Vice President JD Vance recently raised concerns about the judiciary's authority to control the executive branch's legitimate power. He emphasized that judges should not interfere with the president's executive actions, comparing it to a judge trying to dictate military operations or prosecutorial decisions, which would be deemed illegal.
While Vance did not cite a specific court ruling, his remarks come in the wake of several setbacks faced by the Trump administration due to judicial interventions. Recent court decisions have blocked various initiatives, such as deadlines for federal employees, attempts to end birthright citizenship, and efforts to place workers on leave at the US Agency for International Development.
One notable case involved a federal judge temporarily restraining Elon Musk's government efficiency team from accessing a critical Treasury Department payment system. The judge's order, issued by US District Judge Paul Engelmayer, temporarily suspended access to a system responsible for distributing tax returns, Social Security benefits, disability payments, and federal employees' salaries.
President Trump criticized the court order as 'crazy,' while Musk referred to Judge Engelmayer as a 'corrupt judge' who should be impeached. The ongoing tensions between the executive and judicial branches highlight the complex dynamics of checks and balances within the US government.
