Which executive orders by Donald Trump were struck down by federal courts and why?

1. High-stakes campus orders — courts moved fast

Universities and associations sued to block a Trump administration “Campus Accountability” action; on April 16, 2025 a U.S. district court in Massachusetts issued a temporary restraining order stopping the policy while the case proceeds, illustrating how judges can immediately enjoin policies that plaintiffs say violate Title VI or other statutes ^[1]. NAFSA’s tracking and the AAU litigation show the courts are treating these education‑focused orders as immediately reviewable when plaintiffs claim statutory or constitutional injuries ^[1].

2. Litigation themes: statutory rights, separation of powers, and process

Available reporting emphasizes three recurring legal arguments against Trump orders: that an order exceeds the President’s authority or conflicts with statutes Congress enacted; that the Administration failed required rulemaking or notice‑and‑comment procedures; and that orders violate civil‑rights statutes (the campus case challenges Title VI consequences). NAFSA’s summary of the AAU case highlights statutory and procedural claims as the basis for the court’s temporary halt ^[1]. Sources do not catalogue every legal theory used in every suit; more detailed case filings are not reproduced in the provided materials ^[1].

3. Injunctions and temporary restraining orders are the immediate relief — not final rulings

The Massachusetts decision was a temporary restraining order, not a final adjudication on the merits, which is how federal courts typically proceed when plaintiffs show immediate irreparable harm and a likelihood of success; that means some orders are paused while litigation continues rather than permanently “struck down” at first instance ^[1]. The distinction matters: a TRO or preliminary injunction halts an action pending full briefing and trial; ultimate rulings can affirm, narrow, or dissolve those initial court orders ^[1].

4. Administrative and budget actions have prompted other suits, but reporting is fragmented

The broader record shows many 2025 Trump executive orders and rescissions across agencies (federalregister and White House listings enumerate dozens to hundreds of EOs) and state and national groups are tracking legal challenges ^{[2] [3]}. NAFSA and other trackers note that multiple immigration and education directives drew lawsuits and at least one immediate court pause; however, available sources do not present a single government or media list of every Trump executive order that was ultimately invalidated by a federal court ^{[1] [2]}.

5. Watchdogs and advocacy groups are actively litigating — and publishing trackers

University associations (AAU), professional groups like NAFSA, and state legislative trackers are actively cataloging executive orders and related lawsuits as they arise; NAFSA’s page links a specific AAU case resulting in the Massachusetts TRO and flags other agency actions under challenge ^[1]. These organizations frame litigation as protecting statutory rights (Title VI, immigration law protections) and procedural norms; opposing viewpoints or defenses from the Administration are described in policy materials but are not detailed in the provided summaries ^[1].

6. What’s missing from current reporting and next steps for readers

Provided sources document at least one court block (the AAU TRO) and broadly list many 2025 orders on Federal Register and White House pages, but they do not consolidate a post‑litigation tally of orders formally “struck down” by final judgments ^{[1] [2] [3]}. To confirm which orders were permanently invalidated, readers should consult primary court dockets (CourtListener, PACER) and follow media legal reporting on appeals and final opinions; the trackers cited here are useful short‑term monitors but do not replace court records ^{[1] [2]}.

Limitations: my account relies only on the provided materials; those sources include a district court TRO and administration EO listings and trackers but do not contain exhaustive lists of final federal-court invalidations ^{[1] [2] [3]}.