Senate to Examine Nationwide Injunctions Impacting Trump's Agenda
Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley is set to hold a hearing next week to address the use of nationwide injunctions by federal judges, which he claims have hindered the Trump administration’s actions.
In a move to scrutinize the judicial overreach that has impacted President Donald Trump’s agenda, Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, has scheduled a hearing for April 2. This hearing will delve into the controversial use of nationwide injunctions by federal judges, which Grassley argues have significantly hobbled the executive branch.
Grassley expressed his concerns in an exclusive statement to Fox News Digital, stating, “District judges’ abuse of nationwide injunctions has hobbled the executive branch and raised serious questions regarding the lower courts’ appropriate jurisdictional realm.” He emphasized the need for legislative intervention to address what he sees as an imbalance of power, saying, “Since the courts and the executive branch are on an unsustainable collision course, Congress must step in and provide clarity. Our hearings will explore legislative solutions to bring the balance of power back in check.”
The hearing in the Senate will follow closely on the heels of a similar session in the House, led by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, scheduled for April 1. Both hearings aim to explore the constitutional and policy implications of these judicial orders, particularly those issued in response to actions by the Trump administration.
To aid in their examination, the Senate Judiciary Committee has invited expert witnesses Samuel Bray and Jesse Panuccio. Bray, a law professor at Notre Dame with a focus on nationwide injunctions, and Panuccio, a former acting associate attorney general at the Department of Justice, are expected to provide in-depth analysis and potential solutions to the issue.
This isn’t the first time Congress has tackled this issue. In 2020, a similar hearing led by then-Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., discussed the widespread use of nationwide injunctions. Several Republicans have since introduced bills in both the House and Senate aimed at curbing the power of federal judges to issue such orders.
President Trump has shown particular interest in one proposal led by Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., with White House aides reportedly urging Congress to expedite the legislative process. However, it remains unclear whether any new legislation will be brought to the Senate floor following the hearings.
As the debate continues, critics like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis have questioned the delay in addressing this issue, suggesting that Congress should have been quicker to act. The upcoming hearings represent a critical juncture in addressing the balance of power between the judiciary and the executive branch under the Trump administration.