Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Trump-appointed director pursued plan to replace Kennedy Center art collection with Trump-patron selections — Richard Grenell, Trump's first appointed director of the Kennedy Center, pursued a plan to replace works in the center's art collection—including gifts from foreign nations honoring Kennedy—with art selected by Trump patrons. The plan had not been previously reported.

Supporting reports

• Congressional Hearings on Smithsonian Report — On July 21 and 22, 2026, Dr. Anthea M. Hartig testified before the House Delivering on Government Efficiency Subcommittee and the House Administration Committee regarding the White House report on the National Museum of American History. During the hearings, Hartig defended the museum's work against accusations of political bias and misrepresentation of American history.
• House Administration Committee member coordinates with Christian nationalist figures on hearing strategy — Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), a member of the House Committee on Administration, coordinated with David and Tim Barton—founders of the Christian nationalist organization WallBuilders—on questions to pose during a July 2026 hearing about the Smithsonian. Tim Barton stated on a podcast that committee members had called the Bartons for advice, and Loudermilk confirmed on a separate podcast that he had spoken with the Bartons on the day of the hearing. Loudermilk also stated he was working with the White House to stack the Smithsonian's Board of Regents with conservatives.
• House subcommittee questions Smithsonian National Museum of American History director on ideological bias — Anthea Hartig, director of the National Museum of American History, was questioned by a House subcommittee in late July 2026, during which Republican members accused the Smithsonian of being "infected by a woke ideology." Hartig testified that examining difficult chapters of American history is not hostility toward America and that the museum honors founding documents while telling the truth about times the country fell short of its ideals. The hearing was part of the Trump administration's broader campaign against the institution.

Supporting reports

• Advisory Council on Historic Preservation votes to advance revisions to Section 106 of National Historic Preservation Act — On July 25, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, composed of 21 Trump appointees on a 24-member board, voted to move forward with dramatic revisions to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Section 106 currently requires federal agencies to "take into account" the impact of their actions on historic properties and mandates consultation with the public, local, state, and tribal governments. The proposed revisions would eliminate these requirements, allowing federal agencies to proceed with projects affecting historic sites without mandatory public input or review.

Supporting reports

• Stay pending appeal decided — Beatty v. Trump (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-04480 — The D.C. Circuit denied the government's motion for a stay pending appeal, finding that they had failed to show irreparable harm from compliance with the district court's order requiring removal of President Trump's name from the Kennedy Center's facade, website title, and trademark applications.
• Federal appeals court ruled Trump name must remain on Kennedy Center — A federal appeals court ruled that Trump's name must remain on the Kennedy Center while his administration appeals the order that forced its removal. The three-judge panel found the administration offered no specific facts or evidence for its claim that losing the Trump name would harm the center's finances.
• Federal appeals court rejects Trump administration request to pause Kennedy Center name removal — A three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit unanimously rejected the Trump administration's emergency request to pause a lower court order requiring removal of Trump's name from the Kennedy Center's facade. The administration had argued the removal would harm fundraising and the institution's finances. The court found the administration provided no specific facts or evidence to support its claims and barred assertions that a newly created Trump Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Foundation would need to return money if the name remained removed.

Supporting reports

• Congressional investigation found Trump administration misused 250th anniversary celebration — A congressional investigation titled "From Vanity to Insanity: How the WH Cheated the American People Out of Their 250th Birthday" found that Trump staged a hostile takeover of the United States' 250th anniversary celebration to enrich political allies, harvest voter data, and promote Christian nationalist ideology. The report outlined a web of alleged corruption, wire fraud, and pay-to-play schemes orchestrated through a shadow corporation embedded within the National Park Service.
• House Democratic subcommittee releases report alleging Trump administration hijacked US 250th anniversary celebration for corruption, partisan gain, and ideological purposes — A House Democratic natural resources subcommittee released an interim report titled "From Vanity to Insanity" alleging that the Trump administration orchestrated a hostile takeover of the US semiquincentennial (250th anniversary) celebration. The report documents alleged corruption, wire fraud, pay-to-play schemes, and misuse of the National Park Foundation (NPF) through a shadow corporation called Freedom 250. The administration allegedly diverted resources from the non-partisan America250 Foundation, installed campaign operatives on the NPF board, misled donors, steered federal contracts to Trump loyalists, harvested voter data through event registration, and replaced civic programming with Christian nationalist content while erasing historical narratives about slavery and Indigenous removal from national parks.
• House Democrats released report on Freedom 250 corruption allegations — Democrats on the House Natural Resources Committee, led by Rep. Jared Huffman, released a report titled "From Vanity to Insanity" accusing Trump's allies of turning the nation's 250th birthday into a "hotbed of corruption and self-enrichment." The report alleges that when the bipartisan America250 commission would not bend to Trump, the White House created a rival group, Freedom 250, and placed it inside the National Park Foundation to avoid transparency rules. The report describes alleged wire fraud (donors directed to Freedom 250 instead of America250), selling presidential access through sponsorship packages, soliciting foreign money, and steering contracts to Trump allies. Freedom 250 denies the allegations.

Supporting reports

• Trump-appointed Kennedy Center board voted to fight order removing Trump's name — A federal judge previously ruled that Congress named the Kennedy Center and only Congress can rename it, ordered Trump's name removed by June 13, and blocked a planned two-year closure of the building. This week, with the deadline looming, the Trump-appointed board voted to fight the order. The judge refused to pause the order, writing that the public is rarely served by letting the government keep breaking the law.
• Appeals court rejects emergency stay of Trump name removal from Kennedy Center — An appeals court in Washington DC rejected an emergency appeal filed by Justice Department lawyers and Trump's hand-picked Kennedy Center board seeking to pause a federal judge's order to remove Trump's name from the Kennedy Center facade. US District Judge Christopher Cooper had ruled in May that Trump's name was illegally added to the iconic performing arts venue and ordered its removal within two weeks. Workers began removal efforts on June 12, 2026, despite the emergency appeal filed hours before the deadline.
• Federal judge orders removal of Trump's name from Kennedy Center facade; workers comply after emergency appeal denied — US District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that Trump's name was illegally added to the Kennedy Center's facade and ordered its removal by Friday, June 13, 2026. Trump's board had renamed the venue in December 2026 after seizing control in February. After Trump's legal team filed emergency appeals on Friday afternoon, both were denied. Workers removed the signage early Saturday morning behind tarps. The judge found that only Congress, which designated the venue as a Kennedy memorial in 1964, could authorize a name change.
• Federal judge permits UFC event at White House despite legal challenge — Attorneys from the Public Integrity Project filed a lawsuit to block a UFC fight scheduled for the White House lawn on Trump's 80th birthday (billed as a 250th anniversary celebration). On Friday, a federal judge ruled the event could proceed. The lawsuit challenged the appropriateness and use of taxpayer funds for the mixed martial arts event, which Dana White said was Trump's idea. Marjorie Taylor Greene criticized the venue but expressed hope the event would be successful.
• Kennedy Center removes Trump signage following court order — Charles M. Floca, Trump-appointed head of the Kennedy Center, certified compliance with a court order requiring removal of all signage renaming the center after Trump. The center removed physical signs from the building and grounds, updated its website, removed Trump references from letterhead and promotional materials, and withdrew trademark applications. Workers installed scaffolding and tarps overnight to conceal the portico wall where Trump's name had been placed, with removal work occurring after 3:00 AM. The facade remained covered throughout the day while the center evaluated further legal options.
• Representative Beatty sued to block Kennedy Center renaming — Representative Joyce Beatty (D-OH), who as an ex officio member of the Kennedy Center board had been sidelined, filed suit to stop the renaming. She won the case, and Judge Cooper ordered Trump's name removed from the building, all signage, stationery, merchandise, and related materials before midnight on June 12, 2026.

Supporting reports

• Federal judge orders Trump administration to restore removed national park historical displays — US District Judge Angel Kelley ruled that the Trump administration must reinstate history and science materials removed from national monuments and parks pursuant to a March 2025 executive order titled "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History." The order had directed removal of exhibits referencing slavery, civil rights, Indigenous history, and climate change, which Kelley found constituted "censorship and sanitization" and told "half-truths." The administration was given 21 days to comply.
• Federal judge struck down Trump administration's removal of slavery and civil rights history from national parks — Federal Judge Angel Kelley in Massachusetts issued a ruling Friday striking down the Trump administration's effort to remove historical markers from national parks under the March 2025 "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History" executive order. The order had directed the Interior Department to remove content deemed to "inappropriately disparage" Americans, resulting in park rangers being ordered to discard educational materials about slavery, the Civil Rights Movement, harm to Indigenous people, and climate change. Targeted items included an 1863 image of enslaved man Peter Gordon at Fort Pulaski National Park, an exhibit about enslaved people at George Washington's home, Indigenous history displays at Golden Gate National Park, and a climate change marker at Fort Sumter. Judge Kelley ruled the government's stewardship of park sites "carries a responsibility to present history in full rather than in favored fragments." The Trump administration announced it will appeal.

Supporting reports

• Judge orders removal of Trump's name from Kennedy Center; blocks summer closure — US District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts cannot be renamed without an act of Congress, ordering the Trump administration to remove all signage bearing Trump's name within 14 days. Cooper also temporarily blocked the center's proposed two-year closure for renovations, finding the board's decision "ill-informed and seemingly preordained." Trump responded by instructing the Department of Commerce to arrange a full transfer of the institution to Congress.
• Federal judge orders Trump's name removed from Kennedy Center — A federal judge blocked Trump's effort to shut down the Kennedy Center and ordered his name removed from the building. Trump responded with a multi-thousand-word statement on Truth Social blaming the judge, the judge's wife, Barack Obama, Eric Holder, Lisa Page, Russia investigations, E. Jean Carroll, tariffs, birthright citizenship, and the broader court system. Trump declared the Kennedy Center will "probably never open again" and stated he wants to relinquish control of the center entirely.
• Trump posted social media screed attacking Kennedy Center ruling — President Trump responded to Judge Cooper's order to remove his name from the Kennedy Center with a lengthy social media post in which he claimed he alone was "saving a dying Performing Arts Center" and stated he would "transfer this failing Institution back to" Congress. Trump also complained that the New York Times was criticizing the "magnificent restoration of the Reflecting Pool" and asserted that no president had been treated as unfairly by the courts as he had been.
• Trump threatened federal judge over Kennedy Center drone port project — Trump attacked a federal judge who blocked his planned Kennedy Center renovations, which included a drone port to be built in the White House ballroom. The President's threats against the judge occurred as he simultaneously expressed desire to cancel the "Freedom 250" anniversary celebration and replace it with a MAGA rally after several artists declined to participate.
• Kennedy Center begins removing president's name from signage and materials — The Kennedy Center's general counsel directed staff to remove the president's name from signage, letterhead, and materials by June 12, after U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled on May 29 that the board lacked authority to rename the institution and also blocked its planned two-year closure. The center said it is evaluating its legal options. The ruling restored the principle that public institutions are governed by rules that do not bend to a single person.
• Trump's name removed from Kennedy Center — Lawyers for the Trump Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts instructed staff to immediately begin switching the facility's name back to its original title, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The instructions, laid out in a memo sent by the center's general counsel, represent the first official signal that the national arts hub is complying with a federal court order to drop Trump's name and reconsider plans to close for two years of renovations. Changes to interior and exterior signage and furniture carrying Trump's name must be switched back by the following Friday.

Supporting reports

• Knox County Schools removes Alex Haley's Roots from library shelves under Tennessee Age-Appropriate Materials Act — Knox County Schools (KCS) in Tennessee removed Alex Haley's Roots from school library shelves in May 2026, citing Tennessee's 2022 Age-Appropriate Materials Act. The district's review committee determined a passage in the novel's 84th chapter was not "age appropriate" under state law. KCS spokesperson Carly Harrington stated the decision reflected adherence to state law rather than judgment on the book's literary or cultural value. The material remains available for classroom instruction but is no longer accessible on library shelves.

Supporting reports

• Appeal filed — Institute for Applied Ecology v. Burgum (D. Or.) 6:25-cv-02364 — The government appealed the March 12, 2026, preliminary injunction to the Ninth Circuit (Case No. 26-3011 ).
• Complaint filed — Cultural Landscape Foundation v. U.S. Department of the Interior — The Cultural Landscape Foundation and Charles A. Birnbaum filed a complaint in D.D.C. challenging the National Park Service's decision to resurface the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool basin with vivid blue coating without following mandatory consultation and environmental review processes. The NPS awarded a $6.9 million no-bid contract in mid-April 2026 without completing required procedures under the National Historic Preservation Act and National Environmental Policy Act. Plaintiffs allege violations of the Administrative Procedure Act and seek injunctive relief, vacatur of agency decisions, and restoration of the pool's historic elements.
• Federal Lawsuit Filed Over Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool — A federal lawsuit has been filed concerning the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The details of the lawsuit have not been disclosed, but it involves federal oversight and management of the historic site. This legal action could have implications for federal property management and public access to national monuments.
• Former DOJ employees filed emergency lawsuit to halt Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool repainting — A litigation team of former DOJ employees filed an emergency lawsuit seeking to halt and reverse Trump's repainting of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The suit alleged that the administration engaged a swimming pool contractor to resurface the pool with vivid blue coating without following congressionally mandatory Section 106 procedures required for changes to historic properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The lawsuit noted the pool was a character-defining feature of the historic landscape and the site of the 1963 March on Washington. The contract was awarded as a $6.9 million no-bid deal to Atlantic Industrial Coatings, which had performed work at Trump's golf club in Sterling, Virginia.

Supporting reports

• Complaint filed: Underground Railroad History Project of the Capitol Region v. National Endowment for the Humanities — The Underground Railroad History Project of the Capital Region (URHP), a non-profit researching Underground Railroad history and civil rights, filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York challenging the NEH's withdrawal of a $250,000 Challenge Grant awarded during the previous administration. The withdrawal was part of a mass termination of over 1,400 NEH grants in April 2025 pursuant to an internal NEH directive (Feb. 7, 2025) ordering termination of grants connected to "environmental justice," "diversity, equity, and inclusion," or "gender ideology." URHP alleges discriminatory animus toward Black history programming (Fifth Amendment Equal Protection), viewpoint discrimination conditioning federal funding on suppression of equity perspectives (First Amendment), and arbitrary and capricious action contrary to NEH's statutory mandate (Administrative Procedure Act). Relief sought includes declaratory judgment, vacatur of the directive, and restoration of the grant.

Supporting reports

• State Department proposes suspending 38 universities from Diplomacy Lab partnership over DEI practices — The State Department issued an internal memo proposing to suspend 38 universities—including Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Duke, and Johns Hopkins—from the Diplomacy Lab federal research partnership effective January 1, 2026, citing diversity, equity, and inclusion hiring practices. The memo directs the department to update program criteria to exclude institutions with DEI policies, whether openly or covertly implemented. Ten new schools would be approved to replace them. Universities were not yet formally notified at the time of reporting.
• State Department proposes suspending 38 universities from Diplomacy Lab research program over DEI hiring practices — The State Department issued an internal memo dated November 17, 2025, recommending suspension of 38 universities—including Harvard, Yale, Stanford, and Johns Hopkins—from the Diplomacy Lab federal research partnership program because they engage in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) hiring practices. The suspensions would take effect January 1, 2026. The memo directs the State Department's bureau of public affairs to update suitability criteria to exclude institutions with DEI hiring policies and replace them with schools including Liberty University and Brigham Young University. Notification letters are pending approval.

Supporting reports

• Transportation Secretary announced federal takeover of Union Station — On August 27, 2025, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that the Trump administration will take over Union Station in Washington, D.C., from which Amtrak and the city's commuter rail lines operate. Duffy characterized the takeover as part of Trump's "beautification" program. Amtrak had taken control of the station in July 2024, and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law had provided $22 billion to Amtrak for modernization. The administration had cut a $120 million federal grant to Amtrak in April. The takeover will place the administration in charge of key transportation lines into and out of the capital and create a federal presence in an area where veterans have been protesting.
• DHS limits international student and visitor stays — The Department of Homeland Security said it plans to introduce a proposed rule to limit the length of time international students, visitors on cultural exchange programs, and members of the media on visas can stay in the US by requiring them to be regularly assessed by the department.
• Trump administration plans Union Station takeover — Trump's Transportation Department said it's planning to take over the management of and revitalize DC's Union Station, which the agency already owns but is currently run by Amtrak. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told Reuters, "We are going to make investments to make sure this station isn't dirty and we don't have homelessness in Union Station."
• Transportation Secretary announced takeover of Union Station — On August 27, 2025, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that the Trump administration would take control of Union Station in Washington, D.C., as part of a "beautification" program. This move follows Amtrak's control of the station in July 2024 and is seen as a way to increase federal presence in the area.
• Trump administration announced takeover of Union Station — On August 27, 2025, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that the Trump administration would take control of Union Station in Washington, D.C., as part of a "beautification" program. This move follows Amtrak's control of the station in July 2024 and is seen as a way to increase federal presence in the city.

Supporting reports

• House Republicans sought to rename Kennedy Center after Trump — NBC News reported that efforts by House Republicans to rename the Kennedy Center after Trump and its opera house after first lady Melania Trump would violate the law put in place when the center was created.

Supporting reports

• House Republicans pass Trump's $9 billion federal funding rescissions package — The House of Representatives passed a rescissions bill on a party-line vote (216–213) that claws back $9 billion in federal spending, including $8 billion in foreign assistance and $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (which funds NPR and PBS). Two Republicans broke ranks. The Senate had approved the measure earlier; it now heads to the president's desk for signature. The vote was delayed by Democratic amendments related to Jeffrey Epstein documents.

Supporting reports

• Senate considers $9.4 billion spending rescission package — The Senate considered a White House request for Congress to approve $9.4 billion in spending cuts the Trump administration made unilaterally to congressionally appropriated funds. The package includes ending federal support for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds NPR, PBS, and local stations. The House had already passed it. Congress must approve by Friday or the funds revert to original appropriations. Senate Republicans expressed frustration that the White House had not specified which programs would be cut.
• Senate Republicans and White House reverse PEPFAR funding cut — Senate Republicans and the White House reached an agreement to reverse a proposed $400 million cut to PEPFAR, the global HIV and AIDS relief program, as part of Trump's $9 billion recissions package. The reversal preserved funding for the international health initiative.
• Trump administration announces plan to defund public broadcasting — The Trump administration included in its rescission package a request to end federal support for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds NPR, PBS, and local public broadcasting stations. The administration stated that NPR and PBS "fuel…partisanship and left-wing propaganda." The cuts are part of the broader $9.4 billion rescission request before Congress.
• Senate Republicans advance rescissions bill cutting $9bn in public broadcasting and foreign aid — Senate Republicans moved to pass a rescissions package slashing up to $9bn in previously appropriated funds, targeting $1.1bn for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (which funds NPR and PBS) and approximately $8bn in foreign assistance. The GOP is racing to meet a Friday legal deadline. Vice President JD Vance broke a tie on a procedural vote after three Republican senators joined all Democrats in opposition. The Senate began a vote-a-rama on Wednesday afternoon. Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced a compromise to preserve $400m in PEPFAR funding, requiring a second House vote.
• Senate passes Trump rescissions package to claw back $9bn in spending — Congressional Republicans advanced legislation requested by President Trump to rescind $9 billion in previously appropriated federal funding, including $1.1 billion for public broadcasting (NPR/PBS) and approximately $8 billion in foreign aid. The Senate passed the bill 51–48 on July 17, 2025, with Republican senators Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins voting against it. The measure now returns to the House for final approval before the 45-day rescission window expires on July 18.
• US Senate passes Trump-requested rescissions package cutting $9bn in foreign aid and public broadcasting — The Republican-controlled Senate voted 51–48 to approve a rescissions bill that claws back $9 billion in previously appropriated spending, including $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (which funds NPR and PBS) and approximately $8 billion in foreign assistance. All Democrats and two Republicans (Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins) opposed the measure. Senate Majority Leader John Thune framed it as "fiscal sanity," while Democrats condemned it as an unconstitutional surrender of Congress's spending authority to the executive branch. The bill now proceeds to the House for final approval before a Friday deadline.

Supporting reports

• US Supreme Court rules schools must allow opt-out from LGBTQ+ book readings on religious grounds — The US Supreme Court ruled in Mahmoud v Taylor that schools must provide parents with advance notice and opt-out opportunities when storybooks featuring LGBTQ+ characters are read aloud in class. The case involved three sets of parents (Muslim, Catholic, and Orthodox Christian) in Montgomery County, Maryland, who objected to six books including "Uncle Bobby's Wedding" and "Born Ready." Justice Samuel Alito's majority opinion invoked parental rights to direct religious upbringing, while Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissented, warning the ruling would undermine public education as a unifying experience.
• US Supreme Court rules parents may opt children out of LGBTQ+-themed lessons in Maryland schools — The US Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in Mahmoud v Taylor that parents in Montgomery County, Maryland can opt their children out of lessons featuring LGBTQ+ themes and characters on religious grounds. Justice Samuel Alito authored the majority opinion, joined by five other conservative justices, while Justices Sotomayor, Kagan, and Brown Jackson dissented. LGBTQ+ advocates and civil rights groups condemned the decision, warning it will accelerate censorship in schools, create administrative chaos for teachers, and expose other topics to removal on religious grounds.

Supporting reports

• U.S. Supreme Court rules parents have constitutional right to opt children out of school materials on religious grounds — On Friday, June 27, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that parents possess a constitutional right under the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment to opt their children out of certain public school materials on religious grounds. The Court emphasized that parents have a constitutional right to guide their children's moral and religious development. The ruling was cited by Oklahoma education advocates as potentially supporting expanded opt-out efforts against the state's new election-denial standards.
• Supreme Court permits parental opt-out from LGBTQ+ classroom materials — The Supreme Court decided Mahmood v Taylor, permitting parents to opt their children out of classroom activities featuring LGBTQ+ characters in books. Justice Sotomayor dissented, warning the ruling will have a chilling effect on schools, which may strip LGBTQ+ content from curricula to avoid costly litigation. She cited the Montgomery County School Board's deliberate effort to create an inclusive curriculum, including the children's book "Uncle Bobby's Wedding."
• US Supreme Court rules parents may opt students out of LGBTQ+ book readings in Maryland schools — On 27 June 2025, the US Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that Montgomery County, Maryland school board violated parents' religious freedom rights by prohibiting them from removing their children from classes where LGBTQ+-themed books are read. The decision allows parents to opt their elementary school students out of instruction featuring books like Uncle Bobby's Wedding, Born Ready, My Rainbow, and Pride Puppy!. Authors and educators warn the ruling could accelerate book bans and harm LGBTQ+ children and those from LGBTQ+ families by making them feel excluded and invisible in the classroom.
• US Supreme Court rules schools must let kids opt out of LGBTQ+ book readings — The US Supreme Court has ruled that schools must allow children to opt out of listening to storybooks featuring LGBTQ+ characters on religious grounds. This decision came after parents in Maryland protested against a school policy that did not provide prior notice before such books were read aloud, claiming it violated their rights to direct their children's religious upbringing. The ruling mandates that the Montgomery County Board of Education must notify parents in advance and allow them to excuse their children from these readings.
• SCOTUS ruled schools must allow religious opt-out from LGBTQ classroom content — The Supreme Court ruled that public schools must allow parents with religious objections to withdraw their children from classes where LGBTQ themes are discussed. Rep. Jamie Raskin warned the decision could expand to allow opt-outs based on philosophical, political, or moral beliefs, potentially enabling parents to exclude children from science classes teaching evolution.
• Supreme Court releases opinion in FCC v. Consumers’ Research (24-354) — The Supreme Court released an official slip opinion in FCC v. Consumers’ Research. Docket number(s): 24-354.
• Supreme Court releases opinion in Mahmoud v. Taylor (24-297) — The Supreme Court released an official slip opinion in Mahmoud v. Taylor. Docket number(s): 24-297.

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• Idaho and Montana enact Pride month flag bans — Following Utah's lead, Idaho and Montana have also enacted bans on the display of LGBTQ+ flags during Pride month. These laws are part of a series of legislative actions targeting LGBTQ+ communities, with 31 flag-related bills introduced across 17 states. The bans have been met with resistance from local communities and officials, who are finding ways to circumvent the restrictions and continue to support LGBTQ+ visibility and rights.

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• Utah bans LGBTQ+ flags at government buildings and schools — On May 7, 2025, Utah became the first U.S. state to explicitly prohibit the flying of LGBTQ+ flags at government buildings and schools. The law imposes fines of $500 per day for violations. This move is part of a broader trend of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in the state, which has been described as leading the nation in such measures. The ban has sparked resistance in cities like Salt Lake City, where new flags have been designed to incorporate LGBTQ+ symbols in defiance of the state law.

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• Trump signed executive order stopping enforcement of state climate laws — On April 8, 2025, Trump signed an executive order instructing the Department of Justice to "stop the enforcement" of state climate laws, which his administration suggested are unconstitutional or unenforceable. The order states "These State laws and policies are fundamentally irreconcilable with my Administration's objective to unleash American energy. They should not stand." The action represents Trump's attempt to preempt state climate initiatives.
• Trump administration freezes $790 million in federal funding to Northwestern University — The Trump administration froze $790 million in federal funding to Northwestern University as part of broader crackdowns on students and faculty members across US colleges who have expressed opposition to Israel's military operations in Gaza. The freeze targeted the university in response to activism and legal representation related to pro-Palestinian causes.
• White House freezes federal funding for Cornell and Northwestern universities — The Trump administration froze over $1 billion in federal funding for Cornell University and $790 million for Northwestern University, citing investigations into alleged "failure to protect Jewish students" following pro-Palestinian campus protests. The freeze includes grants and contracts from federal departments of health, education, agriculture, and defense. Cornell received over 75 stop-work orders from the Department of Defense affecting research in defense, cybersecurity, health, and cancer. The action follows warning letters sent to 60 universities in early March and comes after Cornell's president published a defiant op-ed defending academic freedom and free discourse.
• Princeton University reports suspension of federal research grants — Princeton University announced that dozens of its federal research grants were suspended over allegations that the university promoted antisemitism. This action follows similar defunding threats against Columbia and Harvard, representing a coordinated campaign against major research institutions.
• Trump administration announces cancellation of $400 million in grants and loans to Columbia University — The Trump administration announced the cancellation of $400 million in grants and loans to Columbia University, alleging the school failed to protect students from antisemitic harassment. In response, Columbia officials capitulated to a series of changes demanded by federal officials, sparking outrage from advocates and prompting at least one prominent academic to leave the institution.
• Trump administration announces plan to review $9 billion in Harvard University contracts and grants — The Trump administration announced a plan to review approximately $9 billion in contracts and multiyear grants to Harvard University over accusations that the university failed to protect Jewish students and promoted "divisive ideologies over free inquiry." The action follows the defunding of Columbia University and represents escalating pressure on major research institutions.
• Trump administration considers consent decree to place Columbia University under federal control — The Trump administration is reportedly considering placing Columbia University under a legally binding consent decree, a dramatic escalation following the university's acceptance of administration-demanded changes as a condition for restoring $400 million in suspended federal grants and contracts. The proposal originates from the administration's antisemitism taskforce, composed partly of Justice Department lawyers who question Columbia's good faith compliance. If Columbia resists, the Justice Department would need to present its case in court, risking prolonged litigation and continued funding withholding.
• Trump administration freezes nearly $1 billion in federal funding from Cornell University — During a cabinet meeting, President Trump pressed Education Secretary Linda McMahon on withholding federal funds from universities deemed "not behaving." McMahon confirmed the administration has frozen nearly $1 billion in funding from Cornell University and is investigating multiple institutions while holding back grant money pending compliance discussions with university presidents.
• Trump administration pauses $175 million in federal funding to University of Pennsylvania — The Trump administration paused $175 million in federal funding to the University of Pennsylvania over its inclusion of transgender athletes in women's college sports. This action represents another instance of defunding universities over policies the administration opposes.
• Trump administration demands Harvard surrender academic freedoms; Harvard refuses; administration retaliates by freezing $2.2bn in grants — The Trump administration (Departments of Education, HHS, and GSA) issued an 11 April demand letter to Harvard University president Alan Garber requiring sweeping reforms including installation of "viewpoint-diverse" faculty, elimination of DEI programs, and adoption of specific antisemitism definitions as conditions for continued federal funding. Harvard's legal team, citing First Amendment violations and constitutional limits on executive authority, rejected the demands as governmental overreach into academic freedom. Within hours, the administration froze $2.2bn in grants and a $60m contract in retaliation.
• Trump administration withheld Harvard University federal funding pending government control of admissions and intellectual content — On April 11, the Trump administration announced it would withhold $2.2 billion in grants already awarded and a $60 million contract from Harvard University unless the university permitted the federal government to control its admissions and intellectual content. The administration framed the action as addressing antisemitism. On April 22, Harvard filed suit against the departments of Health and Human Services, Justice, Education, Energy, and Defense, the General Services Administration, the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, NASA, and their leaders, alleging violation of the First Amendment and abuse of legal authority.
• White House claims letter to Harvard withholding federal funds was "unauthorized" — On Friday, April 18, the administration claimed that a letter sent to Harvard University on April 11 withholding federal grants until the university granted administration officials power over the school's students and programs was "unauthorized." However, the White House simultaneously stated it was standing by the letter. The letter was signed by three federal officials, placed on official letterhead, and sent from the email of a senior federal official. Harvard responded by pointing out the letter's official provenance and noting that the government's actions had "real-life consequences."
• Harvard University rejected Trump administration demand for control over university governance — On April 11, 2025, Harvard University rejected the Trump administration's demand to regulate "intellectual and civil rights conditions" at Harvard, including its governance, admissions, programs, and extracurricular activities, in exchange for continuation of $2.2 billion in multiyear grants and a $60 million contract. Harvard's lawyers stated the university would not surrender its independence or relinquish constitutional rights and would not allow itself to be taken over by the federal government.

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• NEA sued over Trump executive order on LGBTQ+ projects — Several arts organizations have filed a lawsuit against the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) following an executive order by Donald Trump that bars the use of federal funds for promoting "gender ideology." The lawsuit, filed on Thursday, claims that the NEA's new requirements effectively block funding for projects supporting transgender and non-binary art, violating the First and Fifth Amendments. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is representing the plaintiffs, arguing that the order imposes a vague and viewpoint-based restriction on artists' speech.

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• Establishment of President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology — President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Order 14177, establishing the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST). The council will advise on science, technology, education, and innovation policy, aiming to maintain U.S. technological dominance. The order revokes Executive Order 14007 and outlines the council's structure, functions, and administration, including the involvement of non-Federal members and the Department of Energy's support.
• Trump orders declassification of assassination records — President Donald Trump issued an executive order establishing the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) on January 23, 2025. The council is composed of up to 24 members, including the Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and the Special Advisor for AI & Crypto. The PCAST will advise the President on science, technology, education, and innovation policy, and provide scientific and technical information to inform public policy. The order also revokes a previous executive order related to the council.
• President signed executive order establishing President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology — President Donald Trump issued an executive order mandating the declassification and release of all federal records related to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The order requires the Director of National Intelligence and the Attorney General to present plans for the full release of these records within specified timeframes. This action aims to provide transparency and truth to the American public and the families of the assassinated figures.
• White House issued fact sheet on PCAST establishment — President Trump signed an executive order on January 23, 2025, establishing the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST). The order creates a council of up to 24 members, including the Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and a Special Advisor for AI & Crypto as co-chairs, plus distinguished individuals from academia, industry, and the private sector. The council will advise the President on science, technology, education, and innovation policy. The order revokes the previous PCAST established by Executive Order 14007 (January 27, 2021) and sets a two-year termination date unless extended.
• — The White House issued a fact sheet announcing President Trump's establishment of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), a 24-member advisory body comprising scientists and technologists from industry, academia, and government. The fact sheet states PCAST will provide "evidence-based recommendations" to the President and claims the council will "restore excellence" by prioritizing "results-driven excellence and merit-based achievement" while eliminating "bureaucratic barriers." The document asserts that "ideological agendas" have threatened "scientific truth" and eroded public trust in research.