A federal judge in Washington state on Friday halted the Trump administration from implementing major provisions of an executive order aimed at altering how states run federal elections, concluding the president overstepped his authority.
U.S. District Judge John Chun ruled that key sections of Executive Order 14248 could not be applied to Washington or Oregon, finding they conflicted with the Constitution’s separation of powers.
In his decision, Chun said the order attempted to impose requirements beyond the scope of presidential authority, which is limited when it comes to state administration of elections.
The ruling blocks enforcement of the contested provisions in the two states, delivering a setback to the administration’s effort to reshape federal election procedures through executive action.
