Federal Judge Hands Democratic Attorneys General Another Victory

A federal judge in Rhode Island, appointed by former President Barack Obama, has issued a permanent injunction blocking the Trump administration from unilaterally dismantling four federal agencies. Chief Judge John J. McConnell Jr. issued the ruling last Friday, siding with a coalition of 21 states that argued the President cannot eliminate congressionally created agencies with an executive order.

In March, President Trump issued an executive order calling for the elimination “to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law,” of seven government entities, including four mandated by Congress: the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Minority Business Development Agency, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services, and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness.

Attorney General Aaron Ford (D-NV), who is running for Governor, joined 20 other states in the latest lawsuit, one of approximately three dozen lawsuits AG Ford has joined against the Trump administration. The Democratic Attorneys General argued that the executive order violated the U.S. Constitution and the Administrative Procedures Act.

The court found that the executive branch violated the Separation of Powers doctrine, the Take Care Clause of the Constitution, and the Administrative Procedure Act. Judge McConnell wrote that Congress has the sole authority to create and dismantle federal agencies, and the President is tasked with implementing, not reversing, the will of the legislative branch.

Upon the ruling, Ford said in a released statement, “The Trump administration does not have the right to eliminate agencies that were created by Congress. This decision upholds the necessary divisions of power in the federal government and protects the work these agencies do on behalf of Nevadans.”

AG Ford announced that last Friday he won his lawsuit protecting the Institute of Museum and Library Services; the Minority Business Development Agency; the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service; and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. pic.twitter.com/nEs5xxuocR

— NV Attorney General (@NevadaAG) November 24, 2025

The Trump administration has stated it will continue to use the powers of the executive branch to prevent “government waste” and looks forward to “ultimate victory” in court, though the administration did not explicitly confirm if they would appeal the permanent injunction.

A new Emerson College Polling survey of the Nevada 2026 election for Governor finds incumbent Republican Joe Lombardo and Attorney General Aaron Ford tied: 41 percent support each candidate and 18 percent are undecided. The same poll also shows that President Donald Trump, despite winning Nevada for the first time in 2024, is underwater among Nevada voters: 39 percent approve of the president and 54 percent disapprove.