Trump Wins as Supreme Court Limits Judges’ Power

President Donald Trump has secured a partial legal victory after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to restrict the ability of federal judges to issue sweeping nationwide injunctions — a tool often used to block presidential policies. However, the decision did not greenlight one of Trump’s most controversial efforts: his executive order limiting birthright citizenship.

What Did the Supreme Court Decide?
In a 6–3 ruling, the conservative-majority court decided that federal judges can no longer halt government policies nationwide unless the plaintiffs are part of a broader class affected. This ruling effectively curbs the practice of "universal injunctions" — a mechanism Trump repeatedly criticized during his previous term.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett, writing for the majority, emphasized the need to rein in what she called an "imperial judiciary," stating that courts should only offer relief to actual plaintiffs, not the entire country.

Birthright Citizenship Executive Order Still on Hold
The ruling comes amid ongoing legal battles over Trump’s January 2025 executive order. That order would deny U.S. citizenship to children born on U.S. soil unless at least one parent is a citizen or green card holder — a direct challenge to the 14th Amendment, which has long guaranteed citizenship to nearly all born in the U.S.

Three federal judges in Maryland, Massachusetts, and Washington had immediately blocked the order using the now-limited "universal injunctions," calling the policy likely unconstitutional.

The Supreme Court’s decision doesn’t allow the order to go into effect yet — instead, it gives 30 days for lower courts to reconsider the scope of their rulings, giving challengers a chance to act.

What Happens Now?
Experts say the fight is far from over. Legal scholars like Samuel Bray (Notre Dame Law School) and Ilya Somin (George Mason University) say the next phase will focus on class action lawsuits and whether states can obtain broader protections.

"I do not expect the president's executive order on birthright citizenship will ever go into effect," Bray said, adding that courts will likely still block the order, just through different legal paths.

Plaintiffs in Maryland — including immigrant groups and expectant mothers — have already asked for the case to be treated as a class action to protect all children who might be denied citizenship.

New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin, a lead challenger, called the executive order “flagrantly unlawful” and said it would strip babies of U.S. citizenship — something not done since the Civil War.

Broader Implications for Trump’s Agenda
While this case remains unresolved, the ruling is a strategic win for Trump’s broader policy agenda, making it harder for single judges to block federal programs. That could smooth the path for actions on:

Immigration & deportation

• Transgender rights
• Federal workforce downsizing
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion programs
• Still, legal scholars caution that challenges won’t disappear — they’ll just evolve.

“We’re now heading for a wave of class-protective injunctions, not universal ones,” Bray added.

 The Bottom Line

• Trump won a major procedural battle that limits federal judges’ power.
• But he has not yet won the war on birthright citizenship.
• Legal and political uncertainty remains high — and the outcome could vary state by state.
• The next 30 days will be critical, as lower courts reassess and class actions move forward.

The Supreme Court’s ruling may empower the Trump administration to move faster on policy — but birthright citizenship remains a constitutional landmine, and the final verdict is still to come.