Join Chris Cuomo, Bill O’Reilly and more big-name guests Wednesday for NewsNation’s CUOMO Town Hall, with a live studio audience and virtual audience across America, to discuss the first 100 days of President Donald Trump’s administration. Find out how to watch on TV, or catch NewsNation live on YouTube or the NewsNation app. Wednesday at 8p/7C.
(NewsNation) — President Donald Trump began his second term with a flurry of executive orders designed to advance key priorities for his campaign.
But many of those actions are being challenged in court, with federal judges issuing rulings to stay some actions while legal challenges proceed or demanding a reversal of certain actions.
Here are some of the key areas facing legal challenges:
Michelle Obama breaks her silence on skipping Trump’s 2nd inauguration
Deportation actions
Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport people who are in the U.S. illegally without going through typical deportation proceedings, which include hearings. On Apr. 20, 2025, the Supreme Court ordered a halt to deportations under that act after an emergency appeal from the American Civil Liberties Union.
An earlier ruling from the court had allowed deportations to continue but only if those being deported had an opportunity to have their case heard, something both sides tried to spin as a win. Lawyers from the Department of Justice have also been in the crosshairs, with one judge ruling there was evidence they acted in contempt of court by sending deportation flights in violation of a judicial order.
Judge blocks implementation of Trump’s transgender military ban
The administration has also been told to bring back two men who were wrongly deported to El Salvador. The Trump administration has been fighting efforts to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who had a court order preventing his removal to El Salvador, with a federal judge ordering expedited discovery to evaluate whether the administration was complying with court orders.
On Wednesday, another judge ruled the administration must return another wrongly deported man. That man, identified only as “Christian” in legal papers, was deported while his asylum case was still pending.
Birthright citizenship
The Trump administration has moved to eliminate birthright citizenship, directing federal agencies not to recognize the citizenship of those born in the U.S. unless they have at least one parent who is a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident.
Federal injunctions have been ordered by lower courts as opponents argue the order violates the Constitution’s 14th Amendment. The 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, grants citizenship to those born in the U.S. Presidents do not have unilateral authority to change the Constitution, which requires the support of two-thirds of Congress or agreement of three-fourths of states.
Immigration lawyer in Utah ordered to self-deport
The Supreme Court will hear arguments on the case starting May 15.
Foreign aid payments
As part of its efforts to dismantle USAID, the Trump administration imposed a 90-day freeze on foreign aid that had already been approved in congressional budgets.
In March, the Supreme Court ruled the administration could not withhold payments for work already performed and ordered the release of those funds.
Firing federal workers
Trump has signed executive orders that make it easier to fire federal employees, targeting thousands of career employees who have been previously protected from political firings. He has also sought to eliminate the heads of watchdog agencies and remove those on boards, such as the National Labor Relations Board.
Cutting federal Medicaid expansion funding could lead to 30K additional deaths: Analysis
The administration is facing multiple legal cases challenging its authority to fire those employees, with judges in some cases blocking it from immediately letting people go.
Eliminating the Department of Education
Trump signed an order to shut down the Department of Education, ordering key programs transferred to other departments and eliminating others.
He is being sued by a coalition of advocacy groups representing educators, families, students and school employees who say the order exceeds the authority given to the executive branch.
That litigation is still ongoing.
Investors on edge amid China’s tariff talk denial
Overhauling federal elections
Another executive order mandated that states require proof of citizenship during voter registration and said all ballots must be received by election day. It would also require states to hand over voter rolls to the Department of Government Efficiency for review.
There have been multiple lawsuits filed over the legislation, and a judge Thursday blocked the portion of the order requiring proof of citizenship, noting that the power to oversee elections is granted to Congress and the states, not the executive branch.
