A federal judge in the Southern District of Florida has ordered additional scrutiny of the settlement resolving Donald Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS and the Justice Department, an unusual step that puts the mechanics of government dealmaking under a brighter spotlight.

U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams’ order follows objections from retired judges who challenged the arrangement and argued that the settlement may raise concerns about collusion, abuse of process, or other irregularities.

A newly filed motion in the Southern District of Florida puts a threshold issue front and center: whether the federal court has power to hear the case at all. In Defendant's MOTION to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction 136 Amended Complaint/Amended Notice of R ..., filed April 27, 2026, the defendant challenges the operative amended pleading on jurisdictional grounds, asking the court to dismiss before the case proceeds further on the merits.

At a high level, this kind of motion seeks dismissal under the court’s limited jurisdictional authority, arguing that the amended complaint—or related amended notice—fails to establish a proper basis for federal adjudication.