President Trump’s latest force to slash the swollen federal government has once again been derailed—this day by yet another activist judge anxious to hinder reform. In what’s fast becoming a weary and dangerous design, Judge Susan Illston of the Northern District of California, a Clinton appointee, issued a temporary order delaying the largest cycle of Trump’s downsizing strategy. Her decision blocks two hundred agencies from eliminating useless programs and trimming extra staff—moves that any sensible government may embrace.
Advertisement
According to Illston, the professional branch presumably needs congressional approval to optimize its own labor, a state that stinks of judicial overreach. It’s the same old history: a democratic determine acquires a legal justification to shield great state, Democrats applaud, and the will of the voters gets tossed aside.
“Of all the claims challenging President Trump’s perspective to significantly scale back the form and function of the federal government, this one is poised to have the broadest result, ” the New York Times information. “Most of the companies have yet to announce their downsizing programs, but people across the state have been eagerly waiting for disclosures that have been expected for weeks. ”
Ruling just hours after an emergency hearing on Friday, Judge Susan Illston of the Federal District Court for the Northern District of California said the government’s effort to lay off workers and shut down offices and programs created an urgent threat to scores of critical services.
Congress set up a specific process for the federal government to reorganize itself. The unions and organizations behind the lawsuit have argued that the president does not have the authority to make those decisions without the legislative branch.
Judge Illston noted that process requires consultation with Congress on any plan to abolish or transfer part of an agency.
Advertisement
“It is the prerogative of presidents to pursue new policy priorities and to imprint their stamp on the federal government, ” Illston wrote in her order, which clocked in at 42 pages. “ But to make large-scale overhauls of federal agencies, any president must enlist the help of his coequal branch and partner, the Congress. ”
ICYMI : A ‘Nuclear Bomb’ of Damaging Revelations Is Coming for Biden and Democrats
Let’s be clear: this is n’t about legal principle—it’s about raw political obstruction. These rogue judges know exactly what they’re doing, and Democrats are cheering them on, fully aware that the only thing slowing down Trump’s agenda is the bench’s judicial overreach.
2/ Okay, this line is crazy! No, the President’s can’t ignore statutorily mandated agencies functions but he most definitely can reorganize the executive branch in ways that to not prevent the execution of mandated functions. pic. twitter. com/M4qtietAYt— Margot Cleveland ( @ProfMJCleveland ) May 10, 2025
3/3 Judge is equating firings with terminating agencies. And fired employees have a basis to challenge in a different forum. Full opinion hear. https ://t. co/WahW6fLeko— Margot Cleveland ( @ProfMJCleveland ) May 10, 2025
The left knows it can’t win at the ballot box, so it ’s resorted to governing from the bench. This relentless lawfare, dressed up as judicial oversight, is nothing more than a last-ditch power grab. If it keeps up, it won’t just derail Trump’s efforts to rein in government—it’ll blow a hole through the Constitution itself. Judge Susan Illston is just the latest in a growing line of lawless judges issuing politically motivated rulings with zero regard for constitutional limits. This is n’t justice—it’s sabotage, plain and simple.
Advertisement
Fortunately, President Trump is n’t backing down. His administration is gearing up to fight every baseless ruling, every rogue decision, and every attempt to undermine the will of the people. But let’s face it: at some point, Republicans in Congress need to step up. Enough is enough. These activist judges can’t be allowed to run the country from the bench.
The left’s lawfare campaign against Trump’s reforms keeps growing. Get unrestricted access to our coverage of judicial activism and the fight to drain the swamp with PJ Media VIP. Support fearless journalism that tells it like it is. Use code FIGHT for 60 % off your membership today.
