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Trump’s 2025 Actions Ignite Constitutional Firestorm April 20, 2025 – Since his inauguration on January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump’s flurry of executive actions has plunged the nation into a constitutional crisis, with legal scholars and critics accusing his administration of flouting the U.S. Constitution. From attempts to end birthright citizenship to defying court orders, Trump’s moves have sparked lawsuits, protests, and warnings of authoritarianism. On his first day, Trump signed Executive Order 14160, aiming to deny citizenship to children of undocumented immigrants, a direct challenge to the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of birthright citizenship. Federal courts, including U.S. District Judge John Coughenour, swiftly blocked the order, labeling it “blatantly unconstitutional.” Legal experts like Laurence Tribe argue that only a constitutional amendment, not an executive fiat, can alter this right. Trump’s administration also froze federal funds for programs like Medicaid and housing subsidies, defying Congress’s constitutional “power of the purse” under Article I, Section 8. Courts intervened, citing violations of the Impoundment Control Act of 1974. Similarly, Trump’s unilateral dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and firing of independent agency members, such as those on the National Labor Relations Board, have drawn lawsuits for exceeding executive authority. In a bold move, Trump fired 17 inspectors general without the required 30-day congressional notice, undermining government oversight. His administration’s defiance of judicial orders, including deporting individuals like Kilmar Ábrego García despite Supreme Court rulings, has raised alarms about disrespect for Article III’s judicial authority and the 5th Amendment’s due process protections. Trump’s mass pardons for January 6 Capitol riot defendants and executive orders targeting law firms representing political opponents have fueled accusations of abuse of power. His order to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in schools has been criticized as violating the First and 14th Amendments. Additionally, Trump’s rhetoric about seeking a third term, despite the 22nd Amendment’s two-term limit, has prompted a House resolution reaffirming constitutional constraints. Critics, including Rep. Daniel Goldman, warn of a slide toward autocracy, while Trump’s supporters argue he is fulfilling campaign promises to curb wasteful policies. Federal courts have blocked many of these actions, but the administration’s defiance of rulings risks escalating tensions. As legal battles unfold, scholars like Erwin Chemerinsky emphasize the judiciary’s role in upholding the rule of law. The nation watches as ongoing lawsuits and public outcry test the resilience of America’s constitutional checks and balances.