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On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill aimed at restricting the authority of federal judges to block President Donald Trump's policies through nationwide injunctions. The legislation, which received 219 votes in favor and 213 against, was primarily supported by Republicans, though it is unlikely to advance in the Senate, where Republicans hold a majority but fall short of the 60 votes required to bypass a filibuster.
The proposed bill seeks to limit district court judges from issuing sweeping rulings that apply across the country, confining their decisions solely to the parties directly involved in a case. Representative Darrell Issa, the Republican lawmaker who introduced the bill, stated it was intended to counter "activist rulings" and restore a more balanced distribution of power between the branches of government.
The White House endorsed the bill on Tuesday, accusing certain federal courts of "weaponizing" injunctions to block the president's lawful actions. In recent years, Trump's executive orders have frequently faced legal challenges, with judges often halting them on the grounds that he may be exceeding his constitutional authority.
Just hours before the House vote, federal judges in Texas and New York issued temporary rulings halting the Trump administration’s attempt to deport certain foreigners using the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a wartime law rarely invoked in modern times. The administration had used the law to expel alleged members of a Venezuelan gang without offering them due process.
These rulings prompted a strong response from the Trump administration, which has increasingly criticized the judiciary. In March, Trump even called for the impeachment of a federal judge who blocked one of his immigration policies — a statement that drew a rare public rebuke from Chief Justice John Roberts of the Supreme Court.
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