Vice President JD Vance has questioned the authority of judges over the Trump administration’s executive power as the White House faces a wave of lawsuits aiming to impede its agenda.
“Judges do not have the right to control the legitimate power of the executive,” he stated on X.
Vance’s comments were made shortly after a judge halted members of Trump’s newly established advisory body, the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), from accessing sensitive US Treasury Department systems.
During his initial three weeks in office, President Donald Trump has signed numerous executive orders, some of which critics argue have overstepped his constitutional authority. The administration, aiming to swiftly reshape the federal government, is confronted with over two dozen legal challenges in court.
In his social media post, Vance pointed out other decision-making processes by the executive branch that he suggested were beyond the legal scope.
Former Republican House Representative Liz Cheney, who opposed Trump in the presidential election, responded to Vance’s remarks.
Cheney emphasized the importance of abiding by federal court rulings, urging that appeals should be pursued if there are disagreements over statutory or constitutional authority.
Vance has previously indicated that a president can challenge judicial decisions directly if they attempt to limit White House power.
Democratic politicians are critical of Trump’s actions but are limited in their legislative options without control of Congress.
Some, like Senator Elizabeth Warren, are trying to mobilize public opposition against Doge-led efforts to close government agencies.
Warren, along with others, has sought to block Trump’s executive orders through legal means, securing temporary halts through federal court rulings.
On Sunday, a union representing employees at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) filed lawsuits to prevent the agency’s shutdown and restrict Doge’s access to employee records.
The ongoing legal battles reflect the clash between Trump’s administration and its opponents, with the courts serving as the primary arena for challenging the administration’s policies and actions.
Acting CFPB Head Halts Rule-Making and Investigations; Trump Administration Faces Legal Challenges
In a bold move, the acting head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has directed employees to suspend much of their work related to formulating rules and investigating financial institutions. The CFPB, established in the aftermath of the 2007-08 financial crisis to safeguard consumers, boasts of having recouped billions from banks engaged in illicit or dubious business practices.
However, the Trump administration has raised concerns about the CFPB allegedly overstepping its bounds, with accusations of unfairly targeting financial institutions and channeling fines towards left-leaning nonprofit organizations.
In a separate legal battle emerging on Monday, 22 states took action to prevent the Trump administration from slashing funds to universities through the National Institutes of Health. The states argue that the cuts, particularly affecting administrative costs, could severely impede crucial health research. Conversely, the White House defends its actions as necessary to curb wasteful spending.
Meanwhile, a judge in Rhode Island ruled against the Trump administration for ignoring a prior mandate to unfreeze billions in federal funds. Speaking with ABC News, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy condemned the administration’s cost-cutting measures, labeling them as a significant constitutional crisis akin to the tumult of Watergate.
Further complicating matters, a judge intervened to block Doge personnel, led by tech magnate Elon Musk, from accessing sensitive treasury payment systems and personal data, following legal action by 19 state attorneys general. The lawsuit contends that the administration violated federal law by granting Musk’s team access to the department’s central payment system, which contains vast amounts of personal and financial information.
In a dizzying series of legal challenges, various Trump administration decisions are under scrutiny in courtrooms across the nation. As the administration faces backlash over its policies, Trump himself criticized a ruling in the treasury payment case, decrying it as a “disgrace.”
Musk also weighed in, deeming the ruling “insane” and questioning how fraud and misuse of taxpayer funds could be prevented without scrutinizing expenditures. The case against Doge’s access to treasury records is playing out in federal court in New York City, with a hearing scheduled for Friday.
The judicial process, unfolding against a backdrop of political tension, is expected to be protracted, with potential appeals to higher courts, including the Supreme Court. With the current conservative majority on the high court, appointed in part by Trump, the legal battles may shape the scope of executive power over federal spending.
As the legal saga unfolds, the nation watches with bated breath to see how these clashes between the Trump administration and various states and entities will impact the financial landscape and the protection of consumers.
