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Judge Amir Ali (D.D.C.) on Monday enjoined the Trump administration from “giving effect to any terminations, suspensions, or stop-work orders” issued between January 20 and February 13 for “grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts for foreign assistance.” Judge Ali also enjoined the administration from “unlawfully impounding congressionally appropriated foreign aid funds.” However, Judge Ali refused to block the administration’s cancellation of contracts and related actions that came after he issued a temporary restraining order on February 13. See prior Roundups for the case’s procedural background—here, here, here, and here. (Order.) (Josh Gerstein, X.)
Judge Christopher Cooper (D.D.C.) ruled Monday that the U.S. DOGE Service (DOGE) “is likely covered by” the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and must soon begin responding to a FOIA request from a non-profit organization seeking documents related to DOGE’s role in the Trump administration. The organization’s request also included the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), which had already agreed to process it. Judge Cooper denied the organization’s request for a preliminary injunction directing DOGE and OMB to process the FOIA requests by March 10. (Order.)
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit on Monday released its opinion in connection with its order permitting the administration’s firing of former head of the Office of Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger. The court wrote, “the government is likely to succeed in showing that arguments about the scope and functions of the Special Counsel as a sole agency head do not affect the President’s removal power.” Dellinger on March 6 dropped his lawsuit against the administration, and the Supreme Court on the same day dismissed Dellinger’s case as moot. See prior Roundups for the case’s procedural background—here, here, here, here, and here. (Opinion.)
Judge Adam Abelson (D.Md.) on Monday clarified the scope of the court’s order on February 21 enjoining the Trump administration from enforcing provisions in executive orders targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion grants and programs. Abelson determined that the February 21 preliminary injunction applies to all “federal executive branch agencies, departments, and commissions, and their heads, officers, agents, and subdivisions” subject to the direction in the relevant executive orders. (Clarified preliminary injunction.) (Opinion.) (February 21 preliminary injunction.)
The pardon attorney at the Justice Department, Elizabeth Oyer, said she was dismissed one day after refusing to recommend the restoration of gun rights for Mel Gibson, an actor and reportedly a prominent supporter of the president. See Sunday’s Roundup for news of her firing. (NYT.)
Jeffrey Toobin argued that the Trump administration has been weaponizing the Justice Department “by punishing adversaries” and “rewarding supporters.” (NYT.)
David Graham spoke with Dellinger about why he dropped his lawsuit and the consequences of overhauling the current executive branch oversight regime. (The Atlantic.)