Fact Check: "Nationwide injunctions have become commonplace since Obama, now facing major rollback."
What We Know
Nationwide injunctions, which allow a single district court to issue rulings that apply across the entire country, have indeed seen increased usage in recent years. A report from the Congressional Research Service notes that during the first Trump administration, there were 86 nationwide injunction cases, while the Biden administration had 28 cases by May 2025 (source-3). This suggests that the trend of using nationwide injunctions has persisted across multiple administrations, including Obama's, Trump's, and Biden's.
On June 27, 2025, the Supreme Court issued a ruling that limited the ability of lower courts to issue such injunctions, which was described as a significant rollback of judicial power. The ruling was celebrated by the Trump administration, which argued that it restored the separation of powers and curtailed what they termed "rogue judges" from overstepping their authority (source-1, source-4).
Analysis
The claim that nationwide injunctions have become commonplace since the Obama administration is supported by statistics showing their increased use. However, the assertion that they are now facing a major rollback is also accurate, given the Supreme Court's recent decision to limit their issuance. The ruling was characterized as a victory for the Trump administration, which had faced numerous nationwide injunctions against its policies during its tenure (source-1, source-6).
The sources cited are generally reliable, with the Congressional Research Service and Supreme Court documents providing factual data. However, the White House's press release and media commentary may exhibit bias, as they reflect the administration's perspective on the ruling (source-1, source-4). The framing of the Supreme Court's decision as a "victory" is indicative of a particular political stance.
Conclusion
The claim that "nationwide injunctions have become commonplace since Obama, now facing major rollback" is Partially True. While it is accurate that the use of nationwide injunctions has increased since the Obama administration, the recent Supreme Court ruling does indicate a significant limitation on their future use. Thus, the statement captures elements of truth but may oversimplify the complexities surrounding the judicial landscape and its implications for executive power.
Sources
- “A BIG WIN”: Supreme Court Ends Excessive Nationwide Injunctions (https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2025/06/a-big-win-supreme-court-ends-excessive-nationwide-injunctions/)
- 24A884 Trump v. CASA, Inc. (06/27/2025) (https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/24a884_8n59.pdf)
- Nationwide Injunctions in the First Hundred Days of the Biden Administration (https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R48476)
- The Supreme Court has limited universal injunctions. What does that mean? (https://www.npr.org/2025/06/27/nx-s1-5448821/universal-injunction-supreme-court-executive-order-birthright)
- Nationwide injunction (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationwide_injunction)
- Trump says he will move aggressively to undo nationwide injunctions after Supreme Court ruling (https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/06/28/trump-nationwide-inunctions-supreme-court-ruling/)
