1. United States
2. N.Y.
3. Letter

The House passed legislation Wednesday mostly along party lines that limits the authority of federal district judges to issue nationwide orders, as Republicans react to several court rulings against the Trump administration blocking actions like firings of federal workers and shuttering of federal offices. The bill passed 219-213. It limits injunctive relief ordered by a district judge to only those parties before the court, rather than applying nationally. However, the bill is unlikely to advance through the Senate where Democratic support would be needed. Republicans argue the increase in nationwide injunctions during Trump's presidency is due to "activist liberal judges," while Democrats say the courts are simply striking down illegal executive actions. The proposal could undermine the judicial system's check on the executive branch. I encourage my representatives to reject this bill, as it threatens to erode the judiciary's ability to serve as a check on executive overreach and protect the rights of all Americans, not just those directly involved in a particular lawsuit.