by Kirk Kirkland
On Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, the Trump era turns five years old. The anniversary will always be a mournful one for America. While Trump remains in power despite past legal challenges, he continues to test the limits of Congress, the Constitution, and the courts.
Mr. Trump has also learned that many Republicans will support him even when he ignores the Constitution. He has defied the War Powers Act by targeting boats in international waters and setting high tariff rates without consulting Congress.
He has suggested that the House of Representatives has little independent power. In private, legislators acknowledge that they obey him partly because they fear violence from his supporters.
Congress Fails to Stop Trump After January 6 Attack
The most important role fell to Congress. It had the power to bar him from holding office again, the appropriate punishment for a president who encouraged and supported the Jan 6 attack on Congress and his own Vice President.
The House impeached him, with 222 Democratic and 10 Republican votes, just seven days after the Jan. 6 attack. The Senate failed to follow through. These past few months offer some new reasons for hope. Mr. Trump’s approval ratings have fallen. His party has lost elections in November. Lower-court judges, including some appointed by Mr. Trump, have blocked some of his policies.
This situation is not hopeless. The governors of several states have been successful at reversing several decisions. In particular, the 10th Amendment of the Constitution has given the governors of the states the power to enforce the rule of law and to defend state sovereignty.
1) Trump Stops Offshore Wind Farms
In late December 2025, the Trump administration issued a sweeping “stop work” order on five major offshore wind farms, including Vineyard Wind and Revolution Wind, citing national security risks. These projects represent billions in state-led investment and are critical to meeting regional climate mandates.
Northeastern governors immediately launched a coordinated legal and diplomatic counter-offensive to protect their energy grids. This followed a high-profile standoff in April 2025 over the $5 billion Empire Wind project off Long Island.
While the administration initially halted construction, Governor Kathy Hochul successfully negotiated its resumption by emphasizing union jobs and state energy needs. New York’s victory proved that state executive pressure can force federal retreats on climate infrastructure.
2) The “Big Betrayal” Legal Strategy
The legal challenge against the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (dubbed the “Big Betrayal”) is centered on the 10th Amendment and the Spending Clause. Governors argue that by forcing states to contribute over $128 billion to SNAP—a program historically 100% federally funded—the administration is unconstitutionally “coercing” state budgets.
The lawsuit asserts that because state budgets for 2025 were already finalized, the federal government cannot retroactively shift multi-billion dollar costs onto states without violating the principle of cooperative federalism. This legal stay functions as a temporary freeze, halting the cuts until the 2026 fiscal year and buying time for legislative or electoral shifts.
3) Governors Stop Trump Projects: 2025 Scorecard
| Project / Appeal | Number Involved | Lead(s) | Summary |
| Wind Farm Injunction | 4 | Healey (MA), Hochul (NY) | This coalition filed for an emergency stay against the December 22 stop work orders for five Atlantic wind farms. They argue the federal government’s “national security” claims are a pretext to dismantle state climate targets and energy independence. |
| The “Big Betrayal” Suit | 15 | Beshear (KY), Kelly (KS) | Fifteen governors joined this suit to block catastrophic cuts to Medicaid and SNAP food assistance. They contend the federal government cannot legally force states to fund $128 billion in federal mandates without prior state legislative approval. |
| EPA Emissions Defense | 11 | Newsom (CA), Shapiro (PA) | This group of 11 states is suing the EPA to restore Clean Air Act waivers that allow states to set stricter vehicle emission standards. The Governors argue the administration’s revocation of these waivers is a “sneak backdoor” attempt to kill the domestic EV industry. |
| Public Health Alliance | 15 | Ferguson (WA), Green (HI) | A coalition of 15 governors formed this alliance to bypass federal interference in scientific data sharing and vaccine distribution. They are establishing state-level scientific panels to ensure residents receive guidance based on science rather than political ideology. |
| GSD Military Firewall | 8+ | Pritzker (IL), Polis (CO) | The Governors Safeguarding Democracy alliance is coordinating to prevent the federalization of state National Guards |