President vs. Government: Trump Ignites Unprecedented Legal Clash with $10 Billion Lawsuit Against the IRS

In a move described as a "constitutional anomaly," President Donald Trump has sued the U.S. Treasury Department and the IRS for at least $10 billion. The lawsuit stems from the 2023 leak of his tax returns by former contractor Charles Littlejohn. Trump alleges that the federal government failed to protect his confidential financial information, turning a personal grievance into a high-stakes legal battle against the very agencies he leads.

Legal experts, including former White House ethics officials, warn of a "massive conflict of interest," as the Justice Department must now defend agencies against the President, who is their ultimate superior. While federal law allows citizens to sue over tax leaks, the timing is contentious; Trump claims he only confirmed the leak's source on January 29, 2024, a timeline some experts find hard to accept given the extensive prior media coverage. This case tests the limits of institutional independence in the modern American presidency.