administration and the president over a $10 billion lawsuit regarding leaked tax returns. The judge found the lawsuit was filed in bad faith and the settlement was collusive, designed to confer immunity on Trump and his family and create an $1.8 billion slush fund. Williams sanctioned Trump's lawyers, referred two to bar disciplinary proceedings, and blocked one from practicing in the district for one year.
• Federal judge ruled Trump's IRS lawsuit settlement was improper and manufactured — U.S. District Court Judge Kathleen Williams for the Southern District of Florida ruled that Trump, his lawyers, and Department of Justice lawyers had manufactured a fraudulent settlement of Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service. Williams found the lawsuit was brought "for an improper purpose—to gain the imprimatur of judicial legitimacy for a 'settlement' that had no viable basis in law or fact." The settlement was designed to establish a $1.776 billion slush fund for Trump loyalists and to grant Trump, his family, businesses, and associates immunity from prosecution for any tax crimes revealed by audits of tax returns filed before May 19, 2026.
• Federal judge rules against Trump's IRS lawsuit — On July 13, 2026, U.S. District Court Judge Kathleen Williams ruled that Trump and his legal team improperly manufactured a settlement in his $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS, which aimed to create a slush fund for Trump loyalists and grant immunity from prosecution for tax crimes. The judge found the lawsuit lacked a legitimate basis and recommended sanctions against some lawyers involved.
• Judge Williams recommended sanctions against lawyers involved in fraudulent settlement — Judge Kathleen Williams recommended legal sanctions against some of the lawyers involved in the fraudulent IRS settlement and expressed that she was "extremely troubled" by the testimony of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, which she characterized as "at best, misleading and, at worst, disingenuous."
• E. Jean Carroll Receives Payment from Trump — E. Jean Carroll has received a $5.6 million payment from Donald Trump, confirmed by a court filing. This payment is part of a legal settlement related to a defamation case brought by Carroll against Trump.

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• US appeals court rejects Trump's bid to delay E Jean Carroll payment — A Manhattan federal appeals court rejected Donald Trump's emergency request to delay payment of $5.8 million (principal plus accrued interest) owed to E Jean Carroll following her 2023 sexual abuse and defamation trial victory. Trump filed the delay request hours after Judge Lewis Kaplan ordered the release of funds held in a court-controlled account since June 2023. The Second Circuit's rejection came after the Supreme Court denied Trump's certiorari petition on June 29, exhausting his appellate remedies.