Trump slams 'activist judges' attempting to thwart federal overhauls
Under Trump, the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has moved to secure access to the records of myriad federal agencies, including the Treasury Department's payment systems, resulting in a number of judicial stays on his operations.
President Donald Trump had harsh words on Tuesday for a string of federal judges who have issued orders blocking several of his executive orders and efforts to overhaul the government.
Under Trump, the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has moved to secure access to the records of myriad federal agencies, including the Treasury Department's payment systems, resulting in a number of judicial stays on his operations. Additionally, several of Trump's executive orders, such as the end of birthright citizenship, and his federal buyout program, have been blocked or delayed.
"Billions of Dollars of FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE, has already been found in the investigation of our incompetently run Government," Trump fumed on Truth Social. "Now certain activists and highly political judges want us to slow down, or stop. Losing this momentum will be very detrimental to finding the TRUTH, which is turning out to be a disaster for those involved in running our Government. Much left to find. No Excuses!!!"
Trump's Department of Justice is certain to appeal most of these rulings and the string of adverse rulings blocking the president from reorganizing his own branch has raised a number of questions about the separation of powers and extent of a federal judge's authority.
"If a judge tried to tell a general how to conduct a military operation, that would be illegal. If a judge tried to command the attorney general in how to use her discretion as a prosecutor, that's also illegal. Judges aren't allowed to control the executive's legitimate power," wrote Vice President JD Vance.