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The Supreme Court on Monday granted certiorari before judgment in two consolidated cases challenging the Department of Homeland Security’s termination of Temporary Protected Status designations for Syria and Haiti, while deferring action on the government’s request for a stay. The justices will hear argument in April. (Order.) Chris Geidner summarized the cases. (Law Dork.) Steve Vladeck argued that the cases “are a referendum on the judicial role—and on the emergency docket, in particular.” (One First.)
A three-judge panel of the First Circuit on Monday granted the Trump administration’s emergency motion for a stay pending appeal of a lower court order blocking the administration’s third-country deportations policy. (Order.) (NYT.) For background on the litigation, see a prior Roundup.
Judge Brian E. Murphy (D. Mass) on Monday granted in part plaintiffs’ request for a preliminary injunction in American Academy of Pediatrics v. Kennedy. His order blocks key portions of the Department of Health and Human Services’ overhaul of immunization recommendations issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention while the case proceeds. (Order.) (NYT.)
The director of the National Counterterrorism Center, Joe Kent, on Tuesday announced his resignation due to concerns with the war in Iran. “Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby,” he stated. (X.) (WSJ.)
The Washington Post reports that U.S. intelligence assessments indicate Iran’s regime is likely to remain in power despite sustained U.S. and Israeli airstrikes. (WaPo.)
According to the New York Times, the Trump administration is seeking to remove Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel from power. (NYT.) President Trump told reporters Monday that “I do believe I will be having the honor of taking Cuba.” (NYT.)
The BBC on Monday moved to dismiss President Trump’s libel suit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The motion contends that the court lacks personal jurisdiction, the complaint fails to plausibly allege defamation, and the challenged statements constitute protected expressions of opinion. (Motion.) (Politico.) For background on the lawsuit, see a prior Roundup.
The board of trustees for the John F. Kennedy Center voted Monday to approve President Trump’s plan to close the venue for two years for renovations expected to cost roughly $200 million. (WaPo.)
The Washington Post reports that the Department of Homeland Security has not issued updated public threat assessments despite the escalating war with Iran and a recent string of violent incidents in the United States. (WaPo.)
Bob Bauer called for debate among the legal profession “to review and clearly define the ethical obligations that lawyers in the Department of Justice and throughout the government have” in light of current conflicts over the bar disciplinary process. (Executive Functions.)
Ilya Somin argued that President Trump’s executive order on birthright citizenship is at odds with the 14th Amendment’s Citizenship Clause. (Lawfare.)
Adam Unikowsky used artificial intelligence to evaluate the government’s claim that it cannot comply with court-ordered tariff refunds. (Adam’s Legal Newsletter.)
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.
Noem 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 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.
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.