Introduction
Over the past few weeks, the Supreme Court has made decisions that help Donald Trump’s administration strengthen executive power. In multiple key cases, six conservative justices have outvoted the three liberals, weakening courts’ ability to check the president. Many of these rulings came in one-page orders without full explanations, hiding how and why the court sided with the White House. When judges stack power on one side, our system of checks and balances breaks down and the rule of law erodes .
Education Department Ruling
On July 14, 2025, the Supreme Court cleared the way for President Trump to cut nearly half of the Education Department’s staff. A lower court judge had blocked Trump’s plan to fire about 1,400 workers and move functions like student loans and special education to other agencies. By lifting that block, the court let Trump reshape a cabinet agency without Congress’s approval. Critics warn that students with low incomes or special needs could lose vital support if these duties leave the department .
What about Missouri Schools?
This change affects about 892,246 public school students in Missouri (fall 2023) and could leave only about 880,200 by fall 2025. With fewer workers, the department will struggle to enforce civil-rights rules or run programs like Title I funding, special education, and student loan help. Families in both rural and city areas may lose key support, making schools less fair and hurting Missouri students now and in the years ahead
Blocking Nationwide Injunctions and Birthright Citizenship
On June 27, 2025, the Court used a 6–3 vote to limit judges’ power to block Trump’s policies nationwide. In the birthright citizenship case, it ruled that judges can only protect the people who sue, not everyone in the country. That halted lower court orders that had paused Trump’s executive order ending citizenship for babies born to non-citizen parents. The decision did not rule on the policy’s legality, only on who can block it, effectively letting Trump push forward until more courts weigh in .
Other Key Cases
This term, the Supreme Court also backed other Trump moves. It let his administration resume deporting migrants to third countries without a hearing on harm. It upheld a ban on transgender people serving in the military. It allowed the government to freeze or cut payments to groups that carry out federal work. In each case, conservatives used a fast-track “shadow docket” process, leaving people with fewer legal options and speeding up the president’s agenda .
Undermining Congressional Power
The Court has also let Trump bypass rules set by Congress for independent agencies. It allowed him to fire two Democratic labor board members and paused a judge’s order to reinstate three Consumer Product Safety Commission officials. These watchdog agencies were created by lawmakers to protect the public. By siding with the president, the Court weakens Congress’s power to set terms and duties of these officials, giving the White House more control over agencies meant to stand guard over our rights .
Why This Matters
These rulings reshape Washington’s balance of power. By lifting blocks and narrowing who can challenge policies, the Court hands more power to the president and sidelines Congress. This breaks the Constitution’s plan for three branches to share authority. Justice Sonia Sotomayor called the birthright decision a “travesty for the rule of law.” Legal experts warn that deciding by bare-majority orders without transparency erodes trust in all branches of government .
Public Support for Reform
Many Americans see the danger and want change. A recent Pew Research Center survey found 87% of adults favor term limits for members of Congress, and nearly 80% support age or term limits for Supreme Court justices. This broad agreement crosses party lines and shows voters know rules on service length help keep democracy healthy. Reforming term rules for judges and lawmakers is key to restoring balance and trust in government .
Conclusion and Possible Outcomes
If Supreme Court justices decide cases based on personal views instead of the Constitution, we risk:
- Unchecked Power: The presidency could act without real limits.
- Weakened Laws: Agencies and programs may be dismantled without Congress.
- Loss of Trust: When courts side with power, people stop believing in justice.
- Risk of Anarchy: With no faith in the system, some may break rules, leading to chaos.
Only 35% of Americans say they trust the judicial system, the lowest level ever recorded . To protect our republic, we must restore judges who follow the Constitution, not personal views. We need term limits for Supreme Court justices and all elected officials. This will help keep power balanced and ensure our courts serve the people — not one man’s power grab.
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Source List
- Reuters: US Supreme Court clears way for Trump to gut Education Department
- Reuters: Trump victorious again as US Supreme Court wraps up its term
- Reuters: Supreme Court in birthright case limits judges’ power to block presidential policies
- Reuters: Trump asks Supreme Court to allow removal of Consumer Product Safety Commission commissioners
- AP News: How Trump plans to dismantle the Education Department after Supreme Court ruling
- Pew Research Center: How Americans view proposals to change the political system
- Washington Post: Poll: Americans support Supreme Court term limits, oppose more justices
- The Guardian: Only 35% of Americans trust the judicial system
Sources
- US Supreme Court clears way for Trump to gut Education Department , Reuters, July 14, 2025.
- Trump victorious again as US Supreme Court wraps up its term , Reuters, June 28, 2025.
- Supreme Court in birthright case limits judges’ power to block presidential policies , Reuters, June 27, 2025.
- Trump asks Supreme Court to allow removal of Consumer Product Safety Commission commissioners , Reuters, July 2, 2025.
- How Trump plans to dismantle the Education Department after Supreme Court ruling , Associated Press, July 14, 2025.
- How Americans view proposals to change the political system , Pew Research Center, September 19, 2023.
- Poll: Americans favor Supreme Court term limits, oppose more justices , The Washington Post, September 13, 2024.
- Only 35% of Americans trust the US judicial system , The Guardian, December 21, 2024.
- US Supreme Court clears way for Trump to gut Education Department , Reuters, July 14, 2025.
- Enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools, by region, state, and jurisdiction: Missouri – Fall 2023 and projections through 2025 , NCES Digest of Education Statistics, Table 203.20.
