Dozens of groups and officials are flooding courts with lawsuits, turning President Donald Trump's second term into a legal minefield right from the start.
Fox News reported that since Jan. 20, 2025, more than 200 legal challenges from activist organizations, Democratic-led states, cities, and individuals have targeted over 90 executive orders, proclamations, and memos on issues like immigration, government efficiency, and military readiness, amid vocal opposition and protests from Democrats.
Trump has faced legal scrutiny for years, viewing such actions as politically motivated efforts by opponents to hinder his agenda.
Following his inauguration on Jan. 20, 2025, groups like the New Hampshire Indonesian Community Support and the League of United Latin American Citizens filed suits against an executive order aimed at protecting the meaning and value of American citizenship.
Similar challenges came from entities such as the Brazilian Worker Center and La Colaborativa, all contesting the same policy on citizenship protections.
The Center for Biological Diversity targeted an order establishing the Department of Government Efficiency, arguing it undermines key priorities.
On the same day, the National Treasury Employees Union sued over an order restoring accountability to policy-influencing federal positions.
National Security Counselors challenged the government efficiency department setup, while a coalition including the American Public Health Association and VoteVets Action Fund joined in similar litigation.
Individual cases, like Le v. Trump, also emerged against the citizenship protection order, highlighting personal impacts on affected parties.
By Jan. 21, 2025, a large group of states, including New Jersey, Massachusetts, and California, along with cities like San Francisco, filed against the citizenship value executive order.
Organizations such as CASA and the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project added their voices, focusing on potential harms to immigrant communities. Washington state, joined by Arizona, Illinois, and Oregon, launched a parallel suit on the same citizenship policy.
Individuals like Delmy Franco Aleman and others challenged the citizenship order, while the Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center targeted a securing borders executive action on Jan. 23, 2025. Groups, including Organized Communities Against Deportation, sued over an order protecting against invasion on Jan. 25, 2025.
A transgender federal inmate, Maria Moe, filed against an order defending women from gender ideology extremism on Jan. 26, 2025, raising questions about balancing rights and policy goals.
Anonymous plaintiffs contested an action on soliciting information from career employees on Jan. 27, 2025.
Religious groups like the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends sued over immigration enforcement in places of worship that same day. Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility targeted the accountability restoration order on Jan. 28, 2025, amid concerns over federal workforce changes.
Public Citizen and others sued the government efficiency department, while a massive coalition of states challenged a temporary pause on grants and assistance programs.
Nonprofits like the National Council of Nonprofits joined in opposing the grants pause, and transgender military members contested a military excellence prioritization order. Unions such as the American Federation of Government Employees sued the accountability order on Jan. 29, 2025, defending employee protections.
OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates and Santa Clara County filed against the citizenship order on Jan. 30, 2025. Transgender inmates challenged the gender ideology order, and immigrant rights centers sued the invasion protection policy on Jan. 31, 2025.
By Feb. 3, 2025, the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services targeted a proclamation on state protection against invasion.
Retiree alliances sued over disclosure of records to the efficiency department, while groups like the Alliance for Retired Americans joined similar actions. Organizations challenged ending DEI programs, and transgender advocacy groups sued gender-related orders on Feb. 4, 2025.
FBI employees contested an order ending government weaponization, reflecting tensions over internal reforms. Health groups sued the gender ideology order, and nonprofits challenged the foreign aid reevaluation.
Unions opposed record disclosures to the efficiency team on Feb. 5, 2025, and a former labor board member sued over agency leader removals.
Whistleblower protectors challenged the accountability order on Feb. 6, 2025, emphasizing the need for balanced oversight in federal operations.
