Washington, D.C.: The Trump administration is reeling from a wave of judicial defeats across the country in multiple high-profile lawsuits challenging its controversial policies on immigration, elections, diversity initiatives, and transgender rights. In less than 24 hours between Wednesday night and Thursday, federal judges issued a flurry of rulings temporarily halting the enforcement of several key executive orders. Despite the setbacks, administration lawyers are already moving to appeal many of the rulings to federal appellate courts and the U.S. Supreme Court, signaling that the legal battles are far from over.
DEI Policies Blocked in Multiple States
On Thursday, federal judges in multiple jurisdictions blocked the Trump administration’s attempts to enforce a sweeping crackdown on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices in education. The rulings came just ahead of a Department of Education deadline requiring states to certify that they would not implement what the administration labeled “illegal DEI practices”.
A federal judge in New Hampshire struck down several directives, including a memo ordering schools to cease race-based distinctions and a requirement for assurances that discriminatory DEI practices were not being used. Judges in Maryland and Washington, D.C., also halted key aspects of the department’s DEI restrictions, citing concerns over overreach and potential violations of civil rights.
Election Law Challenges: Citizenship Proof Blocked, Mail-In Tightening Allowed
In a separate but equally impactful case, U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly in Washington blocked parts of Trump’s executive order altering federal election procedures—specifically a rule requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote. However, she allowed provisions regarding stricter mail-in ballot deadlines to remain in effect, at least for now.
Kollar-Kotelly sided with voting rights organizations and Democratic challengers, stating: “The Constitution gives the power to regulate federal elections to states and Congress—not the president”. She also noted that lawmakers are currently considering federal legislation on proof-of-citizenship requirements.
Immigration Orders Under Fire: Deportations, Sanctuary Cities, and Rare Laws Invoked
In Colorado, the administration is appealing a ruling that barred deportations under the rarely used Alien Enemies Act of 1798, invoked against the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney said the government lacked jurisdiction and mishandled procedural safeguards.
In Maryland, Judge Stephanie Gallagher ordered the return of a Venezuelan asylum seeker, “Cristian,” deported in violation of a 2019 settlement agreement. The ruling follows a similar case involving Kilmar Abrego Garcia, also wrongly deported.
Meanwhile, a court document from a Texas lawsuit revealed ICE detainees were given only 12 hours to contest deportations under the same act—less than the 24 hours cited earlier in another case. The ACLU criticized this practice as a violation of a Supreme Court mandate requiring detainees be given “reasonable time” to argue their case before removal.
In San Francisco, Judge William Orrick blocked the administration’s efforts to withhold federal funds from sanctuary cities, echoing a similar ruling from 2017. The temporary injunction prevents enforcement of the policy in San Francisco and over a dozen other municipalities until the case concludes.
Supreme Court Asked to Reinstate Transgender Military Ban
The Trump administration also petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday to allow enforcement of its executive order banning transgender individuals from military service. The appeal follows a federal appellate court’s decision to uphold a nationwide block on the policy.
Trump’s order claims that the presence of transgender service members “conflicts with a soldier’s commitment to an honorable, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle” and poses a threat to military readiness. However, U.S. District Court Judge Benjamin Settle in Tacoma, Washington, ruled in favor of several long-serving transgender military members in March, calling the ban discriminatory and unjustified.
A Legal Battlefield Still in Motion
With more than 170 lawsuits filed against Trump’s executive actions across various policy domains, the legal landscape continues to shift rapidly. While Thursday’s wave of rulings delivered a blow to the administration’s policy agenda, many of the cases remain active, with key decisions pending in appellate and Supreme Court proceedings.
