Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• RFK Jr testifies before House Ways and Means Committee on health budget amid vaccine and public health criticism — Robert F Kennedy Jr, health secretary, testified before the US House Ways and Means Committee on Thursday regarding the administration's health budget and policies. Lawmakers from both parties challenged Kennedy over sweeping changes to vaccination recommendations, promotion of vaccine misinformation during a measles outbreak affecting nearly 2,300 cases, cuts to Medicaid and Medicare, and previous racist comments about Black children. Kennedy defended his positions while promoting disputed claims about vaccine safety and hepatitis B transmission risk, and the hearing became contentious with multiple heated exchanges.
• Gov. Andy Beshear defended Pope's biblical interpretation on war — Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear responded to claims by Speaker Johnson and Vice President Vance that the Pope was misinterpreting the Bible regarding war. Beshear stated that there is no point in the New Testament where Jesus discusses just war, and that the Pope is simply speaking about Christ who could have brought down fire on the Roman Empire but chose not to. Beshear emphasized that Jesus, "the most powerful person who's ever walked the face of the Earth," could have justified violence but instead chose to be "the Prince of Peace" rather than "the Prince of Power."
• Rep. Linda Sanchez questioned RFK Jr. on public health messaging priorities — During House testimony, Rep. Linda Sanchez questioned RFK Jr. about suspending a pro-vaccine campaign while spending taxpayer dollars on a campaign featuring him drinking milk shirtless in a hot tub with Kid Rock, asking how this constituted a better public health message. RFK Jr. responded by citing global measles epidemic prevention, to which Sanchez countered that no country has seen a bigger percentage increase in measles than the United States.
• Rep. Melanie Stansbury criticized illegal war and administration's actions — Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) stated that millions of people have been displaced and American bases bombed, questioning the justification for the war. She characterized the conflict as illegal, led by a president attacking the Pope, threatening war crimes, and implicated in Epstein files, while being unable to explain the war's purpose or post-war plans.
• Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove criticized war costs and health care priorities — Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA) criticized the administration's spending priorities, stating that the costs of the war are visible in rising gas prices and fertilizer costs, and that the administration wants to spend $2 billion daily on military operations rather than help Americans access health care. She used colorful language to express frustration with the spending priorities.
• Rep. Terri Sewell questioned RFK Jr. on statements about Black children and ADHD medication — Rep. Terri Sewell asked RFK Jr. whether he had ever parented a Black child, referencing a 2024 podcast interview in which he allegedly suggested Black children on ADHD medication should be "re-parented." RFK Jr. denied making the statement. The Ways & Means Committee Democrats subsequently posted a video clip of RFK Jr. from 2024 stating: "Every Black kid is now just standard put on Adderall, SSRIs, benzos, which are known to induce violence, and those kids are going to have a chance to go somewhere and get re-parented."
• RFK Jr. testified before House on health care fraud investigation — Robert F. Kennedy Jr., leading a Trump administration initiative to investigate alleged health care fraudsters, testified before the House. During questioning, Rep. Lloyd Doggett presented a case involving Paul Walczak, who retained $10 million in wages and purchased a $2 million yacht after his mother contributed to the Trump campaign, and was no longer required to pay $4.4 million or serve prison time. Doggett asked whether RFK Jr. recommended pardons for health care fraudsters or if campaign contributions influenced the decisions. RFK Jr. denied the account as not credible.
• RFK Jr. testified before House committee on HHS spending and policy — RFK Jr. testified before a House committee hearing. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici questioned HHS spending on a video of RFK Jr. drinking milk in a hot tub with Kid Rock. Rep. Greg Casar asked about 1.4 million people who lost health insurance from Obamacare; RFK Jr. responded they were "almost all illegal immigrants." Rep. Adelita Grijalva referenced RFK Jr.'s history of performing his own medical research, including cutting the penis off a dead raccoon. Rep. Summer Lee raised concerns that RFK Jr.'s agency instructed programs to remove 200 words from funding applications including the word "Black."

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• Board of Immigration Appeals issues removal order for Palestinian-rights activist — The Board of Immigration Appeals, which Trump has cut in half and stacked with his own appointees, issued a final order of removal for Mahmoud Khalil. In a statement, Khalil called the ruling "biased and politically motivated," stating "The only thing I am guilty of is speaking out against the genocide in Palestine – and this administration has weaponized the immigration system to punish me for it."

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• Trump administration terminates civil rights settlements protecting transgender students — The US Department of Education announced the termination of civil rights settlement agreements with five school districts and one college across California, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Washington. These agreements, negotiated under the Obama and Biden administrations, required schools to comply with Title IX protections for transgender and gay students. The department will no longer enforce these agreements, effectively removing federal oversight of school compliance with civil rights law regarding gender identity protections.

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• CREW files FOIA complaint against DHS over surveillance of immigration-enforcement protesters — Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) filed a Freedom of Information Act complaint in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against the Department of Homeland Security, seeking records of DHS tracking and surveillance of protesters opposing expanded immigration enforcement. CREW's February 2026 FOIA requests sought memoranda, policies, and database records related to DHS collection of images, license plates, and personal data on protesters during operations including "Operation Metro Surge" in Minnesota and "Operation Catch of the Day" in Maine. CREW alleges DHS failed to timely process requests, grant expedited processing, or produce responsive records, and seeks declaratory relief, injunctions compelling disclosure, and attorney fees.

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• Federal prosecutors drop charges against Heather Danae Lewis in church protest case due to mistaken identity — Federal prosecutors notified a federal judge of their intent to drop criminal charges against Heather Danae Lewis, one of 30 people charged in connection with an anti-ICE protest at the Cities church in Saint Paul, Minnesota in January 2026. Lewis was accused of participating in the protest and interfering with congregants' religious rights, but her attorney demonstrated she was in the supermarket parking lot by coincidence, not as a protester. Prosecutors dropped charges "with prejudice," preventing refiling. A magistrate judge criticized the DOJ for slow discovery compliance.

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• Senate committee advances Markwayne Mullin's nomination to lead Department of Homeland Security — The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs voted on March 20, 2026, to advance Markwayne Mullin's nomination to lead the Department of Homeland Security on a near party-line vote. Eight of nine Republicans supported the nomination; Rand Paul dissented. One Democrat, John Fetterman, voted in favor; six opposed. The committee's top Democrat, Gary Peters, criticized Mullin for failing to be forthright and transparent, and for appearing to condone political violence. Mullin's nomination now proceeds to a full Senate vote, where Republicans hold sufficient numbers for confirmation.
• Fetterman casts decisive committee vote to advance Mullin nomination for DHS secretary — Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) cast the deciding vote in the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on March 20, 2026, to advance Republican Markwayne Mullin's nomination as Department of Homeland Security secretary. Fetterman was the sole Democrat to join seven Republicans in supporting the nomination, which faced Democratic opposition over allegations that Mullin had encouraged political violence. The vote prompted calls from fellow Pennsylvania Democrats for Fetterman's resignation and criticism that he had abandoned party and constituent interests.
• Markwayne Mullin confirmation hearing for Department of Homeland Security — Markwayne Mullin, Trump's nominee to replace Kristi Noem as DHS secretary, appeared before the Senate Homeland Security Committee on March 18, 2026. He defended the administration's mass deportation agenda while striking a more diplomatic tone than his predecessor. Mullin expressed regret for past inflammatory comments about a US citizen killed by immigration agents and acknowledged mistakes in his public statements. The hearing was contentious, with committee chair Rand Paul demanding explanations for Mullin's past hostile remarks toward him. Democrats pressed Mullin on his truthfulness regarding claimed combat experience, his willingness to enforce immigration at polling places, and his commitment to constitutional limits on executive power. The committee scheduled a vote for the following day.
• Trump nominates Markwayne Mullin as DHS secretary; senator claims undisclosed overseas military-adjacent experience — Donald Trump selected Oklahoma Republican senator Markwayne Mullin to lead the Department of Homeland Security. Mullin, who never served in the U.S. military, has repeatedly made cryptic public statements suggesting combat or overseas security experience, claiming "special assignments outside of DoD" and referencing war zones. During his Senate confirmation hearing, Mullin confirmed he had never traveled abroad except for vacation or mission work, contradicting his earlier implications. His office later clarified the "overseas" work involved Christian mission activities with returning troops.
• Markwayne Mullin confirmation hearing for DHS Secretary; Fema restructuring and staffing concerns raised — Senator Markwayne Mullin, Trump's nominee to replace Kristi Noem as DHS Secretary, testified before the Senate during his confirmation hearing. He pledged to restructure rather than eliminate Fema, revoke Noem's $100,000 expenditure review policy, and appoint a qualified Fema director. However, he declined to commit to reversing Fema staff cuts, suggesting some agencies are "bloated," and reiterated that states should lead disaster response with federal support only at certain levels. Disaster management officials expressed concern about his preparedness and vision.
• Senator Markwayne Mullin testified for Secretary of Homeland Security confirmation — Senator Markwayne Mullin, Trump's nominee to replace Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security, testified before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in a contentious confirmation hearing. The hearing began with Chairman Rand Paul confronting Mullin over past comments where Mullin appeared to justify or "understand" the violent assault on Paul by his neighbor. Mullin refused to fully apologize for those comments, leading to a heated exchange.

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• Federal judge blocks RFK Jr's vaccine committee appointments and immunization schedule changes — Federal Judge Brian E Murphy ruled that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr's firing of all 17 ACIP members and replacement with hand-picked advisers likely violated the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). The judge stayed 13 of the new appointments, invalidating their votes and blocking unprecedented January changes to the US immunization schedule, including bans on thimerosal in flu vaccines and the MMR-chickenpox combination vaccine. The ACIP meeting scheduled for later that week was postponed.

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• Federal judge voided actions taken by Kari Lake at Voice of America — U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth ruled on Saturday that Kari Lake, a Trump-appointed official, lacked lawful authority to serve as acting CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees Voice of America. Lake had exercised approximately 95 percent of the CEO's duties despite not being employed by USAGM when the former CEO resigned in January 2025 and lacking Senate confirmation. The court voided her actions, including layoffs of over 1,000 journalists and staffers, funding cuts, and restructuring that reduced VOA broadcasting from 49 languages to four. The ruling reaffirms that administrations must follow legal procedures when installing control over public institutions.
• Appeals court voids Kari Lake's tenure as head of US Agency for Global Media for lack of Senate confirmation — Senior judge Royce C Lamberth of the US District Court for the District of Columbia voided the tenure of Kari Lake, a Republican former gubernatorial candidate, who unlawfully led the US Agency for Global Media for several months in 2025 without Senate confirmation. The court voided mass layoffs and other actions Lake took to dismantle the agency overseeing Voice of America and related international news broadcasters, finding her appointment violated constitutional requirements.
• Federal judge voids Kari Lake's unlawful tenure at USAGM, invalidating mass layoffs — US District Judge Royce C. Lamberth ruled that Kari Lake unlawfully served as head of the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the parent agency of Voice of America, after Trump appointed her without Senate confirmation on 31 July 2025. During her tenure through 19 November 2025, Lake cut over 1,000 staff positions and terminated contracts. The judge voided all actions taken during her unlawful service, citing violations of the Appointments Clause and the Vacancies Act. The ruling relied on precedent from the Third Circuit's invalidation of Alina Habba's appointment to lead the US attorney's office in New Jersey.
• Federal judge ruled Kari Lake acted unlawfully in running Voice of America — U.S. District Court Judge Royce Lamberth ruled that Kari Lake, head of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, acted unlawfully in running the Voice of America and its parent agency. The judge declared all of Lake's actions over the past year null and void, including the layoffs of more than 1,000 journalists and staffers. Lake announced she would appeal the ruling.
• Federal judge voided Kari Lake's authority over Voice of America — A federal judge ruled that Kari Lake had been unlawfully running Voice of America without proper legal authority and voided her actions. Lake had previously laid off more than 1,000 journalists and reduced Voice of America's language broadcasts from 49 to four. The ruling invalidated these personnel and operational decisions made without lawful authorization to hold the position.

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• Kristi Noem testified before Senate Judiciary Committee — Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday regarding her department's handling of detentions, deportations, and other matters. During the hearing, lawmakers of both parties questioned her on the lawlessness and corruption in the department, including her labeling of individuals shot by federal agents as engaged in "domestic terrorism," her handling of FEMA disaster relief, and her refusal to back away from the administration's characterization of Trump opponents as engaged in "criminal and terroristic conspiracies."
• Sen. Tillis calls for DHS Secretary Noem's resignation — Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) formally called for DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's resignation during the hearing, citing a pattern of poor leadership decisions, detention of American citizens, obstruction of inspector general investigations, and slow response to disaster relief in North Carolina. Tillis submitted a letter from the Office of Inspector General documenting ten instances of being misled and prevented from pursuing investigations, and announced he would place holds on nominations and deny quorum in committee markups until receiving written responses to his questions within two weeks.
• Senate hearing on DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's leadership and conduct — The Senate Homeland Security Committee held a hearing on DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's tenure, during which multiple senators criticized her management, including allegations of misuse of taxpayer funds, improper detention of U.S. citizens, conflicts of interest involving contracts awarded to associates, and failure to cooperate with inspectors general. Sen. Tillis detailed a $220 million ad campaign featuring Noem and questioned her judgment; Sen. Whitehouse asked about luxury aircraft purchases; Sen. Welch raised concerns about no-bid contracts to her former spokeswoman's husband; and Sen. Blumenthal questioned whether an agent involved in a shooting remained on duty.
• Sen. Blumenthal questions whether agent in shooting remains on duty — During the Senate hearing, Sen. Richard Blumenthal asked DHS Secretary Noem whether the agent who shot Ms. Martinez remained on the job carrying a gun. Noem stated she did not know the details and said she would get back to him. Blumenthal expressed concern that Americans would find it "absolutely terrifying" if the agent remained on duty.
• Sen. Welch questions DHS Secretary Noem on arrest quotas — During the Senate hearing, Sen. Chris Coons asked DHS Secretary Noem whether DHS operates with arrest quotas. Noem denied the practice, claiming only "targeted enforcement." Coons countered by citing a statement from Stephen Miller on Fox News the prior year stating, "We're setting a minimum of 3,000 arrests for ICE every day," directly contradicting Noem's testimony.
• DHS Secretary Noem questioned on $220 million ad campaign — During the Senate hearing, Sen. Adam Schiff questioned DHS Secretary Noem about a $220 million taxpayer-funded advertising campaign featuring her prominently. Schiff noted the contract went to a company that did not exist two weeks before receiving it, and that $143 million went to a subcontractor Noem had worked with extensively as South Dakota governor. Noem claimed she had nothing to do with the contract award, though she acknowledged Trump had approved the campaign.
• Sen. Kennedy questions DHS ad spending and Noem's name recognition — Sen. John Kennedy questioned DHS Secretary Noem about the $220 million ad campaign, noting it was a quarter-billion in taxpayer money while the administration was cutting budgets elsewhere. Kennedy stated the campaign was effective for Noem's personal name recognition and put the president in an awkward position, suggesting OMB Director Russ Vought would not have approved such spending.
• DHS Secretary Noem questioned on no-bid contract to former spokeswoman's husband — During the Senate hearing, Sen. Peter Welch questioned DHS Secretary Noem about a $143 million no-bid DHS contract awarded to Yoho, the husband of her former chief spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin. Noem confirmed the relationship and the contract award. Welch also asked Noem to inquire whether Corey Lewandowski, identified as a "special government adviser," received any compensation from these contracts.

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• Democrats blocked Republican funding proposals to demand enforcement reforms — On Thursday, February 13, Democratic lawmakers blocked Republican attempts to pass either full-year DHS funding or a two-week extension without including immigration enforcement reforms. The blocked proposals would have funded the department without addressing Democratic demands for body cameras, visible identification numbers, warrant requirements for arrests on private property, and tightened use-of-force policies. Congress then recessed until February 23, leaving the impasse unresolved.
• Department of Homeland Security partial shutdown begins after Senate fails to pass appropriations bill — The Department of Homeland Security entered a partial shutdown after the Senate failed to reach the 60-vote threshold needed to pass the DHS appropriations bill on Thursday, February 13. Democrats blocked funding, demanding new restrictions on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) operations following the fatal shooting of two civilians in Minneapolis. The shutdown affects TSA, Secret Service, and FEMA operations, with TSA workers expected to continue without pay and many FEMA workers furloughed. ICE and CBP operations are expected to continue due to existing funding.
• Senate Democrats block DHS funding bill over ICE reform demands — Senate Democrats voted 52-47 on February 13 to block a House-passed Department of Homeland Security funding package, falling short of the 60 votes needed to overcome a Republican filibuster. The blockade was triggered by the Trump administration's refusal to implement ICE reforms demanded by Democrats, including mandatory body cameras, agent identification, and restrictions on operations near schools, courts, and polling places. The shutdown will affect TSA, FEMA, and Coast Guard but leave ICE largely unaffected due to prior $75 billion appropriation. Democrats cited recent shooting deaths of two Minneapolis residents by federal agents as catalyst for their stance.
• Senate rejects DHS appropriations bill in party-line vote — The Senate voted 52-47 along party lines to reject the DHS appropriations bill on Thursday, February 13, with only Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania supporting it. Democrats blocked the measure and rejected a Republican proposal for a two-week temporary funding extension, demanding new restrictions on ICE and CBP operations in response to the fatal shooting of civilians in Minneapolis. Republicans resisted key Democratic proposals, including requirements for judicial warrants before agents enter private property, though they agreed to body cameras for agents.
• Senate Democrats block DHS funding over ICE and Border Patrol reform demands — Senate Democrats, in the minority, used the filibuster to block a DHS funding measure passed by the House, demanding reforms to ICE and Border Patrol operations. Their demands include requiring judicial warrants for home entries, visible agent identification, an end to racial profiling and raids of sensitive sites, use-of-force policies, coordination with state and local authorities, detention facility standards, body camera restrictions, and standardized uniforms. The partial shutdown will defund most DHS agencies except ICE and Border Patrol, which received dedicated funding in the July 2025 budget reconciliation bill.
• DHS funding lapsed at midnight with no legislative action — DHS funding expired at midnight with no eleventh-hour legislative action. Both the House and Senate left town without voting on a DHS funding bill, with senators departing for pre-planned travel including the Munich Security Conference and not scheduled to return for 10 days. This left 260,000 DHS employees without funding. Senate Democrats remained united in their demands regarding ICE, with only Sen. John Fetterman joining Republicans on a failed procedural vote.

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• Trump administration strips civil service protections — The Office of Personnel Management issued a final rule to remove civil service protections from approximately 50,000 federal employees, allowing the administration to replace nonpartisan civil servants with loyalists. This move reverses a long-standing nonpartisan civil service established in 1883.
• Trump administration removed job protections for approximately 50,000 federal workers — The Trump administration moved to remove job protections for approximately 50,000 federal workers by creating a new employment category called "Schedule Policy/Career," shifting whistleblower handling away from the independent Office of Special Counsel toward internal agency processes. The Office of Personnel Management framed the change as "accountability," but the rule raises questions about whether professional government can remain professional if continued employment depends more directly on alignment with leadership than on neutral expertise.
• Federal employment protections eliminated for 50,000 workers — The Trump administration finalized rules removing job protections for up to 50,000 federal workers by shifting them into a new "Schedule Policy/Career" employment category. The change redirects whistleblower complaints away from independent oversight mechanisms toward internal agency processes, reducing external accountability for federal employees.

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• US government partial shutdown over DHS funding and immigration enforcement restrictions — On January 31, 2026, a partial US government shutdown took effect after Democratic senators blocked a Department of Homeland Security funding bill in response to federal agents killing two US citizens (Alex Pretti and Renee Good) during immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis. Democrats demanded new restrictions on federal agents—including mask bans, body camera requirements, code of conduct provisions, independent investigation of violations, and prohibition of roving patrols. The Senate passed a broader five-department funding package and a two-week DHS extension, but House passage remained uncertain due to Republican demands to couple appropriations with voter ID requirements.
• US Senate approves government funding package with ICE restrictions negotiations — The US Senate voted 71-29 on Friday to approve a major government funding package after two US citizens were killed by federal ICE agents in Minneapolis. The deal includes five spending bills funding defense, labor, and health departments through September, while DHS funding is addressed via a two-week stopgap to allow negotiations on Democratic demands for ICE reforms including body cameras, conduct codes, and restrictions on masked agents and roving patrols. A partial government shutdown was expected to begin at midnight Friday pending House approval.
• Partial government shutdown began affecting federal workforce — A partial government shutdown commenced as Congress remained deadlocked over funding and immigration enforcement restrictions. Federal employees began experiencing immediate impacts including delayed paychecks and service disruptions while lawmakers negotiated shutdown resolution.

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• House Democrats who previously voted for ICE funding reversed their positions and called for accountability, with over 115 House Democrats cosponsoring Articles of Impeachment against DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. — Seven House Democrats who had voted for an appropriations bill granting additional funding to DHS for ICE and Border Patrol reversed their positions following Pretti's death. Representative Laura Gillen (D-NY) called for Noem's impeachment, stating "Another US citizen has been killed at the hands of ICE and there must be accountability, which is why Noem must be impeached immediately." Representative Don Davis (D-NC) called for "a thorough, independent investigation into this fatal shooting." On a House Democratic Caucus call, Representative Moskowitz urged House Democrats to call for Noem's removal or resignation, warning "if the president for the good of the country has that opportunity. Should he embrace her we will have no other option but to begin impeachment." Representative Robin Kelly's Articles of Impeachment against Noem accumulated 115 House Democratic cosponsors—well over half the caucus—with expectations of further growth.
• Representative Greg Casar called for impeachment of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem — Representative Greg Casar (D-TX) called for the impeachment of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem on MSNBC, citing her actions in the Alex Pretti shooting response and her broader failures at DHS, including delayed search and rescue during Texas floods, mass firing of FEMA personnel, and failure to assist with disaster preparedness and winter storm response.
• Senator Chuck Grassley summoned DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to testify before Senate Judiciary Committee — Senator Chuck Grassley summoned DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 3, 2026, regarding her handling of the Alex Pretti shooting and the DHS response to the incident.
• House Resolution 996 Introduced to Impeach Kristi Noem — A resolution, H.Res 996, has been introduced in the House of Representatives to impeach Kristi Noem for high crimes and misdemeanors. The resolution has garnered 111 co-sponsors, including Representative Foushee. This move is part of a broader effort to hold government officials accountable for actions perceived as undermining democratic norms and principles. The resolution's introduction reflects growing political tensions and the demand for accountability within the current administration.
• House Democratic leadership demands Kristi Noem's removal or threatens impeachment — Representatives Jeffries, Clark, and Aguilar issued a joint statement on behalf of House Democratic leadership demanding that Kristi Noem be fired immediately or stating that House Democrats will commence impeachment proceedings. The statement presents an ultimatum: "We can do this the easy way or the hard way."
• House Minority Leader Jeffries calls for Noem to be "put on ice" — House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said at his press conference that Homeland Security Secretary Krist Noem needs to be "put on ice permanently," meaning she should be removed from her position. When Fox asked about his choice of words, Jeffries clarified: "She needs to be put on ice. It's clear, right? That means gone. G-O-N-E. From her position."

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• Justice Department appeals ICE protest-response injunction — The Department of Justice filed a notice of appeal challenging a federal court injunction issued on Friday that curtailed aggressive ICE and federal agency tactics against protesters, including restrictions on pepper spray, weapon display, and arrest of observers. The appeal signals the administration's intent to overturn limits on law enforcement conduct during immigration enforcement operations.

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• Complaint filed — Wright v. Noem, DHS, and Doe (D.D.C.) — Brandon Wright, a former DHS civil servant, filed suit in D.D.C. District Court alleging unlawful termination in retaliation for protected speech. Wright was fired on January 8, 2026, after recordings of him criticizing DHS leadership spread online; the agency cited statements deemed "disrespectful and unprofessional." Wright claims First Amendment retaliation and Fifth Amendment due-process violations, arguing the Merit Systems Protection Board cannot provide objective review. He also names an unknown woman ("Doe") as defendant, alleging she recorded him without consent in coordination with a conservative media group and violated federal wiretap laws.

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• Attorney General Pam Bondi fires six federal prosecutors over insufficient support for ICE — Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on Fox News that she had fired six federal prosecutors who resigned over DOJ pressure to investigate Renee Nicole Good's widow rather than the ICE agent's conduct. Bondi characterized the prosecutors' departure as a failure to "sufficiently support law enforcement," stating "We had six prosecutors who suddenly decided they didn't want to support the men and women of ICE. So, the breaking news tonight is I fired them all."

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• DOJ fired federal prosecutor who declined to prosecute Comey — MS NOW reported that the Justice Department fired a federal prosecutor who served as first assistant to the now-disqualified U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan after he declined to lead the prosecution of former FBI Director James Comey.
• Six DOJ Civil Rights Division leaders resigned in protest — At least six leaders of the criminal section of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division resigned in protest after the DOJ decided not to investigate the ICE officer who shot and killed Renee Good in Minneapolis, a process that usually takes place after any fatal shooting by a law enforcement officer.
• Federal leadership responded to ICE killings with defensive messaging and threats toward critics — After Renee Good was killed by ICE, federal leadership responded with defensive messaging, threats toward critics, and rhetoric framing accountability as an attack on law enforcement. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem appeared publicly behind messaging stating "One of ours, all of yours," signaling protection from consequences rather than transparency or restraint.
• DOJ Civil Rights Division officials resigned after being ordered not to investigate ICE agent's killing of Renee Nicole Good — Four high-ranking officials in the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division resigned in protest after the Trump DOJ instructed them to investigate the victim, Renee Nicole Good, rather than the ICE agent who shot and killed her. The resignations follow a February wave of departures from the DOJ's Public Integrity Section, where prosecutors refused orders to dismiss a bribery case against New York Mayor Eric Adams. The departures reflect broader institutional collapse within the DOJ, with thousands of career officials resigning or fired.
• Four leaders of DOJ Civil Rights Division criminal section resigned over ICE shooting decision — At least four leaders of the criminal section of the Civil Rights Division at DOJ resigned to protest the decision by Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon not to investigate the fatal ICE shooting of Renee Good. The departures included the chief of the section, principal deputy chief, deputy chief, and acting deputy chief. This represents the most significant mass resignation at DOJ since February 2025, when five leaders of the Public Integrity Section resigned rather than comply with orders to dismiss the bribery case against former New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
• Department of Justice declined to investigate shooting as civil rights violation — The Department of Justice declined to investigate the fatal shooting of Renee Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross as a civil rights attack. Instead, the DOJ classified the incident as an assault on a federal officer and initiated an investigation into Good's ties to local activists rather than examining the shooting itself. This prosecutorial decision prompted the resignation of at least six career prosecutors from the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division.
• DOJ declines civil-rights investigation into Minneapolis ICE shooting — The Trump administration's Department of Justice leadership declined to open a civil-rights investigation into a Minneapolis ICE shooting incident, stating there was "no basis" for review while the FBI continues its investigation. In response, four senior supervisors in DOJ's Civil Rights Division resigned in protest, citing their exclusion from the case and objecting to the refusal to initiate civil-rights oversight. The resignations signal internal resistance to narrowing accountability mechanisms.
• Federal prosecutors resign from DOJ civil rights division over blocked investigation into ICE shooting — Six lawyers from the US attorney's office in Minnesota and four leaders of the DOJ civil rights division resigned in protest after the department, under assistant attorney general Harmeet Dhillon, declined to investigate the January 7 fatal shooting of unarmed civilian Renee Nicole Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated there was "no basis for a criminal civil rights investigation" without elaboration. The resignations reflect broader purging of the civil rights division, which has lost roughly 70% of its staff since Trump's second term began.
• Federal prosecutors resign in protest over DOJ decision not to investigate killing of Renee Nicole Good — Several federal prosecutors resigned in protest after the Department of Justice declined to conduct a civil rights investigation into the killing of Minneapolis resident Renee Nicole Good by a federal immigration agent. The killing sparked widespread protests and prompted state and local legal challenges to the federal immigration enforcement operation. The Trump administration has defended the agent's actions as self-defense, a characterization disputed by local officials and video evidence.
• Four senior DOJ Civil Rights Division supervisors resign over case exclusion — Four senior supervisors in the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division resigned after being told they would be sidelined from the Minnesota ICE shooting investigation. The resignations were framed as protest against both their exclusion from the case and the broader refusal to open civil-rights oversight into the use-of-force incident. The departures represent internal institutional resistance to the narrowing of accountability mechanisms.
• Six career prosecutors resigned from DOJ Civil Rights Division — At least six career prosecutors from the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division resigned in protest over the DOJ's decision not to investigate the fatal shooting of Renee Good as a civil rights violation and instead to investigate Good's ties to local activists.
• DOJ declines to open civil-rights investigation into Minneapolis ICE shooting — The Department of Justice announced it found "no basis" to open a civil-rights investigation into the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis. The decision was made by DOJ leadership and signaled that civil-rights review would be granted only at the administration's discretion. The refusal to investigate followed the fatal incident and preceded the resignation of four senior DOJ Civil Rights Division supervisors.
• DOJ Civil Rights Division head Harmeet Dhillon declines to open investigation into ICE agent's fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good — Harmeet Dhillon, head of the DOJ's Civil Rights Division, instructed federal prosecutors in the division's criminal section that she would not open an investigation into whether the ICE agent who shot and killed Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis violated federal law. The Civil Rights Division's criminal section normally handles investigations into law enforcement misconduct, but no probe was announced publicly or pursued internally.
• DOJ senior officials pressure federal prosecutors to investigate Renee Nicole Good's widow for criminality; six prosecutors resign — Senior DOJ officials pressed federal prosecutors to investigate Becca Good, widow of Renee Nicole Good, for possible criminality before the shooting. Six federal prosecutors in Minnesota and Washington, D.C.—including some who worked on fraud-related investigations—resigned in response to the pressure to pursue Good's family rather than investigate the ICE agent's conduct. The prosecutors' resignations were prompted by the DOJ's attempt to weaponize the fatal shooting and redirect the FBI's probe toward Good's family and their connections to local activist groups.
• DOJ civil rights division and federal prosecutors resign over handling of ICE shooting — At least four senior leaders of the DOJ Civil Rights Division and six federal prosecutors in Minnesota resigned in response to how the Trump administration handled the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE officer in Minneapolis. The resignations signal institutional breakdown and loss of confidence in federal accountability mechanisms.

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• Supreme Court rejected Trump administration's argument to deploy federalized National Guard in Chicago — On December 23, 2025, the Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration's legal argument that it possessed the power to deploy federalized National Guard troops in and around Chicago. The decision limited Trump's authority to use military forces within the United States without explicit congressional authorization or state consent.
• Supreme Court rejected Trump administration's National Guard deployment authority in Chicago — On December 23, 2025, the Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration's argument that it possessed the power to deploy federalized National Guard troops in and around Chicago. The 6-3 decision blocked the administration's attempt to militarize American cities without state consent.
• Supreme Court rejects Trump's National Guard deployment in Illinois as unlawful — The U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6-3 preliminary ruling that President Trump's deployment of federalized National Guard troops in the Chicago area beginning in October violated the Posse Comitatus Act. The majority held that a president must first attempt to execute laws using regular U.S. military forces and may deploy the National Guard only if unable to do so with regular forces. The Court found the Government failed to identify statutory or constitutional authority permitting military enforcement of laws in Illinois.
• Supreme Court rejected Trump's National Guard deployment for immigration enforcement in Illinois — The Supreme Court rejected Trump's deployment of the National Guard to aid immigration enforcement in Illinois, ruling that federal law limits use of the National Guard to situations where regular military forces are insufficient. The majority found that the President does not have inherent authority to deploy the military to protect ICE property. Three justices (Alito, Thomas, Gorsuch) dissented.
• Supreme Court blocks Trump administration from deploying National Guard in Illinois — The Supreme Court blocked the Trump administration from deploying National Guard troops in Illinois as part of his mass immigration crackdown, ruling that the government "failed to identify a source of authority that would allow the military to execute the laws in Illinois." The decision represents a rare judicial check on executive power in the Trump administration.
• Supreme Court Denies Stay in Trump v. Illinois — On December 23, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court denied the federal government's request for a stay in the case of Trump v. Illinois. This decision upheld a lower court's order that barred the Trump administration from deploying the federalized National Guard in Illinois for immigration enforcement actions. The case arose after the Trump administration federalized the Texas and Illinois National Guard to assist with immigration enforcement in Chicago, which was challenged by the state of Illinois. The Supreme Court's denial means the federal government cannot deploy the National Guard in Illinois pending further legal proceedings. Justices Alito, Thomas, and Gorsuch dissented from the decision.
• US Supreme Court blocks Trump national guard deployment to Chicago — The US Supreme Court denied the Trump administration's emergency request to lift a lower court order blocking the deployment of national guard troops to the Chicago area. In a 6-3 decision, the majority ruled that the government failed to meet the legal burden required to show it could not enforce immigration laws without federal military intervention. The decision upholds a ruling by US District Judge April Perry from October and signals potential impact on similar deployments in other Democratic-led cities.

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• Supreme Court Denies Stay in Trump v. Illinois — On December 23, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court denied the federal government's request for a stay in the case of Trump v. Illinois. This decision upheld a lower court's order that barred the Trump administration from deploying the federalized National Guard in Illinois for immigration enforcement actions. The case arose after the Trump administration federalized the Texas and Illinois National Guard to assist with immigration enforcement in Chicago, which was challenged by the state of Illinois. The Supreme Court's denial means the federal government cannot deploy the National Guard in Illinois pending further legal proceedings. Justices Alito, Thomas, and Gorsuch dissented from the decision.

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• Career prosecutor Erik Siebert resigns after refusing baseless prosecutions — Career prosecutor Erik Siebert resigned from the Department of Justice after refusing to pursue what he characterized as baseless prosecutions of New York Attorney General Letitia James and former FBI Director James Comey. He was replaced by Trump-aligned attorney Lindsey Halligan, whose appointment was later ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge.

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• FCC Chair Brendan Carr testified that the FCC is under full control of Trump and is not an independent agency. — FCC Chair Brendan Carr testified before the Senate that the FCC is not an independent agency but rather under full control of Trump. Shortly after the testimony, the Trump administration scrubbed any references to the FCC being independent from the agency's website.
• FCC chair declares agency not independent; removes "independent" from mission statement — FCC Chairman Brendan Carr told the Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday that the FCC is "not an independent agency, formally speaking." Shortly before his testimony, the word "independent" was removed from the FCC's official website mission statement, which had previously described it as "an independent US government agency overseen by Congress." The action raised concerns about Trump administration efforts to exert greater control over independent agencies.

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• Complaint filed — Marrazzo v. Kennedy et al. (D. Md.) — Jeanne Marrazzo, former Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the NIH, filed a federal complaint against Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other HHS officials alleging unlawful termination in retaliation for whistleblowing and objections to new NIH policies. After placing Marrazzo on administrative leave, HHS terminated her three weeks after she filed a whistleblower retaliation complaint with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel in September 2025. Marrazzo alleges violations of the Civil Service Reform Act, Fifth Amendment due process, First Amendment retaliation protections, the Whistleblower Protection Act, and the Administrative Procedure Act, seeking reinstatement, backpay, and declaratory relief.

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• Supreme Court oral arguments on Trump's FTC firing and presidential removal power — The US Supreme Court heard oral arguments on whether President Trump lawfully fired FTC Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter in March 2025. The case challenges the 90-year-old Humphrey's Executor precedent that has protected independent agency heads from at-will presidential removal. Conservative justices signaled support for Trump's "unitary executive" theory, suggesting they may overturn the New Deal-era protection. The ruling could expand presidential power over more than two dozen independent agencies. A decision is expected by June 2026.
• Supreme Court oral arguments on presidential removal power over independent agencies — The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Trump's assertion that he has complete control over officers in independent agencies established by Congress. Solicitor General John Sauer argued the president must have removal power because "the President must have the power to control and…the one who has the power to remove is the one who…is the person that they have to fear and obey." Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson warned that allowing a president to fire all scientists, doctors, economists, and PhDs and replace them with loyalists would harm the country. The Court is expected to rule in June, with the right-wing majority appearing poised to grant Trump broad removal authority.

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• Trump administration orders targeted infrastructure cuts and federal workforce layoffs during shutdown — During the 42-day shutdown, Russell Vought, White House Office of Management and Budget director, ordered layoffs of federal employees beyond the standard furloughs and cut infrastructure project funding in states that voted for Kamala Harris in 2024. These actions exploited the funding lapse to achieve partisan policy objectives without congressional authorization, targeting opposition-aligned jurisdictions for fiscal punishment.

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• Became Law: Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026 — Congress enacted Public Law 119-37, a continuing appropriations measure funding agriculture, legislative branch operations, military construction, and veterans affairs through an extension period. The bill allocates resources across multiple federal agencies and departments, maintaining government operations and veteran services during the fiscal transition.
• House begins voting on bill to end 50+ day government shutdown — The U.S. House of Representatives began voting on legislation to end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, which had lasted over 50 days after Speaker Mike Johnson ordered a recess to pressure Senate Democrats. The Senate-brokered compromise, supported by all Republicans except Rand Paul and eight moderate Democrats, would fund the government through January without extending Affordable Care Act tax credits. House Democrats vowed to oppose the measure, calling it a betrayal of healthcare subsidies, while Republican leaders expressed confidence it would pass despite their narrow majority.
• House passed continuing resolution ending 54-day government shutdown — On November 12, the House passed a continuing resolution to fund the government through January 30, 2026, ending the longest government shutdown in U.S. history at 43 days. The vote was 222–209, with all but two Republicans voting in favor and all but six Democrats voting against it. The measure restores funding, reverses layoffs of federal employees made during the shutdown, guarantees workers' back pay, and appropriates funds for SNAP benefits through September 2026. Democrats opposed the measure because it did not extend premium tax credits for Affordable Care Act marketplace insurance, which expire in January and will cause millions of Americans to lose coverage or face skyrocketing premiums.
• Trump signs spending package ending government shutdown — President Donald Trump signed into law a congressionally approved spending package, officially ending a 43-day federal government shutdown, the longest in U.S. history. The shutdown had significant impacts on government operations and public services. The resolution of the shutdown marks a return to normal government functioning, although it comes amid other political challenges for Trump, including the potential congressional vote on the Epstein files.
• Trump signs bill ending 42-day federal government shutdown — After 42 days, the longest US government shutdown in history ended when the House passed a compromise funding bill 222–209 on November 12, and President Trump signed it on November 13. The bill, negotiated by Republicans and moderate Democrats, funds government operations through January but excludes extension of Affordable Care Act tax credits that Democrats had demanded. The shutdown had caused furloughs of 700,000 federal workers, halted food assistance payments, and triggered flight cancellations due to unpaid air traffic controllers.
• House Democrats Release Epstein Emails — The House of Representatives resumed business after a 54-day hiatus, during which House Democrats released three emails from Jeffrey Epstein's estate that reference Donald Trump. The emails suggest potential leverage Epstein had over Trump regarding his relationships with underage girls. Speaker Mike Johnson criticized the release as a publicity stunt, while the House swore in Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva, who signed a discharge petition to require the Department of Justice to release Epstein-related files. The House also passed a continuing resolution to fund the government through January 30, 2026.
• House Passes Continuing Resolution Ending Government Shutdown — The House passed a continuing resolution to fund the government through January 30, 2026, ending a 43-day government shutdown. The vote was 222–209, with most Republicans in favor and most Democrats opposed due to the lack of extension for healthcare premium tax credits. The resolution also overturned layoffs of federal employees and guaranteed their pay, while appropriating funds for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits through September 2026.
• Government shutdown lasting 43 days ended November 12, 2025 — A 43-day government shutdown, the longest in American history, ended on November 12, 2025, after acute disruptions to federal services and severe strain on federal workers and travelers.
• Agriculture Department said states will receive SNAP funds within 24 hours — A spokesperson for the Agriculture Department said on November 12 in a statement to Politico that most states will receive federal funds to distribute full SNAP benefit payments "within 24 hours" after Trump signed the funding package to reopen the government.
• Trump signed legislation to reopen federal government — Trump signed legislation on November 12 to reopen the federal government after the House passed the funding package earlier in the evening, marking an end to the longest government shutdown in US history.