Chuck Grassley slots hearing on judges throttling Trump agenda in Senate
Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, has announced that he will hold a hearing next week to address the issue of federal judges using nationwide orders to impede the actions of the Trump administration. This hearing will coincide with a similar hearing in the House of Representatives, emphasizing the seriousness of the issue at hand.
In an exclusive statement to Fox News Digital, Grassley expressed his concerns about the abuse of nationwide injunctions by district judges, stating that it has hindered the executive branch and raised questions about the appropriate jurisdiction of lower courts. He emphasized the need for Congress to intervene and provide clarity to prevent further conflicts between the courts and the executive branch.
The hearing, titled “Rule by District Judges II: Exploring Legislative Solutions to the Bipartisan Problem of Universal Injunctions,” is scheduled for April 2, following the House’s hearing on the same subject. The committee will examine the constitutional and policy implications of nationwide injunctions, especially their impact on the Trump administration. They will also explore the harm caused to each branch of government and potential legislative solutions.
Witnesses invited to testify at the Senate Judiciary Committee’s hearing include Samuel Bray, an expert on nationwide injunctions, and Jesse Panuccio, a former acting associate attorney general at the Department of Justice. Both individuals bring valuable insights and expertise to the discussion on this important issue.
This is not the first time concerns have been raised about the ability of federal judges to issue nationwide injunctions. Lawmakers, including Grassley and former committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, have previously discussed the issue in bipartisan hearings. Several bills have been introduced in Congress to address the issue, with President Trump expressing support for legislative measures to restrict the power of federal judges in issuing such injunctions.
While no specific legislation has been announced following the upcoming hearings, the urgency of the matter has been acknowledged by the White House and key lawmakers. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has not provided comment on potential policy solutions, but there is growing consensus among Republicans that action is needed to address the issue of nationwide injunctions.
Critics of the GOP’s cautious approach include Governor Ron DeSantis, who has called for Congress to strip jurisdiction from federal courts to decide such cases. The governor questioned why legislation addressing this issue was not introduced earlier in the current Congress, emphasizing the need for immediate action to prevent further sabotage of the president’s agenda by resistant judges.
Overall, the upcoming hearings in both the Senate and House represent a crucial step in addressing the abuse of nationwide injunctions by federal judges. By exploring legislative solutions and bringing clarity to the issue, Congress has the opportunity to restore the balance of power between the branches of government and uphold the rule of law.
