A disturbing pattern is developing in America that should worry everyone about what’s coming next, even blindly patriotic supporters of Donald J. Trump.

Trump makes a move on the political chessboard; the courts move to block him.

The short list so far:

• A judge halts access to Treasury payment systems sought by Elon Musk’s team.
• A judge halts parts of Trump’s plan to shut down the United States Agency for International Development, or USAID.
• A judge halts Trump’s efforts to persuade 2 million federal employees to resign.
• A judge halts Trump’s efforts to release the identities of FBI agents involved in the Jan. 6 investigations.
• A judge halts Trump’s executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship.

How long will this continue before Trump grows tired of America’s game of checks and balances and declares “checkmate”?

His final move? Pulling the plug on the federal court system.

Don’t think it’s far-fetched.

At some point, Trump could do what he always does: scapegoat the system. In this case, out-of-control courts standing in the way of the “will of the people.”

Trump could argue they need to be brought under control. His control. And since he can’t just do away with the third branch of government — although he probably would love to do so — he can attempt to short-circuit the judicial system.

Not by just ignoring their orders. But simply pulling the plug.

Trump could try to cut off all of the federal courts' funding. No more paychecks for judges, clerks, security and office staff. No more heat, lights and electricity for their courthouses.

The courts going dark.

America growing darker.

The question is who will stop him? Without the courts, there’s only Congress. And Congress clearly hasn’t shown any signs of stopping Trump’s roughshod trampling of the Constitution.

The rule of law, always toyed with by Trump, becoming the latest quaint notion to be discarded in his dismantling of democracy.

A recent New York Times article points out that, although presidents take an oath to ensure that “the Laws be faithfully executed,” the courts don’t really have any way to enforce their orders.

They can issue fines and declare someone in contempt and, in rare cases, even order imprisonment.

But do billionaire presidents really care about fines? And is there any president more contemptuous of the courts than Trump who, don’t forget, is a felon who never suffered any consequences for his crimes?

Who is going to imprison anyone in this Administration when the president can fire attorney generals, FBI agents, and Secret Service officials on a whim?

Needless to say, Trump doesn’t appreciate our system of justice because it made him a loser, and everyone knows how much he hates losing.

His first administration, The Times noted, succeeded in only 23 percent of the legal challenges against the actions of his agencies. In his second Administration, it’s only going to get worse as his actions become even more extreme.

At some point, Trump’s going to tire of losing in the courts.

That point is quickly approaching.

The question is — if the courts can’t stop Trump and Congress won’t — who will?

— Bill Dalton is a former reporter and editor for The Kansas City Star.