The US Supreme Court's rejection of President Donald Trump's attempt to end birthright citizenship appears as a high-profile defeat, but legal experts say the court has significantly strengthened presidential powers in other rulings.
The birthright ruling upheld the 14th Amendment's guarantee of citizenship for anyone born on US soil, with a 5-4 vote.
>>> FDA Upgrades Zapp's and Dirty Potato Chip Recall to Class I Over Salmonella Risk
However, four conservative justices challenged the principle, signaling a shift in legal thinking.
Court Expands Executive Control
On the same day, the court ruled that the president can fire leaders of independent federal agencies at will, overturning a 90-year precedent.
This decision, based on the unitary executive theory, grants Trump greater control over the administrative state.
In another ruling, the court weakened the Voting Rights Act, allowing states to redraw congressional districts without federal oversight.
This move is expected to benefit Republicans in upcoming elections.
>>> Traditionalist Catholic Group Consecrates Four Bishops in Switzerland
The court also dismissed transgender girls' rights to participate in female sports and lifted campaign finance restrictions, further aiding Republican fundraising efforts.
Implications for Future Governance
Legal scholars warn that the court's conservative majority is reshaping the balance of power.
Harvard's Laurence Tribe said the republic is "hanging by a thread," as the court adopts vast segments of Trump's agenda.
Princeton's Kim Lane Scheppele compared the court to those in Russia and Hungary, predicting ripple effects from the Voting Rights Act ruling that could reduce Black representation in Congress.
Future cases may challenge the civil service system and Congress's power to restrain the president, potentially creating an "imperial presidency" with minimal checks.
>>> European Commission Calls Urgent Meeting Over Airport Entry-Exit System Chaos
"We have a Congress that is inert, a president who has no regard for the law or the constitution, and a court whose vision of the presidency is akin to that of a monarch," Tribe added.
