Senate Parliamentarian Removes GOP Provision Limiting Federal Judges' Powers

Senate Republicans attempted to include provisions in President Donald Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" that would limit the power of federal courts to enforce injunctions and restraining orders against the administration, effectively weakening judicial independence by requiring plaintiffs to post costly bonds. This measure, seen as a power grab, was ruled ineligible by the Senate parliamentarian for failing the Byrd Rule, which mandates budget-related provisions to have direct fiscal effects. Senate Democrats, led by figures like Dick Durbin, successfully removed these harmful judiciary provisions from the bill and condemned the attempted rollback as an attack on checks and balances and judicial review. Meanwhile, a federal judge blocked Trump's executive order that exempted many federal agencies from union bargaining obligations, a move viewed as undermining workers' rights and union challenges to administration policies. These judiciary-related disputes arise amid broader controversies over the bill’s impact, including significant cuts to Medicaid and Medicare and tax breaks favoring billionaires. The ongoing legal battles and legislative maneuvers highlight deep partisan conflicts over the balance of power between the executive branch, the judiciary, and federal workers' rights.