A Comprehensive Breakdown of Trump Administration Lawfare Since Taking Office

Since taking office, Trump’s administration has faced over 100 federal lawsuits, averaging about three per business day. These stem from a flurry of executive orders—over 75 signed by early March—aimed at reshaping the federal government, immigration policy, and social issues. The legal pushback reflects opposition from Democratic-led states, nonprofits, unions, and advocacy groups, often arguing that Trump’s actions exceed his authority or violate constitutional rights.

1. Immigration Policies

   • Birthright Citizenship Challenges: Trump’s January 20 executive order attempting to end automatic citizenship for children born in the U.S. to undocumented or temporary immigrants has been a major target. At least four federal judges have issued temporary blocks:

     • January 23: Judge John Coughenour (Seattle) paused the order, calling it unconstitutional.

     • February 5: Judge Deborah L. Boardman (Maryland) blocked it in a suit by nonprofits for undocumented pregnant women.

     • February 6: Coughenour extended his pause, and Judge Joseph LaPlante issued another injunction via an ACLU lawsuit.

     • February 13: Judge Leo T. Sorokin paused it for a mother with Temporary Protected Status.

   • At least nine lawsuits from immigrant rights groups and state attorneys general seek permanent blocks, with over 20 more challenging related immigration crackdowns.

2. Federal Workforce and DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency)

   • DOGE Transparency and Authority: Elon Musk’s DOGE, tasked with cutting federal spending and staff, faces over 20 lawsuits. Key cases include:

     • January 20: National Security Counselors sued minutes after Trump’s swearing-in, arguing DOGE violates the Federal Advisory Committee Act by lacking balanced membership and transparency. This was the first lawsuit of the term.

     • February 6: Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly (D.C.) limited DOGE to two “read-only” staffers accessing Treasury data after unions sued over privacy breaches.

     • February 8: Judge Paul Engelmayer barred DOGE political appointees from Treasury systems in a suit by 19 Democratic state attorneys general, citing risks to approved spending.

   • Firing and Buyouts: Lawsuits challenge mass firings and forced buyouts of federal workers. For example, on March 6, a judge reinstated an NLRB member Trump fired, ruling he lacked unilateral authority. Another case paused a February buyout deadline for 2 million employees.

3. Federal Funding Freezes

   • Trump’s memo halting up to $3 trillion in federal assistance (grants, loans, etc.) sparked multiple lawsuits:

     • January 31: Judge John J. McConnell Jr. blocked withholding funds from Democratic-led states.

     • February 3: Judge Loren L. Alikhan issued a broader block, even after the White House claimed rescission, as nonprofits argued ongoing harm.

   • The Supreme Court upheld a lower court’s order to restore USAID funding on March 5, a setback for Trump’s foreign aid cuts.

4. Social Issues

   • DEI Contracts: On February 21, Judge Adam Abelson halted Trump’s ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) contracts, citing vagueness and First Amendment violations, in a suit by Baltimore and others.

   • Transgender Rights: February 13 saw Judge Brendan A. Hurson block restrictions on gender-affirming care for minors, following a suit by transgender youth. A January 26 ruling also paused transferring a transgender inmate to a men’s prison.

5. Environmental and Other Policies

   • The Center for Biological Diversity has filed 11 suits, including challenges to offshore drilling, pesticide approvals, and wildlife policies. For instance, they sued to stop the Stibnite Gold Project in Idaho and protect Texas wildlife from federal actions.

Legal Outcomes and Trends

• Blocks and Pauses: By March 7, at least 41 lower court rulings have temporarily halted Trump initiatives, though some judges have allowed parts of his workforce cuts to proceed. The Supreme Court has ruled twice against him (e.g., USAID funding) and once for him in early skirmishes.

• Pending Appeals: No major case has reached a final Supreme Court ruling, but the high court’s 6-3 conservative tilt (with three Trump appointees) leaves outcomes uncertain. Experts like Stephen Vladeck question whether even this court will uphold some aggressive moves, like funding freezes.

• Volume and Speed: The pace of litigation mirrors Trump’s first term, when California alone sued 123 times, but the current “shock and awe” approach—26 executive orders on day one—has accelerated challenges.

Notable Pre-2025 Cases Carrying Over

• E. Jean Carroll: Trump lost an appeal on December 30, 2024, upholding a $5 million verdict for sexual abuse and defamation from 2023. A separate $83.3 million defamation award from January 2024 is also under appeal.

• New York Fraud: A $454 million civil fraud judgment (entered February 2024, reduced to $175 million bond) remains in appeals limbo after Trump posted bond in April 2024.