The wave of lawsuits against Trump is erupting and spreading more vigorously than ever

Less than three weeks into his presidency, Donald Trump is already facing more than 20 lawsuits challenging the policies his new administration is implementing. His second term began with a flurry of executive orders and directives that sparked widespread controversy across the country.

Following an initial period of shock, Trump's opponents have mobilized to counter his actions through the legal system. Two separate groups of FBI agents have sued the administration in an attempt to prevent the public release of a list identifying those who investigated the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot and Trump himself.

Labor unions in the U.S. have also taken legal action, seeking to block the Government Performance Board, led by billionaire Elon Musk, from accessing personal data on American citizens. The American Federation of Government Employees and the American Foreign Service Association jointly filed a lawsuit on February 6 in Washington, D.C.

The lawsuit names President Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as defendants, along with their respective agencies. The unions demand an immediate court order to halt efforts to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Union leaders argue that Trump and his officials have overstepped their authority, violated the Constitution, and broken federal laws in their attempt to downsize or dismantle USAID. The lawsuit is just one among many legal battles emerging against the Trump administration.

Democratic Senator Tim Kaine described the situation as a "complex litigation campaign" designed to counter Trump’s policies. He accused Trump of following a pattern of issuing controversial executive orders, inviting lawsuits, and then fighting them in court.

“The administration seems to be saying, ‘We’ll do whatever we want, and then people can sue us,’” Kaine stated. He suggested that Trump believes he has the upper hand in the judicial system but warned that this assumption could backfire.

Kaine acknowledged that some federal courts, including the Supreme Court, may rule in Trump’s favor. However, he noted that the more extreme the administration's actions, the greater the likelihood of legal defeats.

His prediction has already come true in some cases. Two federal judges recently blocked Trump’s attempt to end birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to undocumented immigrant parents. Other court rulings have also temporarily halted various Trump initiatives.

On January 31, federal judge John McConnell in Rhode Island ruled against a Trump order that froze federal grants, loans, and financial aid. His ruling applied to 22 Democratic-leaning states and Washington, D.C. On January 28, another judge, Loren AliKhan, issued a temporary injunction against the same funding freeze while legal arguments proceeded.

On February 4, federal judge Royce C. Lamberth blocked the administration’s plan to transfer three transgender women to a men’s prison, pausing a controversial policy shift on transgender inmates. On February 7, federal judge Carl Nichols in Washington, D.C., issued a restraining order preventing the forced unpaid leave of 2,200 USAID employees.

The Trump administration has dismissed these lawsuits as political stunts orchestrated by opponents. White House spokesman Harrison Fields insisted that every policy enacted by the Trump-Vance administration is legal and fully compliant with federal law.

Hans von Spakovsky, a legal scholar at the Heritage Foundation, argued that Trump has broad constitutional authority to manage the executive branch as he sees fit. He suggested that many of these lawsuits would not survive in court, as executive orders typically fall within the president’s legal powers.

However, some legal experts argue that Trump’s actions have overstepped legal boundaries. His moves to fire personnel improperly, freeze congressionally approved budgets, and attempt to shut down government agencies have opened the door for legal challenges early in his term.

Observers point to two major reasons for the surge in lawsuits against Trump. First, activists have found that street protests are less effective than they were during Trump’s first term. Second, with Democrats in the minority in both houses of Congress, they lack the legislative power to block Trump’s policies.

Faced with limited options, opponents have turned to the courts, filing lawsuits almost daily to challenge Trump’s initiatives. Just Security reports that more than 20 lawsuits have been filed against Trump’s policies in under three weeks, averaging one lawsuit per day.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta stated that his office had anticipated Trump’s legal battles well in advance. He revealed that his team had been tracking Trump’s campaign promises and preparing lawsuits even before he took office.

“That’s why we were able to challenge the birthright citizenship order so quickly,” Bonta said. “We knew it was coming, and we were ready. All we had to do was make some final edits before filing.”

On February 5, former National Labor Relations Board chair Gwynne Wilcox sued the administration over her dismissal. She argued that her late-night firing via email violated federal law, which requires cause and a formal hearing before removing board members.

Despite the legal challenges, the Trump administration continues issuing executive actions at a rapid pace. Critics believe Trump has adopted a strategy of enacting policies first and dealing with lawsuits later.

“He seems to have decided that in his second term, ‘I will do whatever I want until the courts tell me I can’t. And even if the courts say no, I might still do it,’” Kaine warned. One of Trump’s most contentious moves has been his attack on USAID.

Billionaire Elon Musk, a close Trump advisor, has publicly labeled USAID a “criminal organization” but has provided no evidence for his claim. The law, however, states that only Congress has the authority to shut down USAID.

Unable to legally dismantle the agency, Trump’s team has pursued alternative measures, including placing most USAID employees on leave and recalling staff from overseas. On February 3, Trump defended these actions, stating, “We’re just doing what’s right. This should have been done a long time ago.”

Democrats are scrambling to counter Trump’s rapid policy changes. Senator Brian Schatz has announced he will block all State Department nominees in response to Trump’s efforts to shut down USAID. Senators Tim Kaine and Martin Heinrich are preparing legislation to revoke Trump’s national energy emergency declaration.

Despite these efforts, even Trump’s critics admit that such measures may not be enough. Some believe that the best hope lies in Trump making critical political mistakes, while the legal battles continue to unfold.