Supreme Court's 2025 Ruling Ends Nationwide Injunctions, Reshaping Legal Battles
A Supreme Court ruling in June 2025 has reshaped how federal courts issue injunctions, limiting their reach to the classroom. The decision came after years of broad nationwide blocks on executive actions. Now, judges must focus orders on the plaintiffs directly involved in a case.
The change follows Trump v. CASA, where the court ruled 6-3 against universal injunctions. This shift has already influenced recent legal battles, including disputes over federal grants tied to climate and infrastructure laws.
On June 27, 2025, the Supreme Court restricted federal district courts from issuing nationwide injunctions. The 6-3 decision in Trump v. CASA marked a break from past practices, where judges often blocked executive actions across the entire country. Justice Kavanaugh suggested class-wide injunctions as an alternative, allowing grouped plaintiffs to seek broader relief.
By July 10, 2025, a New Hampshire judge applied this approach. In Trump v. Barbara, the court certified a class action and issued an injunction covering all members. This move reflected the new legal landscape shaped by CASA.
The case centred on grants released in April under the Inflation Reduction Act and bipartisan infrastructure law. Opponents challenged the funding freeze, arguing it violated administrative rules. Kevin Friedl, representing the plaintiffs, maintained that the Administrative Procedure Act still permitted courts to strike down unlawful agency actionsâeven under the CASA ruling.
During proceedings, 1st Circuit Chief Judge David Barron questioned whether the freeze could extend nationwide. His concerns highlighted the tension between the Supreme Court's new limits and the practical effects of class-based injunctions.
The CASA ruling has narrowed the power of federal judges to halt policies on a national scale. Courts now rely more on class actions to achieve broader relief. This shift is expected to alter how legal challenges to government programmes unfold in the coming years.
