Major supreme court victories the Trump administration has won since second term
As of January 10, 2026 (early in the second year of President Donald Trump's second term, which began on January 20, 2025), the Trump administration has achieved a significant number of major Supreme Court victories, particularly through the Court's emergency docket (often called the "shadow docket"). These rulings have frequently allowed administration policies to proceed by staying or vacating lower court injunctions while litigation continues.The administration has filed an unprecedented volume of emergency applications—far more than prior administrations—and prevailed in the vast majority, with reported win rates of around 80-90% in these shadow docket cases (e.g., 20 out of 25 or similar tallies from mid-to-late 2025 reports, with additional wins into early 2026). The White House and supporters have claimed figures like 19-21 victories by mid-to-late 2025, with ongoing success.
Key Major Victory: Limiting Nationwide (Universal) InjunctionsOne of the most prominent merits (full) decisions came in June 2025:Trump v. CASA, Inc. (decided June 27, 2025, 6-3 along ideological lines): The Court ruled that federal district judges generally lack the authority to issue nationwide injunctions that block executive actions or policies across the entire United States. This was a major win for the administration, as it curtailed a common tool used by opponents to halt policies like the executive order on birthright citizenship (though the Court did not rule on the underlying legality of that order, leaving room for narrower challenges, such as class actions or state-specific suits).
This ruling has been widely described as a blockbuster victory that strengthens presidential power and makes it harder for single judges to nationwide-block administration initiatives.
Other Notable Wins on the Emergency Docket (Shadow Docket)These are typically interim rulings allowing policies to move forward, often without full briefing or oral arguments. Major examples from 2025 include:Allowing the administration to ban transgender individuals from serving in the military (reinstating or upholding related policies).
Permitting the requirement that passports reflect biological sex (as listed on birth certificates) rather than self-identified gender (e.g., Trump v. Orr, November 2025).
Enabling the termination of deportation protections (Temporary Protected Status) for hundreds of thousands of migrants, including Venezuelans (October 2025).
Allowing the freezing of billions in foreign aid (e.g., over $4 billion in humanitarian assistance, September 2025).
Permitting mass firings of federal civil servants and reductions in force across agencies (e.g., Education Department and broader workforce cuts, July 2025).
Supporting the use of race or other factors in certain immigration enforcement stops (e.g., in southern California).
Allowing revocation of humanitarian parole programs and deportations to third countries in some immigration cases.
Upholding or staying blocks on cuts to grants (e.g., teacher training, NIH/medical research funding).
These shadow docket wins have enabled key parts of the administration's agenda on immigration, federal workforce reduction, spending cuts, and other priorities to advance despite lower court setbacks.
Context and Ongoing DevelopmentsThe Court's conservative majority (6-3) has been highly receptive to many administration requests, though not all—there have been losses (e.g., refusing to allow certain National Guard deployments for domestic purposes in late 2025, and some immigration-related rebuffs). Several high-profile cases remain pending or undecided as of January 10, 2026, including challenges to Trump's sweeping tariffs (arguments heard in late 2025, no ruling yet) and attempts to remove Federal Reserve officials.Overall, the administration's record reflects extraordinary success at the Supreme Court compared to prior presidencies, driven by frequent emergency appeals and favorable outcomes on executive authority. For the latest developments, check sources like SCOTUSblog, as the Court continues to handle related matters.
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