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 have tended to die not at the barrel of a gun but by the gradual erosion of democratic norms and guardrails.

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:

Towards Non-Recurrence: Accountability Options for Trump-Era Transgressions
Towards Non-Recurrence: Accountability Options for Trump-Era Transgressions
September 30, 2022

PEN America v. Escambia County School District
Protect Democracy represents PEN America in litigation challenging the constitutionality of book bans in Escambia County.
May 17, 2023

Douša v. DHS
Protect Democracy and Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP filed a lawsuit on behalf of Reverend Kaji Douša, challenging a previously secret Department of Homeland Security (DHS) surveillance operation.
March 21, 2023

Protect Democracy Files SCOTUS Briefs Asking Court to Scrutinize Emergency Powers
Protect Democracy has filed amicus briefs in two cases at the Supreme Court concerning uses of emergency powers purportedly related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
February 3, 2023

Blassingame v. Trump and Moore v. Trump
Protect Democracy sued former President Trump on behalf of Capitol Police Officers who were injured during the January 6th insurrection.
October 3, 2022

Vindman v. Trump Jr., Giuliani, Scavino, and Hahn
Protect Democracy filed suit on behalf of Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman to defend federal officials who carry out their duty to report misconduct and testify in impeachment proceedings.
February 2, 2022
Qassim Soleimani FOIA Lawsuit
Protect Democracy sued the Trump administration to uncover the legal basis for the targeted killing of Qassim Soleimani, the former commander of Iran’s Quds Force.
January 22, 2022

Thompson v. Trump
Amicus briefs filed by a bipartisan group of former members of Congress explain why it was Congress’s right to review documents that Trump was withholding.
December 9, 2021
Don’t Shoot Portland v. Wolf
The lawsuit followed the Trump administration’s deployment of federal agents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Marshals Service to Portland, Oregon in July, 2020.
November 15, 2020

Don’t Shoot Portland v. Wolf
This lawsuit contended that federal law enforcement officers exceeded the limits of their authority in Portland, Oregon, in response to protests.
July 27, 2020