Miller takes White House chief of staff role amid court battles

Washington, D.C., Stephen Miller replaced Susie Wiles as President Trump’s chief of staff on Monday. The move places the former Santa Monica High School student at the center of the administration’s daily operations. Miller had already held significant influence over policy before the appointment.

The new role intensifies scrutiny of Miller’s agenda, which includes a hard line on mass deportation and stricter media controls. Experts say his efforts will likely face resistance from federal courts and the newly elected Democratic Congress. Josh Hammer, senior counsel for the Article III Project, stated that the appointment sends a strong message to Democrats.

Miller advocates for policies that critics describe as aggressive. These include using armed soldiers on U.S. streets and suspending the writ of habeas corpus. Habeas corpus allows immigrants in detention to challenge their hold in court. Miller argues that border arrivals constitute an invasion, a claim legal scholars call dubious.

Recent court rulings have already limited the administration’s reach. In October, a 9th Circuit panel ruled against federalizing National Guard troops without invoking the Insurrection Act. On Tuesday, a 4th Circuit panel blocked the Justice Department from forcing LinkedIn to hand over records related to press leaks. Bruce D. Brown, president of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, called the LinkedIn ruling a major decision that protects confidential sources.

President Trump acknowledged that the deportation program was too tough in a Sunday interview on 60 Minutes. He said, “I’d love to do something on immigration. I think that’s something that’s actually doable.” Miller, who designed the program, is expected to push back. Hammer noted that Miller will likely analyze data to convince the president to maintain the current strategy.

Miller faces additional hurdles in the legislative branch. A Democratic Congress is expected to investigate top administration officials, including Miller. Representative Robert Garcia, a Democrat from Long Beach, will head the House Oversight Committee next year. Garcia said the committee will examine whether Miller’s actions were unconstitutional or illegal.

The administration must also act quickly on judicial appointments. Eleven District Court nominees are currently pending confirmation. More than a dozen additional vacancies exist. Trump’s team aims to confirm these judges before the new Congress is sworn in on January 3. Retired Judge Jeremy Fogel warned that removing federal judges is a tactic used by autocrats, but he noted that the U.S. has strong legal guardrails against such moves.