Defending Trump’s Orders Leaves DOJ Lawyers Showing Strain, Seeking Delays

Mass departures from the US Justice Department and a rising flood of lawsuits are squeezing government lawyers defending administration policies, with signs of strain spilling into court.

The department’s public court filings, along with interviews with current and former attorneys reveal challenges facing the government as it fights hundreds of cases against President Donald Trump’s agenda. In deadline extension requests since January, lawyers have taken the unusual step of publicly acknowledging to judges that they are overextended and having trouble keeping up with the workload.