The legal landscape in Washington has exploded under Trump’s second term, with over 400 lawsuits filed against his administration—most of them in the capital. As top firms buckle under political pressure, public interest groups like Democracy Forward and the ACLU have stepped up, rapidly expanding their legal teams to meet the demand.
Lawyers describe a high-pressure environment where nearly every public official, agency head, or university needs legal counsel at the ready. Meanwhile, Trump’s controversial “Big Beautiful Bill” faces strong opposition, with only 27% approval nationwide and discontent even among Republicans. Key provisions like Medicaid cuts are widely unpopular.
Trump has also intensified his use of the military in symbolic and political ways—parades, speeches with uniformed soldiers, and National Guard deployments—sparking concern among retired generals over politicization of the armed forces.
Online, the political battle continues. California Governor Gavin Newsom’s team mocked Trump’s military rhetoric using Star Wars-themed TikToks, further escalating the digital war between state and federal leaders.