Since President Donald Trump returned to the White House, federal judges have ramped up their efforts to obstruct his policies at every turn. Their rulings have blocked government restructuring, halted national security measures and prevented long-overdue reforms to military policy. These latest interventions are part of a broader effort to derail Trump’s ability to govern effectively.
One of the most glaring examples came from U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang, an Obama appointee, who blocked the administration’s plan to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by Elon Musk, had already slashed USAID’s funding by 92%, shuttered its headquarters and ended wasteful foreign aid programs. Chuang’s ruling forced the administration to reinstate USAID employees, restore their system access and ensure the agency’s continued operation.
The activist judges are out of control because they think they can get away with it.
Congress has the authority to hold them accountable.
I think we should impeach them.
Who’s with me?
— Rep. Eli Crane (@RepEliCrane) March 19, 2025
The pushback from the courts has also reached Trump’s military policies. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes, a Biden appointee, halted the administration’s order banning transgender individuals from serving in the military. Trump’s policy was designed to prioritize military readiness, yet Reyes ruled that the ban was unconstitutional, forcing the Pentagon to maintain policies established under the previous administration.
Trump’s immigration enforcement is another area where judicial interference has intensified. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg attempted to halt Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act, which allowed for the deportation of Venezuelan gang members. Over 200 members of the Tren de Aragua gang had already been removed when Boasberg stepped in, ordering a halt to further deportations despite the administration’s authority under the law.
Trump’s efforts to recover taxpayer money misused under Biden have also been obstructed. Judge Tanya Chutkan temporarily blocked Environmental Protection Agency Chief Lee Zeldin from reclaiming $20 billion that had been funneled to left-wing nonprofits under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. The administration had been working to redirect the funds before the court stepped in to freeze the process.
The growing trend of judicial activism has drawn sharp criticism. Attorney General Pam Bondi has vowed to appeal these rulings, arguing that judges are inserting themselves into executive matters where they have no constitutional authority. Trump himself has made it clear that he will fight back, stating that the American people elected him to enact these policies, not unelected judges.
Despite these legal hurdles, the administration remains committed to carrying out its agenda. Legal battles are mounting, but Trump’s team is preparing to challenge every ruling that stands in the way of the policies voters sent him to Washington to implement.
