House passes bill to limit ‘rogue’ judges from blocking Trump agenda

The House of Representatives recently passed a bill aimed at limiting federal district judges’ ability to issue nationwide injunctions that impact Trump administration policies on a national scale. The No Rogue Rulings Act, led by Rep. Darrell Issa of California, garnered enough support to pass the House, putting constraints on district courts’ power to issue U.S.-wide injunctions. Instead, judges are now required to focus their scope on parties directly affected in most cases.

Since President Donald Trump took office, the administration has faced over 15 nationwide injunctions targeting various policies, from birthright citizenship reform to anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. Rep. Issa expressed confidence in the bill’s success, stating, “We’ve got the votes,” ahead of the House vote.

However, there was uncertainty regarding Democratic support for the bill, despite former Biden administration solicitor general Elizabeth Prelogar voicing concerns about district judges’ powers during the previous administration. Issa emphasized the importance of considering the bill’s merits over politics, hoping for bipartisan support.

Other Republican lawmakers, including Rep. Derek Schmidt and Rep. Lance Gooden, also highlighted the necessity of limiting nationwide injunctions, which they believe have been used by activist judges to impede President Trump’s agenda. The bill aims to prevent plaintiffs from “judge shopping” favorable districts and ensure that policies are implemented in line with the administration’s priorities.

Despite initial divisions among Republicans on how to address “rogue” judges, the party displayed unity in passing the No Rogue Rulings Act. The legislation now faces potential challenges in the Senate, where bipartisan support will be required to reach the 60-vote threshold for approval.

While the bill’s success in the House marks a significant step towards curbing nationwide injunctions, its fate in the Senate remains uncertain. With the need for bipartisan cooperation to advance the legislation, the debate over district judges’ powers and their impact on national policies continues to be a contentious issue in the political landscape.