TRUMP RAISES STAKES FOR COURT BATTLE FOES

New strategy to beat back mounting orders against his policies. By Zoe Tillman

- 

President Donald Trump and his allies are pursuing an alternative strategy to defend against mounting court orders blocking his policies: Raise the financial stakes for those suing the administration.

House Republicans want to force people suing the US to post financial guarantees to cover the government's costs if they win a temporary halt to Mr Trump's policies but ultimately lose the case.

The measure, included in their “big, beautiful” tax-and-spending bill, would condition a judges’ power to hold US officials in contempt for violating their orders to the payment of that security.

While the legislation faces hurdles, the push to make suing the government more expensive is gaining steam. Critics say it's part of a broader effort to discourage lawsuits against the Trump administration.

In addition to the tax bill provision, Republican lawmakers have introduced a plan to require plaintiffs who lose suits against the administration to cover the government's legal costs.

Meanwhile, Mr Trump has directed the Justice Department to demand bonds from court challengers when judges temporarily halt his policies. Mr Trump has also targeted law firms over everything from past work for Democratic rivals to their diversity policies.