A divided Fifth Circuit panel held that due process requires individualized bond hearings within 90 days for longtime U.S. residents who entered the country without inspection and are detained under the Trump administration’s mandatory detention policy. (Opinion.) (Texas Tribune.) (Politico.) For background on the Fifth Circuit’s earlier decision upholding the statutory basis for mandatory detention, see a previous Roundup.

Judge P. Casey Pitts (N.D. Cal.) on Thursday preliminarily enjoined the Department of Justice from obtaining the medical records of patients who received gender-affirming care as minors at Stanford’s Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital. (Order.) Chris Geidner discussed the order and DOJ’s efforts to obtain information about transgender patients through grand jury subpoenas. (Law Dork.)

The Justice Department asked the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to quash subpoenas issued to Boris Epshteyn, a longtime Trump adviser and attorney, in the American Bar Association’s challenge to the administration’s executive orders targeting law firms. The government argues that any communications Epshteyn may have had with the president or his team are protected by the presidential communications privilege and, where applicable, attorney-client privilege. (Motion.)

The New York Times reports that the FBI “is assigning an army of 260 investigative analysts to a ‘priority’ investigation related to the 2020 election in Fulton County, Ga., a reflection of President Trump’s ongoing push to prove his baseless claims that the 2020 election there was rigged.” (NYT.)

The Justice Department this week announced that it “unequivocally rejects any assertion of jurisdiction by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over U.S. persons.” DOJ also stated that the United States will not cooperate with the ICC in any way. (Press Release.) (Letter.)

Jack Goldsmith argued that the Supreme Court “has done a remarkable job thus far of vindicating its authority.” (Executive Functions.)

Steve Vladeck argued that the Court “inflicted a series of (unnecessary) credibility wounds on itself” by opting for outcomes in several instances that made it look more political. (One First.)

Adrian Vermeule argued that Trump v. Cook creates a vague and potentially destabilizing framework for judicial review of presidential action. (The New Digest.)

The Supreme Court on Tuesday denied the government’s application for a stay in Blanche v. Perlmutter. The decision allows Shira Perlmutter, the register of copyrights, to keep her position for now. (Order list.) (CBS.) For background on the case, see a previous Roundup.

Judge Emmet G. Sullivan (D.D.C.) barred the U.S. Postal Service from imposing restrictions on mail-in ballots, finding the restrictions violated the terms of a 2021 settlement agreement between USPS and the NAACP. (Memorandum Opinion.) (NYT.)

Judge Robert E. Payne (E.D. Va.) preliminarily enjoined a Virginia statute banning state and federal law enforcement officers from wearing facial coverings while performing their official duties. The judge held that the statute’s direct regulation of “the conduct of federal law enforcement in the enforcement of the federal immigration laws” violated the intergovernmental immunity doctrine and the Supremacy Clause. (Order.) (WaPo.)

Former CIA Director John Brennan sued the Justice Department in the District of Columbia on Wednesday, seeking an injunction requiring the department to preserve its internal records and communications regarding its decisions to investigate and potentially prosecute Brennan. (Complaint.) (WaPo.)

The National Center for Learning Disabilities, Knowledge Alliance, BNP Education Partners LLC, and Massachusetts Teachers Association sued the Office of Management and Budget on Tuesday for withholding and restricting access to education research funds Congress appropriated. (Complaint.)

Colin McDonald, the assistant attorney general for the National Fraud Enforcement Division, issued a memorandum Tuesday directing all U.S. attorneys and the Justice Department’s Criminal Division to “prioritize the investigation and prosecution of birth tourism schemes.” (Memo.) (TIME.)

In the last five days, Immigration and Customs Enforcement reportedly has detained over 10,000 people. (NYT.)

A financial disclosure report released Tuesday showed that President Trump reported a total revenue of at least $2.2 billion in 2025, including about $1.4 billion from his family’s cryptocurrency ventures. (NYT.) (Disclosure.) The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board argued the Trump family is “profiting off the Presidency in ways that demean the office.” (WSJ.)

Bob Bauer argued that the Supreme Court’s decision in Trump v. Slaughter marks the end of the bipartisan civil enforcement of federal campaign finance laws by the Federal Election Commission. (Executive Functions.)

Jack Goldsmith and Sai Prakash discussed the implications of the Supreme Court’s Slaughter and Cook decisions. (Executive Functions.)

Kate Shaw, William Baude, and Steve Vladeck debated the state of the Supreme Court and the implications of its end-of-term opinions. (NYT.)

The Supreme Court held on Tuesday in Trump v. Barbara that the Citizenship Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment guarantees citizenship to children born in the United States to parents who are unlawfully or temporarily present in the country. The Court thus ruled that President Trump’s executive order seeking to limit birthright citizenship is unconstitutional. (Opinion.) (NYT.)

The Tenth Circuit on Tuesday unanimously reversed a district court’s denial of habeas relief to an immigration detainee and held that noncitizens arrested in the United States after entering without inspection generally are entitled to bond hearings under 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a). The ruling makes the Tenth Circuit the fourth federal appeals court to reject the administration’s mandatory detention policy. (Opinion.) (Politico.)

Judge Paul L. Friedman (D.D.C.) on Tuesday issued a preliminary injunction barring the Department of Defense from enforcing provisions of its March 23 revised Pentagon press-access policy, including an escort requirement and related access restrictions. For background on Judge Friedman’s previous two rulings on Pentagon press access policies, see prior Roundups. (Opinion.) (Order.) (WaPo.)

Judge Myong Joun (D. Mass.) held unlawful and set aside the Education Department’s rule implementing President Trump’s executive order restricting Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility for employees of organizations deemed to have a “substantial illegal purpose.” Judge Joun wrote that the rule “is contrary to law and promulgated in excess of statutory authority, is arbitrary and capricious, and violates the First Amendment.” (Opinion.) (Order.) (WaPo.)

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff faced bipartisan questioning Monday in the first all-member congressional briefings on the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding, with Democrats pressing hardest on oil-sanctions relief and Witkoff’s business interests in the Middle East. (Politico.)

Michael Dreeben argued that the Supreme Court’s decision this week in Chatrie v. United States, holding that a geofence warrant seeking cell-phone location history is a Fourth Amendment Search, is a “narrow and incremental” extension of Carpenter v. United States, not the doctrinal overhaul either side sought. (Just Security.)

Nick Bednar argued that “Trump v. Slaughter’s silence on the civil service raises concerns of executive aggrandizement.” (Lawfare.)

The Supreme Court held on Monday in Trump v. Slaughter that the Federal Trade Commission’s for-cause removal provision violates constitutional separation of powers principles because the FTC’s activities “fall well within the heartland of executive power.” (Opinion). The Court, however, in Trump v. Cook upheld Federal Reserve Governors’ for-cause protection from removal as consistent with the Constitution. The interim ruling allows Fed Governor Lisa Cook to remain in her position while litigation regarding her firing proceeds. (Opinion.) Cass Sunstein and Philip Hamburger discussed the implications of the Court’s decisions. (NYT.)

The Supreme Court upheld on Monday in Watson v. Republican National Committee a Mississippi law that allows officials to count absentee ballots postmarked by Election Day that were received up to five days thereafter. (Opinion.) (NYT.)

The Supreme Court held on Monday in Chatrie v. United States that a so-called geofence search, whereby law enforcement analyze data from cell phones located near a crime scene, constitutes a search under the Fourth Amendment “because an individual has a reasonable expectation of privacy in his cell-phone location information.” (Opinion.) (NYT.)

The Supreme Court on Monday denied certiorari in President Trump’s appeal of a jury verdict finding him liable for sexually abusing and defaming E. Jean Carroll, keeping intact the jury’s $5 million judgement. (Order List.) (WSJ.)

Judge Jeannette A. Vargas (S.D.N.Y.) on Monday held that the Trump administration’s suspension of federal funding for a $16 billion rail tunnel under the Hudson River violated the Administrative Procedure Act. (Opinion and Order.) (NYT.)

Jameel Jaffer argued that the public has a First Amendment right to access special counsel Jack Smith’s report on the Justice Department’s investigation into Donald Trump’s mishandling of classified documents, which resulted in Trump’s indictment under the Espionage Act. (NYT.)

Judge Nicholas Garaufis (E.D.N.Y.) directed the Justice Department on Friday to “provide the court with each reason” and “sufficient factual support for each basis” for the department’s decision to seek the dismissal with prejudice of its indictment of Indian billionaire Gautam Adani and his co-defendants. (Order.) (Motion to Dismiss Indictment.) (NYT.)

The solicitor general filed a cert petition on Friday asking the Supreme Court to resolve a circuit split regarding whether federal law requires the detention, pending removal proceedings, of “aliens who illegally enter and remain in the country without admission.” (Petition.) (Politico.)

During a meeting in late November, White House officials reportedly told Henry Kerner, the acting chairman of the Merit Systems Protection Board, that they believed he was required to follow an Office of Legal Counsel opinion concluding that the MSPB must resolve the constitutional arguments the executive branch makes in cases before the board regarding the removal of federal employees. (NYT.)

The New Mexico governor called on the state’s attorney general to open a criminal investigation into the Drug Enforcement Administration after the Associated Press reported on a DEA whistleblower complaint alleging that the DEA and federal prosecutors allowed hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills to be distributed in New Mexico from 2023 to 2025 as they worked to build higher-level drug-trafficking cases. (AP.) (NYT.)

Acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte reportedly has chosen Christina Norton as his chief of staff. Norton recently worked for the Republican National Committee on election-related issues. (NYT.)

Lucas Guttentag argued that the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Mullin v. Al Otro Lado effectively bars migrants from accessing asylum. (Just Security.)

Jeffrey Toobin argued that the absence of a federal shield law protecting the process of news gathering has left journalists like Don Lemon vulnerable to prosecution by a Justice Department more inclined to target them. (NYT.)

Pending Interim Order Applications Involving the U.S. Government in the Supreme Court

Blanche v. Perlmutter: The government filed an emergency application on October 27 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a district court interlocutory injunction that temporarily reinstated Shira Perlmutter to her role as Register of Copyrights while litigation over her removal continues. Chief Justice Roberts formally set a deadline of November 10 for a response to the application. Perlmutter submitted a response on November 10. Blanche submitted a reply on November 12. The Court deferred the application for stay on November 28 pending the Court’s decisions in Trump v. Slaughter and Trump v. Cook.

Trump v. Cook: The government filed an emergency application on September 18 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a preliminary injunction issued by a district court that blocked President Trump from removing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. Cook filed an opposition to the request on the same day. The Chief Justice formally set a deadline of September 25 for a response to the application. Cook filed a response on September 25. On October 1, the Court deferred action on the stay application pending oral argument in January 2026 and established a supplemental briefing schedule. Additional amicus briefs were filed on October 29. Both sides filed supplemental briefs on November 19 and the Court heard oral argument on Jan. 21, 2026.

The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed the Trump administration to end Temporary Protected Status for Haitian and Syrian beneficiaries, ruling the TPS statute bars judicial review of TPS termination decisions and that the Haitian beneficiaries’ equal protection claim is likely to fail because there is a “strong, race-neutral explanation” for the TPS termination. (Opinion.) (SCOTUSBlog.) Kate Shaw argued that the decision unshackles the presidency and is part of a broader trend of Supreme Court deference to President Trump. (NYT.)

The Court also held Thursday that an alien “arrives in the United States,” and becomes an applicant for admission under the Immigration and Nationality Act, “only when he crosses the border.” (Opinion.) (SCOTUSBlog.)

Judge Emmet Sullivan (D.D.C.) issued a preliminary injunction on Thursday requiring the Justice Department to produce to the public, without redactions, an array of documents in the Epstein files that initially were redacted, and to review and release other materials from the files that the department initially withheld. (Opinion.) (Order.) (Politico.)

Judge Indira Talwani (D. Mass.) declared sections 2 and 3 of Executive Order 14399 (“Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections”) void, finding them ultra vires and unconstitutional, and enjoined the president and defendant agencies from implementing those sections with respect to the Nov. 2026 federal elections and any earlier federal election. (Opinion.) (NYT.) Section 2 of the executive order required the Department of Homeland Security to compile and transmit to each chief state election official a list of confirmed U.S. citizens eligible to vote in the upcoming elections. And section 3 directed the postmaster general to compile lists of voters eligible to vote by mail and to bar the transmission of mail-in or absentee ballots from individuals not on those lists. (Executive Order 14399.)

Judge Myong J. Joun (D. Mass.) issued a decision Wednesday explaining his June 5 order preliminarily enjoining the Department of Agriculture from conditioning billions of dollars in federal funding on state compliance with executive orders and department policy on diversity, equity, and inclusion; gender ideology; immigration; and the participation of transgender athletes in sports. (Memorandum Decision.)

Judge Leonie M. Brinkema (E.D. Va.) issued an order Wednesday refusing to deem the Anti-Weaponization Fund litigation moot in the absence of sworn declarations from senior administration officials that they will not proceed with the Fund. She also ordered the Justice Department to respond to the start of the civil discovery process in the case by July 17. (Order.) For background, see a previous Roundup.

Rep. Jamie Raskin is reportedly working to force a floor vote on a bill to block the Anti-Weaponization Fund. (Politico.)

Pending Interim Order Applications Involving the U.S. Government in the Supreme Court

Blanche v. Perlmutter: The government filed an emergency application on October 27 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a district court interlocutory injunction that temporarily reinstated Shira Perlmutter to her role as Register of Copyrights while litigation over her removal continues. Chief Justice Roberts formally set a deadline of November 10 for a response to the application. Perlmutter submitted a response on November 10. Blanche submitted a reply on November 12. The Court deferred the application for stay on November 28 pending the Court’s decisions in Trump v. Slaughter and Trump v. Cook.

Trump v. Cook: The government filed an emergency application on September 18 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a preliminary injunction issued by a district court that blocked President Trump from removing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. Cook filed an opposition to the request on the same day. The Chief Justice formally set a deadline of September 25 for a response to the application. Cook filed a response on September 25. On October 1, the Court deferred action on the stay application pending oral argument in January 2026 and established a supplemental briefing schedule. Additional amicus briefs were filed on October 29. Both sides filed supplemental briefs on November 19 and the Court heard oral argument on Jan. 21, 2026.

Judge Evelyn Padin (D.N.J.) dismissed for lack of standing the Justice Department’s lawsuit against four New Jersey cities—Hoboken, Jersey City, Newark, and Patterson—for adopting “sanctuary city” policies that restricted their assistance to federal immigration enforcement. (Opinion.) (Politico.)

A group of noncitizens filed a class action lawsuit against Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Philadelphia Field Office in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on Wednesday, challenging the office’s rescission of its “Changed Circumstances” policy. The policy barred the re-arrest and re-detention of individuals previously released from immigration detention unless a material change in circumstances warranted their re-detention. (Complaint.)

Legion LegalTech Corp. sued the Commerce Department in D.C. District Court on Tuesday, challenging the department’s June 12 directive to Anthropic to disable two of its artificial intelligence models as exceeding the department’s authority. (Complaint.) (Reuters.) For background, see a prior Roundup.

President Trump requested $87.6 billion in additional funding from Congress on Wednesday, most of which “will address urgent needs related to Operation Epic Fury.” (Request.) (NYT.) Jack Goldsmith assessed the legal stakes of such an appropriations request last month. (Executive Functions.)

Acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte reportedly fired six intelligence officials and sent 45 officers detailed to ODNI back to their home agencies. (NYT.)

The New York Times reported that the president’s nominee to be chief counsel of the Internal Revenue Service, James Gadwood, works for Miller & Chevalier, a law firm that represents the president’s holding company on tax matters. (NYT.) (Nomination.)

Steve Vladeck argued that the Justice Department’s motion to intervene in NAACP v. x.AI Corp. (D.N. Miss.) “turns on a dangerous new constitutional claim” that the department may intervene in and seek dismissal of private lawsuits under the Clean Air Act because the executive branch has the exclusive authority to enforce federal law, and that authority cannot be overridden by private legal actions—even where Congress has explicitly authorized them. (One First.) (Motion to Intervene.)

Pending Interim Order Applications Involving the U.S. Government in the Supreme Court

Blanche v. Perlmutter: The government filed an emergency application on October 27 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a district court interlocutory injunction that temporarily reinstated Shira Perlmutter to her role as Register of Copyrights while litigation over her removal continues. Chief Justice Roberts formally set a deadline of November 10 for a response to the application. Perlmutter submitted a response on November 10. Blanche submitted a reply on November 12. The Court deferred the application for stay on November 28 pending the Court’s decisions in Trump v. Slaughter and Trump v. Cook.

Trump v. Cook: The government filed an emergency application on September 18 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a preliminary injunction issued by a district court that blocked President Trump from removing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. Cook filed an opposition to the request on the same day. The Chief Justice formally set a deadline of September 25 for a response to the application. Cook filed a response on September 25. On October 1, the Court deferred action on the stay application pending oral argument in January 2026 and established a supplemental briefing schedule. Additional amicus briefs were filed on October 29. Both sides filed supplemental briefs on November 19 and the Court heard oral argument on Jan. 21, 2026.

Mullin v. Doe: The government filed an application on February 26 requesting the Supreme Court stay pending appeal of a preliminary injunction issued by a district court preliminarily enjoining then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem from terminating temporary protected status designation for Syria. The government asked the Court to construe the application as a petition for a writ of certiorari before judgment and grant the petition. On March 16, the Court consolidated the case with a challenge to the Department of Homeland Security’s termination of Temporary Protected Status designations for Haiti and granted certiorari before judgment of the consolidated cases while deferring action on the government’s request for a stay. The Court heard oral argument on April 29, 2026.

Trump v. Miot: The government filed an application on March 11 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a lower court order postponing then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s decision to terminate temporary protected status designation for Haiti. The government also asked the Court to treat the application as a petition for a writ of certiorari before judgment and grant the petition. On March 16, the Court consolidated the case with Mullin v. Doe. The Court heard oral argument on April 29, 2026. On June 16, 2026, respondents moved to dismiss the government’s petition as improvidently granted.

A panel of the D.C. Circuit on Tuesday vacated a district court stay of the Trump administration’s January 2025 expansion of expedited removal authority. In a 2-1 decision, the majority held that Congress gave the Department of Homeland Security discretion to designate certain classes of noncitizens for expedited removal and that the plaintiffs were unlikely to succeed on their due process challenge to the policy. (Opinion.) (NYT.)

Judge P. Casey Pitts (N.D. Cal.) on Tuesday vacated nationwide ICE and Executive Office for Immigration Review policies authorizing civil immigration arrests in immigration courthouses and detention in short-term holding facilities beyond the agency’s 12-hour limit. Judge Pitts ruled that the policies were arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act. (Order.) (NYT.)

Judge Reed O’Connor (N.D. Tex.) on Monday entered a consent judgment jointly requested by Texas and the Department of Justice declaring unlawful a 2024 DOJ regulation that authorized immigration judges to administratively close cases. The court vacated the rule and permanently enjoined its enforcement. (Order.) (Bloomberg.)

The Senate on Tuesday passed a resolution seeking to block U.S. military action against Iran on a vote of 50-48. (NYT.) President Trump criticized the “poorly timed and meaningless War Powers Act Vote.” (Truth Social.)

The Justice Department on Monday sued the state of New York and several state officials over a recently enacted state law that would prohibit federal officers from wearing face coverings and require them to display identifying information, and terminate local ICE cooperation agreements. The suit, filed in the Western District of New York, alleges that the law would unconstitutionally interfere with federal authority and put federal agents at risk. (Complaint.) (Press Release.) (NYT.)

The Justice Department reportedly sought to compel national security reporters at the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal to testify before a federal grand jury, but withdrew the subpoenas earlier this month after legal challenges by the news organizations. (WaPo.) (NYT.)

Federal judges in Texas on Tuesday sentenced eight members of what prosecutors described as an “antifa cell” to prison terms ranging from 30 to 100 years after they were convicted on terrorism-related charges arising from a July 2025 violent protest at an ICE detention facility that included vandalism, explosives, and the shooting of a local police officer. (WaPo.) (NYT.)

Pending Interim Order Applications Involving the U.S. Government in the Supreme Court

Blanche v. Perlmutter: The government filed an emergency application on October 27 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a district court interlocutory injunction that temporarily reinstated Shira Perlmutter to her role as Register of Copyrights while litigation over her removal continues. Chief Justice Roberts formally set a deadline of November 10 for a response to the application. Perlmutter submitted a response on November 10. Blanche submitted a reply on November 12. The Court deferred the application for stay on November 28 pending the Court’s decisions in Trump v. Slaughter and Trump v. Cook.

Trump v. Cook: The government filed an emergency application on September 18 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a preliminary injunction issued by a district court that blocked President Trump from removing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. Cook filed an opposition to the request on the same day. The Chief Justice formally set a deadline of September 25 for a response to the application. Cook filed a response on September 25. On October 1, the Court deferred action on the stay application pending oral argument in January 2026 and established a supplemental briefing schedule. Additional amicus briefs were filed on October 29. Both sides filed supplemental briefs on November 19 and the Court heard oral argument on Jan. 21, 2026.

Mullin v. Doe: The government filed an application on February 26 requesting the Supreme Court stay pending appeal of a preliminary injunction issued by a district court preliminarily enjoining then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem from terminating temporary protected status designation for Syria. The government asked the Court to construe the application as a petition for a writ of certiorari before judgment and grant the petition. On March 16, the Court consolidated the case with a challenge to the Department of Homeland Security’s termination of Temporary Protected Status designations for Haiti and granted certiorari before judgment of the consolidated cases while deferring action on the government’s request for a stay. The Court heard oral argument on April 29, 2026.

Trump v. Miot: The government filed an application on March 11 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a lower court order postponing then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s decision to terminate temporary protected status designation for Haiti. The government also asked the Court to treat the application as a petition for a writ of certiorari before judgment and grant the petition. On March 16, the Court consolidated the case with Mullin v. Doe. The Court heard oral argumenton April 29, 2026. On June 16, 2026, respondents moved to dismiss the government’s petition as improvidently granted.

The Supreme Court today ruled that the Immigration and Nationality Act “does not require border officers to have clear and convincing evidence that a lawful permanent resident has committed a crime involving moral turpitude before deeming the resident an applicant for admission.” The Court vacated a Second Circuit decision that had imposed such a requirement. (Opinion.) Homeland Security General Counsel James Percival applauded the decision. (X.)

Judge Patrick J. Schiltz (D. Minn.) in a ruling unsealed Monday quashed six Justice Department grand jury subpoenas targeting state and local officials in Minnesota. Judge Schiltz wrote that “overwhelming evidence” indicated that the subpoenas, which were issued during the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in the state, “were not issued to investigate, but to harass, coerce, and retaliate.” (Order.) (Politico.) (Law Dork.) Bob Bauer argued that the Minnesota decision sheds light on a Department of Justice with Todd Blanche at the helm and reaffirms that the Senate must vote to reject Blanche’s attorney general nomination. (Executive Functions)

Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan (D.D.C.) on Monday vacated and set aside the Trump administration’s 2025 overhaul of the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database, which sought to create a system for mass voter verification using using data from the Departments of Homeland Security and Social Security. (Memorandum Opinion.) (Politico.) (NPR.)

Judge Fernando N. Olguin (C.D. Cal.) on Saturday dismissed the Justice Department’s challenge to Los Angeles’s sanctuary-city ordinance on the ground that DOJ failed to plausibly allege either federal preemption or a violation of intergovernmental immunity. DOJ was granted leave to amend its complaint by July 3. (Order.) (LA Times.)

Judge Amy Berman Jackson (D.D.C.) on Monday vacated the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s approvals of state pilot projects restricting the food items that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households could purchase with SNAP benefits. Judge Jackson ruled that Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins lacked authority to use waivers to alter the statutory definition of eligible food. (Memorandum Opinion.) (Order.) (Politico.)

Acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte reportedly began firing people at his office on Monday. (CNN.) (ABC.) Democratic lawmakers on the House and Senate Intelligence Committees on Monday issued a letter to Pulte warning that “[m]aking significant structural changes to ODNI, to include a reduction in force, is not an appropriate course of action for anyone in an acting capacity.” (Letter.) (NYT.)

Steve Vladeck discussed DOJ’s “remarkable” motion to intervene in the NAACP’s Clean Air Act lawsuit against xAI. (One First.)

Andrew McCarthy argued that President Trump has no authority to impose tolls on the Strait of Hormuz, despite his recent statement on Truth Social. (National Review.)

Pending Interim Order Applications Involving the U.S. Government in the Supreme Court

Blanche v. Perlmutter: The government filed an emergency application on October 27 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a district court interlocutory injunction that temporarily reinstated Shira Perlmutter to her role as Register of Copyrights while litigation over her removal continues. Chief Justice Roberts formally set a deadline of November 10 for a response to the application. Perlmutter submitted a response on November 10. Blanche submitted a reply on November 12. The Court deferred the application for stay on November 28 pending the Court’s decisions in Trump v. Slaughter and Trump v. Cook.

Trump v. Cook: The government filed an emergency application on September 18 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a preliminary injunction issued by a district court that blocked President Trump from removing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. Cook filed an opposition to the request on the same day. The Chief Justice formally set a deadline of September 25 for a response to the application. Cook filed a response on September 25. On October 1, the Court deferred action on the stay application pending oral argument in January 2026 and established a supplemental briefing schedule. Additional amicus briefs were filed on October 29. Both sides filed supplemental briefs on November 19 and the Court heard oral argument on Jan. 21, 2026.

Mullin v. Doe: The government filed an application on February 26 requesting the Supreme Court stay pending appeal of a preliminary injunction issued by a district court preliminarily enjoining then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem from terminating temporary protected status designation for Syria. The government asked the Court to construe the application as a petition for a writ of certiorari before judgment and grant the petition. On March 16, the Court consolidated the case with a challenge to the Department of Homeland Security’s termination of Temporary Protected Status designations for Haiti and granted certiorari before judgment of the consolidated cases while deferring action on the government’s request for a stay. The Court heard oral argument on April 29, 2026.

Trump v. Miot: The government filed an application on March 11 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a lower court order postponing then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s decision to terminate temporary protected status designation for Haiti. The government also asked the Court to treat the application as a petition for a writ of certiorari before judgment and grant the petition. On March 16, the Court consolidated the case with Mullin v. Doe. The Court heard oral argument on April 29, 2026. On June 16, 2026, respondents moved to dismiss the government’s petition as improvidently granted.

The Department of Justice declined on Friday to follow Judge Leonie Brinkema’s (E.D. Va.) June 12 order directing several senior administration officials to file sworn declarations stating that the administration will not take any action to create or operate the Anti-Weaponization Fund. The department argued that “[s]uch declarations are unnecessary and the compelled testimony of senior officials from the Executive Branch implicates serious separation of powers concerns.” (Notice.) (CBS.) For background, see a previous Roundup.

Politico reported that Acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte directed staff last week to compile a list of 300 employees at the National Counterterrorism Center to be fired. (Politico.)

The New York Times reported that Trump administration political appointees quashed a criminal investigation in the Eastern District of New York into the circumstances surrounding the commutation of private equity executive David Gentile’s sentence. (NYT.)

The New York Times reported last week that the Trump administration detained Beto Coral, a Colombian immigrant and online activist, after Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a memorandum finding him deportable on the ground that Coral’s support for the president of Colombia—with whom President Trump has clashed—“undermines U.S. foreign policy interests in Colombia’s democratic processes and signals that foreign nationals may use U.S. platforms to conduct politically motivated disinformation campaigns and litigation targeting foreign democratic actors without consequence.” (NYT.)

Tess Bridgeman argued that Congress should repeal the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act (INARA) to avert several scenarios that would undermine the rule of law and/or prospects for peace with Iran. (Just Security.)

Michael Dreeben recounted how New Deal contemporaries viewed Humphrey’s Executor and unpacked the significance of the case for executive power today. (Just Security.)

Pending Interim Order Applications Involving the U.S. Government in the Supreme Court

Blanche v. Perlmutter: The government filed an emergency application on October 27 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a district court interlocutory injunction that temporarily reinstated Shira Perlmutter to her role as Register of Copyrights while litigation over her removal continues. Chief Justice Roberts formally set a deadline of November 10 for a response to the application. Perlmutter submitted a response on November 10. Blanche submitted a reply on November 12. The Court deferred the application for stay on November 28 pending the Court’s decisions in Trump v. Slaughter and Trump v. Cook.

Trump v. Cook: The government filed an emergency application on September 18 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a preliminary injunction issued by a district court that blocked President Trump from removing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. Cook filed an opposition to the request on the same day. The Chief Justice formally set a deadline of September 25 for a response to the application. Cook filed a response on September 25. On October 1, the Court deferred action on the stay application pending oral argument in January 2026 and established a supplemental briefing schedule. Additional amicus briefs were filed on October 29. Both sides filed supplemental briefs on November 19 and the Court heard oral argument on Jan. 21, 2026.

Mullin v. Doe: The government filed an application on February 26 requesting the Supreme Court stay pending appeal of a preliminary injunction issued by a district court preliminarily enjoining then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem from terminating temporary protected status designation for Syria. The government asked the Court to construe the application as a petition for a writ of certiorari before judgment and grant the petition. On March 16, the Court consolidated the case with a challenge to the Department of Homeland Security’s termination of Temporary Protected Status designations for Haiti and granted certiorari before judgment of the consolidated cases while deferring action on the government’s request for a stay. The Court heard oral argument on April 29, 2026.

Trump v. Miot: The government filed an application on March 11 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a lower court order postponing then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s decision to terminate temporary protected status designation for Haiti. The government also asked the Court to treat the application as a petition for a writ of certiorari before judgment and grant the petition. On March 16, the Court consolidated the case with Mullin v. Doe. The Court heard oral argument on April 29, 2026. On June 16, 2026, respondents moved to dismiss the government’s petition as improvidently granted.

On Wednesday, the Federal Circuit granted immigration judges’ petition for an initial hearing en banc in Jackler v. DOJ, a challenge to President Trump’s removal of the judges under Article II. (Order.) (Petition for Initial Hearing En Banc.) (Gov. Exec.)

The Presidio Municipal Development District, a political subdivision of Texas, sued the Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday over its effort to construct a section of border wall that will run through a levee system in Big Bend on the ground that the department failed to secure the permission of the Army secretary, as the Presidio alleges 33 U.S.C. § 408 requires. (Complaint.)

U.S. Southern Command announced on Tuesday that it had conducted a lethal strike on an alleged drug trafficking vessel in the Eastern Pacific. (Press Release.) This marks the administration’s 64th known strike on vessels in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean. (Just Security.)

The Department of Education announced four new interagency agreements on Tuesday, transferring additional functions out of the department and to the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services. (Press Release.) According to the New York Times, the agreements are part of an ongoing effort to dismantle the Department of Education without authorization from Congress. (NYT.)

The Times reports that despite congressional opposition, it appears Bill Pulte will assume the role of acting director of national intelligence on Friday. (NYT.)

Jack Goldsmith argued that President Trump lacks the domestic legal authority to waive U.S. statutory sanctions against Iran, as he pledged to do in the recent memorandum of understanding, but that Congress and the judiciary are unlikely to stop him. (Executive Functions.)

Michael Dreeben, Jacqueline Sanchez, and Owen O’Brien-Powers argued that Congress has the tools it needs to check the executive branch and reclaim its powers. (Lawfare.)

Pending Interim Order Applications Involving the U.S. Government in the Supreme Court

Blanche v. Perlmutter: The government filed an emergency application on October 27 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a district court interlocutory injunction that temporarily reinstated Shira Perlmutter to her role as Register of Copyrights while litigation over her removal continues. Chief Justice Roberts formally set a deadline of November 10 for a response to the application. Perlmutter submitted a response on November 10. Blanche submitted a reply on November 12. The Court deferred the application for stay on November 28 pending the Court’s decisions in Trump v. Slaughter and Trump v. Cook.

Trump v. Cook: The government filed an emergency application on September 18 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a preliminary injunction issued by a district court that blocked President Trump from removing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. Cook filed an opposition to the request on the same day. The Chief Justice formally set a deadline of September 25 for a response to the application. Cook filed a response on September 25. On October 1, the Court deferred action on the stay application pending oral argument in January 2026 and established a supplemental briefing schedule. Additional amicus briefs were filed on October 29. Both sides filed supplemental briefs on November 19 and the Court heard oral argument on Jan. 21, 2026.

Mullin v. Doe: The government filed an application on February 26 requesting the Supreme Court stay pending appeal of a preliminary injunction issued by a district court preliminarily enjoining then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem from terminating temporary protected status designation for Syria. The government asked the Court to construe the application as a petition for a writ of certiorari before judgment and grant the petition. On March 16, the Court consolidated the case with a challenge to the Department of Homeland Security’s termination of Temporary Protected Status designations for Haiti and granted certiorari before judgment of the consolidated cases while deferring action on the government’s request for a stay. The Court heard oral argument on April 29, 2026.

Trump v. Miot: The government filed an application on March 11 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a lower court order postponing then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s decision to terminate temporary protected status designation for Haiti. The government also asked the Court to treat the application as a petition for a writ of certiorari before judgment and grant the petition. On March 16, the Court consolidated the case with Mullin v. Doe. The Court heard oral argument on April 29, 2026. On June 16, 2026, respondents moved to dismiss the government’s petition as improvidently granted.

A group of Haitian Temporary Protected Status beneficiaries on Tuesday asked the Supreme Court to dismiss Trump v. Miot as improvidently granted. (Respondents’ Motion.) The filing contends that newly disclosed internal Department of Homeland Security documents suggest that DHS terminated Haiti’s TPS designation without consulting the State Department despite public statements indicating otherwise. (Appendix.) (SCOTUSblog.) (NYT.)

Judge Leonie Brinkema (E.D. Va.) ordered ICE to provide an individualized bond hearing to Mohammad Rahim Wahidi, an Afghan lawful permanent resident detained for more than 14 months while the government seeks to remove him under the Immigration and Nationality Act’s terrorism-related material support provisions. (Order.)

The U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island issued its finding and decision with regard to possible misconduct by a Justice Department lawyer who failed to disclose to Judge Melissa DuBose (D.R.I.) that a migrant appearing before her was wanted for homicide in the Dominican Republic. The court found that the lawyer had violated his duty of candor, but recommended no disciplinary sanctions. (Letter.) (Statement of the Court.) (NYT.) See previous Roundups for background.

The New York Times published the full text, as dictated by a senior U.S. official, of the memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States. (NYT.)

Federal prosecutors in Minnesota unsealed a 94-page indictment charging 15 alleged members of Minneapolis-based antifa groups with conspiracy and other offenses arising from efforts to impede ICE operations. (Indictment.) (NYT.)

The Senate on Tuesday rejected Democrats’ ninth effort to advance a war powers resolution directing President Trump to end U.S. involvement in the war with Iran absent congressional authorization. (NYT.)

George Croner argued that the Supreme Court’s decision in Trump v. Illinois makes it more likely President Trump will turn to the Insurrection Act for domestic deployments and urged courts to closely scrutinize any such invocation. (Lawfare.)

Pending Interim Order Applications Involving the U.S. Government in the Supreme Court

Blanche v. Perlmutter: The government filed an emergency application on October 27 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a district court interlocutory injunction that temporarily reinstated Shira Perlmutter to her role as Register of Copyrights while litigation over her removal continues. Chief Justice Roberts formally set a deadline of November 10 for a response to the application. Perlmutter submitted a response on November 10. Blanche submitted a reply on November 12. The Court deferred the application for stay on November 28 pending the Court’s decisions in Trump v. Slaughter and Trump v. Cook.

Trump v. Cook: The government filed an emergency application on September 18 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a preliminary injunction issued by a district court that blocked President Trump from removing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. Cook filed an opposition to the request on the same day. The Chief Justice formally set a deadline of September 25 for a response to the application. Cook filed a response on September 25. On October 1, the Court deferred action on the stay application pending oral argument in January 2026 and established a supplemental briefing schedule. Additional amicus briefs were filed on October 29. Both sides filed supplemental briefs on November 19 and the Court heard oral argument on Jan. 21, 2026.

Mullin v. Doe: The government filed an application on February 26 requesting the Supreme Court stay pending appeal of a preliminary injunction issued by a district court preliminarily enjoining then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem from terminating temporary protected status designation for Syria. The government asked the Court to construe the application as a petition for a writ of certiorari before judgment and grant the petition. On March 16, the Court consolidated the case with a challenge to the Department of Homeland Security’s termination of Temporary Protected Status designations for Haiti and granted certiorari before judgment of the consolidated cases while deferring action on the government’s request for a stay. The Court heard oral argument on April 29, 2026.

Trump v. Miot: The government filed an application on March 11 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a lower court order postponing then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s decision to terminate temporary protected status designation for Haiti. The government also asked the Court to treat the application as a petition for a writ of certiorari before judgment and grant the petition. On March 16, the Court consolidated the case with Mullin v. Doe. The Court heard oral argument on April 29, 2026. On June 16, 2026, respondents moved to dismiss the government’s petition as improvidently granted.

The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear Genalo v. Black, in which the Second Circuit ruled that noncitizens held in “unreasonably prolonged” detention under 8 U.S.C. § 1226(c) are entitled to bond hearings. (Order list.) (SCOTUSBlog.) Politico reports that the grant is “the justices’ most significant move yet to delve into the Trump administration’s sweeping assertion of detention authority and efforts to constrain due process rights for the hundreds of thousands of people ICE is seeking to deport.” (Politico.)

The Department of Justice on Monday moved to intervene in the NAACP’s Clean Air Act lawsuit against xAI in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi. The DOJ filing, submitted by Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward, argues that the United States is entitled to dismiss citizen-enforcement actions that conflict with federal priorities and that limiting power generation for Grok would undermine national security, energy and artificial intelligence policy objectives. (Memorandum.) (Reuters.)

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday that the Justice Department has opened an investigation into him and his wife. Newsom accused President Trump of directing a politically motivated probe, while a source told the New York Times that multiple investigations are underway and were initiated by federal law enforcement officials in California rather than Washington. (Statement.) (NYT.)

According to the Wall Street Journal, career DOJ staffers investigating Paramount’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery were leaning toward recommending a lawsuit to challenge the deal when they were informed Friday that the department’s senior leadership had decided to close the investigation. (WSJ.)

Jack Goldsmith argued that the Iran war “is the latest instance of the ‘one person decides’ principle of U.S. foreign policy that Trump has taken to new extremes, and that undeservedly has received less critical attention than Trump’s domestic unilateralism.” (Executive Functions.)

Andrew McCarthy criticized President Trump’s memorandum of understanding with Iran. (National Review.)

Marty Lederman argued that the D.C. Circuit “went astray” in blocking Judge James Boasberg’s contempt inquiry over the Trump administration’s Alien Enemies Act removals. (Just Security.)

Pending Interim Order Applications Involving the U.S. Government in the Supreme Court

Blanche v. Perlmutter: The government filed an emergency application on October 27 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a district court interlocutory injunction that temporarily reinstated Shira Perlmutter to her role as Register of Copyrights while litigation over her removal continues. Chief Justice Roberts formally set a deadline of November 10 for a response to the application. Perlmutter submitted a response on November 10. Blanche submitted a reply on November 12. The Court deferred the application for stay on November 28 pending the Court’s decisions in Trump v. Slaughter and Trump v. Cook.

Trump v. Cook: The government filed an emergency application on September 18 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a preliminary injunction issued by a district court that blocked President Trump from removing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. Cook filed an opposition to the request on the same day. The Chief Justice formally set a deadline of September 25 for a response to the application. Cook filed a response on September 25. On October 1, the Court deferred action on the stay application pending oral argument in January 2026 and established a supplemental briefing schedule. Additional amicus briefs were filed on October 29. Both sides filed supplemental briefs on November 19 and the Court heard oral argument on Jan. 21, 2026.

Mullin v. Doe: The government filed an application on February 26 requesting the Supreme Court stay pending appeal of a preliminary injunction issued by a district court preliminarily enjoining then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem from terminating temporary protected status designation for Syria. The government asked the Court to construe the application as a petition for a writ of certiorari before judgment and grant the petition. On March 16, the Court consolidated the case with a challenge to the Department of Homeland Security’s termination of Temporary Protected Status designations for Haiti and granted certiorari before judgment of the consolidated cases while deferring action on the government’s request for a stay. The Court heard oral argument on April 29, 2026.

Trump v. Miot: The government filed an application on March 11 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a lower court order postponing then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s decision to terminate temporary protected status designation for Haiti. The government also asked the Court to treat the application as a petition for a writ of certiorari before judgment and grant the petition. On March 16, the Court consolidated the case with Mullin v. Doe. The Court heard oral argument on April 29, 2026.

A panel of the D.C. Circuit on Friday denied the Trump administration’s motion for an immediate administrative stay of a lower court’s May 29 ruling requiring Kennedy Center officials to remove all references to the institution as the “Trump Kennedy Center,” including removing signage that purports to rename the center. (Order.) Justice Department lawyers filed a notice of compliance with the permanent injunction order on Saturday. (Notice.) (CBS.)

Judge Leonie M. Brinkema (E.D. Va.) on Friday ordered senior administration officials, including Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, to file by June 19 “a declaration under the penalty of perjury that they will not take any action to create or operate the Anti-Weaponization Fund, and that the [fund] will not proceed in any manner, under any name.” Judge Brinkena entered a preliminary injunction barring the administration from taking any action related to the creation or operation of the $1.8 billion fund. (Order.) (NYT.)

Attorneys for President Trump on Friday filed an opposition to the motion of 35 former federal judges to reopen the president’s case against the Internal Revenue Service in the Southern District of Florida. The filing contends that the court lacks authority to review the parties’ settlement, that the movants lack standing, and that the movants “fail to satisfy the clear and convincing evidence standard required to establish fraud on the court.” (Motion.) (Politico.) For background, see previous Roundups.

Anthropic suspended all customer access to its newest AI models, Fable 5 and Mythos 5, after receiving notice from the Commerce Department that the models had been placed under export controls requiring licenses for access by foreign nationals. (Anthropic Statement.) (WSJ.) Alan Rozenshtein discussed the government’s move and argued that “there is at least a facially plausible legal framework in this case.” (Lawfare.)

The New York Times published a confidential White House memo shedding light on internal discussions about the president suspending habeas corpus for undocumented immigrants in 2025 as a way to accelerate deportations and limit judicial review. The report also details internal debates over invoking the Insurrection Act in response to immigration-related protests, with White House Staff Secretary Will Scharf warning that both proposals could trigger significant legal and constitutional challenges. (NYT.)

Politico reports that, despite a Fifth Circuit opinion endorsing ICE’s expanded mandatory detention policy, district judges in Texas and Louisiana have ordered bond hearings or release for detainees more than 1,200 times on due process grounds since the appellate ruling. (Politico.)

President Trump spoke with the New York Times about the cease-fire agreement he reached with Iran on Sunday. (NYT.)

President Trump announced Friday that U.S. Southern Command “delivered a swift and lethal kinetic strike to successfully execute Niño Guerrero, the infamous leader of Tren De Aragua” in coordination with “our friends in Venezuela.” (Truth Social.) (Politico.)

President Trump announced on Saturday that he would appoint a former personal lawyer, James McDonald, to serve as the next U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. (Truth Social.) (WSJ.)

Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which enables the government to collect foreign intelligence without a warrant, expired at 12 a.m. on Saturday after Congress failed to pass an extension. (NBC.)

Bob Bauer and Jack Goldsmith discussed the stakes of President Trump’s nomination of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to serve as attorney general. (Executive Functions.)

Pending Interim Order Applications Involving the U.S. Government in the Supreme Court

Blanche v. Perlmutter: The government filed an emergency application on October 27 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a district court interlocutory injunction that temporarily reinstated Shira Perlmutter to her role as Register of Copyrights while litigation over her removal continues. Chief Justice Roberts formally set a deadline of November 10 for a response to the application. Perlmutter submitted a response on November 10. Blanche submitted a reply on November 12. The Court deferred the application for stay on November 28 pending the Court’s decisions in Trump v. Slaughter and Trump v. Cook.

Trump v. Cook: The government filed an emergency application on September 18 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a preliminary injunction issued by a district court that blocked President Trump from removing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. Cook filed an opposition to the request on the same day. The Chief Justice formally set a deadline of September 25 for a response to the application. Cook filed a response on September 25. On October 1, the Court deferred action on the stay application pending oral argument in January 2026 and established a supplemental briefing schedule. Additional amicus briefs were filed on October 29. Both sides filed supplemental briefs on November 19 and the Court heard oral argument on Jan. 21, 2026.

Mullin v. Doe: The government filed an application on February 26 requesting the Supreme Court stay pending appeal of a preliminary injunction issued by a district court preliminarily enjoining then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem from terminating temporary protected status designation for Syria. The government asked the Court to construe the application as a petition for a writ of certiorari before judgment and grant the petition. On March 16, the Court consolidated the case with a challenge to the Department of Homeland Security’s termination of Temporary Protected Status designations for Haiti and granted certiorari before judgment of the consolidated cases while deferring action on the government’s request for a stay. The Court heard oral argument on April 29, 2026.

Trump v. Miot: The government filed an application on March 11 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a lower court order postponing then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s decision to terminate temporary protected status designation for Haiti. The government also asked the Court to treat the application as a petition for a writ of certiorari before judgment and grant the petition. On March 16, the Court consolidated the case with Mullin v. Doe. The Court heard oral argument on April 29, 2026.

Judge Kyle Dudek (M.D. Fla.) ordered the release of a detained noncitizen after an immigration judge refused to comply with the district court’s prior order requiring a bond hearing, the government’s counsel “acquiesced in that refusal,” and the government, facing a renewed habeas petition, sought reversal of the court’s prior order. Judge Dudek said the sequence of events “border[ed] on the surreal.” (Order.)

Judge John McConnell, Jr. (D.R.I.) entered partial final judgment vacating and setting aside four U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services policies that indefinitely paused the adjudication of certain immigration benefit requests. He ordered the government to file a status report within 24 hours detailing the steps it has taken to comply with the court’s June 5 order vacating those policies. (Order.) For background, see a previous Roundup.

President Trump said on Thursday that he would nominate Jay Clayton, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, to be the next director of national intelligence. (Truth Social.) (NYT.)

The House of Representatives rejected a bill on Thursday that would have temporarily renewed Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The provision expires at midnight tonight. (NYT.) Nineteen Republicans joined Democrats in opposing the measure. (Clerk of the House.)

Four former and retired judge advocates general—Calvin Lederer, John Ewers, Eugene R. Fidell, and Steven J. Lepper—offered a set of principles to guide judge advocates both in their daily practice and “particularly in deployed operations during these challenging times.” (Just Security.)

David Post proposed a set of questions to ask Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche at his upcoming confirmation hearing. (Volokh.)

Quinta Jurecic explained that two defense tactics that typically face long odds in court—motions to dismiss criminal charges for vindictive or selective prosecution and motions to obtain access to the transcripts of grand-jury proceedings—have increasingly succeeded as courts have grown wary of relying on the Justice Department’s representations. (Atlantic.)

Pending Interim Order Applications Involving the U.S. Government in the Supreme Court

Blanche v. Perlmutter: The government filed an emergency application on October 27 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a district court interlocutory injunction that temporarily reinstated Shira Perlmutter to her role as Register of Copyrights while litigation over her removal continues. Chief Justice Roberts formally set a deadline of November 10 for a response to the application. Perlmutter submitted a response on November 10. Blanche submitted a reply on November 12. The Court deferred the application for stay on November 28 pending the Court’s decisions in Trump v. Slaughter and Trump v. Cook.

Trump v. Cook: The government filed an emergency application on September 18 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a preliminary injunction issued by a district court that blocked President Trump from removing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. Cook filed an opposition to the request on the same day. The Chief Justice formally set a deadline of September 25 for a response to the application. Cook filed a response on September 25. On October 1, the Court deferred action on the stay application pending oral argument in January 2026 and established a supplemental briefing schedule. Additional amicus briefs were filed on October 29. Both sides filed supplemental briefs on November 19 and the Court heard oral argument on Jan. 21, 2026.

Mullin v. Doe: The government filed an application on February 26 requesting the Supreme Court stay pending appeal of a preliminary injunction issued by a district court preliminarily enjoining then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem from terminating temporary protected status designation for Syria. The government asked the Court to construe the application as a petition for a writ of certiorari before judgment and grant the petition. On March 16, the Court consolidated the case with a challenge to the Department of Homeland Security’s termination of Temporary Protected Status designations for Haiti and granted certiorari before judgment of the consolidated cases while deferring action on the government’s request for a stay. The Court heard oral argument on April 29, 2026.

Trump v. Miot: The government filed an application on March 11 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a lower court order postponing then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s decision to terminate temporary protected status designation for Haiti. The government also asked the Court to treat the application as a petition for a writ of certiorari before judgment and grant the petition. On March 16, the Court consolidated the case with Mullin v. Doe. The Court heard oral argument on April 29, 2026.

Judge Richard Leon (D.D.C.) declined on Wednesday to issue a temporary restraining order blocking the establishment of the administration’s Anti-Weaponization Fund on the ground that the matter “appears to be moot” in light of the administration’s stated plans not to move forward with the fund. (Politico.)

The County of Santa Clara and State of California sued the Department of Homeland Security in the Northern District of California on Wednesday, arguing that the department’s effort to construct and operate an immigration-holding facility in Santa Clara County violates the National Environmental Policy Act, Immigration and Nationality Act, Intergovernmental Cooperation Act, and Administrative Procedure Act. (Complaint.)

The Trump administration is reportedly preparing to deport migrants from Afghanistan, Iran, and Syria to the Central African Republic on Thursday, in what would be the first set of removals to the country. (NYT.) Anjli Parrin and Savi Arvey argued that the move would put migrants’ lives at risk. (Just Security.)

The New York Times reported that Deputy Secretary of Defense Stephen Feinberg previously worked closely with David Rush—the former CIA officer who was arrested after the FBI discovered $40 million in gold bars in his home—on a highly classified effort to spy on China. (NYT.)

William “Chip” Usher argued that U.S. intelligence support for the Israeli strike that killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei upended the executive branch’s longstanding approach to the targeted killing of foreign leaders. (Lawfare.)

Pending Interim Order Applications Involving the U.S. Government in the Supreme Court

Blanche v. Perlmutter: The government filed an emergency application on October 27 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a district court interlocutory injunction that temporarily reinstated Shira Perlmutter to her role as Register of Copyrights while litigation over her removal continues. Chief Justice Roberts formally set a deadline of November 10 for a response to the application. Perlmutter submitted a response on November 10. Blanche submitted a reply on November 12. The Court deferred the application for stay on November 28 pending the Court’s decisions in Trump v. Slaughter and Trump v. Cook.

Trump v. Cook: The government filed an emergency application on September 18 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a preliminary injunction issued by a district court that blocked President Trump from removing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. Cook filed an opposition to the request on the same day. The Chief Justice formally set a deadline of September 25 for a response to the application. Cook filed a response on September 25. On October 1, the Court deferred action on the stay application pending oral argument in January 2026 and established a supplemental briefing schedule. Additional amicus briefs were filed on October 29. Both sides filed supplemental briefs on November 19 and the Court heard oral argument on Jan. 21, 2026.

Mullin v. Doe: The government filed an application on February 26 requesting the Supreme Court stay pending appeal of a preliminary injunction issued by a district court preliminarily enjoining then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem from terminating temporary protected status designation for Syria. The government asked the Court to construe the application as a petition for a writ of certiorari before judgment and grant the petition. On March 16, the Court consolidated the case with a challenge to the Department of Homeland Security’s termination of Temporary Protected Status designations for Haiti and granted certiorari before judgment of the consolidated cases while deferring action on the government’s request for a stay. The Court heard oral argument on April 29, 2026.

Trump v. Miot: The government filed an application on March 11 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a lower court order postponing then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s decision to terminate temporary protected status designation for Haiti. The government also asked the Court to treat the application as a petition for a writ of certiorari before judgment and grant the petition. On March 16, the Court consolidated the case with Mullin v. Doe. The Court heard oral argument on April 29, 2026.

Two legal teams challenging the administration’s Anti-Weaponization Fund on Tuesday filed court papers expressing skepticism that the Department of Justice would follow through with its stated plan to abandon the $1.8 billion fund. (Reply.) (Expedited Motion.) (NYT.)

Politico reports that Patrick Davis, assistant attorney general for legislative affairs, sought to recuse himself from matters involving the administration’s proposed Anti-Weaponization Fund because he planned to seek compensation for the government’s seizure of his communications records while investigating the Russia probe as a Senate staffer. A DOJ spokesperson said that the recusal effort was “precautionary” and “after internal consultation, it was decided that recusal was not necessary for a number of reasons.” (Politico.)

The Wall Street Journal reports that White House officials have directed a government artificial-intelligence testing unit to halt publication of its public AI-model assessments while a new executive order on AI innovation and security is implemented. (WSJ.)

The New York Times reports that despite having “occasionally assumed an adult-in-the-room role” at the Justice Department, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche “has more often been a speed bump, rather than a stop sign,” in executing the president’s demands. (NYT.)

Bob Bauer argued that Blanche’s nomination as attorney general raises broader concerns about the erosion of Justice Department ethics rules and conflict-of-interest safeguards in Trump 2.0. (Executive Functions.)

Ed Whelan discussed a federal judge’s “puzzling” ruling against President Trump’s $100,000 H-1B visa fee. (National Review.) For background on the opinion, see yesterday’s Roundup.

Andrew McCarthy wrote that the DOJ has not deported Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Costa Rica because it is using that outcome “as leverage to pressure him to plead guilty to the criminal charges—with the threat that it would send him to an African country, to which he objects, if he continues contesting the charges.” (National Review.)

Chris Geidner reported on a pair of hearings in challenges to the Justice Department’s efforts to obtain records related to gender-affirming care for minors. (Lawdork.)

Pending Interim Order Applications Involving the U.S. Government in the Supreme Court

Blanche v. Perlmutter: The government filed an emergency application on October 27 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a district court interlocutory injunction that temporarily reinstated Shira Perlmutter to her role as Register of Copyrights while litigation over her removal continues. Chief Justice Roberts formally set a deadline of November 10 for a response to the application. Perlmutter submitted a response on November 10. Blanche submitted a reply on November 12. The Court deferred the application for stay on November 28 pending the Court’s decisions in Trump v. Slaughter and Trump v. Cook.

Trump v. Cook: The government filed an emergency application on September 18 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a preliminary injunction issued by a district court that blocked President Trump from removing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. Cook filed an opposition to the request on the same day. The Chief Justice formally set a deadline of September 25 for a response to the application. Cook filed a response on September 25. On October 1, the Court deferred action on the stay application pending oral argument in January 2026 and established a supplemental briefing schedule. Additional amicus briefs were filed on October 29. Both sides filed supplemental briefs on November 19 and the Court heard oral argument on Jan. 21, 2026.

Mullin v. Doe: The government filed an application on February 26 requesting the Supreme Court stay pending appeal of a preliminary injunction issued by a district court preliminarily enjoining then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem from terminating temporary protected status designation for Syria. The government asked the Court to construe the application as a petition for a writ of certiorari before judgment and grant the petition. On March 16, the Court consolidated the case with a challenge to the Department of Homeland Security’s termination of Temporary Protected Status designations for Haiti and granted certiorari before judgment of the consolidated cases while deferring action on the government’s request for a stay. The Court heard oral argument on April 29, 2026.

Trump v. Miot: The government filed an application on March 11 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a lower court order postponing then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s decision to terminate temporary protected status designation for Haiti. The government also asked the Court to treat the application as a petition for a writ of certiorari before judgment and grant the petition. On March 16, the Court consolidated the case with Mullin v. Doe. The Court heard oral argument on April 29, 2026.

Judge Leo T. Sorokin (D. Mass.) on Monday granted summary judgment to a coalition of 20 states challenging President Trump’s proclamation imposing a $100,000 payment requirement on new H-1B visa petitions. Judge Sorokin held that the payment functioned as an unauthorized tax that exceeded the president’s delegated authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act. (Memorandum and Order.) (NYT.)

President Trump on Monday nominated Todd Blanche, his former personal lawyer and current acting attorney general, to serve as attorney general. (Presidential Action.) (NYT.)

The Justice Department announced on Monday that it has “filed denaturalization actions in various U.S. district courts against 17 individuals accused of serious offenses—including sexual abuse of a minor, wire and bank fraud, and distributing drugs wholesale without a license.” (Press Release.) (NYT.) For background on the Justice Department’s push to denaturalize more immigrants, see the Roundup Library.

The New York Times reports that FBI Director Kash Patel’s push to investigate a purported anti-Trump “deep state” conspiracy has “set off cascading crises with U.S. attorneys’ offices, derailed distinguished careers and undercut the Justice Department’s credibility with judges.” (NYT.)

Scott R. Anderson argued that congressional resolutions opposing the war in Iran may have legal significance even if they lack the force of law. (Lawfare.)

David Post argued that acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has not conferred “immunity” or an “audit shield” on President Trump because he is not authorized to do so. (Volokh Conspiracy.)

J. Benton Heath argued that President Trump’s AI executive order reflects the administration’s broader reliance on executive discretion and industry self-regulation. (Just Security.)

Pending Interim Order Applications Involving the U.S. Government in the Supreme Court

Blanche v. Perlmutter: The government filed an emergency application on October 27 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a district court interlocutory injunction that temporarily reinstated Shira Perlmutter to her role as Register of Copyrights while litigation over her removal continues. Chief Justice Roberts formally set a deadline of November 10 for a response to the application. Perlmutter submitted a response on November 10. Blanche submitted a reply on November 12. The Court deferred the application for stay on November 28 pending the Court’s decisions in Trump v. Slaughter and Trump v. Cook.

Trump v. Cook: The government filed an emergency application on September 18 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a preliminary injunction issued by a district court that blocked President Trump from removing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. Cook filed an opposition to the request on the same day. The Chief Justice formally set a deadline of September 25 for a response to the application. Cook filed a response on September 25. On October 1, the Court deferred action on the stay application pending oral argument in January 2026 and established a supplemental briefing schedule. Additional amicus briefs were filed on October 29. Both sides filed supplemental briefs on November 19 and the Court heard oral argument on Jan. 21, 2026.

Mullin v. Doe: The government filed an application on February 26 requesting the Supreme Court stay pending appeal of a preliminary injunction issued by a district court preliminarily enjoining then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem from terminating temporary protected status designation for Syria. The government asked the Court to construe the application as a petition for a writ of certiorari before judgment and grant the petition. On March 16, the Court consolidated the case with a challenge to the Department of Homeland Security’s termination of Temporary Protected Status designations for Haiti and granted certiorari before judgment of the consolidated cases while deferring action on the government’s request for a stay. The Court heard oral argument on April 29, 2026.

Trump v. Miot: The government filed an application on March 11 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a lower court order postponing then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s decision to terminate temporary protected status designation for Haiti. The government also asked the Court to treat the application as a petition for a writ of certiorari before judgment and grant the petition. On March 16, the Court consolidated the case with Mullin v. Doe. The Court heard oral argument on April 29, 2026.

Judge John J. McConnell (D.R.I.) on Friday vacated and set aside a set of policies enacted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services that paused adjudication of certain immigration benefits for individuals from designated “Travel Ban Countries.” (Memorandum and Order.) (NYT.)

Judge Myong J. Joun (D. Mass.) on Friday granted a preliminary injunction barring the Department of Agriculture from conditioning federal funding to states on compliance with various Trump administration policy priorities. (Electronic Order.) (Reuters.)

President Trump on Friday stated that he wants Bill Pulte, his pick for acting director of national intelligence, to “start the process” of firing employees in the U.S. intelligence community. “I’d like to see it smaller,” Trump said of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. “I think there are a lot of people in there that shouldn’t be here.” (WSJ.)

The Justice Department on Friday asserted in two twin federal court filings that the $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund “had not been set up and is now not going forward,” adding that claims challenging the fund’s creation are therefore not justiciable. (D.D.C. Response.) (E.D. Va. Response.) (NYT.) In a pre-recorded interview that aired Sunday, President Trump maintained that “the weaponization fund is a great idea” and said that he would be “disappointed” if it is not approved. (Politico.) Anna Bower and Eric Columbus argued that even if the administration scraps the fund, the president could still pay his political allies with taxpayer money—and in fact has done so for the past year. (Lawfare.)

President Trump on Thursday granted a “full, complete, and unconditional pardon” to Stephen Buyer, a former Indiana Republican congressman who was convicted of insider trading in 2023. The Washington Post notes that the act marks Trump’s 13th pardon to a current or former member of Congress across his two terms. (Presidential Action.) (WaPo.)

A Justice Department attorney told a D.C. Circuit panel on Friday that courts lack authority to halt construction of the White House ballroom project, even if it were ultimately found unlawful. According to Politico, the panel appeared skeptical of that argument. (Politico.)

Mark Nevitt argued that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth may have exceeded his legal authority by removing officers from Navy promotion lists. (Just Security.)

Andrew McCarthy argued that Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s agreement purporting to shield President Trump, his sons, and the Trump Organization from future IRS audits is likely unenforceable. (National Review.)

Pending Interim Order Applications Involving the U.S. Government in the Supreme Court

Blanche v. Perlmutter: The government filed an emergency application on October 27 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a district court interlocutory injunction that temporarily reinstated Shira Perlmutter to her role as Register of Copyrights while litigation over her removal continues. Chief Justice Roberts formally set a deadline of November 10 for a response to the application. Perlmutter submitted a response on November 10. Blanche submitted a reply on November 12. The Court deferred the application for stay on November 28 pending the Court’s decisions in Trump v. Slaughter and Trump v. Cook.

Trump v. Cook: The government filed an emergency application on September 18 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a preliminary injunction issued by a district court that blocked President Trump from removing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. Cook filed an opposition to the request on the same day. The Chief Justice formally set a deadline of September 25 for a response to the application. Cook filed a response on September 25. On October 1, the Court deferred action on the stay application pending oral argument in January 2026 and established a supplemental briefing schedule. Additional amicus briefs were filed on October 29. Both sides filed supplemental briefs on November 19 and the Court heard oral argument on Jan. 21, 2026.

Mullin v. Doe: The government filed an application on February 26 requesting the Supreme Court stay pending appeal of a preliminary injunction issued by a district court preliminarily enjoining then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem from terminating temporary protected status designation for Syria. The government asked the Court to construe the application as a petition for a writ of certiorari before judgment and grant the petition. On March 16, the Court consolidated the case with a challenge to the Department of Homeland Security’s termination of Temporary Protected Status designations for Haiti and granted certiorari before judgment of the consolidated cases while deferring action on the government’s request for a stay. The Court heard oral argument on April 29, 2026.

Trump v. Miot: The government filed an application on March 11 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a lower court order postponing then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s decision to terminate temporary protected status designation for Haiti. The government also asked the Court to treat the application as a petition for a writ of certiorari before judgment and grant the petition. On March 16, the Court consolidated the case with Mullin v. Doe. The Court heard oral argument on April 29, 2026.

Judge Amit P. Mehta (D.D.C.) on Wednesday stayed all proceedings in consolidated civil cases against President Trump for his conduct on Jan. 6, 2021, pending appellate review of the court’s denial of Trump’s motion to dismiss. Judge Mehta allowed one case to proceed but stayed discovery as to defendant President Trump. (Memorandum Opinion and Order.)

Several news outlets reported on Thursday that former national security advisor John Bolton has reached a deal with the Justice Department to plead guilty to unlawfully retaining classified information. (CNN.) (NYT.) (WSJ.) A notice filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland scheduled rearraignment in Bolton’s case for June 26 at 9:30 a.m. (Notice.) Andrew C. McCarthy discussed the reported plea deal. (National Review.)

President Trump said on Wednesday that he plans to nominate Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to a full term as the nation’s top law enforcement officer. (WaPo.) Ed Whelan argued that even if he is not confirmed, Blanche can run the Justice Department “indefinitely.” (National Review.)

A report released Thursday by a nonprofit consumer advocacy group found that more than half of publicly identifiable donors to President Trump’s ballroom project have won more than $50 billion in federal government contracts during the past six months. (WaPo.)

Senate Republicans voted early Friday morning to pass a $70 billion bill to fund immigration enforcement. The bill failed to include language to restrict President Trump’s Anti-Weaponization Fund. (NYT.)

Thomas Berry argued that President Trump’s appointment of William Pulte to serve as acting director of national intelligence illustrates flaws in the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998. (Lawfare.)

Pending Interim Order Applications Involving the U.S. Government in the Supreme Court

Blanche v. Perlmutter: The government filed an emergency application on October 27 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a district court interlocutory injunction that temporarily reinstated Shira Perlmutter to her role as Register of Copyrights while litigation over her removal continues. Chief Justice Roberts formally set a deadline of November 10 for a response to the application. Perlmutter submitted a response on November 10. Blanche submitted a reply on November 12. The Court deferred the application for stay on November 28 pending the Court’s decisions in Trump v. Slaughter and Trump v. Cook.

Trump v. Cook: The government filed an emergency application on September 18 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a preliminary injunction issued by a district court that blocked President Trump from removing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. Cook filed an opposition to the request on the same day. The Chief Justice formally set a deadline of September 25 for a response to the application. Cook filed a response on September 25. On October 1, the Court deferred action on the stay application pending oral argument in January 2026 and established a supplemental briefing schedule. Additional amicus briefs were filed on October 29. Both sides filed supplemental briefs on November 19 and the Court heard oral argument on Jan. 21, 2026.

Mullin v. Doe: The government filed an application on February 26 requesting the Supreme Court stay pending appeal of a preliminary injunction issued by a district court preliminarily enjoining then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem from terminating temporary protected status designation for Syria. The government asked the Court to construe the application as a petition for a writ of certiorari before judgment and grant the petition. On March 16, the Court consolidated the case with a challenge to the Department of Homeland Security’s termination of Temporary Protected Status designations for Haiti and granted certiorari before judgment of the consolidated cases while deferring action on the government’s request for a stay. The Court heard oral argument on April 29, 2026.

Trump v. Miot: The government filed an application on March 11 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a lower court order postponing then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s decision to terminate temporary protected status designation for Haiti. The government also asked the Court to treat the application as a petition for a writ of certiorari before judgment and grant the petition. On March 16, the Court consolidated the case with Mullin v. Doe. The Court heard oral argument on April 29, 2026.