Secured a nationwide injunction blocking border wall construction without congressional approval and helped enact power-of-the-purse legislation to ensure future presidents cannot circumvent Congress.
Defending the Rule of Law
Our Work
In the 21st century, democracies tend to die by the erosion of democratic norms and guardrails rather than at the barrel of a gun.

Would-be authoritarians often abuse their power, using it to eliminate checks and balances, quash dissent, target already marginalized communities, and deepen political divisions.
The Constitution and the laws we have built around it provide tools to constrain authoritarian behavior — but many of the norms and guardrails that help define our democracy are not written into law and are not self-enforcing. Together these restraints must be exercised (and strengthened) to prevent government officials from abusing their power and to ensure the law applies equally to everyone, from the most powerful to the least.
- Uphold the principle that nobody is above the law
- Ensure accountability for those who have attacked or undermined our democracy — regardless of their political standing
- Ensure meaningful checks and balances on executive power
- Stop abuses that target marginalized groups and their ability to participate in democracy
- Protect the ability of the public and the press to voice dissenting views
- Protect independent, non-politicized law enforcement and civil servant workforces
Helped prevent a sitting president from politicizing the Department of Justice to interfere in an election, in part through a multi-year campaign organizing thousands of Department of Justice alumni.
Impact in the News

Congressional Testimony: How to Strengthen Congressional Oversight Capacity Congressional Testimony:

Service secretaries and retired four-star admirals and generals file amicus brief on Los Angeles military deployment
On behalf of the following service secretaries and retired four-star admirals and generals, Protect Democracy highlighting the risks of Los Angeles military deployment.
June 12, 2025

Protecting SNAP beneficiaries from government overreach
We filed a complaint in federal court challenging a demand from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for states to turn over the personal data of tens of millions Americans.
May 22, 2025

Stopping the Unconstitutional Dismantling of the Federal Government
Protect Democracy is suing President Trump for his unconstitutional reduction in force or RIF
April 28, 2025

Restoring Transparency to OMB Apportionment Decisions
Protect Democracy is suing the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Director Russell Vought for violating a law that requires public disclosure of “apportionments.”
April 14, 2025
Federal Trade Commissioners Rebecca Kelly Slaughter and Alvaro M. Bedoya File Motion for Summary Judgment in Suit Against Trump Administration
FTC Commissioners File Motion for Summary Judgment in Suit Against Trump Administration
April 11, 2025

Challenging politically-driven attacks on science and medical research
Protect Democracy is challenging the Trump administration’s unlawful termination of $400 million in federal funding.
April 4, 2025
Federal Trade Commissioners Rebecca Kelly Slaughter and Alvaro M. Bedoya Sue Trump Administration for Attempted Illegal Firings
The Trump administration this month attempted to fire Federal Trade Commissioners Rebecca Kelly Slaughter and Alvaro M. Bedoya, without cause, before their Senate-confirmed terms were up.
March 27, 2025

Fighting the Consolidation of Power and Illegal FTC Purges
The lawsuit argues that the president’s actions are illegal and violate long-standing legal protections for independent agencies like the FTC and the Federal Reserve.
March 27, 2025

Stopping the Trump administration’s use of funding cuts to coerce speech restrictions at universities
Protect Democracy is challenging the Trump administration’s unlawful termination of $400 million in federal funding.
March 25, 2025

Stopping the illegal exposure of America’s personal data
Protect Democracy is challenging the illegal access to sensitive personal information of millions of Americans by representatives of “DOGE”.
February 10, 2025

Defending civil servants and their ability to work for the American people
Fighting to Defend the Law that Protects the Rights of Federal Workers and Their Ability to Provide Critical Goods and Services to the American People.
February 6, 2025