Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Trump suggests he may pardon Ghislaine Maxwell — President Trump told reporters that he is "allowed" to pardon Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for conspiring with Jeffrey Epstein to sexually abuse children. This statement came amid the administration's refusal to release the Epstein files and ongoing DOJ meetings with Maxwell.
• Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche meets with Ghislaine Maxwell — Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche met with Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking, over two days in the week prior to July 27, 2025. The meetings occurred amid pressure on the Trump administration to disclose more information about Jeffrey Epstein's crimes and raised questions about the purpose and nature of the meetings, particularly given Maxwell's potential value as a witness or source of information.

Supporting reports

• ICE agents arrest asylum seeker in immigration courtroom immediately after judge grants her case continuance — Jenny, a 25-year-old Cuban asylum seeker who entered the US legally under the Biden-era CBP One program, attended her immigration hearing in San Antonio, Texas on an unspecified date in July 2025. The immigration judge granted her asylum claim a continuance to August 2026—a favorable outcome. However, as Jenny left the courtroom and approached the elevator, ICE agents in masks converged on her, detained her, and removed her from the courthouse. Her case was subsequently transferred to a judge with a lower asylum approval rate, and her next hearing was rescheduled to the following month. The incident is part of a documented pattern of ICE arrests occurring inside immigration courthouses across the country.

Supporting reports

• ICE implements pattern of courthouse arrests targeting migrants with ongoing cases and longer US tenure — ICE agents have conducted arrests at immigration courthouses across multiple states (Texas, Illinois) targeting migrants whose cases remain ongoing and have not been dismissed by judges. The Guardian's reporting documents that ICE is arresting individuals who have been in the US longer than two years—exceeding the legal threshold for expedited removal—and those with legal pathways to remain in the country. After apprehension, detainees are transferred to often overcrowded, privately run detention facilities sometimes far from their homes and families, where they face limited access to attorneys and high-stakes deportation proceedings. The pattern is occurring under Trump administration pressure for ICE to achieve 3,000 daily arrests, a tenfold increase from Biden's final year.

Supporting reports

• Chicago immigration court attendance plummets as ICE arrests deter migrants from appearing — ICE plainclothes officers have been documented attending immigration court in Chicago with target lists, apprehending court attendees regardless of whether their cases are dismissed. Detainees are transported to detention facilities in Missouri, Florida, and Texas—often far from family and support networks. The lag in ICE's online detainee locator has caused some detainees to effectively disappear from public tracking. As word of these arrests has spread through immigrant communities, court attendance has dropped dramatically, creating a secondary enforcement effect: migrants now avoid court appearances entirely, risking automatic deportation orders for no-shows.

Supporting reports

• Government attorney moves to dismiss asylum cases in San Antonio court; judge grants one dismissal without stated reason — At San Antonio immigration court, a government attorney moved to dismiss the cases of two single adults—a man and a woman—both seeking asylum or other relief. The judge granted the man's case dismissal even before the government attorney provided a reason. The judge then informed the man, using a Turkish interpreter, that he would likely be placed in expedited removal despite having entered the US more than two years earlier—beyond the legal threshold for expedited removal. The woman, who had been in the country for nearly four years and was applying for a visa for victims of serious crimes, was not represented by counsel. The judge threatened to order her repatriation but the government attorney "saved" her by requesting dismissal instead. Both individuals were apprehended by ICE agents immediately after leaving the courtroom.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration directs ICE to increase daily arrests to 3,000, a tenfold increase from Biden administration levels — The Trump administration, through Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller, has directed ICE to achieve at least 3,000 daily arrests—a tenfold increase from the approximately 300 daily arrests during Biden's final year in office. This directive is driving the documented pattern of courthouse arrests, the targeting of migrants with ongoing cases, and the apprehension of individuals who do not meet legal criteria for expedited removal. The increased arrest targets are being met through the systematic use of immigration courthouses as enforcement sites.

Supporting reports

• Laynez-Ambrosio charged with obstruction for recording arrest; police threatened deletion of video — After recording his own arrest during the 2 May 2025 incident, Kenny Laynez-Ambrosio was charged with obstruction without violence and sentenced to 10 hours of community service and a four-hour anger management course. While in detention, police threatened him with additional charges if he did not delete the video footage from his phone. His attorney characterized the charges as retaliation for exercising his right to record law enforcement activity.

Supporting reports

• Attorney General Bondi proposes removal of DOJ Public Integrity Section oversight — Attorney General Pam Bondi introduced a proposal in 2025 that removes the DOJ's Public Integrity Section from the approval process for cases against public officials and political candidates. The change gives presidentially appointed U.S. attorneys greater authority to pursue prosecutions of lawmakers without the oversight historically exercised by the Public Integrity Section. This structural change facilitates the targeting of political opponents without institutional checks.
• Interim U.S. Attorney Martin seeks grand jury investigation of Senator Chuck Schumer — Ed Martin, Trump's first pick for interim U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C., sought a grand jury investigation into Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for saying that Supreme Court Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch would "pay the price" for ruling against abortion rights. Martin's efforts were rebuffed by the DOJ's Public Integrity Section, which exercises oversight in cases against public officials. A proposal by Attorney General Pam Bondi earlier in 2025 cut the Public Integrity Section out of the approval process, giving presidentially appointed U.S. attorneys more authority to pursue lawmaker prosecutions.

Supporting reports

• Federal judge rules Kilmar Ábrego García must be released from jail pending trial on human smuggling charges — Federal judge Waverly Crenshaw ruled Wednesday that Kilmar Ábrego García, a Maryland father of two wrongfully deported to El Salvador in March, must be released from jail while awaiting trial on human smuggling charges. Crenshaw found prosecutors failed to demonstrate Ábrego posed a danger to the public or flight risk. However, Ábrego's legal team requested a 30-day delay in implementing the release while considering next steps. Separately, US District Judge Paula Xinis issued a 72-hour freeze on further deportation attempts and ordered Ábrego returned to Maryland under supervision, citing concerns about due process.
• US District Judge Paula Xinis issues 72-hour freeze on deportation of Kilmar Ábrego García — US District Judge Paula Xinis, overseeing a civil case filed by Kilmar Ábrego García in Maryland, issued a 72-hour freeze on any further deportation attempts by the Trump administration. Xinis ruled that Ábrego must be returned to Maryland under an order of supervision, citing concerns that absent meaningful safeguards, the administration may remove him again without due process or restoration of his prior status. The judge noted that additional relief was necessary to protect constitutional protections.
• U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis prohibited officials from taking Kilmar Abrego Garcia into custody — U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis in Maryland issued an order on July 24, 2025, prohibiting officials from taking Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man wrongly deported to CECOT, into custody. The judge ordered that the administration must give Abrego at least three days' notice if it intends to deport him. Abrego had been brought back to the U.S. only after the administration indicted him on charges of human smuggling, then imprisoned him in Tennessee and threatened to deport him again if he were released pending trial.
• U.S. District Judge Waverly D. Crenshaw Jr. ordered release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia — U.S. District Judge Waverly D. Crenshaw Jr. ordered on July 24, 2025, that Kilmar Abrego Garcia be released from criminal detention, ruling that the government had not shown that he is a threat. The judge found no evidence that Abrego has gang markings, tattoos, working relationships with gang members, or any gang affiliation, contradicting the administration's claims that he is a gang member. A magistrate judge issued a 30-day stay of the release order at Abrego's request.
• Neiyerver Adrián Leon Rengel filed administrative claim for wrongful detention — Neiyerver Adrián Leon Rengel filed an administrative claim against the Department of Homeland Security on July 25, 2025, for wrongful detention when the administration sent him to the CECOT prison in El Salvador. The filing is the first step in a lawsuit. Rengel stated, "I want to clear my name. I am not a bad person."
• U.S. District Judge orders release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia — U.S. District Judge Waverly D. Crenshaw Jr. ordered the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia from criminal detention, stating that the government failed to demonstrate he posed a threat. This decision follows a series of legal challenges regarding his deportation and detention status.
• U.S. District Judge prohibits deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia — U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis prohibited officials from taking Kilmar Abrego Garcia into custody and mandated that he receive at least three days' notice before any potential deportation. This ruling comes after Abrego was wrongfully deported and later indicted on charges of human smuggling.
• Federal judges ordered release of human smuggling defendant — U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis prohibited officials from taking Kilmar Abrego Garcia into custody and mandated that the administration provide at least three days' notice before any intended deportation. This ruling follows Abrego's wrongful deportation to a detention facility in El Salvador.
• — Two federal judges ordered the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who is currently in custody while awaiting trial on human smuggling charges. The rulings also required Abrego Garcia to be returned to Maryland from Tennessee and prevented immigration officials from immediately detaining him to initiate deportation proceedings.

Supporting reports

• Trump's name reported in DOJ Epstein files; Congress subpoenas Maxwell — The Wall Street Journal reported that Donald Trump's name appears multiple times in Department of Justice files related to Jeffrey Epstein. Attorney General Pam Bondi informed Trump in May that he was named in the files, though she stated the findings warranted no further investigation. The House Oversight Committee voted 8–2 to subpoena DOJ for Epstein-related files and subpoenaed Ghislaine Maxwell for a deposition on August 11. Trump subsequently filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Journal and banned one of its reporters from Air Force One.
• Wall Street Journal reported Trump's name in Epstein files — The Wall Street Journal reported that AG Bondi told Trump in May that his name was in the Epstein files, following a review by Justice Department officials who discovered his name "multiple times" in the "truckload" of documents. The bombshell report comes one week after Trump told reporters that Bondi told him he wasn't in the files.
• Trump informed months ago that his name in Epstein files — The New York Times reported that Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy AG Todd Blanche, both former Trump lawyers, informed the president months ago that his name, along with those of other high-profile figures, had appeared in documents connected to the Epstein case that had not previously been made public. This contradicts Trump's denials of prior knowledge. The White House responded by characterizing the report as "fake news" concocted by Democrats and the liberal media.

Supporting reports

• Federal judges in New Jersey decline to extend Habba's term and select replacement — On July 22, 2025, a panel of federal district judges in New Jersey declined Habba's request to extend her 120-day interim term, which was set to expire at the end of July. Instead, the judges selected Desiree Leigh Grace, an experienced prosecutor who had served in the office for nearly a decade and whom Habba had previously appointed as first assistant, to lead the U.S. attorney's office.
• Federal judges appoint career prosecutor Desiree Leigh Grace as New Jersey US attorney — A panel of federal judges in New Jersey, led by Chief Judge Renée Marie Bumb, appointed career prosecutor Desiree Leigh Grace as US attorney for the district, replacing interim appointee Alina Habba after her 120-day interim period expired. Grace had served in the office since 2016 and most recently led its criminal division. The appointment took effect on July 22, 2025.
• Alina Habba's interim US Attorney appointment expires; Senate judges to vote on retention — Alina Habba's 120-day interim appointment as New Jersey US Attorney expires on July 22, 2025. Under federal statute, the 17 district judges in her jurisdiction must vote on whether to retain her or select a replacement. Habba lacks Senate confirmation votes. The voting panel includes 15 Democratic appointees. During her tenure, Habba dissolved the Civil Rights Division, criminally charged Newark Mayor Ras Baraka (later dropped), and excluded career prosecutors from a major fraud case meeting. The New York Times reported morale has collapsed in the office. Baraka has filed a lawsuit against Habba for false arrest and malicious prosecution.
• Alina Habba removed as US Attorney for New Jersey — A 17-judge panel voted to remove Alina Habba from her position as US Attorney for New Jersey after her interim appointment expired and she lacked the votes for Senate confirmation. The judges appointed First Assistant US Attorney Desiree Grace, a seasoned federal prosecutor with deep legal experience, to fill the position. Grace has served in the US Attorney's office since 2016 and held leadership roles in the criminal division.

Supporting reports

• Trump calls for prosecution of Obama and senior officials — President Trump, responding to DNI Gabbard's report, called for the prosecution of former President Obama, Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, and Susan Rice, claiming they committed treason and orchestrated a coup. Trump posted on Truth Social that "Obama himself manufactured the Russia, Russia, Russia HOAX" and called it "THE CRIME OF THE CENTURY" and "Irrefutable EVIDENCE." He demanded severe consequences for those involved.
• Trump baselessly accused Obama of committing treason — Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump baselessly accused Obama of committing treason, falsely claiming the former president and his administration "tried to rig the [2016] election, and they got caught. And there should be very severe consequences for that." Obama's spokesperson responded that the claims are "outrageous" and "ridiculous," noting that documents issued by Gabbard "undercuts the widely accepted conclusion that Russia worked to influence the 2016 presidential election."
• Trump accused Obama and Clinton of treason and election rigging — When asked about Deputy Attorney General Blanche's meeting with Maxwell, Trump attacked former President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, claiming they "tried to rig the [2016] election, and they got caught" and should face "very severe consequences." Trump referenced allegations made by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard on Friday, in which she called for prosecution of Obama and former senior national security officials for a "treasonous conspiracy" against Trump related to Russian interference in the 2016 election.
• Trump directed Republican congressmembers to deflect questions about Epstein files by claiming Obama cheated in 2016 election — During a morning meeting with Republican members of Congress, President Trump stated his popularity is rising and instructed them to redirect questions away from the Epstein files by repeatedly claiming that former president Barack Obama cheated in the 2016 election. Trump requested that cameramen cut cameras during the accusation, though the recording continued uninterrupted. He told congressmembers to use the Obama claim as a deflection tactic for any "inappropriate" questions.
• Trump publicly calls for prosecution of Obama, alleging "coup" and "treason" — Donald Trump told reporters that Barack Obama attempted to lead a "coup" against him and committed "treason" by allegedly manufacturing evidence of Russian interference in the 2016 election. Trump named Obama as the primary target of a criminal investigation recommended in a report by Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence. Obama's office responded with an emphatic public refutation, breaking precedent to reject the accusations as "outrageous" and "ridiculous," and reaffirmed that Russia's 2016 interference was confirmed by bipartisan Senate investigation and the Mueller report.

Supporting reports

• Rep. Jim Jordan subpoenaed DOJ prosecutor who investigated Trump — Republican Rep. Jim Jordan, chair of the House Judiciary Committee, issued a subpoena to a DOJ prosecutor who investigated Trump under special counsel Jack Smith in cases related to Trump's retention of classified documents and efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results.

Supporting reports

• Appeal filed — Jenner & Block v. Department of Justice (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00916 — The Department of Justice appealed Judge Bates' May 23 summary judgment to the D.C. Circuit.
• Appeal filed — Protect Democracy Project v. OMB (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01111 — Defendants appealed the court's grant of summary judgement to the D.C. Circuit.
• Case update — American Association of University Professors v. Rubio (D. Mass.) 1:25-cv-10685 — The bench trial concluded.
• Case update — National Academy of Education v. Department of Education (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01266 — Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint , which added multiple APA claims to the action and removed the ultra vires and separation of powers doctrine claims.
• Motion granted — Slaughter and Bedoya v. Trump (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00909 — The D.C. Circuit unanimously granted an administrative stay of Judge Alikhan's ruling that had ordered the reinstatement of former FTC Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter . The court set a briefing schedule with filings due before July 29.
• Motion granted — VERA Institute of Justice v. U.S. Department of Justice (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01643 — Judge Mehta granted in part Plaintiffs' emergency motion for an injunction pending appeal of its order denying their preliminary-injunction motion and dismissing the case. Although the court declined to reinstate Plaintiffs' grants pending appeal, it found a narrower injunction appropriate-“one that prevents the re-obligation of the five named Plaintiffs' cancelled grant funding … [and] prohibits Defendants from re-obligating or otherwise diminishing the sums awarded but terminated under Plaintiffs' grant agreements.”
• Motion to dismiss decided — American Federation Of Government Employees, AFL-CIO v. Trump (N.D. Cal.) 3:25-cv-03698 — Defendants filed a motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — American Gateways v. U.S. Department for Justice (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01370 — Judge Ali granted a preliminary injunction blocking the administration from terminating the NQRP. The court found that the termination of the program is likely arbitrary and capricious under the APA, and the court is empowered to “set aside” such agency action. The court also denied defendants' motion to dismiss as to Count I of the complaint and held it in abeyance as to Counts II and III.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — National Endowment for Democracy v. United States (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00648 — Plaintiffs filed a motion for a preliminary injunction and supporting memorandum in which they request that the court enter an order that would stop Defendants and those they supervise from withholding or otherwise interfering with NED's congressionally mandated funding.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — Planned Parenthood Federation of America v. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. et al (D. Mass.) 1:25-cv-11913 — Judge Talwani granted a preliminary injunction prohibiting the administration from enforcing Section 71113 of the “ One Big Beautiful Act ” against the Planned Parenthood Association of Utah and other Planned Parenthood Federation of America Members. The injunction applies only to affiliates that are either barred from providing abortions due to state law or that received less than $800,000 in Medicaid reimbursements in 2023. The court found that the statute likely violates the First Amendment right of association by defunding affiliates based solely on their relationship to abortion providers-even when they do not themselves provide abortions or share funds. The court has not yet ruled on whether to extend relief to additional Planned Parenthood members.
• Summary judgment ruling — Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington v. Office of Management and Budget (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01051 — Judge Sullivan granted a summary judgment in part for the plaintiffs, holding that the administration's deletion of the Public Apportionments Database violates public disclosure requirements. The court noted “there is nothing unconstitutional about Congress requiring the Executive Branch to inform the public of how it is apportioning the public's money.”
• Summary judgment ruling — Protect Democracy Project v. OMB (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01111 — Judge Emmet Sullivan granted a summary judgment in part for the plaintiffs on the Administrative Procedure Act claim, holding that the administration's deletion of the Public Apportionments Database violated public disclosure requirements. The court further ordered that the Defendants must restore the Public Apportionments Database, make available the apportionment information required by the 2022 and 2023 Acts, and are permanently enjoined from removing the database without statutory authorization. The court noted “there is nothing unconstitutional about Congress requiring the Executive Branch to inform the public of how it is apportioning the public's money.”
• Temporary restraining order ruling — Washington State Association of Head Start and Early Childhood Assistance and Education Program, et al, v. Robert F. Kenned — Plaintiffs filed a motion for a temporary restraining order and proposed order seeking emergency relief for new claims arising from the Immigrant Exclusion Directive issued on July 14, 2025.
• Appeal filed — Harper v. Bessent (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01294 — Judge Ali granted a summary judgment in favor of Plaintiffs, ruling that the administration's firing of two Board members of the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) was unlawful. The court held that the statutory basis and structure of NCUA limits the president's power to fire board members at will, and such restriction is lawful under the Separation of Powers since the “NCUA Board fits comfortably within the traditional model of a multimember expert agency that does not wield substantial executive power.” The administration appealed to the D.C. Circuit and filed a motion to stay the judgment pending appeal (Case No. 25-5268 ).
• Appeal filed — Planned Parenthood Federation of America v. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. et al (D. Mass.) 1:25-cv-11913 — Following Judge Talwani's preliminary injunction , which prohibited the enforcement of Section 71113 of the “ One Big Beautiful Bill Act ” against certain members of Planned Parenthood Association, the administration appealed the decision to the First Circuit.
• Case update — American Oversight v. U.S. Department Of Government Efficiency (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01251 — Plaintiff amended its complaint to add additional APA claims and enumerate which of Defendants' actions applied to each of the claims.
• Case update — National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association v. Kennedy (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01265 — Plaintiff filed a motion for an order directing Defendants to hold the disputed funds pending a resolution on the merits.
• Case update — Project on Government Oversight, Inc. v. Trump (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00527 — The case was stayed.
• Case update — Smith v. Trump (D. Me.) 1:25-cv-00158 — Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint , which noted that the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) had set forth regulations promulgating the EO. The amended complaint added a claim under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) alleging the regulations are not in accordance with law and requesting that the court declare the regulations to be unlawful.
• Motion denied — The Associated Press v. Budowich (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00532 — The D.C. Circuit denied Plaintiffs' motion for en banc reconsideration, holding that the standard for en banc review was not met because the stay was a non-precedential order that did not resolve the appeal's merits.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — Valuta Corporation, Inc. v. Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (W.D. Tex.) 3:25-cv-00191 — Judge Schydlower granted Plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction, temporarily enjoining Defendants from “enforcing, implementing, and otherwise giving effect to the Border GTO as to the named Plaintiffs.”
• Appeal filed — Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington v. Office of Management and Budget (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01051 — Following Judge Sullivan's summary judgment in part, which rules the administration's deletion of the Public Apportionments Database violates public disclosure requirements, the administration appealed to the D.C. Circuit and filed a motion to stay the judgment pending appeal.
• Case update — American Academy of Pediatrics v. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (D. Mass.) 1:25-cv-11916 — Plaintiffs filed a first amended complaint adding two additional Plaintiffs - Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (MCAAP) and Jane Doe 2 - and provided amended and additional factual allegations and legal background.
• Certiorari petition filed — Boyle v. Trump (D. Md.) 8:25-cv-01628 — In a 6-3 opinion, the Supreme Court granted the administration's application to stay a Judge Maddox's June 13 summary judgment and injunction pending the government's Fourth Circuit appeal and any petition for a writ of certiorari, allowing the administration to remove three Commissioners from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The court noted that the case is similar to Trump v. Wilcox , which also involves the removal of members in the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB). Justice Kavanaugh concurred. Justice Kagan, alongside Justices Sotomayor and Jackson, dissented, writing “[o]nce again, this Court uses its emergency docket to destroy the independence of an independent agency, as established by Congress.”
• Stay motion decided — Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington v. Office of Management and Budget (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01051 — Judge Sullivan denied the administration's motion to stay the court's summary judgment , which found the administration's deletion of the Public Apportionments Database violates public disclosure requirements. Judge Sullivan noted the administration's conduct “unequivocally violates federal law.” He further wrote “[t]he Court will not be complicit in further delaying Plaintiff and the public of information they are entitled to know as a matter of federal law!!” On that same day, the D.C. Circuit administratively stayed Judge Sullivan's July 21 summary judgment order.
• Stay motion decided — Protect Democracy Project v. OMB (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01111 — Judge Sullivan denied Defendants' motion to stay pending appeal, however the D.C. Circuit stayed Judge Sullivan's orders from July 21 pending their review of the appeal on that same day.
• Stay pending appeal decided — CASA, Inc. v. Noem (D. Md.) 8:25-cv-01484 — Following the Fourth Circuit's July 21 refusal to stay pending appeal the termination of TPS for Afghanistan and Cameroon , Plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed their appeal. The case now continues before Judge Chuang.
• Summary judgment ruling — State of Illinois v. Federal Emergency Management Agency (D.R.I.) 1:25-cv-00206 — Defendants moved for summary judgment as well.
• Temporary restraining order ruling — Pallek v. Rollins (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01650 — Judge Jia M. Cobb denied Plaintiffs' motion for an emergency temporary restraining order.
• Case update — State of Maryland v. Corporation for National and Community Service (D. Md.) 1:25-cv-01363 — The Plaintiff States filed an amended complaint . The updates included specifying which alleged APA violations applied to the AmeriCorps Defendants and OMB Defendants as well as the addition of an allegation against all Defendants requesting mandamus relief.
• Case update — State of New Jersey v. Bondi (D. Md.) 1:25-cv-01807 — All Plaintiffs and Defendants stipulated the dismissal of the non-federal defendants-specifically Kevin Maxwell; Lawrence DeMonico; Rare Breed Triggers, LLC; Rare Breed Firearms, LLC; National Association for Gun Rights, Inc.; Texas Gun Rights, Inc.; Patrick Carey; James Wheeler; and Travis Speegle.
• Complaint filed — Gordon v. Executive Office of the President — Three Department of Justice employees filed suit in D.D.C. challenging their terminations by Attorney General Pamela Bondi in June and July 2025. The plaintiffs, who had been involved in high-profile prosecutions including January 6th cases, allege the firings were politically motivated and retaliatory, violated the Administrative Procedure Act, the Fifth Amendment's due process clause, and the Civil Service Reform Act. They seek reinstatement, backpay, and a name-clearing hearing.
• Dismissal entered — Corporation for Public Broadcasting v. Trump (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01305 — Plaintiff Board member Laura Ross voluntarily dismissed her claims, which was approved by the district court the next day. All other Plaintiffs are otherwise proceeding with their claims.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — National Job Corps Association v. Department of Labor (S.D.N.Y.) 1:25-cv-04641 — Judge Carter issued an amended preliminary injunction order which narrowed the scope of applicability of the order to the 31 centers operated by the Operator Plaintiffs and the 5 additional centers at which Plaintiff Transportation Communications Union/IAM provides training services following the Supreme Court's June 27 ruling in Trump v. Casa . The court enjoined Defendants "from enforcing, implementing, maintaining or giving effect to the closure of the private Job Corps centers, including the stop work orders and termination and non-renewal notices delivered to Job Corps center operators starting May 29, 2025, from issuing, enforcing, implementing, maintaining or giving effect to any shutdown tasks, job terminations, or student removals; and from taking any further action to close any Job Corps Centers." Sept.18, 2025: Plaintiffs submitted an amended complaint . In addition to adding more plaintiffs and providing further detail as to the factual allegations, the complaint clarified the National Job Corps Association (“NCJA”) standing to bring suit on behalf of their harmed members. Additionally, the amended complaint supplements claims with more specific violations of the Administrative Procedure Act (“APA”) and the Workplace Innovation and Opportunity Act.
• Stay motion decided — Harper v. Bessent (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01294 — Judge Ali denied the administration's motion to stay the court's summary judgment , which reinstated two Board members of the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). The court distinguished itself from recent Supreme Court opinions that blocked the courts' reinstatements in the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Labor Relations Board, noting that NCUA does not exercise the same “considerable executive power” in those cases.
• Stay motion decided — Slaughter and Bedoya v. Trump (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00909 — Judge Alikhan denied the administration's motion to stay her earlier summary judgment , which reinstated former FTC Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter . The court again reaffirmed that Supreme Court precedent limits the president's authority to remove FTC Commissioners. The court distinguished this case from recent Supreme Court opinions that stayed reinstatements at other agencies, noting those decisions did not mention FTC.
• Case update — Melgar-Salmeron v. Bondi (2d Cir.) 23-7792 — The Second Circuit ordered the government, in addition to its weekly status updates, to file by Aug. 1 a declaration from someone with personal knowledge explaining the basis for its assertion that Petitioner has been charged with illicit association and homicide, is housed at the Tecoluca maximum-security prison, and is awaiting trial, along with any corroborating documentation (with leave to seek sealing as needed). The court also noted it had held the petition in abeyance in early 2024 and, absent objection by Aug. 1, intends to lift that hold in due course.
• Case update — Quintero Chacon v. Dickerson (a.k.a. Q.C.E. v. Stewart Detention Facility) (M.D. Ga.) 4:25-cv-00050 — Petitioner Quintero filed a voluntary dismissal, based on the fact that he was removed to Venezuela on July 18, 2025, pursuant to an exchange between the United States and Venezuelan governments. The case has been closed.
• Complaint filed — State of Washington v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security — Washington State filed a federal complaint on July 25, 2025, challenging the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency's termination of the Shelter and Services Program (SSP), a congressionally established grant program. The administration zeroed out and revoked Washington's $4 million SSP grant in spring 2025, disrupting shelter, food, medical care, and hygiene services for thousands of newly arrived migrants. Washington names DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, FEMA, and Senior Official David Richardson as defendants, alleging violations of the Separation of Powers, the Spending Clause, and the Administrative Procedure Act, and seeking declaratory and injunctive relief to restore funding and prevent future executive interference with the grants.
• Notice of appeal filed — Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr v. Executive Office of the President (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00917 — The Trump Administration filed a notice of appeal to the D.C. Circuit, challenging Judge Leon's summary judgment on May 27, which found Executive Order 14250 , targeting WilmerHale, was unlawful and void.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — Cabrera v. Department of Labor (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01909 — Judge Dabney L. Friedrich issued an order and opinion granting Plaintiffs' preliminary injunction motion and stayed DOL's directive to effectuate the closure of all privately-operated Jobs Corps centers pending the resolution of this litigation.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — Personal Services Contractor Association v. Trump et al (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00469 — The court found that it likely lacks jurisdiction over the case's claims and consequently denied Plaintiff's motion for a preliminary injunction.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — Porwancher v. National Endowment for the Humanities (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01180 — Judge Carl J. Nichols granted Porwancher's June 2, 2025 motion for a preliminary injunction preventing the NEH from treating the grant as terminated and enjoining future actions regarding the grant unless they comply with procedural requirements under applicable regulations.
• Summary judgment ruling — Corporation for Public Broadcasting v. Trump (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01305 — The remaining Plaintiffs filed a motion for summary judgment requesting that the district court enter judgment declaring Trump's attempt to terminate CPB's Board members as unlawful.
• Summary judgment ruling — Harper v. Bessent (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01294 — The D.C. Circuit granted an administrative stay of the district court's July 22 summary judgment order, pending further order of the Court of Appeals.
• Supreme Court Grants Stay in Trump v. Boyle — On July 23, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court granted the federal government's request for a stay in the case of Trump v. Boyle. This decision temporarily halts the enforcement of a lower court's order that had reinstated three commissioners of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission who were terminated by the Trump administration. The stay was granted in a 6-3 decision, with Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissenting. The stay allows the Trump administration to maintain the commissioners' termination while the case proceeds through the courts.

Supporting reports

• Attorney General Bondi fires Grace and attacks judges — Hours after the federal judges selected Desiree Leigh Grace as U.S. attorney on July 22, 2025, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on social media that Grace was no longer first assistant and attacked the judges who appointed her. Bondi stated, "This Department of Justice does not tolerate rogue judges — especially when they threaten the President's core Article II powers," characterizing judicial exercise of statutory authority as a threat to presidential power.
• Federal judges reject Trump's interim US attorney pick Alina Habba for New Jersey — A panel of federal judges in New Jersey declined to permanently appoint Alina Habba, Trump's former defense lawyer, as the state's US attorney after her interim status expired on July 22. The judges offered no explanation but appointed career prosecutor Desiree Leigh Grace as her replacement. In retaliation, Attorney General Pam Bondi removed Grace hours later, citing judicial overreach of presidential Article II powers. The removal sparked Democratic condemnation of what senators called an attempt to intimidate the judiciary.
• AG Bondi removes Desiree Grace as US Attorney for New Jersey — Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the removal of Desiree Grace from her position as US Attorney for New Jersey, immediately after Grace was appointed by judges to replace Alina Habba. Bondi stated that "politically minded judges refused to allow her to continue in her position" and claimed the DOJ "does not tolerate rogue judges—especially when they threaten the President's core Article II powers."
• AG Bondi accused judges of refusing to appoint Alina Habba — Hours after judges on the US District Court in New Jersey declined to appoint Trump's former lawyer and interim US attorney for the state, Alina Habba, for a permanent position, AG Bondi accused the "politically minded" and "rogue" judges of refusing to allow her to continue in her position. Bondi also removed Habba's court-appointed successor, Desiree Grace, who had been serving as the second-highest-ranking official in the US attorney's office.
• Deputy AG Blanche defends Habba; urges judges to retain her — Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who served as Habba's co-counsel in Trump's criminal cases, issued a statement defending Habba and urging the district judges to retain her. Blanche stated that Habba has "the full confidence of DOJ leadership" and is performing her duties "aggressively, independently, and by the book." He characterized criticism as a "smear campaign" and urged judges to disregard "political noise."

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• Atlanta reporter detained by ICE — A reporter from Atlanta remains in detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The article cites this as an example of ICE's "immoral and unconstitutional" actions and notes ongoing detention of individuals in for-profit detention centers.
• ICE continues detention of journalist Guevara despite dropped charges — Mario Guevara remains detained by ICE in a south Georgia immigration detention center despite all criminal charges being dropped. First Amendment rights groups, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, stated at a press conference that Guevara is being "punished for his journalism." Guevara, a Salvadoran native with 20+ years in the US, has a work permit and pending green card application. He is now held in isolation at the Folkston immigration center. His family was forced to make an extortion payment after another inmate threatened him while briefly in general population at a federal Atlanta prison.

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• Republican lawmakers and media figures called for prosecution and arrest of Obama administration officials — Multiple Republican members of Congress and conservative media personalities responded to DNI Gabbard's referral by publicly demanding criminal prosecution, arrest, and imprisonment of former President Obama and senior officials. Rep. Marjorie Greene called it "Crimes of the century." Rep. Anna Paulina Luna cited federal law violations carrying seven-year sentences. Rep. Byron Donalds stated "People need to go to jail." Newsmax host Carl Higbie declared prosecution should be Attorney General Bondi's "NUMBER ONE priority." Conservative figures including Dinesh D'Souza and James Woods echoed demands for arrests and trials.

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• Sen. Durbin inquired about FBI reassignment of hundreds of agents to flag Trump mentions in Epstein files — Sen. Dick Durbin sent an inquiry to the Department of Justice and FBI asking them to explain why hundreds of agents from the New York Field Office were reassigned to review Epstein-related records and flag any documents mentioning President Trump's name. The FBI responded with "no comment" when contacted by CNBC about the inquiry. The reassignment raised questions about whether law enforcement resources were being directed toward protecting the sitting president by identifying and potentially suppressing information.

Supporting reports

• White House issues fact sheet claiming six-month record of policy achievements — The White House published a fact sheet asserting accomplishments across economic, border, military, and diplomatic domains during the first six months of the Trump administration. The document claims the largest tax cut in history, record-low border encounters, 671,000 net job additions, egg price declines, tariff revenue collection, military recruitment goals met, and diplomatic agreements including ceasefires and NATO defense spending increases. The fact sheet attributes these outcomes to executive orders, legislation, and administration policy direction.
• White House issues promotional fact sheet claiming fulfillment of campaign promises — The White House published a fact sheet titled "President Trump Has Kept His Promises — and Then Some," asserting that the administration has delivered on 20 core campaign commitments within six months. The document claims achievements across border security, deportations, inflation reduction, energy production, manufacturing, tax cuts, constitutional protections, military modernization, and election integrity. It attributes specific policy actions (executive orders, regulatory changes, enforcement operations) to each claimed promise and frames them as accomplished outcomes.

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• Republican congressman and Trump administration target Mamdani with unsubstantiated terrorism allegations and citizenship questions — Following Mamdani's primary victory, Republican Congressman Andy Ogles demanded material support for terrorism charges against Mamdani without evidence and called for his deportation. Donald Trump falsely questioned Mamdani's citizenship. The Trump administration's Homeland Security Advisory Council initiated an investigation into Mamdani. These actions echo post-9/11 tactics used against Muslim charities and organizations.

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• Federal judge sentences Brett Hankison to 33 months for excessive force in Breonna Taylor raid — U.S. District Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings sentenced ex-Kentucky police officer Brett Hankison to 33 months in prison for civil rights abuse during the 2020 raid on Breonna Taylor's home. Hankison fired 10 shots but struck no one; he was the only officer charged in Taylor's death. The judge rejected a Justice Department recommendation for one day in jail, stating no prison time "is not appropriate." Hankison also received three years supervised probation.
• Louisville police officer convicted in Breonna Taylor case sentenced to 33 months — A former Louisville, Kentucky, police officer convicted of violating Breonna Taylor's civil rights during a March 2020 police raid that resulted in her death was sentenced to 33 months in prison. The sentence came after Trump's DOJ asked the judge to issue a single-day prison sentence, arguing the case should not have been charged as federal crimes.
• DOJ requests light sentence for officer in Breonna Taylor case — In a sentencing memo, the Justice Department requested a one-day prison sentence and supervised release for a white former Kentucky police officer convicted of violating the civil rights of Breonna Taylor, a Black woman who was killed when police served a no-knock warrant during a 2020 raid in Louisville, Kentucky. The maximum sentence the former officer could get is life in prison.

Supporting reports

• Tulsi Gabbard accused Obama of "treasonous conspiracy" without evidence — Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard appeared on Fox News and accused former President Barack Obama and his administration of engaging in a "treasonous conspiracy" to "effectively launch a years-long coup" against Trump after the 2016 election. Gabbard claimed Obama officials manipulated intelligence to undermine Trump's victory and did not rule out criminal charges, though her claims contradict findings from a 2020 Senate investigation and a recent CIA review confirming Russian interference in 2016.
• DNI Gabbard released classified intelligence report alleging Obama administration officials committed treason in 2016 election interference investigation — Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released a declassified report on Russian interference in the 2016 election and referred findings to the Department of Justice, alleging that former President Barack Obama and senior officials engaged in a "treasonous conspiracy" to subvert the will of the American people. Gabbard claimed the Obama administration "politicized and weaponized" intelligence and laid groundwork for a "years-long coup" against Trump. She appeared on Fox News stating she has "evidence to be able to move forward to prosecute and indict those responsible." The referral prompted immediate calls from Republican lawmakers and media figures for criminal prosecution and indictments of Obama and other former officials.
• Democratic senators and intelligence officials disputed Gabbard's treason allegations — Democratic senators and intelligence community officials publicly rejected DNI Gabbard's allegations as false and without legal basis. Sen. Mark Warner stated the Senate Intelligence Committee unanimously concluded Russia interfered in 2016 and would have found any Obama conspiracy. Rep. Jim Himes called the claims "utter nonsense" and stated there is "absolutely none" legal basis to prosecute Obama. Former CNN editor Morten Overbye detailed how Gabbard misread intelligence briefs, noting Mueller's 2019 report and bipartisan Senate investigations confirmed Russian interference through GRU hacks, WikiLeaks, and troll farms reaching 126 million Americans. Cybersecurity expert Bryan Cunningham accused Gabbard of abusing her office by selectively releasing classified documents.
• Director of National Intelligence Gabbard released 2020 Republican House Intelligence Committee report challenging Russia-Trump preference conclusion — Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released a report drafted in 2020 by Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee intended to challenge the conclusion that Russia preferred Trump over Clinton in 2016. The newly released report did not substantively challenge the findings of U.S. intelligence agencies, the Mueller report, or the Senate Intelligence Committee on Russian preference for Trump, but instead repeated rumors about Clinton that Russian intelligence services had spread in 2016.
• Gabbard presented Russian intelligence allegations as fact during White House press conference — At a White House press conference, Director of National Intelligence Gabbard read material from the released report as if it were established fact, presenting allegations about former Secretary Clinton's alleged "psycho emotional problems," "uncontrolled fits of anger," and use of "heavy tranquilizers." Gabbard did not disclose that these allegations originated from Russia's Foreign Intelligence Services and were identified in the report as such. She also made other charges suggesting Clinton had broken the law, all sourced from Russian intelligence material.
• Director of National Intelligence Gabbard claimed Obama administration manufactured evidence against Trump campaign — On July 24, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard claimed that officials in the Obama administration manufactured evidence in 2016 to suggest that Trump's campaign was connected to Russian operatives. The administration subsequently declassified documents it claimed proved the allegations. However, documents released on August 1 indicated that two emails purportedly supporting Gabbard's claims were instead most likely manufactured by Russian spies, directly contradicting the administration's narrative.

Supporting reports

• Wired reports surveillance video footage cut from Epstein cell recording — Wired reported that nearly three minutes of footage were cut from the so-called "full raw" surveillance video released by the Justice Department and FBI of Epstein's prison cell the night before he was found dead, according to metadata from the video. The omission raises questions about the completeness of the released evidence.

Supporting reports

• Senator Durbin reveals FBI pressure to flag Trump mentions in Epstein records — In a letter to FBI Director Kash Patel, Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), the highest-ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, revealed that his office had received information that Attorney General Pam Bondi pressured the FBI to put 1,000 personnel to work in 24-hour shifts to review approximately 100,000 Epstein records. The personnel were instructed to "flag" any records in which President Trump was mentioned. Durbin asked Patel to answer questions about the information the FBI holds and how the administration is handling that information.

Supporting reports

• Arrest of John Caravello, CSU Channel Islands professor, on assault charges during ICE raid protest — John Caravello, a math and philosophy professor at California State University Channel Islands and immigrant rights advocate, was arrested and charged with assaulting a federal officer and throwing a teargas canister at ICE agents during the Glass House farm raid. Witnesses, including immigrant rights organizer Genevieve Flores-Haro, dispute the police account, stating they saw only ICE agents and National Guard deploying teargas, and that Caravello appeared to be assisting a demonstrator in a wheelchair. Caravello was released on a $15,000 bond and is scheduled for arraignment on August 1, 2025.