Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• DHS conducts polygraph tests on employees — The Department of Homeland Security is conducting polygraph tests on its employees to identify those leaking information about immigration operations to the media. This move is part of a broader effort to control information flow within the department.

Supporting reports

• White House issues fact sheet on Houthi attacks and Red Sea shipping disruption — The White House published a fact sheet characterizing Houthi attacks on commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden as terrorism threatening U.S. economic and national security. The document states that Houthi attacks since 2023 have reduced annual Red Sea shipping from 25,000 to approximately 10,000 vessels, increased shipping costs by roughly $1 million per voyage, and caused rerouting of U.S. and allied vessels. The fact sheet claims these disruptions increased global consumer goods inflation by 0.6–0.7 percent in 2024 and affected EU trade. It lists 14 specific attack incidents from October 2023 through December 2024 against U.S. Navy destroyers and commercial vessels.
• White House issues promotional release on Sunday show appearances by Trump administration officials — The White House published a promotional release on March 16, 2025, compiling statements made by President Trump, Secretary of State Rubio, Secretary of Defense Hegseth, National Security Advisor Waltz, Treasury Secretary Bessent, Special Envoy Witkoff, and Press Secretary Leavitt during Sunday television appearances. The release frames these statements as demonstrating "American strength" and covers topics including border security, tariffs, military strikes against Houthi forces in the Red Sea, Ukraine peace negotiations, and immigration enforcement. No new executive actions or policy instruments are announced in the release itself.
• White House issues press release citing poll showing Trump approval rating and public sentiment — The White House published a press release on its official website titled "ICYMI: Trump ties for highest approval he's ever had — as more Americans say US is on right track than any time in 20 years: poll." The release cites an NBC poll and quotes reporting from the New York Post, stating that President Trump's approval rating is tied for his highest ever and that more Americans report the country is headed in the right direction than at any point in over two decades. The release attributes these findings to a survey conducted three months into Trump's second term.
• White House issues fact sheet claiming economic relief from egg and gas price declines — The White House published a fact sheet titled "President Trump Is Delivering Needed Economic Relief" on March 17, 2025, claiming that the Trump Administration's policies on regulation and energy have produced economic benefits. The document states that wholesale egg prices fell from $6.55/dozen on January 21, 2025, to $3.45/dozen on the publication date (a 47.3% decrease), and that nationwide average gas prices have declined for four consecutive weeks, with more than two-thirds of U.S. gas stations offering gas at $2.99/gallon or less. The fact sheet attributes these price movements to the administration's deregulation and energy agenda.
• White House issued promotional release on steel tariffs — The White House published a release titled "ICYMI: 'Trump's tariffs are saving the American steel industry'" on March 18, 2025. The release quotes Steel Manufacturers Association President Philip K. Bell from a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette op-ed, stating that President Trump's tariffs on steel imports will "reinvigorate" the American steel industry by closing loopholes and exemptions. The release frames tariffs as protecting domestic steel production against foreign overcapacity and imports from exempt countries.
• White House issued release on education policy framing — The White House published a release titled "On Education, President Trump Knows We Can Do Better" asserting that the Department of Education has spent $3 trillion since 1979 with no measurable improvement in student achievement. The release cites declining math and reading scores, flat standardized test performance, and U.S. ranking 28th among OECD countries in math. It states the Trump Administration's plan will return education to individual states to expand educational freedom and reduce federal regulation and paperwork.
• White House issues fact sheet on manufacturing investment announcements — The White House published a fact sheet titled "President Trump Positions U.S. as Global Superpower in Manufacturing" on March 20, 2025. The document aggregates corporate investment announcements, including Nvidia's stated plan to invest hundreds of billions in U.S. manufacturing, Apple's $500 billion investment, TSMC's $100 billion chip investment, and commitments from automakers and other manufacturers to expand or relocate production to the United States. The fact sheet attributes these announcements to Trump's "America First" trade policies and tariffs.
• White House issues fact sheet promoting executive order on mineral production — The White House published a fact sheet on March 20, 2025, describing an executive order signed by President Trump to accelerate domestic mineral production. The order directs agencies to compile and expedite mineral projects, prioritize mineral activities on federal lands, consider projects for FAST-41 streamlined permitting, use the Defense Production Act to expand capacity, and establish financing mechanisms including a critical minerals fund. The fact sheet frames the action as reducing reliance on foreign minerals and enhancing national security.
• White House issues promotional release summarizing week nine executive actions and policy announcements — The White House published a fact sheet titled "Week Nine Wins" cataloging claimed achievements across economic policy, border enforcement, manufacturing investment, military action, energy production, and federal workforce reorganization. The document lists executive orders signed on education closure, critical minerals production, emergency response, federal procurement, workforce fitness standards, and DEI removal from the Foreign Service, alongside agency announcements on drug seizures, gang enforcement, infrastructure investment, and operational changes. No new instruments are formally published here; the release restates or references actions taken separately.
• White House issued fact sheet promoting corporate investment announcements — The White House published a fact sheet titled "Trump Effect: Johnson & Johnson's $55 Billion Investment in American Manufacturing" on March 21, 2025. The document lists Johnson & Johnson's announced $55 billion U.S. investment over four years alongside announcements from Nvidia, Apple, TSMC, OpenAI/Oracle/SoftBank, Eli Lilly, DAMAC, CMA CGM, Clarios, Merck, GE Aerospace, Stellantis, Honda, Nissan, Hyundai, Prepac, and Cra-Z-Art. The fact sheet attributes these announcements to what it calls the "Trump Effect" and claims they represent victories in "President Donald J. Trump's unrelenting pursuit of American manufacturing dominance."

Supporting reports

• Trump signed order eliminating USAGM — President Donald Trump signed an order eliminating the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the parent company of Voice of America (VoA), along with six other federal agencies. This action led to government-employed journalists at VoA being placed on administrative leave with full pay and benefits. The decision was not for disciplinary purposes but followed the termination of contracts with major news agencies like the Associated Press, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse. The move is part of broader efforts by the Trump administration to control media narratives and reduce reliance on external news sources.
• Voice of America employees put on administrative leave — Government-employed journalists at Voice of America (VoA) were placed on administrative leave following President Trump's order to eliminate the US Agency for Global Media, VoA's parent company. This move comes after VoA's parent company terminated contracts with major news agencies and instructed journalists to stop using wire service materials. The administrative leave is not for disciplinary purposes but reflects significant changes in the agency's operations.
• Trump administration shuts down Voice of America — The Trump administration ordered the shutdown of Voice of America (VOA), resulting in over 1,000 employees being locked out of their building and placed on administrative leave. The closure affects VOA's ability to broadcast news and information globally. Kari Lake, nominated to take over VOA, canceled contracts with affiliated networks, raising legal questions and potential lawsuits.
• Trump ordered gutting of pro-democracy media outlets — Trump took executive action ordering the gutting of the agency overseeing Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), and Radio Free Asia (RFA). More than 1,300 VOA employees were placed on leave, and funding for RFE/RL and RFA was terminated.

Supporting reports

• Trump signed executive order dismantling Voice of America and USAGM — In late March 2025, President Trump signed a late-night executive order aimed at dismantling the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) and its flagship international broadcaster, Voice of America. The order directed USAGM to cancel federal grants supporting VoA's sister outlets—Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks. VoA's broadcast went dark for the first time since its founding in World War II, with approximately 1,300 employees placed on administrative leave. A federal judge blocked the dismantling in April, but subsequent court orders have kept VoA staff sidelined while litigation continues.
• Voice of America representatives sue Trump administration over shutdown attempt — In March 2025, representatives for Voice of America sued the administration, arguing that the shutdown violated their freedom of speech.
• Trump administration dismantled U.S. Agency for Global Media programming — The Trump administration dismantled most of the U.S. Agency for Global Media in March 2025, eliminating billions of dollars in foreign aid and influence programs. The action resulted in the removal of Voice of America content from Indonesian news channels that previously featured both U.S. government-backed and Chinese state media reports. Kari Lake, the official overseeing the retrenchment, accused the agency of misusing funds. The elimination affected decades of U.S. foreign-policy efforts and soft-power initiatives.

Supporting reports

• White House issued promotional release claiming week-eight administrative achievements — The White House published a fact sheet titled "Week Eight Wins" listing claimed accomplishments across economic policy, border enforcement, tariffs, deregulation, and foreign policy. The document asserts that consumer and wholesale inflation eased, mortgage rates dropped, gas prices fell, illegal border crossings plummeted, Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum took effect, multiple manufacturers announced U.S. investments, the EPA launched deregulation initiatives including ending EV mandates, the Department of Education opened Title VI investigations into 45 universities, and various other agency actions occurred. No new executive orders or formal instruments are announced; the release restates or promotes actions published separately.

Supporting reports

• Musk criticized the Musk Watch DOGE Tracker — Elon Musk publicly criticized the Musk Watch DOGE Tracker, a tool that revealed discrepancies in Musk's claims about budget cuts by DOGE. While Musk asserted that DOGE had implemented $105 billion in cuts, the Tracker showed only $8.6 billion were verifiable. Musk's critique did not address the Tracker's methodology but instead focused on perceived hypocrisy in the Tracker's claims. The Tracker also highlighted the severe consequences of these cuts, including increased deaths from malaria and polio. Musk's attack appears to be a response to the Tracker exposing inaccuracies in his statements.

Supporting reports

• ICE accessed car trackers in sanctuary cities — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) accessed data from license plate readers in sanctuary cities, including Westchester County, New York, which has laws limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Documents reveal that ICE, along with other federal agencies, had access to a database containing information from over 480 cameras, potentially aiding in immigration enforcement actions. This access appears to sidestep local sanctuary laws, raising concerns about privacy and the safety of undocumented residents in these areas.

Supporting reports

• RFK Jr. claimed MMR vaccine causes deaths and promoted false safety comparisons — In a March 11 Fox News interview, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claimed the MMR vaccine "does cause deaths every year" and causes "all the illnesses that measles itself causes, encephalitis and blindness, et cetera," concluding that vaccination is a personal choice. The Infectious Diseases Society of America states these claims are false; there are "no deaths shown to be related to the MMR vaccine in healthy people." Kennedy made these statements while serving as the nation's top public health official during an active measles outbreak.
• RFK Jr. made false claims about measles vaccine safety on Fox News — On March 11, 2025, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared on Fox News and made multiple false statements about the MMR vaccine, claiming it wanes 4.5% per year (unsupported by evidence), provides no lifetime immunity (contradicted by scientific consensus), and causes deaths annually (contradicted by the Infectious Diseases Society of America). Kennedy suggested contracting measles was preferable to vaccination, despite measles causing encephalitis and blindness—claims the article documents as scientifically false.
• RFK Jr. Spreads Misinformation About Vaccines — Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, has been spreading misinformation about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines, particularly the MMR vaccine, during a Fox News interview. Kennedy claimed that the vaccine causes deaths and illnesses, contradicting the CDC's position that the vaccine is much safer than contracting measles, mumps, or rubella. This misinformation comes amid a significant measles outbreak, with over 250 cases and two deaths reported this year, primarily in areas with low vaccination rates.

Supporting reports

• National Security Advisor Michael Waltz sent connection request to journalist Jeffrey Goldberg on Signal — Michael Waltz, Trump's National Security Advisor, sent a connection request to Jeffrey Goldberg on Signal on March 11, 2025. Two days later, Goldberg was added to a Signal group chat labeled "Houthi PC small group" described as a "principals group for coordination on Houthis." Goldberg initially believed the request was either a disinformation attempt or possibly legitimate, but the inclusion of a reporter without security clearance in a principals committee discussion violated standard national security protocols.
• National Security Adviser Mike Waltz accidentally added journalist Jeffrey Goldberg to classified Signal group chat — National Security Adviser Mike Waltz inadvertently added Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg to a White House Signal group chat discussing US military strikes against the Houthis in Yemen. The error occurred when Waltz's iPhone automatically saved Goldberg's phone number under contact information for Brian Hughes after Hughes forwarded Goldberg's email to Waltz in October 2024. When Waltz attempted to add Hughes to the chat on 13 March 2025, he accidentally added Goldberg's number instead. Trump briefly considered firing Waltz but ultimately retained him, partly to avoid giving the Atlantic media satisfaction and partly due to findings from an internal White House investigation.

Supporting reports

• State Department official deleted tweets about Rubio — Darren Beattie, acting under-secretary of state for public diplomacy, reportedly deleted tweets in which he made abusive comments about Marco Rubio, the current Secretary of State. The tweets, originally posted on January 7, 2021, included derogatory remarks about Rubio's intelligence and unsubstantiated rumors about his sexuality. Beattie, a former Trump speechwriter, has been criticized for his past attendance at a white nationalist conference and for founding a far-right website. His recent appointment has sparked protests from Democrats and progressive commentators.

Supporting reports

• White House issues promotional fact sheet claiming 50 achievements in first 50 days — The White House published a fact sheet titled "50 WINS IN 50 DAYS: President Trump Delivers for Americans" on March 10, 2025, listing claimed accomplishments across border enforcement, tariffs, investment announcements, energy policy, military recruitment, government reorganization, and regulatory rollbacks. The document attributes specific outcomes to executive actions, including border crossing reductions, tariff implementations, private-sector investment commitments, energy policy reversals, and personnel changes. No new instruments are announced; the fact sheet restates and promotes previously issued orders and policies.

Supporting reports

• French scientist denied US entry after phone search — A French scientist was denied entry to the United States after US Customs and Border Protection officers at a Houston airport searched his phone and found messages critical of the Trump administration. The incident occurred on March 9, 2025, as the scientist was traveling to a conference. The messages were deemed "hateful and conspiratorial," leading to accusations of terrorism, although charges were later dropped. The French research minister criticized the action, emphasizing the importance of academic freedom and freedom of opinion.

Supporting reports

• Cyberattack on Musk's X platform — Elon Musk reported a massive cyberattack on his social media platform, X, which caused the platform to go offline for several hours. Musk suggested that the attack involved significant resources and could be linked to a large group or a nation-state. The incident has sparked various conspiracy theories regarding the attackers' identities.
• Musk blames Ukraine for platform outages — Following the outages on his platform X, Elon Musk blamed hackers in Ukraine for the disruptions, a claim that was dismissed as unfounded by cybersecurity experts.
• Musk's social media platform experiences outages — Elon Musk's social media platform X experienced three separate outages lasting over six hours, which were reported to be a result of a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack. This incident raised concerns about the platform's cybersecurity.

Supporting reports

• DHS conducts polygraph tests to catch ICE raid leakers — The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under Kristi Noem has begun administering polygraph tests to employees to identify and prosecute individuals who may have leaked information about ICE raids. This move is part of an effort to control information and prevent leaks within the department.

Supporting reports

• US State Department to use AI to revoke student visas — The US State Department has announced plans to use artificial intelligence to review social media accounts of foreign students and revoke visas for those perceived as supporters of Hamas. This initiative is part of a broader effort to combat antisemitism, following an executive order signed by Donald Trump in January. The AI-assisted reviews will target tens of thousands of student visa holders, with additional checks on news reports and lawsuits related to antisemitism. The move has raised concerns about potential errors, privacy violations, and threats to free speech.

Supporting reports

• Trump falsely claimed Musk’s cost-cutting found fraud — During his address to Congress, Donald Trump claimed that Elon Musk's "department of government efficiency" initiative had uncovered "hundreds of billions of dollars of fraud." However, this claim was debunked as the initiative documented less than $9 billion in savings from canceled government contracts, with no evidence of fraud. The New York Times reported that examples cited by Musk's initiative were incorrect or invented, including a fictional claim about sending condoms to Gaza.

Supporting reports

• RFK Jr. promoted cod liver oil as measles prevention and downplayed measles severity — In a March 3 Fox Nation interview, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated it is "very very difficult for measles to kill a healthy person" and promoted "cod liver oil" for treatment and prevention of measles. Cod liver oil is not a substitute for vaccination. To obtain a therapeutic dose of Vitamin A from cod liver oil would require ingesting 45 teaspoons per day for two days. Children died in Texas from measles in 2025 with no underlying health conditions, contradicting Kennedy's claims about measles severity in healthy individuals.

Supporting reports

• White House issues promotional release claiming economic and border security achievements — The White House published a promotional release titled "Monday Morning Wins: Call It the 'Trump Effect'" claiming achievements across manufacturing, border security, and small business regulation. The release states that Honda and Clarios announced U.S. manufacturing expansions, Apple announced a $500 billion investment creating 20,000 jobs, Eli Lilly announced $27 billion in U.S. manufacturing investment, illegal border crossings fell 94% year-over-year in February, and the Treasury suspended enforcement of beneficial ownership reporting requirements for U.S. citizens.
• White House issues fact sheet on Trump foreign policy and military initiatives — The White House published a fact sheet titled "President Trump is Leading with Peace Through Strength" detailing foreign policy actions and military initiatives. The document claims Trump secured release of 11 American hostages, began Ukraine peace negotiations, conducted military strikes against ISIS operatives, imposed sanctions on Iran and the ICC, reinstated the Mexico City Policy, redesignated Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, banned UNRWA funding, ordered embassies to fly only the American flag, cracked down on pro-Hamas foreign students, and initiated missile defense development. On military matters, it states recruitment numbers are at historic highs, Lt. Gen. Dan Caine was selected as Joint Chiefs chairman, transgender military service was barred, and military academy boards were dismissed.
• White House issues release claiming government efficiency achievements — The White House published a promotional release asserting that President Trump has undertaken efforts to downsize the federal government, including establishing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), ordering federal workers to return to offices five days per week, imposing hiring freezes, ending the Federal Executive Institute, terminating federal media contracts, halting USAID operations, ordering the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to cease operations, and directing reviews of federal grants and foreign aid. The release claims these actions have achieved "billions of dollars in savings."
• White House announces Elissa Slotkin as Democratic responder to Trump's Joint Address to Congress — The White House issued a release announcing that Senator Elissa Slotkin will deliver the Democratic response to President Trump's Joint Address to Congress on March 4, 2025. The release characterizes Slotkin's voting record on EV regulations and border security, stating she voted against repealing Biden's tailpipe emissions rule and against border security measures. The release cites research claiming EV mandates would cost jobs and notes that attempted border crossings in February were at historically low levels.
• White House announces First Lady's guest list for joint session address — The White House issued a release announcing that First Lady Melania Trump has invited twelve individuals and families as special guests to attend President Trump's address to a joint session of Congress. The guests include victims of crimes attributed to undocumented immigrants, a parent challenging school gender-transition policies, an athlete injured by a transgender competitor, a wrongfully imprisoned American released by Russia, and others described as affected by "the disaster wrought by the previous administration." The release frames each guest's story as illustrating Trump administration priorities.
• White House issues fact sheet on Trump administration policies affecting transgender youth and school sports — The White House published a fact sheet titled "President Trump is Protecting America's Children" on March 4, 2025, claiming the administration has taken action on multiple fronts. The document states the President made it official policy that there are only two sexes, ended what it characterizes as unfair practices in women's sports, and issued an executive order on "Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation." The fact sheet cites actions by health systems and school districts, including pauses or cessations of gender-affirming medical care for minors at hospitals in Illinois, Colorado, Washington D.C., and Virginia, and claims the Department of Education launched investigations into state athletic associations. It also states the administration banned COVID-19 vaccine mandates at federally funded schools.
• White House issues fact sheet claiming Trump administration economic actions and deregulation initiatives — The White House published a fact sheet asserting that President Trump's actions are "undoing Biden's economic damage" through deregulation, energy policy, and price relief directives. The document claims Trump directed agencies to lower costs, established the National Energy Dominance Council, postponed Biden-era appliance efficiency standards, implemented a 10-to-1 deregulation ratio, and eliminated electric vehicle mandates. It attributes crude oil price declines and claims of regulatory cost savings to these actions.
• White House issues fact sheet on energy policy actions — The White House issued a fact sheet titled "President Trump is Unleashing American Energy" on March 4, 2025, summarizing energy-related executive actions. The document claims Trump declared a National Energy Emergency, established a National Energy Dominance Council, rescinded Biden-era energy regulations, terminated the "Green New Scam," withdrew from the Paris Climate Agreement, paused federal permitting for wind farms, reversed Alaska resource regulations, reopened 625 million acres for offshore drilling, scrapped greenhouse gas rules, and ended an LNG pause. The fact sheet characterizes these actions as unlocking energy potential and reducing costs.
• White House issues fact sheet on tariffs and manufacturing investment claims — The White House issued a fact sheet claiming President Trump has restored a 25% tariff on steel imports and elevated aluminum tariffs to 25%, and asserting that these actions have prompted major corporate investment announcements. The document states Trump has secured nearly $2 trillion in new U.S. investments, citing announcements from TSMC ($100 billion), Apple ($500 billion), a $500 billion AI infrastructure project, DAMAC Properties ($20 billion), Clarios ($6 billion), Eli Lilly ($27 billion), and Saudi Arabia ($600 billion over four years). The fact sheet attributes these announcements to Trump's tariff and trade policies.
• White House issues fact sheet claiming deregulation has saved families $2,100 each — The White House issued a fact sheet asserting that President Trump's deregulation efforts have saved Americans over $180 billion, or $2,100 per family of four, by halting proposed Biden-era regulations. The document claims the Biden Administration added $1.8 trillion in new regulatory costs over four years, with 72% attributed to EPA rules. It lists specific regulatory actions by Trump, including halting new regulations, implementing a 1-in-10-out regulatory budget, and abolishing DEI across agencies. The fact sheet details costly Biden regulations, particularly in vehicle emissions, water quality, and healthcare staffing.
• White House issues fact sheet on cabinet actions and policy announcements — The White House published a fact sheet titled "Cabinet Wins: Trump Administration Unleashing Golden Age" on March 7, 2025, cataloging cabinet department actions across energy, law enforcement, immigration, education, health, and other domains. The document lists announcements including Department of Energy LNG permit approvals, Department of Justice arrests, Department of State designations and visa restrictions, Department of Homeland Security border crossing statistics, and various regulatory and enforcement actions by other agencies. The fact sheet frames these as achievements and policy reversals from the Biden administration.
• White House issues fact sheet claiming manufacturing job gains under Trump — The White House issued a fact sheet on March 7, 2025, claiming that manufacturing employment rebounded under President Trump. The document states the country gained 10,000 manufacturing jobs in February 2025, with 8,900 new auto jobs, and cites S&P Global and ISM manufacturing surveys as evidence of sector expansion. The fact sheet attributes the rebound to Trump's trade policies and contrasts February gains against job losses reported during the final year of the Biden administration.

Supporting reports

• DHS dismantles independent watchdog offices, citing obstruction of immigration enforcement — The Trump administration's DHS dismantled three independent watchdog offices—the Civil Rights and Civil Liberties office (CRCL), the Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman (OIDO), and the CIS Ombudsman office—in March 2025. The agency stated the offices "obstructed immigration enforcement" and were being closed. All 147 full-time CRCL employees and 118 OIDO staff were ousted. This action became the subject of a federal lawsuit filed in April 2025 by civil rights organizations challenging it as violating separation of powers.
• Trump administration dismantles DHS civil rights watchdog offices, reducing oversight capacity by 97% — The Trump administration gutted three independent DHS watchdog offices tasked with investigating civil rights violations, detention conditions, and deaths in custody. Court records show the civil rights office received nearly 6,000 complaints from March to December 2025 but investigated only 183 (3%), compared to a historical 20% rate. Staff at the CRCL dropped from 147 to fewer than 40; the OIDO fell from 118 to 5 people. A lawsuit by civil rights groups challenges the action as violating separation of powers and constitutional norms.
• CRCL office staffing reduction and suppression of civil rights report — The Department of Homeland Security's Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL), which had approximately 150 employees, was reduced to only two full-time employees and around 20 outside contractors. A congressionally-mandated report documenting suspected civil rights violations by local police agencies in the 287(g) program—completed and cleared through multiple DHS components—was placed "into limbo" after Trump took office and has not been published. Former officials report the report identified jurisdictions, particularly in Florida, suspected of violating civil rights in 2023.
• Department of Homeland Security eliminates federal immigration detention oversight offices — In March 2025, the Department of Homeland Security effectively eliminated its Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman, and Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman. These offices were responsible for investigating complaints about immigration detention facilities and reporting conditions to Congress. The elimination removes federal watchdog capacity to monitor detention conditions as ICE custody reaches record levels and is projected to become the deadliest year for people in ICE custody.

Supporting reports

• CRCL office staffing reduction and suppression of civil rights report — The Department of Homeland Security's Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL), which had approximately 150 employees, was reduced to only two full-time employees and around 20 outside contractors. A congressionally-mandated report documenting suspected civil rights violations by local police agencies in the 287(g) program—completed and cleared through multiple DHS components—was placed "into limbo" after Trump took office and has not been published. Former officials report the report identified jurisdictions, particularly in Florida, suspected of violating civil rights in 2023.

Supporting reports

• TASS reporter removed from Oval Office meeting — A reporter from the Russian state news agency TASS was removed from an Oval Office meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky after complaints about their presence. The Associated Press and Reuters were reportedly excluded from the event, raising concerns about media access and transparency in covering significant diplomatic interactions.

Supporting reports

• Attorney General Bondi releases first phase of declassified Epstein files — Attorney General Pamela Bondi, in conjunction with the FBI, declassified and publicly released approximately 200 pages of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein's sexual exploitation of over 250 underage girls. The release includes evidence lists, flight logs, contact books, and masseuse lists. Bondi stated the files shed light on Epstein's network and provide accountability. The Attorney General has requested the FBI deliver thousands of additional pages of previously undisclosed documents by February 28 and tasked FBI Director Kash Patel with investigating why the initial request was not fully complied with.
• Pam Bondi demands full Epstein files from FBI — Attorney General Pam Bondi has demanded the FBI provide the complete files related to Jeffrey Epstein, following a release of partial documents. Bondi's request highlights ongoing scrutiny and demands for transparency regarding Epstein's connections and activities.
• House Judiciary Committee posts misleading link — The House Judiciary Committee's social media account posted a misleading link purporting to provide access to the Epstein files, which instead directed users to a music video. The incident raises concerns about transparency and the use of official channels for misinformation.
• Attorney General Bondi accused FBI of withholding Epstein investigation files — On February 27, 2025, Attorney General Pam Bondi released a letter to FBI Director Kash Patel accusing the FBI of "inappropriately withholding thousands of pages of files" related to the Epstein investigation from the DOJ. She demanded the FBI turn over the material by 8 a.m. the following day. This accusation was made after Bondi had stated on Fox News that Trump had directed her to review Epstein's client list for potential release, setting public expectations for disclosure that would later not be met.
• Trump administration delays release of Epstein files after initially promising disclosure to QAnon-aligned influencers — In February 2025, the Trump White House invited 15 right-wing influencers, including QAnon promoters, to meet with Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Vice President JD Vance. They were given binders labeled "The Epstein Files: Phase 1," signaling more releases would follow. Bondi stated on Fox News that Trump had directed her to review Epstein's client list for release. However, months passed without further disclosure. On July 6, the DOJ released an unsigned memo contradicting Bondi's claims, stating there was no "incriminating client list" and no evidence of blackmail. The delay sparked backlash from Trump's MAGA base, including QAnon adherents who believed Trump was covering up evidence.

Supporting reports

• House Judiciary Committee posts misleading link — The House Judiciary Committee's social media account posted a misleading link purporting to provide access to the Epstein files, which instead directed users to a music video. The incident raises concerns about transparency and the use of official channels for misinformation.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration denies Reuters reporters access to cabinet meeting — The Trump administration denied reporters from Reuters news agency access to a cabinet meeting in February 2025. This represents another instance of restricting major news organizations' ability to cover government proceedings.
• Trump administration ejects HuffPost reporter from White House press pool — In February 2025, the Trump administration ejected a HuffPost reporter from the White House press pool, which is a rotating group of reporters allowed close access to the president and key administration officials. This action restricts a news organization's ability to cover the administration.

Supporting reports

• New York governor orders removal of Palestinian studies job posting at CUNY — New York Governor Kathy Hochul ordered the City University of New York (CUNY) to remove a job posting for a Palestinian studies professor role at Hunter College. The job listing sought a scholar with a critical perspective on issues related to Palestine. Hochul's directive was supported by CUNY's chancellor and board chair, who found the language divisive. The faculty and staff union condemned the removal as a violation of academic freedom. The job posting was part of a "cluster hire" for two positions and has since been taken down.
• New York Governor orders removal of job posting — On Wednesday, New York Governor Kathy Hochul ordered the City University of New York (CUNY) to immediately remove a job posting for a Palestinian studies professor role at Hunter College. This action has been condemned by CUNY's union as a violation of academic freedom. The removal of the job posting has sparked protests against Governor Hochul, planned for Thursday. The order is part of a broader context of increased scrutiny and restrictions on pro-Palestinian activities and academic positions in New York.