Senate Republicans Look To Limit Power Of Courts To Restrain Trump Policies In Budget Bill

U.S. Senate Republicans have added language to President Donald Trump’s budget bill that would limit the courts’ ability to enforce government policies, even if those policies are found to be unlawful.

On Thursday, Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) released the proposed text from the Republican-led panel. Essentially, the provision restricts judges from issuing preliminary injunctions that block government policies unless the plaintiff posts a bond to cover the government’s costs if the ruling is eventually overturned.

The revised language builds on a provision passed by the House of Representatives, significantly increasing the cost of suing the federal government.

Republicans have called for abolishing injunctions blocking federal government actions, as many of Trump’s policy goals have been hindered by such rulings.

In March, the White House released a memo requesting plaintiffs to post bonds if they planned to take action against federal agency policy.

In April, the House voted in favor of the No Rogue Rulings Act, which would help curtail the power of the courts against federal government policies. However, the act has yet to be discussed in the Senate.

Democrats were critical of the GOP-backed provision.

“Republicans are targeting nationwide injunctions because they’re beholden to a president who is breaking the law — but the courts are not,” said a spokesperson for Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Illinois).

“This is a naked attempt to shield members of the Trump administration from court orders,” said Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-New York), the Senate’s Minority Leader.

As Trump pressures the Senate to pass the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” by July 4, Republicans are seeking to advance the bill through a process known as budget reconciliation, meaning everything must relate to budget matters. Such complex budget rules would also allow Republicans, who control the Senate, to pass the bill through a majority vote instead of the typical 60-vote requirement.