Jim Jordan Looks To Limit The Scope of Judges' Rulings As Trump Admin Fights Key Rulings

House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan is urging the House Appropriations Committee to include language in future funding bills that limits judges' ability to issue nationwide injunctions.

The request comes as the Trump administration continues to criticize judges across the country who have legally blocked some of its most high-profile measures, including the use of a wartime act to deport Venezuelan migrants to a prison in El Salvador. Judges have also blocked bans to transgender people from serving in the military and the end of birthright citizenship.

In a letter to Rep. Tom Cole, the Committee on Appropriations Chairman, and Rep. Dave Joyce, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, Jordan argued that "since President Trump's inauguration we have seen a dangerous trend of district court judges issuing nationwide injunctions that disrupt the implementation of federal policies."

"These sweeping rulings, often handed down by a single judge, threaten the constitutional balance of power by overriding the popular will of the American people as embodied in Congress and the President," Jordan added.

In this context, he said, the "abuse of nationwide injunctive authority in the first 60 days of President Trump's term call for a comprehensive response from Congress." Therefore, he urges the committee to "consider language prohibiting the use of taxpayer dollars and federal resources to issue or enforce these overbroad injunctions beyond the specific parties in front of an issuing court in a particular case."

The request comes as Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley is introducing a bill to prevent judges from issuing nationwide injunctions as well. In doing so, he claimed they have "become a favorite tool for those seeking to obstruct (President Donald Trump's) agenda." He added that the bill seeks to ensure "lower courts could no longer block legitimate executive action by issuing orders to nonparties to the lawsuit."

They are not the only Republican leaders to do so. Elon Musk also gave out $2 million to Wisconsin voters on Sundayt, declaring them spokespeople for his political group, as he seeks to sway the Wisconsin Supreme Court election on Tuesday.

The head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and groups with ties to him have spent some $20 million to help Brad Schimel tilt the court toward a more conservative approach. "I think this will be important for the future of civilization," Musk said on Sunday before some 2,000 people in Green Bay.

Musk's political action committee (PAC) also offered $100 to Wisconsin voters if they sign a petition of the kind. "By signing below, I'm rejecting the actions of activist judges who impose their own views and demanding a judiciary that respects its role — interpreting, not legislating," reads the petition. Those who sign and submit their data will then get the money.