US Supreme Court Upholds Birthright Citizenship, Rules on Trans Athletes & Campaign Spending

The US Supreme Court recently issued several significant rulings, delivering a mixed bag of outcomes for former President Trump. The Court expanded presidential authority by affirming the President's ability to remove many independent regulators at will, a decision Trump hailed as a major victory. However, this enhanced power did not extend to the Federal Reserve, as the justices ruled against Trump's attempt to dismiss Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, thereby upholding the central bank's independence. Additionally, the Court rejected Trump's bid to overturn a jury verdict in the E. Jean Carroll defamation case and upheld a Mississippi law allowing postmarked mail-in ballots to be counted up to five days after Election Day, a ruling he opposed.

As the Supreme Court concluded its 2025-2026 term, it also prepared to deliver highly anticipated decisions on two other pivotal issues. Justices were expected to rule on the legality of President Trump's executive order, issued in January 2025, which sought to limit birthright citizenship for children born in the United States to undocumented parents. Lower courts had previously blocked this order, and the Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the matter in April 2026.

Further, the Court was poised to release its judgment on challenges to state laws that prohibit transgender athletes from participating in women's and girls' sports. Oral arguments in these cases, *West Virginia v. B.P.J.* and *Little v. Hecox*, took place in January 2026, examining whether such bans violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment and Title IX. The Court's decisions on these sensitive issues will have far-reaching implications.