Politics
Trump Signs, Courts Block—How Many of His Executive Orders Are Likely To Face Legal Challenges? Are Americans Happy With Trump’s Moves?
Donald Trump wasted no time getting down to business in his first week back in the White House, signing a wave of executive orders that ranged from pulling the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement (again) to shutting down diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in the federal government.
These moves were straight out of his campaign playbook—Day 1 promises delivered.
Trump had told a rally just before his inauguration that they were likely to see executive orders that are going to make (you) extremely happy.
Well, not everyone was thrilled. Lawsuits started flying almost immediately.
The thing about executive orders, is that they’re not exactly bulletproof. The next president can reverse them with the stroke of a pen. And even before that, courts can—and often do—step in.
Trump’s Federal Aid Freeze. Signed, Sealed, but Not Delivered
One of Trump’s most controversial moves so far—a sweeping freeze on hundreds of billions in federal aid—didn’t even last a day before a judge stepped in to block it.
Just minutes before it was supposed to take effect, U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan hit pause, siding with advocacy groups that argued the freeze would wreak havoc on programs like health care and infrastructure. The court will take another look on Monday, but for now, the order is on hold.
This was just one piece of Trump’s bigger plan to shake up the federal government. He’s already halted foreign aid, frozen hiring, and scrapped diversity initiatives across multiple agencies. On top of that, his administration is even offering buyouts to federal workers—essentially paying them to leave.
Democrats, unsurprisingly, slammed the funding freeze as an illegal power grab, warning that it was already disrupting payments to doctors and teachers. Republicans, on the other hand, defended it as a necessary step to rein in a ballooning $6.75 trillion budget.
The White House insists that essential programs—those that provide direct aid to Americans—won’t be affected. But Democratic Senator Ron Wyden isn’t buying it. His office claims that Medicaid payments—critical for 70 million low-income Americans—have already been disrupted in all 50 states.
The Biden-era Medicaid website also mysteriously went down, though White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt assured everyone on X (formerly Twitter) that it was just a glitch, not an actual funding freeze.
But health care experts are worried. “If the federal government stops pushing funds to state Medicaid contractors, it’ll be a disaster. Providers will go out of business,” warned Sara Ratner of NOMI Health.
Trump’s Aid Freeze—Will It Survive?
Trump’s decision to put a hold on federal aid is facing another legal challenge—this time from Democratic state attorneys general, who argue the freeze is unconstitutional and could cripple states that rely heavily on federal funding.
And that’s a lot of states.
Federal grants and loans fund just about everything—education, health care, anti-poverty programs, housing assistance, disaster relief, infrastructure, and more. However, the irony is that many Republican-leaning states, where Trump has a strong base, are among the biggest beneficiaries of these programs.
The White House insists the freeze won’t touch Social Security, Medicare, or direct aid programs like food assistance and welfare. The Pentagon also says defense contractors won’t be affected. But beyond that? It’s a bit of a guessing game.
A memo released Tuesday confirmed the freeze covers foreign aid, non-governmental organizations, and more than 2,600 grant programs across 55 agencies. A second memo tried to offer some reassurance, saying Medicaid, farm aid, small business support, rental assistance, and the Head Start preschool program would continue.
But on the ground, that’s not how it’s playing out.
Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut says Head Start reimbursements have already stopped in his state, leaving preschools scrambling to pay their staff. And there’s no clarity yet on whether other critical funding—like for scientific research, highway construction, and addiction recovery—will also take a hit.
The Real-World Fallout
This move follows Trump’s earlier decision to suspend foreign aid—a cut that, as of Tuesday, has already started affecting access to life-saving medicines in countries that depend on U.S. assistance.
Meanwhile, government agencies are still trying to figure out what exactly they’re supposed to do with Trump’s order. A leaked memo suggests the Justice Department will pause $4 billion in funding, including aid for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Legal & Political Showdown
Trump’s Republican allies have long pushed for deep spending cuts, even though he’s promised to leave Social Security and Medicare untouched; but with 11% of the federal budget tied up in interest payments (which can’t be cut without risking a financial disaster), that leaves a whole lot of essential programs on the chopping block.
Democrats are calling the move reckless and unconstitutional. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer stated that this decision is lawless, destructive, cruel and American families are the ones who will suffer most.
And there’s the legal question—does Trump actually have the authority to withhold money from programs just because he doesn’t like them?
Vought, who hasn’t been confirmed by the Senate yet, led a think tank that made this exact argument. Democrats are trying to block his nomination, but without Republican support, they don’t have the votes.
Even some Republicans are uneasy. U.S. Representative Don Bacon, a centrist, is already hearing from worried constituents—like a woman who runs an after-school program that depends on federal grants.
How Many of Trump’s Executive Orders Will Face Legal Challenges?
Short answer: A lot.
Trump’s latest batch of executive orders is already facing intense legal scrutiny. Some have been temporarily blocked, others are tangled in lawsuits, and a few are just waiting for their day in court.
Here’s a look at the biggest legal battles ahead-
1. Ending Birthright Citizenship—Five Lawsuits and Counting
Trump’s attempt to end birthright citizenship is already on shaky legal ground. His executive order seeks to deny automatic citizenship to children born in the U.S. if –
- Their mother was not legally in the U.S., and their father was neither a U.S. citizen nor a lawful permanent resident.
- Their mother was in the U.S. legally but only temporarily, and their father was neither a U.S. citizen nor a lawful permanent resident.
Legal experts immediately called the move unconstitutional, and a federal judge didn’t waste time blocking its enforcement—at least temporarily; with five lawsuits already filed against it, this one seems destined for a prolonged courtroom battle.
2. The “Schedule F” Order—One Major Lawsuit
Trump also revived his controversial “Schedule F” classification for federal employees. The order would make it easier to fire career federal workers, arguing that many have “resisted and undermined” executive leadership.
Critics say it’s a blatant attempt to purge the civil service of employees who might disagree with Trump’s policies. There’s already one lawsuit challenging it, but if the order is enforced, expect more legal battles to follow.
3. The DOGE Controversy—Three Lawsuits Already Filed
One of Trump’s more unusual moves was creating the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—led by none other than Elon Musk. The temporary agency is supposed to modernize federal technology and slash government spending.
But within minutes of Trump’s executive order, lawsuits started flying. Critics argue that DOGE violates the Federal Advisory Committee Act, which sets rules for how advisory committees are formed. With three lawsuits already in motion, the fate of DOGE is far from certain.
Are Americans Happy?
Well, that depends on who you ask.
A fresh poll suggests that while some Americans support Trump’s rapid-fire executive orders, others are less than thrilled—especially when it comes to his more controversial moves, like trying to end birthright citizenship and, for some reason, renaming the Gulf of Mexico.
So here are the approval ratings –
- 45% approve of Trump’s job performance—down slightly from 47% in a previous poll.
- 46% disapprove, up from 39%.
- His approval rating peaked at 49% early in his first term, but after the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, it plummeted to 34%.
Translation? Trump still has a solid base, but his broader appeal is… questionable.
What Do Americans Actually Care About?
While Trump is focused on immigration crackdowns and renaming bodies of water, voters are more concerned with –
—The cost of living – Food, housing, and other essentials remain top worries.
—The economy – Inflation is still hitting wallets hard.
—Government spending – Some Americans like the idea of a smaller government, but not when it affects programs they rely on.
What about Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship?
Not popular – 59% of Americans oppose it, including –
—89% of Democrats
—36% of Republicans
This suggests that even some Republicans aren’t fully on board with Trump’s immigration policies.
The Last Bit
While, Trump’s hardcore supporters are cheering him on, but the broader public isn’t entirely sold on his agenda. If he continues focusing on issues that don’t align with what most Americans care about, he might find his political capital running out faster than expected.
For now, the freeze is in place, but with legal challenges piling up, the real question is – How long can it last?
It is easy to see that Trump’s executive orders are facing serious legal pushback, and history suggests courts won’t be quick to side with him—especially on issues like birthright citizenship. The lawsuits are piling up, and as more challenges emerge, Trump may find that signing an order is easy, but getting it to stick is another story entirely.
The big question is how many of them will actually stick. And more importantly—are Americans really happy with the way things are going?
