Trump’s Actions Are Defying Legal Limits: TikTok Ban, Birthright Citizenship and More - The New York Times

Key Actions Defying Legal Limits

The article details numerous actions taken by the Trump administration that have been challenged as potentially violating existing laws. These actions include:

• TikTok Ban: Ordering the Justice Department to not enforce the TikTok ban, potentially violating laws barring its operation without the sale of its Chinese ownership.
• Foreign Aid Freeze: Implementing a blanket freeze on foreign aid, possibly conflicting with the Impoundment Control Act regarding congressionally approved spending.
• Domestic Spending Freeze: Ordering a freeze on trillions in domestic spending, facing legal challenges based on the Administrative Procedure Act and First Amendment rights.
• U.S.A.I.D. Dismantling: Moving to dismantle U.S.A.I.D. and incorporate its functions into the State Department, potentially violating the law establishing U.S.A.I.D. as an independent entity.
• Inspectors General Firings: Firing inspectors general without proper notice to Congress, violating a law requiring 30 days' notice and justification.
• Independent Agency Member Firing: Firing a member of an independent agency before their term ended, potentially violating a law regarding the removal of board members.
• Prosecutors' Firings: Firing prosecutors involved in cases against Trump or the January 6th rioters, potentially violating civil service job protections.
• Birthright Citizenship: Declaring that the 14th Amendment does not grant birthright citizenship to children of undocumented parents, contradicting long-standing legal understanding and facing a court injunction.

The administration's actions are seen as a direct challenge to the rule of law, with the potential for legal battles, given the existing Republican majority in the Supreme Court.