Obama hasn’t been in office for almost a decade now. That’s not stopping him from having influence over certain things in Washington, D.C.
And this Barack Obama appointee just threw a major wrench in President Trump’s plans.
Federal Judge Once Criticized by Trump Now Presides Over High-Stakes DOGE Lawsuit
A federal judge, once described by President Donald Trump as “the most evil person,” is now at the center of a legal battle involving a lawsuit brought by multiple blue states against the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The case seeks to prevent DOGE, led by billionaire Elon Musk, from accessing government data and terminating federal employees.
Judge Tanya Chutkan, who was appointed to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia by then-President Barack Obama in 2013, gained national attention in 2021 for overseeing the criminal investigation into Trump’s alleged efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Her role in the courtroom on Monday, however, shifted focus to the operations of DOGE.
Throughout her tenure, Chutkan has found herself at odds with Trump and his policies. In 2021, she ruled against Trump’s claims of presidential immunity in the election interference case—though the Supreme Court later overturned that decision, significantly broadening the scope of immunity for U.S. presidents.
Her stance on matters related to the January 6 U.S. Capitol riot has further fueled tensions. Known for imposing some of the most severe sentences on defendants involved in the attack, Chutkan has not minced words about her views on the events of that day.
When Trump moved to pardon and grant clemency to over 1,500 individuals convicted in connection with the riot, she pushed back forcefully:
Trump’s decision “cannot whitewash the blood, feces and terror that the mob left in its wake,” Chutkan stated. “And it cannot repair the jagged breach in America’s sacred tradition of peacefully transitioning power.”
Her decision to release approximately 1,800 pages of records to the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 attack—despite strong objections from Trump’s legal team—only solidified her as a target of his allies. Trump’s public rebuke of her, branding her as “the most evil person,” followed soon after.
Chutkan’s high-profile decisions have made her the subject of controversy beyond legal circles. In 2024, she became a victim of a “swatting” attack at her home in Washington, D.C., where law enforcement responded to what was later confirmed to be a false shooting report.
While her history suggests she may not be inclined to side with the states in blocking DOGE’s access to federal data, her long-standing clashes with Trump and his administration remain a point of contention.
Throughout the first Trump administration, Chutkan was criticized by officials for rulings they saw as direct roadblocks to their policies.
In 2018, she temporarily halted the government from preventing teenage immigrants from obtaining abortions—a decision that was eventually overturned.
A year later, she ruled against then-Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, determining that the department had unlawfully delayed implementing an Obama-era regulation addressing racial disparities in special education. She ordered its immediate enforcement, despite the administration’s argument that it needed more time.
Chutkan has also openly criticized Trump’s broader legal maneuvers. Following his mass pardon of 1,600 individuals tied to the January 6 riot, she reportedly sought to reassure Capitol Police officers, telling them that “the rule of law still applies,” according to Politico.
However, she conceded, “I’m not sure I can do that very convincingly these days.”
As the legal battle over DOGE unfolds, Chutkan’s involvement ensures that the case will remain under the national spotlight.
It’s also a major concern for President Donald Trump and his allies that DOGE won’t get a fair ruling under Chutkan’s watch.
Stay tuned to the Conservative Column.
