The Biggest Loser

A federal judge yesterday nullified nearly all actions that the Trump administration took to close down Voice of America, ordering more than 1,000 full-time journalists and support staff back to work by March 23 and to resume broadcasting operations. Minho Kim reports for the New York Times. 

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority filed a lawsuit yesterday accusing the Trump administration of withholding $58.6 million in reimbursements for the Second Avenue Subway project and jeopardizing the Manhattan transit expansion. Gelila Negesse reports for POLITICO. "

A federal judge on Friday ruled that the Trump administration violated the Constitution when it sought to restrict press access to the Pentagon and limit what reporters could cover. The judge granted a request from the New York Times to void the Pentagon’s press credential policy. Aaron Pellish reports for POLITICO.

The Chicago Transit Authority filed a lawsuit on Friday to restore more than $2 billion in federal money for expansion and maintenance of the city’s red and purple lines. The CTA alleged in its complaint that the freeze was part of an effort by Trump and Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought to punish Democrats for their role in starting the government shutdown last October. Gregory Svirnovskiy reports for POLITICO. 

New Jersey filed a lawsuit on Friday seeking to block a major immigrant detention facility from opening in the town of Roxbury. Katie Bartlett and Daniel Han report for POLITICO. 

The Underground Railroad Education Center filed a lawsuit on Friday alleging that the National Endowment for the Humanities withheld a $250,000 grant on the basis of race. The complaint states that the Trump administration has systematically targeted programs promoting black history and culture. Gregory S. Schneider reports for the Washington Post."

A federal judge on Monday ordered the Trump administration to bring back a woman deported to Mexico last month despite her active protections under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.Kyle Cheney reports for POLITICO.

A federal judge yesterday called the Pentagon’s treatment of Anthropic “troubling” as the AI company urged the court to pause the Trump administration’s designation of the company as a supply chain risk. “I don’t know if it's murder, but it looks like an attempt to cripple Anthropic,” the judge said. Anthropic has asked for a decision by March 26, but the court is not bound by this. Maria Curi reports for Axios.

A Venezuelan man who was deported from the United States and detained in a prison in El Salvador last year filed a lawsuit yesterday seeking at least $1.3 million in compensation from the United States for false imprisonment and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Camilo Montoya-Galvez reports for CBS News.

Hines Immigration Law and Advocates for Human Rights yesterday filed a lawsuit alleging that the Justice Department has been fast-tracking the legal proceedings of Somali immigrants, effectively denying them the right to a fair hearing. Pooja Salhotra reports for the New York Times.

The state of Minnesota yesterday filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for access to investigation materials regarding the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good. Local and state investigators alleged that they have been stonewalled by federal officials. Gregory Svirnovskiy and Kyle Cheney report for POLITICO."

A federal judge yesterday issued a preliminary injunction, ruling that Anthropic will not be restricted from continuing its federal contracts for now. “The record supports an inference that Anthropic is being punished for criticizing the government’s contracting position in the press,” the judge said. “Nothing in the governing statute supports the Orwellian notion that an American company may be branded a potential adversary and saboteur of the U.S. for expressing disagreement with the government.” Mike Isaac reports for the New York Times."

A federal appeals court yesterday paused a lower-court ruling that ordered the Trump administration to reinstate all full-time Voice of America reporters and support staff who were put on paid leave after Trump moved to close the agency. Minho Kim reports for the New York Times.

A federal judge yesterday ordered a halt to construction of Trump’s White House ballroom, ruling that Trump lacks the authority to fund the estimated $400 million project through private donations. Dan Diamond and Jonathan Edwards report for the Washington Post.

A federal judge yesterday ordered the University of Pennsylvania to comply with a subpoena from the Trump administration examining alleged harassment of Jewish employees. Hannah Psalma Ramirez reports for POLITICO.

A federal judge yesterday ruled that the Trump administration had illegally demanded that groups seeking homelessness grants comply with its agenda on immigration enforcement, transgender rights, and other unrelated issues. The judge ordered the Department of Housing and Urban Development to hold a new competition for the money without, what she called, “arbitrary and capricious” criteria. Jason DeParle reports for the New York Times.

A federal judge yesterday ruled that Trump’s executive order to end federal funding for NPR and PBS is unconstitutional. Aaron Pellish reports for POLITICO.

A federal judge yesterday ruled that the Trump administration unlawfully ended the parole status of around 900,000 migrants who had been granted temporary permission to live in the United States under a Biden-era program and CBP One app. Rebecca Beitsch reports for The Hill.

Three former FBI agents filed a class action lawsuit yesterday, claiming they were fired for political retaliation under FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi. The suit seeks to represent over 50 employees dismissed since Trump returned to the White House, alleging a broader campaign of politically motivated firings. Alan Feuer reports for the New York Times."

Thursday TRUMP ADMINISTRATION LITIGATION

A federal judge yesterday found that U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials had violated a previous order regarding warrantless arrest and ordered agents operating in her judicial district to fully document their reasons for making any future stops. Zach Montague reports for the New York Times.

Democratic Party leaders yesterday filed a lawsuit to block Trump’s attempt to limit voting by mail ahead of the midterm elections. Democrats argue that an executive order signed by Trump on Tuesday, which creates an approved list of absentee voters among other actions, is an unconstitutional interference in the power of states to regulate elections. Jacob Wendler and Aaron Pellish report for POLITICO."

Ike said:

My main consideration is it's getting close to suppertime, I don't whether to prep for Mickey's wings or TACOS

A federal judge ruled Thursday that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s second attempt to restrict reporters’ access to the Pentagon “failed to comply” with his recent ruling that the earlier policy violated the First and Fifth Amendments. In The New York Times’ ongoing suit, Judge Paul Friedman said the Defense Department had attempted an “end-run around” his March 20 ruling by issuing an “interim” policy that used “slightly different language to achieve that same unconstitutional result,” and ordered the restoration of the same Pentagon access reporters had before the new restrictions. Erik Wemple reports for the New York Times; Jacob Rosen reports for CBS News; Scott Nover reports for the Washington Post.

The Fifth Circuit denied rehearing en banc by the full court of its 2-1 decision upholding the Trump administration’s mandatory-detention policy, leaving Supreme Court review as the likeliest next step. The panel’s February ruling in the consolidated Buenrostro-Mendez and Covarrubias cases held that certain noncitizens present in the United States without lawful admission can be subjected to mandatory detention without bond, and Thursday’s order noted that no active judge requested a poll of the full court.

A federal judge in Boston issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Education Department from compelling public universities in 17 states to submit broad data on race and admissions practices. Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV said the Education Department had statutory authority to seek the information but faulted the “rushed and chaotic manner” in which it imposed the new reporting requirements, including inadequate engagement with universities, Reuters reported.

A unanimous Third Circuit panel stayed most of the federal court’s order requiring restoration and maintenance of the President’s House site near Independence Hall, pending appeal. The panel’s Thursday order put on hold Judge Cynthia Rufe’s restoration, maintenance, and public-access requirements, while leaving intact provisions barring further changes, requiring preservation of removed items, and directing the government to preserve the status quo. 6abc reports."

The Trump administration yesterday reversed its earlier decision and will allow the Pride flag to be displayed again at New York’s Stonewall National Museum, according to a court filing. The flag will be reinstated within seven days and will not be removed save for maintenance or other practical purposes. It remains unclear why the administration reversed its course on the flag. Victoria Albert reports for the Wall Street Journal."

A federal appeals court on Friday allowed construction on President Trump’s ballroom project to proceed through early June, pausing, for now, a lower court’s order that construction stop after next week. Zach Montague reports for the New York Times."

The Justice Department yesterday asked a federal judge to pause the DOJ’s appeal of a March ruling that temporarily blocked the government from designating Anthropic as a supply chain risk to national security.According to a court filing, the DOJ said it should be frozen until the D.C. Circuit rules on related questions in a parallel case. Brendan Bordelon reports for POLITICO. 

A federal appeals court yesterday issued a preliminary injunction, blocking the enforcement of a California law requiring law enforcement officers to wear identification, saying the state lacks authority to impose such rules on federal agents. Lindsey Holden reports for POLITICO. "

A federal appeals court yesterday ruled that the Defense Department can temporarily require journalists to be escorted inside the Pentagon. Alexandra Bruell reports for the Wall Street Journal.  

A federal judge yesterday agreed to delay an order requiring the University of Pennsylvania to comply with a Trump administration subpoena for information about Jews on campus, allowing the school’s appeal to proceed. Alan Blinder reports for the New York Times.  

Justice Department officials late yesterday asked a federal judge to lift his order halting Trump’s planned $400 million ballroom, contending that Saturday’s attack at the White House proved why the space is needed. “After the Saturday night attempted assassination, which could have never taken place in the new facility, reasonable minds can no longer differ — The injunction must be dissolved,” acting Attorney General Todd Blanche wrote in the filing. Dan Diamond and Jonathan Edwards report for the Washington Post. "