Supreme Court Ends Term With 13 Split 6-3 Rulings Expanding Trump’s Power
Updated
Updated · CNN · Jul 2
Supreme Court Ends Term With 13 Split 6-3 Rulings Expanding Trump’s Power
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Jul 2
Summary
58 merits cases closed the Supreme Court’s term, with some of the biggest wins for Donald Trump coming in 6-3 rulings that broadened his authority to fire independent-agency leaders and backed key immigration moves.
13 ideologically split 6-3 decisions—more than double last year’s count—also upheld transgender sports bans, weakened the Voting Rights Act and erased caps on coordinated party spending, reinforcing the court’s conservative tilt.
25 cases were unanimous, about 44% of the docket, and a few major rulings cut across ideology, including the 6-3 decision rejecting Trump’s birthright citizenship order and the ruling blocking his emergency tariffs.
Brett Kavanaugh emerged as a pivotal vote, joining Trump in part on tariffs and arguing Congress could create exceptions to birthright citizenship even as the court rejected Trump’s order.
The term also advanced a broader trend of closing courthouse doors: the court limited judicial review and private lawsuits in cases involving humanitarian protections, prisoner religious rights, overseas torture claims and Roundup cancer suits.
As the Supreme Court limits lawsuits, is Congress now the only path to justice for many Americans?
With presidential power expanded, which independent agencies could see their leadership change next?
Supreme Court’s 2025-2026 Term: Historic Shift in Executive Authority and Checks on Trump’s Power
Overview
The Supreme Court's 2025-2026 term, which ended on July 2, 2026, delivered a series of major decisions that are set to reshape American law and governance. This term featured a complex mix of judicial philosophies, leading to both significant expansions of presidential authority for President Donald Trump and important setbacks to his administration. The rulings not only strengthened the President's influence over large parts of the federal government but also showed that the Court could hand him notable defeats. Together, these outcomes highlight a divided Court and a landmark shift in the balance of power.