Federal judge strikes down Trump executive order on voter citizenship proof

Key Points:

• An Obama-appointed federal judge, Denise J. Casper, struck down major parts of President Trump's March 25, 2025, executive order on election integrity, ruling that it exceeded presidential authority and violated the Constitution's separation of powers.
• The order attempted to impose new election rules, including citizenship verification for voter registration, altering voting requirements for military and overseas voters, and withholding federal election funding from non-compliant states, all of which Casper found unconstitutional.
• White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller criticized the judiciary's decision and called on Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts to recognize what he described as a problematic path taken by lower courts.
• The lawsuit was filed by 19 states, including California, which hailed the ruling as a victory affirming that election regulation is reserved for states and Congress, not the president.
• The ruling coincides with ongoing Republican efforts to pass the SAVE Act, legislation requiring proof of citizenship for federal voter registration, which faces challenges in the Senate despite support from Trump and GOP lawmakers.