These are the judges going toe to toe against Trump’s agenda

President Donald Trump has been met with significant legal challenges since taking office in January, signing more than 80 executive orders that have sparked over 100 lawsuits against his administration. While Democratic lawmakers have accused the Trump administration of causing a “constitutional crisis” within the U.S., the White House has fired back, claiming that “low-level” judges are overstepping their authority and blocking the President’s agenda.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt made it clear in a recent press briefing that the administration views these injunctions as unconstitutional and will appeal any adverse rulings. Leavitt stated, “You cannot have a low-level district court judge filing an injunction to usurp the executive authority of the President of the United States. That is completely absurd. … It’s very clear that there are judicial activists throughout our judicial branch who are trying to block this president’s executive authority.”

Several judges, appointed under the Obama and Biden administrations, have pushed back against Trump’s executive orders. One such judge is James Boasberg, who serves as the chief judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Boasberg was first appointed as a judge under the Obama administration in 2011 and has issued key rulings on cases involving Medicaid work requirements and deportation of migrants.

Another judge, Leo Sorokin, an Obama appointee, has blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to ban birthright citizenship and spearheaded a delayed-sentencing program in Massachusetts known as the RISE program. Additionally, Amir Ali, a Biden appointee, has ruled against the Trump administration’s attempt to withhold payments to contractors, citing a likely overstep of constitutional authority.

Beryl Howell, an Obama appointee who previously served as general counsel of the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, has ruled against the Trump administration’s firing of members of the National Labor Relations Board. Howell’s ruling emphasized that the President does not have the authority to dismiss board members at will.

Ana Reyes, a Biden appointee with a background in international litigation, is overseeing a case brought against the Trump administration by LGBTQ legal rights advocacy groups. Reyes has a history of pro bono work representing refugees and has received recognition for her judicial leadership.

The legal battles between the Trump administration and these judges highlight the ongoing power struggle within the U.S. government. As the lawsuits continue to unfold, the role of the judiciary in checking executive authority remains a central issue in the American political landscape.