The Trump administration, having secured a series of triumphs at the Supreme Court in the previous year, now braces for pivotal rulings on contentious issues such as birthright citizenship and the president's tariffs, where outcomes may be less predictable.
According to Conservative Daily News, the administration achieved 20 victories on the Supreme Court's emergency docket in 2025, suffering only five defeats, as reported by the Brennan Center for Justice. Among the significant wins were decisions permitting the administration to halt passport issuance based on gender identity and to enforce its transgender military ban.
The Supreme Court also supported the administration's efforts to dismiss federal employees and Democrat-appointed agency board members, while granting substantial victories on immigration matters, including the resumption of third-country deportations, the revocation of Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelan nationals, and the termination of Biden-era parole grants for over 500,000 migrants.
A landmark legal victory for the administration was the Supreme Court's ruling in Trump v. CASA, which curtailed the power of district court judges by restricting their ability to issue nationwide injunctions. However, the administration faced setbacks recently, with the majority declining to permit the deployment of the National Guard in Chicago and denying a request concerning immigration judges' speaking engagements.
In a separate April ruling, the Supreme Court instructed the administration to "facilitate and effectuate" the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the United States after his deportation to El Salvador. A 5-4 decision in March, which Justice Samuel Alito vehemently opposed, saw the justices refuse to halt a lower court order mandating the administration to disburse $2 billion in foreign aid.
Justice Alito, in an interview with the Italian news outlet Corriere Della Sera, remarked on the growing tendency of presidents to expand their executive power over the past decade. "And now, under President Trump, its just gone on like this, and hes used his executive power very aggressively," Alito stated.
He further observed, "And what we have seen since the beginning of his second term, since January, is that so many of these things that he has done are immediately challenged in court." The White House has not issued a comment on these developments.
As 2026 unfolds, the administration faces critical decisions, though success in all cases is uncertain. A significant case on the merits docket involves a dispute over Louisiana's congressional map, with the justices reconsidering arguments in October regarding the constitutionality of race-based redistricting. Several justices have expressed a willingness to limit the use of race in district creation. Louisiana's Secretary of State has requested a decision by early January, ahead of the qualifying dates for state primary elections in April.
In November, the justices heard arguments on Trump's extensive tariffs, displaying skepticism about their legality. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expressed confidence in the tariffs' survival, asserting that "the Supreme Court does not interfere with a presidents signature policy."
He questioned the potential consequences if the ruling were unfavorable, asking, "Are they just going to hand some of these importers big windfalls?" Bessent's remarks on Fox News highlighted the complexities involved, suggesting the Supreme Court might avoid entangling itself in such a predicament.
Another significant case, Trump v. Slaughter, will determine whether to overturn a longstanding precedent limiting the president's authority to remove leaders of certain "independent" agencies without cause. Early December oral arguments indicated a majority leaning towards supporting Trump. Additionally, the Supreme Court has agreed to review President Trump's executive order restricting birthright citizenship, with arguments scheduled for the new year.
As these cases progress, the administration's legal strategies and the Supreme Court's decisions will undoubtedly shape the political landscape in the coming months.
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