Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Trump administration suspends $584 million in federal funding to UCLA over civil rights allegations — On August 6, the Trump administration suspended $584 million in federal funding to the University of California, Los Angeles, alleging civil rights violations related to antisemitism and affirmative action. The administration accused UCLA of "acting with deliberate indifference in creating a hostile educational environment for Jewish and Israeli students." The UC system's president indicated willingness to engage in talks with the administration over the allegations.
• UCLA chancellor announced $584 million in frozen federal funds — UCLA's chancellor announced that the amount of federal funds frozen by the Trump administration is roughly $584 million, saying in a statement that, "if these funds remain suspended, it will be devastating for UCLA and for Americans across the nation."
• UCLA receives $6 million settlement demand and $300 million funding freeze despite prior concessions — UCLA agreed to pay $6 million to settle a lawsuit by Jewish students and a professor over its handling of pro-Palestinian protests. However, the Trump administration subsequently froze more than $300 million of the university's federal funding, citing "antisemitism and bias," despite UCLA's prior adoption of restrictive protest policies and centralized faculty hiring. The administration's continued targeting occurred despite UCLA's anticipatory compliance.

Supporting reports

• DHS Secretary Kristi Noem revokes Harvard's Foreign Exchange Student Program — DHS Secretary Kristi Noem sent a letter to Harvard University revoking their Foreign Exchange Student Program effective immediately, preventing the enrollment of additional foreign students and requiring current students to transfer or leave the country. This action follows Harvard's failure to comply with reporting requirements requested by Noem. Legal challenges are expected in federal court in Boston.
• Trump Administration Revokes Harvard’s Ability to Enroll International Students — The Trump administration revoked Harvard University's ability to enroll international students, citing alleged anti-American activities. This decision affects thousands of students and raises concerns about academic freedom and international education.

Supporting reports

• Cuts to healthcare for 9/11 first responders reported — Reports indicate that cuts to a program funding healthcare for first responders and survivors of the September 11 attacks have left many patients uncertain about their cancer treatment coverage.
• Cuts to IRS enforcement budget announced — The Trump administration announced a 31% cut to the enforcement wing of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which is expected to exacerbate tax evasion among high earners, costing the government approximately $700 billion annually.
• Cuts to USAID contracts reported — The Trump administration's cuts to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) are projected to result in approximately $2 billion less in contracts for American farmers and leave food that could feed millions rotting in government warehouses.
• Trump administration cuts grants for Harvard University — The Trump administration cut an additional $450 million in grants for Harvard University, expanding a lawsuit by the school against the administration for violating proper procedures and First Amendment rights.
• Trump administration cuts federal grants to Harvard University — The Trump administration cut off federal grants to Harvard University over allegations of racial discrimination against white and Asian individuals. This action is part of a broader initiative to address perceived discrimination in hiring and admissions practices at the university.

Supporting reports

• Trump Administration Blocks Grant Funding for Harvard — The Trump administration, through Education Secretary Linda McMahon, has informed Harvard University that it will no longer receive federal research grants and aid unless it complies with a list of demands. This decision follows Harvard's rejection of demands from the administration's antisemitism taskforce, which were prompted by campus protests against Israel's military actions in Gaza. The administration has already frozen $2.2 billion in funding and threatened to freeze an additional $1 billion, while also considering revoking Harvard's tax-exempt status. Harvard has filed a lawsuit against the government, citing severe impacts on research and education.

Supporting reports

• Trump Administration to Revoke Harvard's Tax-Exempt Status — On May 2, 2025, Trump announced on Truth Social that his administration will revoke Harvard University's tax-exempt status, claiming "It's what they deserve!" This move targets the university's financial standing and independence.

Supporting reports

• 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.

Supporting reports

• Secretary of Agriculture froze federal funds for Maine educational programs. — Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced a freeze on federal funds for Maine educational programs. The action was taken in retaliation against Maine Governor Janet Mills for refusing to comply with Trump administration demands. Rollins stated the administration would stand against "a leftist social agenda," framing the funding freeze as ideological punishment for the state's resistance to federal directives.