The US Supreme Court is expected to conclude its current term in the coming days, with seven significant disputes still unresolved. Among them are three cases involving former President Donald Trump's broad assertions of executive authority, two election-related matters, and a challenge to state restrictions on transgender athletes.
Trump's Presidential Powers Under Scrutiny
The Trump-related cases focus on his actions last year: firing a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors and a Federal Trade Commission member, and an executive order limiting birthright citizenship. These actions test the boundaries of presidential powers. The court has already given Trump victories in two immigration cases on Thursday and has supported him in multiple emergency rulings since he returned to office last year, allowing policies blocked by lower courts to take effect during legal challenges.
However, the court dealt Trump a significant loss in February when it rejected his sweeping tariffs imposed under a law intended for national emergencies. During January arguments, justices expressed skepticism toward Trump's bid to fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook, a move that threatened the central bank's independence. No president has attempted to remove a Fed official since the institution's founding in 1913. Congress created the Fed with provisions to shield it from political interference, specifying that governors can only be removed by a president "for cause," though the term is undefined and procedures are not established.
Election and Transgender Athlete Cases
The two election-related cases could impact voting procedures and electoral integrity. The transgender athlete case involves a state crackdown on participation in sports, which has drawn national attention. The court, with a 6-3 conservative majority, has set Monday as the next day to issue rulings. Supreme Court terms begin in October and typically conclude around the end of June, occasionally extending into early July.
