Federal judges increasingly challenge Trump's policies via injunctions

President Donald Trump's policies are facing significant delays due to multiple federal court orders. Many of these orders, known as nationwide or universal injunctions, allow a single judge to block policies that impact the entire country. This trend has grown recently, and it has led to tension between the executive branch and the judicial system. Trump has criticized these injunctions, describing them as "unlawful" and claiming they could harm the country. He made this statement on March 20, warning that these decisions were made by what he calls "Radical Left Judges." Supporters of the injunctions argue that they are essential to prevent harm from Trump's executive actions. Critics, however, believe that judges are overstepping their authority and that some lawyers are intentionally seeking out judges favorable to their cases. A study from the Harvard Law Review highlights an increase in these universal orders over the years. Most of these injunctions come from judges appointed by presidents from the opposing political party. For instance, Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama faced six and twelve universal injunctions, respectively. In contrast, during Trump's first term, there were 64 injunctions, with a majority issued by judges appointed by opposing presidents. President Joe Biden has also encountered 14 injunctions, all from judges appointed by previous administrations. Judges have defended the need for broad injunctions. For example, U.S. District Judge Brendan Hurson stated that Trump’s executive orders potentially violate the separation of powers, affecting hospitals and federal funding nationwide. Another judge, John Coughenour, noted that limiting an injunction to certain states would not effectively address legal issues tied to immigration. Experts believe that one of Trump’s orders on birthright citizenship could soon reach the Supreme Court. The Acting Solicitor General, Sarah Harris, has urged the Court to address the rise of universal injunctions. She warned that this trend could undermine judicial authority and called for intervention to curb the increasing number of such cases. Biden's Solicitor General also pointed out the imbalance, stating that while the government must win every case to maintain policies, a single court victory can block regulations nationwide.