Overview

• The U.S. House of Representatives passed a budget reconciliation bill in a 215-214 vote, advancing it to the Senate for consideration.
• A provision in the bill restricts courts from enforcing contempt citations unless plaintiffs post a bond, a requirement rarely imposed in cases against the government.
• The measure applies retroactively, potentially invalidating hundreds of existing court orders, including those restraining unconstitutional actions by the Trump administration.
• Legal experts have criticized the provision as an unprecedented attack on judicial authority, undermining separation of powers and constitutional checks and balances.
• Republicans framed the provision as a means to curb frivolous lawsuits, but critics argue it shields the administration from accountability for violating court orders.