Impact Docket – 8/27/25
Every week brings new proof that our democracy is being tested not by one decision, but by a steady drumbeat of power grabs. Institutions meant to safeguard rights are being bent, and long-standing norms pushed past their limits.
The question is whether we meet this moment with equal force. Lawyers and advocates have a unique role to play in stopping these attacks, and this week’s Impact Docket offers you ways to do just that.
🔴 The Moment We’re In: Testing Boundaries, Shrinking Safeguards
The federal takeover of Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department wasn’t meant to solve crime—it was meant to set precedent. In the two weeks since, federal agents have patrolled neighborhoods alongside immigration enforcement, and inside MPD, career officers are caught between loyalty tests and lawful duty. A new poll shows that most Americans oppose the takeover. That matters, because the White House is already signaling this model could spread.
The same playbook is showing up elsewhere. In a blunt strike at knowledge and equity, the Supreme Court allowed $783 million in NIH grants for DEI-linked health research—including studies on minority, LGBTQ+, and disease-disparate populations—to be eliminated last week without a full hearing.
And always, the target comes back to ordinary people. In immigration courts, DHS is ramping up efforts to reopen long-closed asylum cases. In higher education and nonprofit service, the administration is moving to strip entire categories of workers from Public Service Loan Forgiveness. At the Environmental Protection Agency, a repeal of the Endangerment Finding is proceeding—an attack not just on climate science, but on its legal foundation.
These are not isolated fights. They add up to a playbook: sideline independent voices, choke off knowledge, and reward only political loyalty. That’s exactly why our response needs to be coordinated as well. Keep reading for ways to join the fight.
⚡ URGENT ACTIONS
🏛️ Tell Congress: Stop the Federal Takeover of D.C.
📍 L4GG.org/DefendDC | 2 min
President Trump has unilaterally seized control of D.C.’s police department, without an emergency and without consent from the community, setting a dangerous precedent for unchecked federal power.
That’s why we must support H.J.Res. 115, a resolution that blocks this takeover and restores D.C.’s democratic control of its police force.
This isn’t just about D.C. It’s about preserving local self-governance, limiting executive overreach, and defending the rule of law in every city across the country.
Tell Congress: Support H.J.Res. 115 and reject this authoritarian power grab.
🛠️ LONG-TERM ENGAGEMENT
📣 Webinar TOMORROW: Asylum Rights Under Attack
📍 L4GG.org/AsylumWebinar
The administration is escalating legal threats against asylum seekers—including mass DHS motions to reopen closed cases, arrests inside courts, and worsening detention conditions.
Join L4GG and legal experts tomorrow for a webinar on how strategic litigation can push back and protect migrant rights. You’ll walk away with:
Legal tools to challenge DHS motions
Updates on detention conditions and court arrests
Actionable strategies for attorneys, DOJ-accredited reps, and orgs
CLE credit pending in CA. Register now!
🛑 EPA Comment Trainings: Stop the Endangerment Finding Repeal
📍 L4GG.org/EPAComment | 5-10 hours
Missed our last training? You’ve got two more chances. Join us on September 3 at 12:00 PM ET or September 9 at 1:00 PM ET to learn how to submit a powerful public comment against the proposed repeal of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Endangerment Finding, the legal foundation for regulating climate pollution.
This proposal would gut the EPA’s power to combat climate change, endangering our health, environment, and future.
✅ No prior experience needed—just 5–10 hours of your time
✅ Step-by-step guidance to write a legally grounded comment
✅ Templates, citations, and talking points
✅ Breakout Q&A rooms for anyone needing support post-training
This proposal affects everyone. Your voice is needed to fight back. Register today and help protect our planet.
🛡️Submit a Public Comment: Protect Public Service Loan Forgiveness
📍L4GG.org/PSLFComment
The Trump administration is trying to strip Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligibility from entire categories of employers—including nonprofits and public agencies doing work in immigrant rights, gender-affirming care, and racial equity.
L4GG is a proud member of the PSLF Coalition, which created a toolkit to help you submit your own customized public comment before the September 17 deadline.
Your voice matters. Public comments are a powerful legal tool to influence final rules and build a record of public opposition. Use the toolkit and these talking points to:
Submit a compelling and unique public comment
Lift up the legal and personal impact of the proposed rule
Share the guidance with your networks to encourage broad participation
