Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Guardian publishes explainer on 145 statewide ballot measures across 39 states in midterm elections — The Guardian reports on 145 statewide referendum measures voters will face in 39 states during the upcoming midterm elections. Key ballot initiatives include California's proposed billionaire wealth tax (Proposition 40), property tax measures in Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, North Carolina, and Tennessee, trans athlete and medical care restrictions in five states, noncitizen voting requirements in six states, and abortion rights protections in Idaho, Nevada, and Virginia. The article notes the long-run passage rate for referendums is approximately 41%.

Supporting reports

• Phony transgender rights leaflets circulated in Texas to inflame voters — A company formed in Wyoming has been circulating phony leaflets and text messages in Texas, falsely purporting to be from a trans rights group. The materials, addressed to "students," claim to provide resources for transgender and LGBTQ+ youth but are deliberately inflammatory, purporting to instruct children on separating from parents and replacing them with other adults or organizations. Right-wing groups have shared the mailers and linked them to Democrats.

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• Republican Super PAC airs anti-trans attack ad against South Carolina Democratic Senate candidate — A Super PAC supporting Republican Darline Graham aired an attack ad against Democratic Senate candidate Dr. Annie Andrews in South Carolina, claiming she "is for they/them" and framing transgender people as predatory toward children. The ad targeted Andrews' support for trans rights. Andrews responded with a direct-to-camera statement in a lab coat opposing "biological men playing in women's sports" and denying she has performed gender surgery on minors, attempting to distance herself from the Republican framing while maintaining some support for trans people.

Supporting reports

• Supreme Court upholds state laws excluding transgender girls and women from female sports — Earlier in 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling upholding laws in two conservative states that exclude transgender girls and women from competing in female sports. The decision was characterized as a "culture war" victory for Trump and provided legal foundation for Republican anti-trans messaging in the 2026 midterm elections.

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• Mahmoud Khalil sues Columbia University over alleged anti-Palestinian discrimination and retaliation — Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian-American graduate student at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs, filed a 60-page complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on September 14, 2026, accusing the university, its board, and dean Keren Yarhi-Milo of "deliberate indifference" to years of anti-Palestinian harassment and discrimination. Khalil, detained by federal immigration agents in March 2025 after pro-Palestinian advocacy, alleges Columbia failed to protect him and other students from doxing campaigns, threats, and coordinated harassment, and instead subjected them to disciplinary proceedings and restrictions, including suspending the Palestine Working Group.

Supporting reports

• Grindr app experiences outages during Republican convention in Dallas — The LGBTQ+ dating app Grindr reportedly went down as the Republican National Committee's midterm convention began on September 9 in Dallas. According to Downdetector, the app reported multiple outages coinciding with the event's start, with the highest concentration of reported outages in the Dallas area.

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• HHS releases report linking gender ideology to left-wing authoritarianism without peer review — The US Department of Health and Human Services released a report claiming to link "gender ideology" and support for transgender people to left-wing authoritarianism and political violence. The report was not peer-reviewed, did not undergo scientific journal publication, and experts say it contains severe methodological flaws. Legal scholars note it may violate the Information Quality Bulletin, a federal regulation requiring peer review for influential scientific information from government agencies.

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• DOJ reaches agreement with New York hospital to end pediatric gender-affirming care — The Department of Justice reached an agreement with a New York hospital to cease offering pediatric gender-affirming care. This follows a pattern of Trump administration investigations into hospitals providing gender-affirming care, resulting in dozens of hospitals discontinuing such services. The action restricts access to medical care that major health organizations recognize as standard treatment.

Supporting reports

• Federal judge dismisses Trump DOJ lawsuit challenging California's trans-inclusive school sports policy — On September 2, 2026, US District Judge Cynthia Valenzuela issued a final order dismissing the Trump administration's lawsuit against California over its policy allowing transgender youth to play on sports teams matching their gender identity. The DOJ had sued in July 2025, arguing California's trans-inclusive sports policy violated Title IX. Judge Valenzuela ruled the federal government failed to provide adequate notice that federal funding was contingent on banning trans girls from girls' teams, and noted the government had repeatedly shifted its guidelines on the issue over a decade.

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• Tucson police investigate shooting outside gay bar as potential hate crime — On September 1, 2026, Tucson police responded to a shooting in the parking lot of Venture-N, a gay bar, that resulted in three deaths. The suspect, 44-year-old Ousman Ceesay, allegedly shot and killed 42-year-old Vincent Anthony Siqueiros and 33-year-old Cameron Davis Capara before dying from gunshot wounds at a hospital. Police found a note on the suspect listing multiple LGBTQIA+ associated businesses. Tucson police are investigating the incident as a hate crime.

Supporting reports

• Complaint filed — Trainor v. United States of America (D.D.C. 1:26-cv-03029) — Avery A. Trainor, a transgender Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel, filed a federal complaint challenging the Trump administration's ban on transgender military service and a May 2026 military action that allegedly accelerated her retirement, reduced her rank and pay from Lieutenant Colonel to Major, and imposed stigmatizing conditions. Trainor alleges violations of Fifth Amendment equal protection and due process rights and claims the military action is arbitrary, capricious, and contrary to the Administrative Procedure Act. She seeks declaratory relief, injunctions blocking enforcement of the ban and the military action, reinstatement of her original retirement date and rank, and relief from male-only uniform and grooming standards.

Supporting reports

• Federal judge strikes down Texas drag performance ban for second time — US District Judge David Hittner ruled on Tuesday that Texas Senate Bill 12, which bans drag performances in settings where children may be present, violates the First Amendment and cannot be enforced. The judge found the law's definition of "sexually oriented performance" and "prurient interest" unconstitutional and impermissibly vague, noting it could restrict mainstream performances by artists like Lady Gaga and Miley Cyrus. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced he would appeal the decision.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration finalizes rule ending federal Medicaid and CHIP funding for gender-affirming care — The Trump administration finalized a rule on Tuesday to eliminate gender-affirming care coverage through Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The rule, set to take effect on 13 October, will prevent federal funding for transgender youth receiving such care. The Department of Health and Human Services cited international reviews while ignoring recent evidence supporting the safety and effectiveness of gender-affirming care. Nearly 35,000 public comments were submitted, approximately 90% opposing the change. Legal challenges are expected and could delay or block implementation.

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• Polymarket misrepresented WNBA transgender athlete discussion — On August 8, Polymarket posted on X that the WNBA Commissioner announced the league would review "what a woman is" after NBA stars announced plans to join. The post was inaccurate. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert's internal memo, obtained by the Associated Press, stated only that "transgender athlete participation in women's basketball" would be discussed by a task force at a scheduled meeting—not a formal review or announcement. Polymarket used the post to promote a prediction market on Enes Kanter Freedom's WNBA draft prospects.

Supporting reports

• Complaint filed — Doe v. Kupor (D.D.C. 1:26-cv-02723) — Five current and former federal employees enrolled in the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) or Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) programs filed a putative class action complaint on August 3, 2026, challenging the elimination of coverage for gender-affirming care. The Office of Personnel Management eliminated such coverage effective January 1, 2026, pursuant to Executive Order 14168 issued January 20, 2025, and eliminated a narrow exception for mid-treatment enrollees effective Plan Year 2027. Plaintiffs allege sex discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and seek class certification, declaratory judgment, permanent injunction restoring coverage, retroactive coverage, and compensatory damages.
• Federal employees sue over removal of gender-affirming care from health plans — A class-action lawsuit filed in federal court in Washington, D.C., challenges the removal of gender-affirming care from Federal Employees Health Benefits and Postal Service Health Benefits programs, arguing the exclusion constitutes sex discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. The UCLA Williams Institute estimates 39,400 to 57,800 transgender federal employees are affected by the policy change.

Supporting reports

• House approves $73bn budget for Iran war without Senate Democratic input — House Republicans approved a budget plan allocating $73 billion for the ongoing war with Iran on July 23, 2026, using reconciliation procedures to circumvent the Democratic filibuster in the Senate. The authorization falls short of the Pentagon's original $350 billion request needed to reach the administration's $1.5 trillion overall defense spending target for fiscal 2027. The move reflects Republican efforts to fund military operations without requiring bipartisan Senate approval.
• House passes $1.15tn defense bill with partisan voting and embedded voting restrictions — The Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed a $1.15 trillion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by a 216-212 vote on July 23, 2026. The bill includes military pay raises, codifies renaming the Pentagon the "Department of War," and allocates funds for the ongoing war with Iran. Democrats largely opposed the measure, citing Trump's unilateral decision to attack Iran without congressional authorization, the inclusion of the Save America Act (banning mail-in ballots and imposing voter ID restrictions), and provisions deepening US-Israel defense cooperation. The bill now proceeds to the Senate.
• House passed National Defense Authorization Act with Section 219 — The House passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which includes Section 219, a controversial provision requiring the U.S. military to share sensitive technology with Israel. Six Democrats voted for the bill: Reps. Henry Cuellar (TX), Donald Davis (NC), Jared Golden (ME), Vicente Gonzalez (TX), Adam Gray (CA), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA). Seven Republicans voted against it: Reps. Josh Brecheen (OK), Tim Burchett (TN), Elijah Crane (AZ), Harriet Hageman (WY), Anna Paulina Luna (FL), Thomas Massie (KY), and Chip Roy (TX).
• Rep. Lauren Boebert missed NDAA vote citing Section 219 concerns — Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) told TMZ she missed the NDAA vote because she was waiting for a call from Secretary Hegseth and the vote was closed before she could participate. She stated she opposed Section 219 because her constituents do not want the military technology swap with Israel and said she was trying to avoid reporters due to recent Botox injections.
• Rep. Thomas Massie opposes NDAA Section 219 — Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) stated that Section 219 of the NDAA "tragically merges our military technology and supply chains with Israel's" and called it "a betrayal of our sovereignty," expressing hope the provision would fail in the Senate.
• House Republicans merge NDAA with voting restrictions (Save America Act) — House Republicans, bowing to pressure from rightwing lawmakers and Trump, merged the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) with the Save America Act, legislation that would ban mail-in ballots and impose new voter identification requirements at registration and ballot-casting. Democrats objected to the $1.15tn NDAA cost and halted advancement of the Senate version in protest of renewed Iran hostilities, complicating the defense budget's Senate passage.
• House Republicans pass $95bn Iran war spending and voting restrictions before summer recess — House Republicans, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, passed a $95bn budget blueprint for Iran war spending and a super-sized military budget (NDAA) merged with voting restrictions (the Save America Act) during their final week before summer recess. Four dissident Republicans joined Democrats to pass a symbolic war powers resolution mandating Trump withdraw troops from Iran. Senate Republican leader John Thune signaled he would place the budget on "hold" as leverage in funding negotiations, raising the likelihood the Iran spending question remains undecided until September.

Supporting reports

• Federal judge orders Pentagon to explain testosterone policy discrepancy for transgender troops — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a policy requiring male service members aged 30 and over to be screened for testosterone levels, with voluntary testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) offered to those below normal. Federal Judge Ana Reyes ordered the Trump administration to explain why the Pentagon promotes TRT for cisgender soldiers while arguing that hormone treatment disqualifies transgender troops from service. The judge demanded answers before an August 7 hearing on lawsuits challenging the transgender military ban.

Supporting reports

• Khalil v. The Heritage Foundation et al., complaint filed (S.D.N.Y. 1:26-cv-05929) — Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University graduate student detained by ICE for 104 days, filed a federal complaint alleging a conspiracy by the Heritage Foundation, its leaders, and Trump administration officials (including Stephen Miller and Marco Rubio) to identify and deport non-citizen pro-Palestinian activists under a coordinated plan called Project Esther. Khalil invokes the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871 (42 U.S.C. § 1985(3)) to challenge interference with his rights to free speech, equal protection, and freedom from punitive detention, and alleges an unconstitutional Bill of Attainder. He seeks compensatory and punitive damages, declaratory judgment, and an injunction against continued detention or removal on pretextual grounds.
• Mahmoud Khalil Sues Trump Administration Under KKK Act of 1871 — Mahmoud Khalil, detained by ICE for over 100 days last year and currently challenging a deportation order, sued the Trump administration and pro-Israel groups including Canary Mission, Betar, and the Heritage Foundation under the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871. The lawsuit alleges that the Trump administration conspired with these organizations to "terrorize and make an example of" Khalil to "intimidate and silence the growing movement for Palestinian rights and political freedom."
• Mahmoud Khalil files civil conspiracy lawsuit against Trump officials and pro-Israel groups — Mahmoud Khalil, a Syrian-born Palestinian rights advocate and permanent US resident, filed a lawsuit in Manhattan federal court against Trump administration officials (Stephen Miller, Marco Rubio, Kristi Noem) and pro-Israel groups (Heritage Foundation, Canary Mission, Betar US), alleging a coordinated conspiracy to target and silence pro-Palestine speech. The suit, brought under the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871, claims the defendants worked as a "public-private partnership" to identify, arrest, and deport pro-Palestinian activists. Khalil was detained for 104 days in 2025 after his arrest by ICE over his advocacy.

Supporting reports

• U.S. Supreme Court rules on transgender athletes in sports — The U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision regarding transgender athletes' participation in sports. The ruling is characterized by commentator M. Gessen as addressing issues "deeper than law." The decision affects policy on athletic eligibility and transgender rights. The exact holding is not detailed in the source, but the decision has been rendered and is now in effect.

Supporting reports

• US Supreme Court upholds state bans on transgender athletes in female sports — The US Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that states may exclude transgender girls and women from competing in female sports, overturning lower court judgments favoring two trans students—Lindsay Hecox in Idaho and Becky Pepper-Jackson in West Virginia. The court determined that such bans do not violate Title IX civil rights protections. The ruling is expected to embolden at least 25 other states with similar laws and represents a significant victory for the Trump administration's "culture war" agenda.
• US Supreme Court upholds trans athlete bans in West Virginia and Idaho — The US Supreme Court ruled that West Virginia and Idaho may constitutionally bar transgender girls from competing on girls' sports teams. The decision is legally narrow—it does not mandate bans nationwide or strip trans students of all Title IX protections—but advocates warn it will be weaponized to expand exclusionary policies across the 25 other states with similar restrictions and to erode trans rights in education, employment, and healthcare more broadly.
• Supreme Court upholds state bans on transgender athletes in school sports — The Supreme Court upheld state laws that ban transgender athletes from competing in school sports consistent with their gender identity. The ruling allows states to enforce restrictions on transgender participation in athletics, affecting access and equal treatment in school sports.
• Court rules that states can exclude transgender athletes from girls’ and women’s sports teams — The Supreme Court ruled that states have the authority to exclude transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports teams. This decision allows states to implement policies that restrict transgender athletes' participation based on their gender identity. The ruling has significant implications for the rights of transgender individuals and the ongoing debate over gender and sports. The decision may lead to further legislative and legal actions at the state level as states decide how to implement or challenge this ruling.
• Supreme Court releases opinion in West Virginia v. B. P. J. (24-43) — The Supreme Court released an official slip opinion in West Virginia v. B. P. J. Docket number(s): 24-43.
• White House issues release celebrating Supreme Court ruling on transgender athletes and detailing administration actions — The White House issued a release on June 30, 2026, responding to a Supreme Court decision permitting states to reserve female athletic competition for biological females. The release characterizes this as a "landmark victory" and lists executive actions the administration claims to have taken, including barring transgender individuals from military service, defunding gender-affirming medical care, eliminating "gender ideology" curricula, and requiring biological sex markers on federal documents.
• US Supreme Court rejects transgender girls' participation in female sports — In a Trump-friendly ruling issued on the same day as the birthright citizenship verdict, the Supreme Court effectively dismissed the rights of transgender girls and women to participate in female sports. The decision removes protections previously afforded to transgender athletes.

Supporting reports

• Federal judge declined to certify nationwide class action on transgender medical records — On June 12, a federal judge in Maryland declined to certify a nationwide class action that would have barred the Justice Department from pressuring hospitals across the country to hand over medical records of transgender minors. Eleven families had sought the order after DOJ sent subpoenas to more than 20 major medical systems demanding records of patients who received gender-affirming care. However, the same judge had quashed DOJ's subpoena to Children's National Hospital in January, calling it a fishing expedition with no purpose other than to intimidate and harass. Courts in Boston, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Colorado have thrown out similar subpoenas, and no reported federal decision has ruled in the government's favor on these demands.

Supporting reports

• Justice Department launches compliance review of California school districts on gender-related instruction and policies — The Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division announced a compliance review of four California public school districts (Graves Elementary, San Francisco Unified, Santa Rita Union, and Soledad Unified) regarding instruction on sexual orientation and gender ideology in grades pre-K–12, parental notification and opt-out policies, and access to single-sex spaces and sports teams based on gender identity. The review will assess adherence to Title IX and response to recent Supreme Court decisions cited as establishing parental rights precedent. No conclusions have been reached.

Supporting reports

• U.S. Court of Appeals rules Pentagon transgender military service ban likely unconstitutional — The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled 2 to 1 that the Pentagon's policy barring transgender people from military service is likely unconstitutional and appears driven by the bare desire to harm a politically unpopular group. The ruling blocks the expulsion of current service members who sued, though it leaves the administration free to bar new transgender recruits while the case continues. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signaled an appeal to the Supreme Court.
• Federal appeals court rules Trump's transgender military ban likely unconstitutional — A federal appeals court ruled 2-1 that Trump and Hegseth's transgender military ban is likely unconstitutional, finding the policy appears driven by a desire to harm a politically unpopular group and is both arbitrary and based on animus. Judge Wilkins noted the administration provided no factual basis for claims that transgender service members lack honesty or integrity, and that many plaintiffs have served honorably for years and earned more than 80 commendations. The court upheld protections for currently serving transgender members while vacating the injunction as it applies to new enlistments.
• US Court of Appeals rules transgender troops may remain in military; enlistment ban upheld — A three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled on June 2, 2026, that existing transgender service members cannot be dismissed from the military, calling the Trump administration's removal policy "arbitrary, and based on animus." However, the court narrowed the scope of a lower-court injunction to protect only the estimated 1,000 openly transgender active-duty members, permitting the armed services to continue blocking transgender enlistment. The ruling is expected to be appealed to the Supreme Court.

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• Republican leaders unite behind Paxton; attack Talarico with false and inflammatory rhetoric — Following Paxton's primary victory, Republican Senate leaders including John Barrasso, Bernie Moreno, Ted Cruz, and Tim Sheehy issued statements attacking Democratic nominee James Talarico with inflammatory language ("far-left extremist," "far-left freak," "commie"). Republican surrogates on the campaign trail made insinuations about Talarico based on a 2023 statement in which he expressed support for trans youth advocacy, with one representative asking "What kind of grown man daydreams about trans kids?" and another suggesting voters "check his hard drive."

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• Texas Senate runoff candidates deploy anti-Muslim rhetoric in campaign ads and legal challenges — In the Texas Senate runoff between incumbent John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton, both candidates have made anti-Muslim messaging central to their campaigns. Paxton-allied groups ran ads accusing Cornyn of supporting "Muslim mass immigration" and having "a special place in his heart for radical Islam," while Cornyn responded by emphasizing his record "fighting radical Islamic extremism" and drafting legislation to "[stop] the spread of Sharia Law in the U.S." Both candidates have pursued legal action against the East Plano Islamic Center's real estate development, with Cornyn urging the DOJ to investigate and Paxton pursuing state-level litigation. Governor Greg Abbott designated CAIR a foreign terrorist organization under Texas law and urged local law enforcement to investigate alleged "sharia law" enforcement efforts.