As of March 27, 2025, the Trump administration’s executive orders have faced numerous legal challenges across various policy areas.
Below is an overview of significant lawsuits filed against these executive actions:
1. Limiting Birthright Citizenship
- Executive Order: “Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship” aimed to curtail birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to undocumented immigrants.
- Legal Challenges:
- State of Washington v. Donald J. Trump: Filed on January 21 in the Western District of Washington by a coalition of 22 states, arguing the order violates the 14th Amendment. A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order on January 23, blocking its implementation.
- New Hampshire Indonesian Community Support v. Donald J. Trump: Filed on January 20 in New Hampshire District Court by immigrants’ rights advocates, challenging the constitutionality of the executive order.
- O. Doe v. Donald J. Trump: Filed on January 20 in Massachusetts District Court by an expectant mother affected by the order, claiming it unlawfully strips citizenship rights.
- State of New Jersey v. Donald J. Trump: Filed on January 21 in Massachusetts District Court by multiple states seeking to protect residents from the order’s effects.
- CASA Inc. v. Donald J. Trump: Filed on January 21 in Maryland District Court by civil rights groups, asserting the order violates the Fourteenth Amendment.
2. Restrictions on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Initiatives
- Executive Orders: EO 14151 and EO 14173 prohibit DEI initiatives within the executive branch and among federal contractors and grantees.
- Legal Challenges:
- State of California v. U.S. Department of Education: Filed in the District of Massachusetts by California, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Wisconsin, challenging the termination of federal grants under DEI-related programs. A temporary restraining order was issued on March 10, blocking the termination in these states.
- National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Ed. v. Trump: Filed in the District of Maryland by the City of Baltimore and others, seeking a declaration that the executive orders are unconstitutional. On March 14, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit lifted a preliminary injunction, allowing enforcement nationwide while the appeal is pending.
- Chicago Women in Trades v. U.S. Department of Labor: Filed by a nonprofit organization, leading to a federal judge temporarily blocking parts of the executive orders that restricted DEI efforts among federal contractors and grant recipients.
3. Immigration Policies and Deportations
- Executive Actions: Efforts to expand deportations and curtail asylum protections.
- Legal Challenges:
- State of Washington v. Donald J. Trump: Filed on January 21 in the Western District of Washington by a coalition of 22 states, arguing the order violates the 14th Amendment. A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order on January 23, blocking its implementation.
- Quaker Groups v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security: Filed by religious organizations challenging policies authorizing immigration raids in houses of worship.
4. Federal Workforce Restructuring
- Executive Actions: Establishment of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led by Elon Musk, aiming to reduce the federal workforce and spending.
- Legal Challenges:
- Public Interest Groups v. DOGE: Multiple lawsuits alleging that DOGE does not comply with legal requirements for advisory committees, including transparency and balanced viewpoints.
- Federal Employee Unions v. Trump Administration: Filed by unions representing federal workers, seeking to block plans to weaken job protections and replace long-serving employees.
5. Transgender Rights
- Executive Order: Directing the federal government to recognize only two sexes and mandating that transgender women be housed in men’s prisons.
- Legal Challenges:
- Jane Doe v. Donald J. Trump: Filed by a transgender woman in federal prison, arguing the order violates constitutional rights and federal law.
- Multiple Cases: Federal courts have blocked actions such as the ban on transgender military service and the transfer of transgender women to men’s prisons.
6. Federal Funding Freeze
- Executive Action: Directive freezing federal grants, loans, and financial assistance pending a review for alignment with administration priorities.
- Legal Challenges:
- Nonprofits v. Trump Administration: Filed by nonprofits arguing the freeze is unconstitutional and would devastate operations. A federal judge in Washington D.C. paused the directive on January 28.
- State Attorneys General v. Trump Administration: Filed by a group of state attorneys general contending the freeze infringes on Congress’s power and harms critical programs.
These lawsuits represent a portion of the legal challenges the Trump administration faces regarding its executive orders. The outcomes of these cases will significantly impact the administration’s policy implementation and the broader legal landscape.
For a full list all the lawsuits and details against the Trump administration visit Just Security, where cases are updated frequently.
