In an unprecedented legal milestone, Texas has now filed 101 lawsuits against the Biden administration, reflecting ongoing tensions between the state and federal government over key policy issues. This tally includes recent lawsuits targeting the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding federal policies Texas claims infringe on state rights and constitutional principles.
Latest Lawsuits: FCC Regulations and DOJ Document Preservation
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The 100th and 101st lawsuits, filed this November, highlight Texas’s opposition to federal decisions perceived as undermining state authority. Texas joined Louisiana in suing the FCC, challenging a recent rule that alters phone call costs for federal prisoners, potentially shifting financial burdens onto state taxpayers. Texas argues the rule violates the Administrative Procedure Act by limiting state sovereignty and imposing excessive costs.
Another lawsuit focuses on record preservation within the DOJ’s Office of Special Counsel. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed to prevent the DOJ from potentially destroying records linked to Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigations into former President Donald Trump, including the 2020 election interference case and classified document handling accusations. Texas argues that these records are crucial for accountability and transparency, particularly because some people believe the investigations are politically motivated.
Since 2021, Texas has filed numerous lawsuits to counter various Biden administration policies, particularly those impacting the energy sector, border security, and state autonomy. The administration’s initiatives on vaccine mandates, environmental regulations, and healthcare funding cuts have met significant resistance from Texas, leading to legal action to block what Paxton calls “unlawful overreach.” According to Paxton, these cases highlight Texas’s commitment to “upholding the rule of law” and preventing “federal weaponization” against American citizens.
Growing Tensions as House Committees Demand Record Preservation
Texas’s lawsuit comes amid pressure from U.S. House committees, particularly the Judiciary Committee, to maintain records from DOJ’s investigations into Trump. The committee, under the direction of Rep. Jim Jordan, R-OH, has demanded thorough documentation of the DOJ’s handling of the case due to worries about potential record destruction if Trump were to win re-election. This demand underscores broader concerns within Congress about the transparency of federal investigations and potential biases within the DOJ.
As legal confrontations between Texas and the Biden administration continue, the state’s 101 lawsuits mark a new chapter in the fight over federal authority and state sovereignty—a fight Texas shows no signs of backing down from.