U.S. Vice President JD Vance has stirred controversy by saying judges should not limit the president’s power. This came after a judge blocked Elon Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency” (Doge) from accessing the U.S. Treasury’s payment system. The court ruled that Doge’s attempt to get financial data was illegal and could harm sensitive government records.
Vance criticized the decision. He said judicial interference with the president’s actions goes against the Constitution. He compared it to a judge telling the military what to do or telling a prosecutor how to act. Legal experts disagreed. They pointed out that the U.S. Constitution allows courts to review presidential actions.
Lawmakers and Experts React
Vance’s comments sparked a strong reaction. Representative Daniel Goldman, a Democrat, defended the role of courts in checking the president. He said checks and balances help protect the rule of law.
Quinta Jurecic, an expert at the Brookings Institution, warned that allowing the president to ignore court decisions could weaken the Constitution. She said it would endanger the separation of powers.
President Donald Trump has often praised court decisions that helped him. But he has criticized courts when decisions go against him. Musk, whose project was blocked by the ruling, also spoke out. He accused the judge of being corrupt and called for his removal.
Courts Push Back Against Presidential Power
The injunction against Musk is not the only time courts have limited Trump’s power. Since taking office, the Trump administration has faced many court rulings that block its actions. At least nine court orders have stopped Trump’s executive orders.
Courts have halted some of Trump’s more controversial actions. These include his attempts to stop birthright citizenship and move transgender women to male prisons. Courts have also delayed plans to freeze $3 trillion in government spending and force federal workers to leave their jobs.
Recently, a district court in Washington ruled against Trump’s attempt to place 2,200 USAID workers on leave. The court ordered that 500 workers be reinstated. These rulings show the important role courts play in keeping the president’s power in check.
