Court Blocks Trump Administration’s Election Order, Upholds States’ Authority

Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced a significant legal victory on June 25, 2026, as a coalition of 19 state attorneys general successfully obtained a permanent injunction against key provisions of a presidential executive order. The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts granted the coalition’s motion for summary judgment, effectively blocking the implementation of Executive Order No. 14248, which was issued by President Trump on March 25, 2025.

The executive order had sought to impose federal control over state election processes, notably by requiring states to mandate documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration. Furthermore, it aimed to compel states to disregard mail-in ballots that were postmarked by Election Day but received by election officials a few days later. A critical component of the order also threatened to withhold federal funding from states that did not comply with these directives. Attorney General Brown emphasized that this ruling prevents the federal government from interfering with the fundamental right of Marylanders to vote and from holding state elections “hostage” through federal mandates and funding threats.

The legal challenge against Executive Order No. 14248 began in April 2025 with the filing of a lawsuit by the coalition of attorneys general. This was followed by a preliminary injunction in June 2025 that initially blocked the disputed provisions. The Trump administration’s attempt to dismiss the case was unsuccessful in September 2025. The coalition then moved for a permanent injunction in December 2025, with oral arguments heard in February 2026, ultimately leading to the recent permanent injunction. The states joining Maryland in this legal action include Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin.

In a related development, Attorney General Brown also joined a coalition of 23 attorneys general and the Governor of Pennsylvania in April 2026 to challenge a second elections-related executive order, Executive Order No. 14399. This subsequent order is alleged to interfere with states’ constitutional authority to administer elections by restricting voter eligibility and mail-in voting to federally pre-authorized lists. The coalition has filed a motion for summary judgment in this case, seeking a permanent block on these provisions, with a ruling still pending from the court.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the Maryland Attorney General’s Office.

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