The judiciary’s opposition to President Donald Trump’s agenda has become impossible to ignore. Since his return to office, a series of rulings have blocked his efforts to eliminate wasteful government programs, enforce immigration laws and restore military discipline. These rulings mark an aggressive campaign by activist judges determined to obstruct his policies at every turn.

U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang was the latest to interfere, ruling against Trump’s attempt to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, had already taken major steps to shut down USAID, defunding most of its operations and closing its headquarters. Chuang’s ruling demands that the administration reinstate agency employees and allow USAID to continue operating.

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Trump has been clear about his view that USAID is an example of unchecked government spending, funneling billions into foreign aid while domestic priorities are neglected. The administration had already eliminated 92% of USAID’s grants, but Chuang’s ruling now forces a partial reversal of those cuts.

The legal attacks on Trump’s policies extend beyond government downsizing. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes issued an injunction blocking his ban on transgender military personnel, arguing that the policy was unconstitutional. The administration has defended the decision as necessary for military readiness, but Reyes’ ruling forces the military to follow the same policies implemented under Biden.

Trump’s immigration enforcement policies are also under attack. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg attempted to stop the administration from deporting Venezuelan gang members under the Alien Enemies Act. The administration had already deported over 200 members of the Tren de Aragua gang when Boasberg issued his order, demanding that additional removals be halted.

The judiciary has also protected financial schemes put in place under the previous administration. Judge Tanya Chutkan blocked the Trump administration from reclaiming $20 billion from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. The money had been awarded to eight nonprofits under Biden’s watch, and Trump has sought to redirect the funds, only to be blocked by the courts.

Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller has pointed to the growing pattern of judicial interference, saying that district judges have positioned themselves as “commanders of the Armed Forces” and are now attempting to dictate policy from the bench.

Trump and his legal team are preparing appeals, but the battle is far from over. The courts have entrenched themselves as a major roadblock to the president’s ability to govern, and with each new ruling, that conflict only deepens.