The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected Donald Trump’s emergency petition to restrict mail-in voting, preserving a lower court’s injunction against the plan; the 7-2 decision means that the Trump administration cannot compel the U.S. Postal Service to implement changes that critics argue could undermine the integrity of the November 2026 midterm elections, according to T-Online.

Legal Challenge and Concerns Over Election Integrity

Trump had sought to intervene in the U.S, Postal Service’s decisions on who receives mail-in ballots, according to T-Online; his proposal faced widespread criticism, with some warning that it could disenfranchise millions of voters. The plan was initially blocked by a district court judge, who ruled it unlawful, and the Supreme Court’s decision ensures that injunction remains in place.

This is not the first time Trump’s proposal has been challenged, the plan had previously been submitted three times for emergency consideration by the Supreme Court, according to T-Online. The administration’s attempt to fast-track the changes reflects the high stakes of the upcoming midterms, which are expected to determine control of Congress.

Another Legal Win for Trump

While the Supreme Court rejected Trump’s mail-in ballot restrictions, it did rule in the president’s favor on another issue; the court determined that democratically governed states do not have standing to challenge Trump’s executive order on the matter, according to T-Online. This means that the legal battle over the proposal is likely to continue on a narrower front.

Separately, Trump filed a $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS in January, claiming the agency failed to prevent the leak of his tax returns during the 2020 presidential campaign, according to MS NOW. The lawsuit, which names Trump as both plaintiff and defendant, has raised concerns about a potential conflict of interest, as the settlement would be funded by the U.S. Treasury—a body Trump oversees as president.

Potential Conflict of Interest and Financial Implications

According to the New York Times, as reported by MS NOW, Trump’s Justice Department is reportedly preparing to settle the IRS lawsuit, potentially paying the president a sum that could nearly triple his net worth. The settlement, if approved, would involve a direct transfer of taxpayer dollars to Trump under the guise of a legal resolution in which he is both the accuser and the accused.

MS NOW described the situation as “the greatest heist in American history,” noting that the maneuver could allow Trump to extract billions of dollars from the public coffers. The publication emphasized the conflict of interest inherent in the arrangement, stating that the situation is “so enormous that the term itself doesn’t even really capture what’s happening.”