{"id":712,"date":"2026-01-05T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-05T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/?p=712"},"modified":"2026-01-07T09:55:26","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T14:55:26","slug":"executive-orders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/05\/executive-orders\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump uses executive orders to expand power "},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Christi Throw\u00ader<\/strong>
UConn Jour\u00adnal\u00adism<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Donald Trump signing an executive order in the Oval Office. Trump has signed 218 executive orders in the first year of his second term. Photo courtesy of the White House<\/p>\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/SOC-DEI-Trump-Signing-order-1024x682.jpg\" src=\"http:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/SOC-DEI-Trump-Signing-order-1024x682.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-565\" srcset=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/SOC-DEI-Trump-Signing-order-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/SOC-DEI-Trump-Signing-order-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/SOC-DEI-Trump-Signing-order-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/SOC-DEI-Trump-Signing-order-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/SOC-DEI-Trump-Signing-order.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\">
Pres\u00adi\u00addent Don\u00adald Trump sign\u00ading an exec\u00adu\u00adtive order in the Oval Office. Trump signed 218 exec\u00adu\u00adtive orders in the first year of his sec\u00adond term. Pho\u00adto cour\u00adtesy of the White House.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

While exec\u00adu\u00adtive orders are intend\u00aded as stop\u00adgap mea\u00adsures to bypass Con\u00adgress for impor\u00adtant acts, some experts say Pres\u00adi\u00addent Don\u00adald Trump is using unsub\u00adstan\u00adti\u00adat\u00aded claims of cri\u00adsis to jus\u00adti\u00adfy an unprece\u00addent\u00aded use of the orders to expand his pow\u00ader. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the first year of his sec\u00adond term, Trump issued 218 exec\u00adu\u00adtive orders, includ\u00ading 26 on his first day in office. Though issued out\u00adside of a time of war, many of the orders claim to address nation\u00adal emer\u00adgen\u00adcies for rea\u00adsons includ\u00ading \u201cfor\u00adeign trade and eco\u00adnom\u00adic prac\u00adtices\u201d and \u201crestor\u00ading safe\u00adty\u2026 to ensure the safe func\u00adtion\u00ading of fed\u00ader\u00adal gov\u00adern\u00adment.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orders reflect attempts by the admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion to tar\u00adget pro\u00adgrams, poli\u00adcies, and peo\u00adple it ide\u00ado\u00adlog\u00adi\u00adcal\u00adly oppos\u00ades. Of the orders issued as of Dec. 1, 2025, 21 push anti-DEI pol\u00adi\u00adcy changes, 18 focus on immi\u00adgra\u00adtion and 12 tar\u00adget trans\u00adgen\u00adder peo\u00adple and sup\u00adport. Four ordered fed\u00ader\u00adal action against spe\u00adcif\u00adic law firms and lawyers whom Trump dis\u00adfa\u00advors. Oth\u00aders tar\u00adget pro\u00adgrams for cli\u00admate change, lift cor\u00adpo\u00adrate restric\u00adtions on ener\u00adgy and dis\u00adcrim\u00adi\u00adna\u00adtion, and des\u00adig\u00adnate polit\u00adi\u00adcal ene\u00admies as ter\u00adror\u00adists. Mean\u00adwhile, five are intend\u00aded to pro\u00admote a favored indus\u00adtry: arti\u00adfi\u00adcial intel\u00adli\u00adgence. More than 30 of the orders invoke the president\u2019s emer\u00adgency pow\u00aders, with six declar\u00ading new nation\u00adal emer\u00adgen\u00adcies and three expand\u00ading the scope of exist\u00ading ones.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While many of Trump\u2019s exec\u00adu\u00adtive orders have been unen\u00adforce\u00adable or con\u00adtest\u00aded in courts, some have impact\u00aded peo\u00adple nation\u00adwide, such as the deploy\u00adment of the Nation\u00adal Guard in U.S. cities and steep cuts to fed\u00ader\u00adal grants for research and com\u00admu\u00adni\u00adty pro\u00adgrams. Some oppo\u00adnents say the fre\u00adquent use of exec\u00adu\u00adtive orders in Trump\u2019s sec\u00adond term is chal\u00adleng\u00ading the rule of law. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Connecticut ACLU Legal Director Dan Barrett at the University of Connecticut on Sept. 25, 2025. Barrett said that due process is an integral part of democracy. Photo by Elijah Polance<\/p>\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2026\/01\/EXEC-FIRST3-Barrett-edited-1024x1024.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2026\/01\/EXEC-FIRST3-Barrett-edited.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-1722\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1;object-fit:cover;width:300px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2026\/01\/EXEC-FIRST3-Barrett-edited.jpg 1330w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2026\/01\/EXEC-FIRST3-Barrett-edited-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2026\/01\/EXEC-FIRST3-Barrett-edited-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2026\/01\/EXEC-FIRST3-Barrett-edited-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2026\/01\/EXEC-FIRST3-Barrett-edited-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1330px) 100vw, 1330px\">
Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut ACLU Legal Direc\u00adtor Dan Bar\u00adrett at the Uni\u00adver\u00adsi\u00adty of Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut on Sept. 25, 2025. Bar\u00adrett said that due process is an inte\u00adgral part of democ\u00adra\u00adcy. Pho\u00adto by Eli\u00adjah Polance.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Dan Bar\u00adrett, legal direc\u00adtor for the Amer\u00adi\u00adcan Civ\u00adil Lib\u00ader\u00adties Union  of Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut, said by the time an uncon\u00adsti\u00adtu\u00adtion\u00adal order could be struck down by courts, its impacts may already have been broad\u00adly felt. The ACLU has filed dozens of law\u00adsuits chal\u00adleng\u00ading Trump\u2019s exec\u00adu\u00adtive orders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWith fed\u00ader\u00adal exec\u00adu\u00adtive orders, often it looks like the fed\u00ader\u00adal gov\u00adern\u00adment is act\u00ading ahead of the law,\u201d Bar\u00adrett said. \u201cThey\u2019ll throw some\u00adthing out there, and then a judge has to go and say, \u2018Hey, we can\u2019t do that\u2019 \u2014 pos\u00adsi\u00adbly after effects have already tak\u00aden place.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are executive orders?<\/strong> <\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Exec\u00adu\u00adtive orders are direc\u00adtives by the pres\u00adi\u00addent that man\u00adage the oper\u00ada\u00adtions of the fed\u00ader\u00adal gov\u00adern\u00adment<\/a> and are pub\u00adlished in the Fed\u00ader\u00adal Reg\u00adis\u00adter<\/a>. The orders aren\u2019t leg\u00adis\u00adla\u00adtion approved by Con\u00adgress but still can have the force of law. While only anoth\u00ader sit\u00adting pres\u00adi\u00addent can over\u00adturn them, Con\u00adgress can pass leg\u00adis\u00adla\u00adtion that effec\u00adtive\u00adly bars them from work\u00ading (though it would need a two-thirds major\u00adi\u00adty to with\u00adstand a pres\u00adi\u00adden\u00adtial veto). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exec\u00adu\u00adtive orders were pri\u00admar\u00adi\u00adly intend\u00aded as tem\u00adpo\u00adrary, prac\u00adti\u00adcal mea\u00adsures on impor\u00adtant issues to address some\u00adthing Con\u00adgress is unable to act on imme\u00addi\u00adate\u00adly. How\u00adev\u00ader, they aren\u2019t always used that way. Many pres\u00adi\u00addents, includ\u00ading Trump\u2019s imme\u00addi\u00adate pre\u00adde\u00adces\u00adsors Pres\u00adi\u00addent Barack Oba\u00adma and Pres\u00adi\u00addent Joseph Biden, have been accused of abus\u00ading pow\u00ader through exec\u00adu\u00adtive orders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump\u2019s Second Term<\/strong> <\/h6>\n\n\n\n

When com\u00adpared to his first term and oth\u00ader recent pres\u00adi\u00addents, Trump has been much more heavy-hand\u00aded with his use of exec\u00adu\u00adtive orders in his sec\u00adond term. He issued 220 exec\u00adu\u00adtive orders in total dur\u00ading the four years of his first term. Biden issued 162 exec\u00adu\u00adtive orders in his one term, and Oba\u00adma issued a total of 276 over his eight years in office, with only 147 in his first term.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accord\u00ading to Uni\u00adver\u00adsi\u00adty of Michi\u00adgan-Dear\u00adborn polit\u00adi\u00adcal sci\u00adence Pro\u00adfes\u00adsor Mitchel Sol\u00adlen\u00adberg\u00ader, exec\u00adu\u00adtive orders, in effect, are the Trump administration\u2019s attempt at expand\u00ading pow\u00ader. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Barack Obama. Photo courtesy Loc's Public Domain Archive<\/p>\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2026\/01\/Obama-2-edited-2-1024x1024.png\" src=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2026\/01\/Obama-2-edited-2.png\" alt class=\"wp-image-1720\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1;object-fit:cover;width:300px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2026\/01\/Obama-2-edited-2.png 1362w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2026\/01\/Obama-2-edited-2-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2026\/01\/Obama-2-edited-2-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2026\/01\/Obama-2-edited-2-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2026\/01\/Obama-2-edited-2-768x767.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1362px) 100vw, 1362px\">
Pres\u00adi\u00addent Barack Oba\u00adma was accused of abus\u00ading his pow\u00ader through exec\u00adu\u00adtive orders. Pho\u00adto cour\u00adtesy Loc\u2019s Pub\u00adlic Domain Archive.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere\u2019s inten\u00adtion\u00adal\u00adi\u00adty in Trump 2.0 that you did\u00adn\u2019t see with Trump 1.0. So there\u2019s much more focus on uni\u00adlat\u00ader\u00adal exec\u00adu\u00adtive action in Trump 2.0 than 1.0,\u201d Sol\u00adlen\u00adberg\u00ader said.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

 He said in his first term, Trump showed a will\u00ading\u00adness to engage with Con\u00adgress, but end\u00aded up fail\u00ading in many of his objec\u00adtives. This is why he believes Trump is using exec\u00adu\u00adtive orders to achieve his pol\u00adi\u00adcy goals in this term and to try and \u201cbypass\u201d Con\u00adgress and con\u00adtrol the fed\u00ader\u00adal gov\u00adern\u00adment, espe\u00adcial\u00adly when it comes to his polit\u00adi\u00adcal ene\u00admies.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTrump believes the fed\u00ader\u00adal gov\u00adern\u00adment is full of a bunch of lib\u00ader\u00adals and Democ\u00adrats or just ene\u00admies of, you know, him. And so he needs to weed out those bad apples, so to speak. So these exec\u00adu\u00adtive orders sort of free the hand when it comes to his abil\u00adi\u00adty to remove cer\u00adtain class\u00ades of indi\u00advid\u00adu\u00adals,\u201d Sol\u00adlen\u00adberg\u00ader said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Divisive Targets & Sweeping Effects<\/strong> <\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Many of Trump\u2019s exec\u00adu\u00adtive orders include inflam\u00adma\u00adto\u00adry and divi\u00adsive lan\u00adguage, tar\u00adget\u00ading what he refers to as \u201cwoke\u201d poli\u00adcies and polit\u00adi\u00adcal ene\u00admies such as \u201cthe rad\u00adi\u00adcal left.\u201d He uses terms such as \u201cille\u00adgal aliens\u201d and \u201ctrans\u00adsex\u00adu\u00adals\u201d that oppo\u00adnents con\u00adsid\u00ader dehu\u00adman\u00adiz\u00ading and refers to DEI as \u201cracial dis\u00adcrim\u00adi\u00adna\u00adtion.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For exam\u00adple, Trump signed an exec\u00adu\u00adtive order that he has pro\u00admot\u00aded as cut\u00adting fed\u00ader\u00adal grants that are \u201cfur\u00adther\u00ading caus\u00ades that dam\u00adage Amer\u00adi\u00adca\u201d<\/a> such as \u201cdrag shows in Ecuador,\u201d \u201ctrain\u00ading doc\u00adtor\u00adal can\u00addi\u00addates in crit\u00adi\u00adcal race the\u00ado\u00adry\u201d and \u201cdevel\u00adop\u00ading trans\u00adgen\u00adder-sex\u00adu\u00adal-edu\u00adca\u00adtion pro\u00adgrams.\u201d This is one of many orders that cite spe\u00adcif\u00adic \u201cwoke\u201d tar\u00adgets but cut research and pro\u00adgrams much more broad\u00adly.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mic\u00adah Heumann, direc\u00adtor of the Uni\u00adver\u00adsi\u00adty of Connecticut\u2019s Office of Under\u00adgrad\u00adu\u00adate Research, whose doc\u00adtor\u00adal research exam\u00adined racism in high\u00ader edu\u00adca\u00adtion, said that he has seen research relat\u00aded to diver\u00adsi\u00adty, equi\u00adty and inclu\u00adsion delet\u00aded overnight since Trump took office. He believes this will have long-last\u00ading effects across many insti\u00adtu\u00adtions.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re hand\u00adcuff\u00ading peo\u00adple, basi\u00adcal\u00adly, not lit\u00ader\u00adal\u00adly\u2026 with the research they can do, by pulling grants away, pulling fund\u00ading away,\u201d said Heumann. \u201cWe\u2019re going to feel this for gen\u00ader\u00ada\u00adtions, at least decades.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump\u2019s Messages <\/strong> <\/h6>\n\n\n\n
The Washington Monument in Washington D.C. at night on Oct. 15, 2025.<\/p>\n

Photos by Mikayla Bunnel<\/p>\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/Washington-Monument-Washington-DC-101525-Bunnell.jpg\" src=\"http:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/Washington-Monument-Washington-DC-101525-Bunnell.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-1081\" style=\"aspect-ratio:3\/4;object-fit:contain;width:300px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/Washington-Monument-Washington-DC-101525-Bunnell.jpg 697w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/Washington-Monument-Washington-DC-101525-Bunnell-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 697px) 100vw, 697px\">

The Wash\u00ading\u00adton Mon\u00adu\u00adment in Wash\u00ading\u00adton D.C. at night on Oct. 15, 2025. Pho\u00adto by Mikay\u00adla Bun\u00adnell.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Some of Trump\u2019s orders have addressed areas blocked by law. For exam\u00adple, while the Supreme Court has ruled that flag burn\u00ading is pro\u00adtect\u00aded expres\u00adsion under the First Amend\u00adment (Texas v. John\u00adson, 1988), Trump issued an order vow\u00ading to \u201cpros\u00ade\u00adcute those who incite vio\u00adlence or oth\u00ader\u00adwise vio\u00adlate our laws while des\u00ade\u00adcrat\u00ading this sym\u00adbol of our coun\u00adtry, to the fullest extent per\u00admis\u00adsi\u00adble under any avail\u00adable author\u00adi\u00adty.\u201d In this case, while the abil\u00adi\u00adty to pros\u00ade\u00adcute some\u00adone for flag-burn\u00ading is lim\u00adit\u00aded by the Supreme Court prece\u00addent, the exec\u00adu\u00adtive order directs law enforce\u00adment to pun\u00adish flag-burn\u00aders as much as pos\u00adsi\u00adble for oth\u00ader crim\u00adi\u00adnal offens\u00ades.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some states have also had their laws come into direct con\u00adflict with some of the Trump administration\u2019s exec\u00adu\u00adtive orders, such as gen\u00adder affirm\u00ading care, which is pro\u00adtect\u00aded under New York law. Accord\u00ading to the New York Times<\/a>, New York State Attor\u00adney Gen\u00ader\u00adal Leti\u00adtia James warned hos\u00adpi\u00adtals that they risked vio\u00adlat\u00ading state anti-dis\u00adcrim\u00adi\u00adna\u00adtion laws by deny\u00ading gen\u00adder-affirm\u00ading care, which the fed\u00ader\u00adal gov\u00adern\u00adment pres\u00adsured hos\u00adpi\u00adtals to do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In oth\u00ader cas\u00ades, Trump has used exec\u00adu\u00adtive orders to blast polit\u00adi\u00adcal oppo\u00adnents. An order renam\u00ading the Anahuac Nation\u00adal Wildlife Refuge after a woman mur\u00addered by two undoc\u00adu\u00adment\u00aded immi\u00adgrants blamed the Biden administration\u2019s poli\u00adcies for caus\u00ading the Mex\u00adi\u00adcan bor\u00adder to be \u201cover\u00adrun by car\u00adtels, crim\u00adi\u00adnal gangs, known ter\u00adror\u00adists, human traf\u00adfick\u00aders, smug\u00adglers, unvet\u00adted mil\u00adi\u00adtary-age males from for\u00adeign adver\u00adsaries, and illic\u00adit nar\u00adcotics.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bar\u00adrett said some exec\u00adu\u00adtive orders are more about the mes\u00adsage than real\u00adly chang\u00ading the law.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSome of the exec\u00adu\u00adtive orders are less com\u00adplet\u00aded acts and more just announce\u00adments or dog whis\u00adtles,\u201d Bar\u00adrett said. \u201cThere\u2019s quite a num\u00adber that have not done any\u00adthing but have announced that some\u00adthing is going to hap\u00adpen, which makes me think that if there is a phi\u00adlos\u00ado\u00adphy behind what he\u2019s doing\u2026 [It\u2019s] to make a lot of noise and make a lot of promis\u00ades, to either show his base that he\u2019s \u2018doing some\u00adthing\u2019 or for some oth\u00ader pur\u00adpose.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Factual Bases<\/strong> <\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Trump has also cit\u00aded<\/a> unsub\u00adstan\u00adti\u00adat\u00aded the\u00ado\u00adries when tar\u00adget\u00ading fed\u00ader\u00adal fund\u00ading, such as when he said that \u201can unsafe lab in Wuhan, Chi\u00adna \u2014 the most like\u00adly source of the COVID-19 pan\u00addem\u00adic \u2014 engaged in gain-of-func\u00adtion research fund\u00aded by the Nation\u00adal Insti\u00adtutes of Health.\u201d Accord\u00ading to an arti\u00adcle by infec\u00adtious dis\u00adease experts in The Con\u00adver\u00adsa\u00adtion<\/a>, the COVID-19 out\u00adbreak was most like\u00adly caused by virus\u00ades jump\u00ading from ani\u00admals to humans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While some exec\u00adu\u00adtive orders have not been able to be enforced, oth\u00aders have had broad impacts across the coun\u00adtry. For exam\u00adple, since Trump\u2019s exec\u00adu\u00adtive order on gen\u00adder-affirm\u00ading care,<\/a> over 27 states have banned med\u00adical care for trans\u00adgen\u00adder youth, with many of the states cit\u00ading the fed\u00ader\u00adal order as enabling them to do so.<\/a> Some hos\u00adpi\u00adtals in oth\u00ader states, includ\u00ading Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut, have also stopped offer\u00ading the care since the order. Oppo\u00adnents con\u00adtend this deci\u00adsion is not based in sci\u00adence and will take away trans minors\u2019 bod\u00adi\u00adly auton\u00ado\u00admy and bar them from life\u00adsav\u00ading care. Trans youth face high\u00ader rates of sui\u00adcide because of gen\u00adder dys\u00adpho\u00adria, accord\u00ading to the Nation\u00adal Insti\u00adtute of Health<\/a> . <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBy pre\u00advent\u00ading doc\u00adtors from pro\u00advid\u00ading this care or threat\u00aden\u00ading to take chil\u00addren away from par\u00adents who sup\u00adport their child in their tran\u00adsi\u00adtion, these bills pre\u00advent trans\u00adgen\u00adder\u2026 youth from access\u00ading med\u00adical\u00adly nec\u00ades\u00adsary, safe health care backed by decades of research and sup\u00adport\u00aded by every major med\u00adical asso\u00adci\u00ada\u00adtion rep\u00adre\u00adsent\u00ading over 1.3 mil\u00adlion US doc\u00adtors,\u201d said the Human Rights Cam\u00adpaign<\/a>, a nation\u00adal LGBTQ+ rights orga\u00adni\u00adza\u00adtion that is suing the Trump admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heumann, whose child is trans\u00adgen\u00adder, said that gen\u00adder-affirm\u00ading care saved his son\u2019s life and was safe and effec\u00adtive. It was not an easy deci\u00adsion to make, and it took an \u201carmy of doc\u00adtors,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe take our kid\u2019s health very seri\u00adous\u00adly,\u201d Heumann said. \u201cNow he\u2019s 20 years old, and he\u2019s thriv\u00ading.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Court Challenges<\/strong> <\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Many law\u00adsuits have been filed against Trump\u2019s orders. Most are still pend\u00ading. As of Dec. 1, over 500 fed\u00ader\u00adal law\u00adsuits<\/a> have been filed chal\u00adleng\u00ading Trump\u2019s exec\u00adu\u00adtive actions. Over 142 had been blocked or tem\u00adporar\u00adi\u00adly blocked, and over 231 were await\u00ading court rul\u00adings accord\u00ading to a lit\u00adi\u00adga\u00adtion track\u00ader by Just Secu\u00adri\u00adty, <\/em>a <\/em>dig\u00adi\u00adtal law and pol\u00adi\u00adcy jour\u00adnal based at the Reiss Cen\u00adter on Law and Secu\u00adri\u00adty at the New York Uni\u00adver\u00adsi\u00adty School of Law. Only 31 cas\u00ades had been closed.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Official Portrait from The Office of the Attorney General William Tong<\/p>\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2026\/01\/ED-PublicServants-tong-edited-1024x1024.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2026\/01\/ED-PublicServants-tong-edited.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-1717\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1;object-fit:cover;width:300px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2026\/01\/ED-PublicServants-tong-edited.jpg 1669w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2026\/01\/ED-PublicServants-tong-edited-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2026\/01\/ED-PublicServants-tong-edited-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2026\/01\/ED-PublicServants-tong-edited-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2026\/01\/ED-PublicServants-tong-edited-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2026\/01\/ED-PublicServants-tong-edited-1536x1536.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1669px) 100vw, 1669px\">
Offi\u00adcial Por\u00adtrait of Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut Attor\u00adney Gen\u00ader\u00adal William Tong. Tong has joined sev\u00ader\u00adal law\u00adsuits against Pres\u00adi\u00addent Don\u00adald Trump regard\u00ading his exec\u00adu\u00adtive orders. Pho\u00adto cour\u00adtesy of The Office of the Attor\u00adney Gen\u00ader\u00adal William Tong. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut Attor\u00adney Gen\u00ader\u00adal William Tong, who has sued the Trump admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion over the legal\u00adi\u00adty of sev\u00ader\u00adal exec\u00adu\u00adtive orders, believes the fed\u00ader\u00adal gov\u00adern\u00adment is inter\u00adfer\u00ading with state gov\u00adern\u00adments to an \u201cunprece\u00addent\u00aded\u201d degree through exec\u00adu\u00adtive orders, emer\u00adgency pow\u00aders and tac\u00adtics of fear, which are \u201coffens\u00ades to states, to the con\u00adsti\u00adtu\u00adtion, to our rule of law.\u201d He has said that the sheer quan\u00adti\u00adty of attacks is an attempt to over\u00adwhelm the legal sys\u00adtems and bul\u00adly mar\u00adgin\u00adal\u00adized peo\u00adple into sub\u00admis\u00adsion. Tong has joined oth\u00ader states in fil\u00ading dozens of law\u00adsuits against the Trump admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many exec\u00adu\u00adtive orders have been blocked by fed\u00ader\u00adal courts on the grounds of being uncon\u00adsti\u00adtu\u00adtion\u00adal, such as the 2025 fed\u00ader\u00adal court case League of Women Vot\u00aders Edu\u00adca\u00adtion Fund v. Trump. This exec\u00adu\u00adtive order required show\u00ading a pass\u00adport or sim\u00adi\u00adlar doc\u00adu\u00adment prov\u00ading cit\u00adi\u00adzen\u00adship when reg\u00adis\u00adter\u00ading to vote, accord\u00ading to New York Uni\u00adver\u00adsi\u00adty\u2019s Bren\u00adnan Cen\u00adter for Jus\u00adtice<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe court\u2019s rul\u00ading con\u00adfirms what we have long argued: the pres\u00adi\u00addent may not rewrite elec\u00adtion law to impose a bur\u00adden\u00adsome show-your-papers rule that would shut out count\u00adless Amer\u00adi\u00adcans from the bal\u00adlot box,\u201d plain\u00adtiffs and the coun\u00adsel for of a coali\u00adtion of vot\u00ading and civ\u00adil rights orga\u00adni\u00adza\u00adtions said in a joint state\u00adment. \u201cThis exec\u00adu\u00adtive order was an attempt\u00aded over\u00adreach of pow\u00ader, bypass\u00ading the Constitution\u2019s clear allo\u00adca\u00adtion of author\u00adi\u00adty to Con\u00adgress and the states to set elec\u00adtion rules. Our democ\u00adra\u00adcy is strongest when every eli\u00adgi\u00adble vot\u00ader can reg\u00adis\u00adter and vote free from expen\u00adsive and unnec\u00ades\u00adsary require\u00adments.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fed\u00ader\u00adal judges have issued approx\u00adi\u00admate\u00adly 40 nation\u00adwide injunc\u00adtions<\/a> block\u00ading Trump\u2019s exec\u00adu\u00adtive orders. How\u00adev\u00ader, the Supreme Court, which has a con\u00adser\u00adv\u00ada\u00adtive major\u00adi\u00adty, has ruled that fed\u00ader\u00adal judges lack the author\u00adi\u00adty to grant nation\u00adwide injunc\u00adtions and allowed some orders, such as Trump\u2019s exec\u00adu\u00adtive order chang\u00ading birthright cit\u00adi\u00adzen\u00adship, to go into effect as legal chal\u00adlenges pro\u00adceed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump and his sup\u00adport\u00aders cite the Supreme Court\u2019s favor\u00adable rul\u00adings as evi\u00addence of his orders\u2019 legal\u00adi\u00adty. U.S. Attor\u00adney Gen\u00ader\u00adal Pam Bon\u00addi boast\u00aded on social media about the Supreme Court sid\u00ading with Trump on nation\u00adwide injunc\u00adtions.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cToday, the Supreme Court instruct\u00aded dis\u00adtrict courts to STOP the end\u00adless bar\u00adrage of nation\u00adwide injunc\u00adtions against Pres\u00adi\u00addent Trump,\u201d she said, accord\u00ading to Fox News<\/a>. \u201cThis Depart\u00adment of Jus\u00adtice will con\u00adtin\u00adue to zeal\u00adous\u00adly defend @POTUS\u2019s poli\u00adcies and his author\u00adi\u00adty to imple\u00adment them.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What gives these orders power?<\/strong> <\/h6>\n\n\n\n
The Con\u00adsti\u00adtu\u00adtion of the Unit\u00aded States.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Trump\u2019s direc\u00adtives, includ\u00ading his exec\u00adu\u00adtive orders, are empow\u00adered not just by his sta\u00adtus as pres\u00adi\u00addent but also by his major\u00adi\u00adty sup\u00adport from Repub\u00adli\u00adcan politi\u00adcians in Con\u00adgress. As the Asso\u00adci\u00adat\u00aded Press<\/a> not\u00aded in a July 2025 sto\u00adry: \u201cSince Trump\u2019s return to the White House in Jan\u00adu\u00adary, and par\u00adtic\u00adu\u00adlar\u00adly in the past few weeks, Repub\u00adli\u00adcans in con\u00adtrol of the House and Sen\u00adate have shown an unusu\u00adal will\u00ading\u00adness to give the pres\u00adi\u00addent of their par\u00adty what he wants, regard\u00adless of the poten\u00adtial risk to them\u00adselves, their con\u00adstituents and Con\u00adgress itself.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some in the par\u00adty have com\u00adplained. U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkows\u00adki, a Repub\u00adli\u00adcan from Alas\u00adka, crit\u00adi\u00adcized the uni\u00adlat\u00ader\u00adal nature of her par\u00adty under Trump when she refused to sup\u00adport the White House\u00ad\u2019s demand to cut fund\u00ading for for\u00adeign aid and pub\u00adlic broad\u00adcast\u00ading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u201cWe\u2019re law\u00admak\u00aders. We should be leg\u00adis\u00adlat\u00ading,\u201d she said on the Sen\u00adate floor. \u201cWhat we\u2019re get\u00adting now is a direc\u00adtion from the White House and being told, \u2018This is the pri\u00ador\u00adi\u00adty. We want you to exe\u00adcute on it. We\u2019ll be back with you with anoth\u00ader round.\u2019 I don\u2019t accept that.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Bar\u00adrett said he believes Trump bypass\u00ading Con\u00adgress with exec\u00adu\u00adtive orders shows his dis\u00adre\u00adgard for the sep\u00ada\u00adra\u00adtion of pow\u00aders and the rule of law. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s tough to describe how lit\u00adtle Trump seems to care about the law,\u201d Bar\u00adrett said.  \u201cI would say he just does\u00adn\u2019t. He views it as an exter\u00adnal\u00adi\u00adty, it\u2019s just some\u00adthing\u2026 That affects oth\u00ader peo\u00adple, because the way in which he\u2019s attempt\u00ading to change the law itself vio\u00adlates the law and the sub\u00adstance almost always does as well.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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