"Federal Judge Declares 2022 $1.7 Trillion Spending Bill Unconstitutional"

A federal judge in Texas ruled that the $1.7 trillion government funding bill passed by Congress in 2022 under a pandemic-era proxy voting rule is unconstitutional, specifically blocking the enforcement of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act against the state as an employer. The judge found that a physical quorum was required to pass legislation, and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who challenged the bill, criticized the use of proxy voting as a violation of the Constitution. The ruling also addressed Texas's standing to challenge funding for a pilot program aiding noncitizens during immigration removal proceedings.