After nearly four decades on the federal bench, Judge Mark Wolf shocked Washington by resigning his lifetime appointment — all so he could finally speak freely against what he calls President Donald Trump’s dangerous politicization of the justice system. In a blistering op-ed, Wolf said he could “no longer bear” the limits placed on judges, accusing Trump of weaponizing the law to shield allies, punish enemies, and undermine judicial independence. Wolf, appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1985, said silence was “intolerable” as he watched the White House bend legal norms he had defended since Watergate. His resignation, he said, was an act of duty: a way to give voice to judges who feel they cannot publicly challenge political interference.

The White House fired back immediately, dismissing Wolf as a partisan seeking attention and insisting that Trump’s record — including more than 20 Supreme Court victories — proves his policies are lawful. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court extended an emergency stay allowing the administration to continue withholding SNAP benefits during the shutdown, intensifying one of the most painful impacts of the crisis. Millions of low-income Americans are now entering their tenth day without full food assistance as legal battles, political pressure, and government paralysis collide.