Federal Government

DC Circuit allows federal watchdog’s removal pending expedited appeal; US argued he had gone ‘rogue’

Updated: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Wednesday allowed the Trump administration to remove the leader of the Office of Special Counsel when it granted an emergency government request to stay a federal judge’s order pending appeal.

Mar 6, 2025 11:15 AM CST

Ruling in ABA suit, SCOTUS denies US bid to vacate deadline for foreign-aid payments; Alito is ‘stunned’

The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to vacate a judge’s Feb. 26 deadline for the United States to make foreign-aid payments for work already completed in connection with grants and contracts.

Mar 5, 2025 10:33 AM CST

Judge’s deadline to resume foreign-aid payments is not ‘review-worthy,’ ABA, other plaintiffs tell SCOTUS

The ABA and other groups that receive funding for foreign assistance programs told the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday that a federal judge’s deadline to resume some payments “presents no review-worthy legal question.”

Mar 3, 2025 11:53 AM CST

Judge says Trump cannot fire head of independent watchdog agency

A federal judge on Saturday said President Donald Trump cannot summarily fire the head of an independent watchdog agency, setting up a likely Supreme Court battle over Trump’s sweeping attempt to reshape the federal workforce and expand presidential power.

Mar 3, 2025 8:55 AM CST

8th Circuit injunction leaves only the most expensive student-loan-repayment options available

A court order expanding an injunction to block President Joe Biden’s student loan repayment plan is wreaking havoc on the entire federal student loan portfolio as borrowers are left with only the most expensive repayment options.

Feb 28, 2025 8:56 AM CST

DOJ is hiring for court battles as Trump slashes other agencies

As mass layoffs hit other government agencies, the Justice Department is recruiting new attorneys to help defend President Donald Trump’s policies in court, according to public job postings, department officials and legal experts.

Feb 28, 2025 8:49 AM CST

DOJ nominees hedge on whether court orders must always be followed

Two Department of Justice nominees refused to say whether court orders must always be followed during questioning before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.

Feb 27, 2025 3:24 PM CST

Averting immediate showdown, chief justice pauses judge’s deadline for US to restore foreign-aid funds

The U.S. government doesn’t have to comply with a federal judge’s Wednesday night deadline to restore foreign-aid funds after Chief Justice John Roberts issued an administrative stay in the matter.

Feb 27, 2025 10:36 AM CST

Chemerinsky: SCOTUS likely to revisit president’s power to fire executive branch officials

The first case involving the second Trump administration has come to the U.S. Supreme Court. Although the high court has not gotten involved at this stage in the litigation, the case involves an issue of enormous significance.

Feb 26, 2025 2:17 PM CST

Trump strips security clearances at law firm with ties to Jack Smith

President Donald Trump is targeting Covington & Burling, which is representing former special counsel Jack Smith, issuing a directive that would strip some of its lawyers of their security clearances and examine the firm’s government contracts.

Feb 26, 2025 10:15 AM CST

Which BigLaw firms and big-name lawyers are involved in suits against Trump administration?

Several BigLaw firms and at least three U.S. Supreme Court practitioners are representing plaintiffs suing the Trump administration.

Feb 26, 2025 9:40 AM CST

Judge orders Trump administration to pay millions in USAID funds

A federal judge on Tuesday ordered the Trump administration to pay hundreds of millions in foreign assistance funds that have been in limbo despite his previous directive that such aid resume.

Feb 26, 2025 8:55 AM CST

Job protections for administrative law judges are unconstitutional, DOJ concludes

The U.S. Department of Justice has concluded that “multiple layers of removal restrictions” for administrative law judges are unconstitutional.

Feb 24, 2025 2:17 PM CST

DOJ files complaint against federal judge for alleged hostility against government lawyer

The U.S. Department of Justice filed a misconduct complaint Friday for alleged “hostile and egregious misconduct” by a federal judge presiding in a challenge to an executive order that says gender dysphoria conflicts with military troop readiness.

Feb 24, 2025 12:27 PM CST

In ‘power move’ over independent agencies, Trump demands review of proposed regulations

President Donald Trump issued an executive order Tuesday that requires all agencies to submit proposed regulations to the White House for review, with no carve-out for independent agencies.

Feb 21, 2025 9:47 AM CST