Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Preliminary injunction ruling — League of Women Voters of Massachusetts v. Trump (D. Mass.) 1:26-cv-11549 — Judge Talwani found that USPS Defendants violated the court's preliminary injunction related to “initiating or completing rulemaking to promulgate” specific regulations outlined in Section 3 of EO 14399 by sending a corresponding Final Rule to the Federal Register on Aug. 22, 2026. However, the court declined to impose a remedy “other than identifying the violation,” finding that the relief requested by Plaintiffs would not remedy the past violation but noting that Plaintiffs could choose to file an amended complaint.
• Democratic attorneys general from 23 states filed lawsuit challenging the USPS mail-in ballot rule — Democratic attorneys general from 23 states filed a new lawsuit Wednesday challenging the now-final USPS rule that allows the Postal Service to police mail-in ballot eligibility. The AGs sought an emergency block on the rule, with the first mail-in ballots set to go out the following week.
• Federal judge lifted the last remaining block on Trump's plan to give the Postal Service a new role in policing mail-in ballots — Judge Talwani granted Defendants' motion to reconsider and vacated the court's Aug. 11 preliminary injunction blocking Section 3 of EO 14399 following the Supreme Court's intervening stay of a separate preliminary injunction to Sections 2 and 3 of the same EO in a different but related case, Trump v. California . The vacatur is without prejudice to Plaintiffs amending their complaint. That same day, Plaintiffs filed a Supplemental Complaint adding claims directly challenging the USPS Aug. 21, 2026 Final Rule implementing Section 3 of EO 14399 as a separation-of-powers violation and as unlawful agency action exceeding USPS statutory authority under Title 39. Plaintiffs seek declaratory relief that the EO and Final Rules are unlawful and enjoinment of Defendants from continuing implementation of the Final Rule.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — State of California v. United States Postal Service (D. Mass.) 1:26-cv-13917 — A U.S. district judge reluctantly lifted the final injunction blocking Trump's plan to reshape how mail-in ballots are handled. The judge stated the Supreme Court ruling earlier in the week left her little choice. The new Postal Service rules could result in ballots being rejected from voters who do not appear on newly compiled federal eligibility lists. Democratic attorneys general from 23 states filed a new lawsuit Wednesday challenging the now-final USPS rule and seeking an emergency block before mail-in ballots begin going out the following week.
• USPS implements Trump executive order restricting mail-in ballot delivery — Judge Talwani granted in part Plaintiffs' emergency motion for a temporary restraining order (TRO), staying implementation or enforcement of certain provisions of the USPS Final Rule for 14 days as to elections occurring on or before Nov. 3, 2026. The court found Plaintiffs likely to succeed on their claims that USPS lacked statutory authority to issue the Final Rule and that it is unconstitutional. The Court also found Plaintiff Organizations' members to be at risk of irreparable harm, facing a significant risk of disenfranchisement and interference with their rights under state laws. The Court is yet to rule on the Plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction.
• Twenty-four states and DC file lawsuit challenging Trump mail-voting executive order — Judge Talwani granted in part Plaintiffs' emergency motion for a temporary restraining order (TRO), staying implementation or enforcement of certain provisions of the USPS Final Rule for 14 days as to elections occurring on or before Nov. 3, 2026. The court found Plaintiffs likely to succeed on their claims that USPS lacked statutory authority to issue the Final Rule and that it is unconstitutional. The Court also found Plaintiff States face irreparable harm as “compliance [with the Final Rule's requirements] is practically impossible as to the 2026 midterm elections.” The Court is yet to rule on the Plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction.
• U.S. District Judge Talwani temporarily blocked mail-voting restrictions — The US Postal Service announced implementation of new rules requiring the post office to withhold ballots for mail-in voting to voters deemed ineligible by Department of Homeland Security and other federal records. The rules stem from a Trump executive order issued earlier in 2026 and apply immediately to November's midterm elections. The US Supreme Court lifted a lower court injunction on Monday; US District Judge Indira Talwani lifted a nationwide block on Wednesday. Twenty-four states and DC filed a lawsuit Wednesday challenging the order as usurping state and congressional authority over elections.
• US District Judge Talwani lifts nationwide block on USPS mail ballot rule — Twenty-four states and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit on Wednesday to block the Trump executive order restricting mail-in voting in the 2026 midterm elections. The states argue the USPS policy is part of a broader effort by the administration to "rewrite federal election law and usurp the authority of the states and Congress."
• — Late Thursday, U.S. District Judge Talwani temporarily blocked the Postal Service from enforcing Trump's new mail-voting rule, one day after USPS announced the requirements took effect. The temporary block lasts 14 days while the court considers a longer preliminary injunction, with a hearing scheduled for September 3. The case could quickly return to the Supreme Court. As of Friday morning, Trump's new mail-ballot restrictions are currently blocked.
• — US District Judge Indira Talwani lifted her nationwide injunction blocking implementation of the USPS mail ballot delivery rule, citing the Supreme Court's decision to lift the lower court injunction. The ruling clears the way for the rule to take effect for November's midterm elections.

Supporting reports

• Tennessee House Speaker stripped Democrats from committee assignments — On May 12, Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton removed all House Democrats from their standing committee and subcommittee assignments, citing disruption during the special session redistricting vote. Sexton's letter accused Democratic lawmakers of interlocking arms, blocking aisles, and using prohibited props or noisemakers. Rep. Justin Pearson stated the removal affected "me and every Democrat, and therefore every Black elected official in the state legislature." Reps. Justin Jones, Gabby Salinas, and Gloria Johnson confirmed removal. Lt. Governor McNally's office indicated additional actions against participants may be under review.
• Tennessee House speaker removed all House Democrats from standing committees — Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton removed all House Democrats from standing committees, claiming they had behaved in a way "aimed at disrupting the democratic and legislative processes" as they protested the mid-decade redistricting that eliminated Tennessee's only majority-Black, Democratic district. State Representative Justin J. Pearson noted the removal stripped "every Black elected official in the state legislature from any committee we served on" and removed representation for "nearly 2 million Tennesseans."
• Tennessee House Speaker stripped Democratic lawmakers of committee assignments in retaliation for protest — Tennessee House speaker Cameron Sexton removed all House Democrats from standing committees, stating they had behaved in a way "aimed at disrupting the democratic and legislative processes" as they protested mid-decade redistricting that eliminated Tennessee's only majority-Black, Democratic district. State representative Justin J. Pearson noted that this action removed "every Black elected official in the state legislature from any committee we served on" and stripped "nearly 2 million Tennesseans from the representation they deserve."
• Tennessee House speaker removes all Democrats from committees — Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton removed House Democrats from their standing committee and subcommittee assignments following their protests during a special legislative session. This action occurred after Republican lawmakers approved a new congressional map that dismantles Tennessee's only majority-Black congressional district by splitting Black voters across three majority-white districts. Committee removal reduces the legislative voice of both the affected lawmakers and their constituents.
• — On May 12, 2026, Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton removed all House Democrats from standing committees, citing their protests against the mid-decade redistricting as disruptive to legislative processes. This action effectively stripped representation from nearly 2 million Tennesseans, including all Black elected officials in the state legislature.

Supporting reports

• Senate Minority Leader Schumer rejected SAVE Act and warned of gridlock — Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer responded to Trump's threat by characterizing the SAVE Act as "Jim Crow 2.0" and stating it would disenfranchise tens of millions of people. Schumer warned that if Trump refuses to sign bills until the SAVE Act passes, "there will be total gridlock in the Senate" and that Senate Democrats will not help pass the SAVE Act under any circumstances.

Supporting reports

• Texas House Democrats break quorum to block mid-decade redistricting vote — Approximately 30 Democratic members of the Texas House of Representatives left the state to deny Republicans the quorum needed to pass a new congressional district map. President Trump had demanded the mid-decade redistricting to shift five seats from Democrats to Republicans and secure Republican control of the U.S. House in 2026. The Democrats traveled to Illinois, Massachusetts, and New York to coordinate with Democratic leaders. Texas governor Greg Abbott responded by threatening to remove absent Democrats from office, replace them with appointees, and pursue extradition charges.
• Texas Democrats flee state to block redistricting vote; Illinois governor pledges protection — Texas House Democrats left the state on Sunday to prevent a quorum for a vote on Republican-drawn congressional maps that could gain Republicans five additional U.S. House seats. Texas Governor Greg Abbott threatened expulsion and Attorney General Ken Paxton threatened arrest. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker pledged to protect the fleeing lawmakers, calling their action "a righteous act of courage" and offering lodging and meeting spaces, while criticizing the redistricting plan as silencing Black and Latino voters.
• Texas Democrats leave state to prevent redistricting vote — About 30 Texas Democratic state representatives departed for Illinois to prevent a quorum on a Monday vote on new congressional maps that would create five Republican-leaning House seats. The maps, released by Texas Republicans and approved by a House committee on Saturday, target Democratic districts in Austin, Dallas, Houston, and south Texas. Democrats accused Governor Greg Abbott of withholding disaster relief to force the vote and characterized the effort as a "Trump gerrymander." Illinois Governor JB Pritzker provided logistical support. Democrats face potential $500-per-day fines and arrest under a 2023 measure.
• Texas House Democrats Leave State to Deny Quorum for Redistricting Vote — Democratic lawmakers from the Texas House of Representatives left the state to deny Republican lawmakers the quorum needed to pass a new district map that would shift five seats from Democrats to Republicans. This action was taken in response to President Trump's demand for mid-decade redistricting to secure Republican control in the upcoming 2026 elections. The Texas Democrats traveled to various states, including Illinois, to confer with Democratic leaders and emphasize their fight against what they termed a power grab.