Government Watchdog Moves to Protect Probationary Federal Workers
Hampton Dellinger, the head of the Office of Special Counsel, recommended pausing the mass firings of some probationary federal employees.
Courts and the Judiciary
Judge Questions Constitutionality of Musk’s DOGE Operation
The judge expressed concern over the unresolved issues about who is in charge of Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency, if it is not Mr. Musk, as the White House has claimed.
Trump Names ‘Pardon Czar’ to Advise on Clemency
President Trump commuted Alice Johnson’s life sentence during his first term, and later pardoned her for her drug conviction. She will advise him on similar cases.
Trump Claims Power to Fire Administrative Law Judges at Will
The Justice Department said a law protecting the officials from arbitrary removal is an unconstitutional intrusion on presidential authority.
Justice Dept. to Drop Discrimination Case Against Elon Musk’s SpaceX
The Justice Department had sued SpaceX in 2023, accusing the company of violating federal law by refusing to hire refugees and people granted asylum in the United States.
Trump Tests the Boundaries of the Presidency
Even more than in his first term, President Trump has mounted a fundamental challenge to the norms and expectations of what a president can and should do.
Judge Blocks Trump’s Plan to End Birthright Citizenship
A federal judge in Seattle has issued a temporary order halting the president’s plan.
Trump Administration Fires Immigration Judges as Crackdown Begins
Four immigration court officials were removed from their positions on Monday. It’s unclear who is in charge at this point.