President Donald Trump has faced significant legal setbacks in the early days of his presidency, with federal judges blocking many high-profile executive actions. The only notable victory came when a D.C. judge dismissed an ACLU attempt to reinstate a Biden-era migrant parole program that used the CBP One app.

The legal defeats include injunctions against his birthright citizenship limitations, blocks on releasing FBI agents’ names involved in Jan. 6 cases, freezes on government assistance grant suspensions and stays preventing his federal workforce buyout plan. 

Judges have been particularly critical of Mr. Trump’s approach. “It has become ever more apparent that to our president the rule of law is but an impediment to his policy goals,” said U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour. “The rule of law is, according to him, something to navigate around or simply ignore, whether that be for political or personal gain.”

The situation has sparked frustration among Republicans, with Rep. Darrell Issa announcing plans to legislate against “rogue judges” and Elon Musk, who leads the Department of Government Efficiency, calling for the impeachment of a judge who ruled against his department.

Legal scholars suggest Mr. Trump’s actions reflect an expanded interpretation of the unitary executive theory, which holds that presidents have complete authority over executive branch operations. 

However, Georgetown law professor Stephen Vladeck believes Mr. Trump has exceeded even the broadest interpretations of this theory and expects continued legal defeats.

Read more: Judges emerge as major roadblock to Trump’s agenda

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