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

• DTE Energy requests regulatory approval for $6.4bn gas plant expansion to serve datacenter demand — DTE Energy, Michigan's largest utility serving 2.3 million customers, filed a long-term energy delivery plan with the Michigan Public Service Commission requesting approval to build 2.1 gigawatts of new gas plants in 2031–2032 to meet demand from hyperscale datacenters contracted with Google, Oracle, and others. The proposal would shift infrastructure costs to residential ratepayers while potentially undermining Michigan's 2040 renewable energy mandate. The MPSC will issue a preliminary decision within 300 days.

Supporting reports

• ICE agents shot man in car with 5-year-old in Manhattan — ICE agents surrounded a vehicle in Marble Hill in northern Manhattan and fired multiple rounds into the vehicle, shooting a man in the neck. The vehicle also contained a 5-year-old child. The man was taken to a hospital, remained conscious, and was in stable condition as of Thursday night.
• ICE agent shoots man in New York City during enforcement operation with child in vehicle — An ICE agent shot and wounded a 28-year-old man during an enforcement operation in the Marble Hill neighborhood of Manhattan on Thursday afternoon. Early reports indicated agents surrounded the man and a five-year-old child in a car before firing multiple rounds. The child was physically unharmed. NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated he negotiated unsuccessfully with President Trump and DHS Secretary Mullin for the man's release and demanded ICE cease enforcement in the city. The shooting sparked immediate protests and clashes between demonstrators and NYPD at a nearby hospital.
• ICE officer shoots man in neck during arrest in Manhattan's Marble Hill neighborhood — On Thursday afternoon, a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer shot Oscar Belgal, 28, in the neck with an assault-style rifle during an arrest in Manhattan's Marble Hill neighborhood. Belgal's young child was in the back of his car at the time. Residents reported the officers were not clearly identified and expressed fear and anger. Belgal was detained and booked into the federal Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn. A federal judge ordered ICE to keep him in the area after his attorneys filed emergency motions requesting release.
• WIRED reported on ICE agent Brenden Cuni's history of unlawful arrests — WIRED reported that an ICE agent on the scene of the Manhattan shooting, identified as Brenden Cuni, has repeatedly been accused in federal court of unlawful arrests and using force during arrests in New York City and Minneapolis. Cuni was photographed at the scene in a high-visibility yellow construction vest brandishing a modified AR-15-style rifle. Federal court cases, social media, and public records reviewed by WIRED suggest Cuni has repeatedly been at the center of illegal ICE street arrests. Court filings accuse him of using a Taser on a handcuffed man, while activists allege he forced a pregnant woman to the ground during a Minneapolis operation. In recent months, federal judges have repeatedly found arrests involving Cuni unlawful, with one judge calling an arrest warrant he signed "fraudulent," another saying video evidence contradicts his sworn account, and a third case where the government withdrew his sworn statements as inaccurate.

Supporting reports

• Food & Water Watch reports water prices up 62% in a decade — Food & Water Watch analyzed 2025 billing data from the 500 largest community water systems in the United States, which serve approximately 155 million people or 45% of the country's population. The analysis found that US households are paying 62% more for drinking water than they did a decade ago, outpacing inflation (39%), grocery prices (30%), and household income growth (19%). Water prices rose 1.6 times faster than overall inflation between 2015 and 2025, with low-income households being hit hardest.

Supporting reports

• Complaint filed: State of New York v. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development — The State of New York filed suit in federal district court challenging HUD's decision not to obligate $56.1 million in congressionally appropriated funds for the Housing Counseling program. Trump announced a "pocket rescission" of the funds on September 25, 2026, citing alleged failure to reduce delinquencies and claiming grantees pursued "DEI-centric discriminatory agendas." New York alleges HUD exceeded its statutory authority, violated the Administrative Procedure Act, and breached the mandatory obligation requirement in 12 U.S.C. § 1701x(a)(4)(A). The state seeks declaratory relief, vacatur of HUD's decisions, and an order compelling full obligation of the appropriation.

Supporting reports

• Administration removed approximately 760,000 people from Affordable Care Act health coverage rolls — The Trump administration announced it was removing approximately 760,000 people from Affordable Care Act health coverage, claiming they were fraudulently enrolled in the program. The administration stated that cutting these enrollees and removing dishonest brokers would save $2.2 billion. The action affected hundreds of thousands of Americans' access to health insurance without clear evidence of systematic fraud.

Supporting reports

• Treasury bond market experienced severe decline — The U.S. Treasury bond market experienced significant losses on September 29, 2026, with traders aggressively selling off government bonds of all types, driving yields across the entire curve to multiyear and multidecade highs. The bond market was on the verge of recording one of its worst monthly performances in years. The decline in Treasury yields affects borrowing costs for American consumers and businesses on mortgages, car loans, and credit-card debt.
• U.S. Treasury yields hit highest level in over two decades — U.S. Treasury yields hit their highest level in more than two decades on Thursday as a global bond sell-off deepened. The 10-year Treasury yield breached a level last seen in April 2002, rising 4 basis points to 5.3338 percent. The 30-year Treasury bond yield jumped 3 basis points to 5.6702 percent, its highest level since July 2002. The 2-year yield was 2 basis points higher at 4.91 percent. These yields are key to rates for mortgage borrowing, auto loans, and credit card debt.

Supporting reports

• Mortgage rates reach 7.50%, up from 6.38% one year prior — The average 30-year mortgage rate hit 7.50 percent, up from 6.38 percent exactly one year ago. Economist Peter Schiff noted that the yield on the 10-year Treasury just hit 5.27 percent, having first hit 5 percent exactly two weeks ago, and predicted the yield will hit 6 percent by November 5, just two days after the midterm elections, at which point the interest rate on a 30-year mortgage will exceed 8 percent. NYC Councilman Justin Brannan noted that on a $500,000 30-year mortgage, every half-point increase in interest rate adds $165 to the monthly payment, or nearly $2,000 per year.
• National gas prices reach $4.48 per gallon; diesel at $6.47 — The national average for a gallon of gasoline reached $4.48, with diesel at $6.47. With fewer than five weeks until midterm elections and the Iran war ongoing, Republicans on Capitol Hill acknowledge that voters are focused on the economy. An analysis of Trump's social media posts since Labor Day found that Trump had posted roughly 30 times about renovations to Washington and the White House, approximately 10 times about renaming Lake Ontario and New Mexico, and more than 20 times about press coverage, including criticism of MSNBC and CNN, while devoting significant attention to obscure topics including former baseball player Johnny Damon, Gracie Mansion, Zohran Mamdani, his Greenland deal, and polls about renaming AI.
• Americans paid record amounts for gasoline and diesel — According to fuel market analyst Patrick De Haan on September 29, 2026, Americans have paid $74.4 billion more on gasoline and $47.5 billion more on diesel since March 1 compared to the same period a year earlier. The total additional cost reached $122 billion by September 29. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve stands at approximately 285 million barrels, its lowest level since 1982 and roughly 40% of its 714 million barrel capacity.
• Treasury bond market experienced severe decline — The U.S. Treasury bond market experienced significant losses on September 29, 2026, with traders aggressively selling off government bonds of all types, driving yields across the entire curve to multiyear and multidecade highs. The bond market was on the verge of recording one of its worst monthly performances in years. The decline in Treasury yields affects borrowing costs for American consumers and businesses on mortgages, car loans, and credit-card debt.
• U.S. Treasury yields hit highest level in over two decades — U.S. Treasury yields hit their highest level in more than two decades on Thursday as a global bond sell-off deepened. The 10-year Treasury yield breached a level last seen in April 2002, rising 4 basis points to 5.3338 percent. The 30-year Treasury bond yield jumped 3 basis points to 5.6702 percent, its highest level since July 2002. The 2-year yield was 2 basis points higher at 4.91 percent. These yields are key to rates for mortgage borrowing, auto loans, and credit card debt.

Supporting reports

• Datacenter developers accused of circumventing EPA air pollution permitting rules — Environmental advocates allege that datacenter developers, including Amazon and Duke Energy, are manipulating EPA air pollution permitting processes by dividing emissions sources into multiple "minor" permits to avoid "major" source reviews and associated emission controls. Cases cited include North Carolina (Amazon/Duke with 649 diesel generators), New Mexico (Project Jupiter proposing two natural gas microgrids), and Maryland (four datacenters on one campus). The tactic reduces public scrutiny and regulatory oversight while potentially exposing low-income communities to increased air pollution.

Supporting reports

• Administration refuses to spend $810 million Congress appropriated — On September 26, the Trump administration announced it is refusing to spend $810 million that Congress appropriated on a bipartisan basis for research in Health and Human Services and programs serving immigrants and minority groups, characterizing the spending as "wasteful and harmful government spending that does not benefit American citizens." The Government Accountability Office has determined that such "pocket rescissions" are unconstitutional, as they violate the constitutional requirement that the president "take care that the laws be faithfully executed" and usurp Congress's power of the purse.
• Administration announced refusal to spend approximately one billion dollars Congress appropriated for programs helping Americans — On Friday, September 27, the Trump administration announced it was refusing to spend approximately one billion dollars that Congress had appropriated for programs designed to help the American people. The nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) stated that this refusal to spend congressionally appropriated funds is illegal. The action came as the administration faced criticism over other spending decisions and policy implementations.
• Sen. Collins denounced $810 million in pocket rescissions — Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) posted on X that Congress received an $810 million package of pocket rescissions from the administration without warning or consultation. Collins stated this represents an attempt by OMB to undermine Congress's constitutional power of the purse, violating the Impoundment Control Act. She noted the OMB intentionally withheld funds for months to execute the unlawful cancellation of bipartisan appropriations. Collins pledged to work with colleagues to address the illegal actions.
• Government Accountability Office found Trump's funding cancellation unconstitutional — The Government Accountability Office sent a letter to congressional leaders on September 29 stating that Trump's cancellation of $810 million in federal funding, primarily for Health and Human Services programs serving refugees and asylum seekers, violated the Constitution. Trump used the "pocket rescission" process to bypass Congress, ensuring the funds would go unspent before the end of the fiscal year.
• Complaint filed: State of California et al. v. Trump (N.D. Cal. 3:26-cv-11185) — Seven states (California, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oregon) filed a complaint in the Northern District of California challenging President Trump's Sept. 25, 2026 rescission of $810 million in federal appropriations, including $567 million for refugee and entrant assistance at HHS. The states allege the administration timed the rescissions to expire before Congress could act under the Impoundment Control Act and withheld additional funds as "quiet impoundments." They seek declaratory relief, injunctive relief, and an order compelling the administration to obligate and spend the withheld funds, arguing the impoundments violate the separation of powers, the Presentment Clause, and the Administrative Procedure Act.
• Complaint filed: State of New York v. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development — The State of New York filed suit in federal district court challenging HUD's decision not to obligate $56.1 million in congressionally appropriated funds for the Housing Counseling program. Trump announced a "pocket rescission" of the funds on September 25, 2026, citing alleged failure to reduce delinquencies and claiming grantees pursued "DEI-centric discriminatory agendas." New York alleges HUD exceeded its statutory authority, violated the Administrative Procedure Act, and breached the mandatory obligation requirement in 12 U.S.C. § 1701x(a)(4)(A). The state seeks declaratory relief, vacatur of HUD's decisions, and an order compelling full obligation of the appropriation.
• Trump administration withheld $810 million in congressionally allocated funds — The Trump administration is refusing to spend $810 million in funds that Congress allocated. More than half of the withheld money—over $405 million—is designated for programs supporting refugees, asylees, and other non-citizens. The impoundment represents an assertion of executive power over congressionally mandated spending.

Supporting reports

• RFK Jr. funded personal security from Office of Minority Health — The Wall Street Journal reported that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. funded enhanced personal security by taking funds from the department's Office of Minority Health, an office created by the Reagan administration after research showed disparities in Black life expectancy and infant mortality. Kennedy also accepted $4 million in book advances and more than $270,000 in gifts from allies connected to the "Make American Healthy Again" movement interested in policy changes, and his wife accepted $210,000 in consulting fees from a MAHA advocacy group.

Supporting reports

• Elizabeth Siders pleads not guilty to child endangerment and neglect charges — Elizabeth Siders, 34, pleaded not guilty in Vinton County Court, Ohio, to 16 counts of child endangerment and neglect after her 16 children (ages 17 months to 18 years) were rescued from "deplorable conditions" in July 2026. The children had been confined to a single 12-by-12-foot room for approximately four years, did not attend school, and some could not speak. Siders and her husband Gary Siders Jr. face additional charges of sexual battery and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor involving a relative aged 13–16. The judge raised her bond from $250,000 to $550,000 and ordered no contact with her husband.

Supporting reports

• Federal Reserve raised interest rates by quarter percentage point — The Federal Reserve's board voted unanimously to raise interest rates by a quarter percentage point to a target range of 3.75% to 4%, the first rate increase since July 2023. The decision came amid rising diesel and gasoline prices driven by Houthi threats to the Bab el-Mandeb strait and Iranian strikes on U.S. military bases. Trump had previously threatened to cut off trade with countries unless the Fed lowered rates.
• Trump calls Federal Reserve rate increase politically motivated against him — Trump claimed the Federal Reserve raised interest rates to harm his political standing, stating "they're doing it to make Trump do as bad as possible." The bulletin notes that every Trump nominee to the Federal Reserve voted to raise rates, contradicting Trump's assertion that the decision was politically motivated against him rather than based on economic policy.
• Federal Reserve raises interest rates, increasing borrowing costs — The Federal Reserve raised interest rates on Wednesday, increasing the cost of borrowing for mortgages, auto loans, and credit card debt at a time when many voters are already paying high rates. The rate increase is expected to negatively impact Republican electoral prospects in the midterms, as voter anger over high prices and economic conditions is cited as a major factor in GOP electoral decline.
• Federal Reserve raises interest rates despite Trump opposition — The Federal Reserve, chaired by Trump appointee Kevin Warsh, raised its benchmark interest rate by 0.25 percentage points to 3.75%–4%, marking the first rate hike in three years. Warsh described the decision as "sober," "serious," and "responsible." Trump lashed out, telling reporters the board was "very hostile" and "very political," though he avoided directly blaming Warsh, instead attributing the decision to board hostility.
• Mortgage rates and gas prices surge before midterms — The Wall Street Journal reported that mortgage rates have climbed close to 7%, gas prices are near their highest levels since 2022, and the Federal Reserve raised interest rates for the first time in three years. These increases have made buying a house and filling a gas tank more expensive than a week prior, putting affordability back in the spotlight before midterm elections. For five months, wage gains have not kept pace with inflation, and with sharp recent increases in gas prices, wages are unlikely to keep pace in the current month. A veteran Republican strategist noted that despite some wage increases, voters have not concluded they are in a better position to handle current prices.

Supporting reports

• Complaint filed: State of New York v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security — New York, 21 other states, the District of Columbia, and the Governor of Pennsylvania filed a complaint in the Southern District of New York challenging a July 20, 2026 DHS final rule that rescinded the 2022 regulatory definition of "public charge" and replaced it with a broader, undefined standard tied to likely use of any means-tested public benefit. The complaint alleges the rule and accompanying USCIS implementing guidance are contrary to law, in excess of statutory authority, and arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act, and that the guidance constitutes an unlawful legislative rule issued without notice-and-comment procedures. Plaintiffs seek vacatur, declaratory and injunctive relief, and attorney fees, estimating the rule will cost them $2.2 billion in reduced federal payments and create added public health and administrative burdens.
• Trump administration implements expanded "public charge" rule restricting green card eligibility based on public benefits use — The Trump administration issued a new policy expanding the "public charge" rule to allow immigration officers to deny green cards to applicants who use public benefits including Medicaid, food stamps, and housing vouchers. The rule is more expansive than a similar first-term attempt, now permitting officers to consider benefits applied for on behalf of family members, including U.S. citizen children. A coalition of 22 states and D.C., led by New York, filed suit Monday challenging the policy as unlawful and economically harmful to states and families.

Supporting reports

• ICE enforcement operations in Springfield, Ohio result in mass detentions and deportations of Haitian immigrants — Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have been active in Springfield for approximately one month, conducting enforcement operations that have resulted in thousands of Haitian immigrants fleeing the city or being detained and deported. Hundreds remain in jail awaiting processing. The enforcement campaign has created a climate of fear among the Haitian community, including students who declined interviews with media outlets for fear of detention and deportation. An ICE spokesperson stated the agency is not responsible for Pierre Damas Bel's death.

Supporting reports

• GasBuddy warns diesel price surge will increase inflation and supply chain costs — GasBuddy issued a statement warning that record diesel prices will have cascading economic effects across supply chains, raising costs for groceries, household goods, deliveries, and other consumer products. The company's head of petroleum analysis stated the record price "will be a particularly painful one for the economy" and is "likely to reignite inflation up and down the supply chain," predicting a costlier holiday season.
• Oil prices spike to $109 per barrel amid Red Sea tensions — Following Houthi seizure of the Mocha port and attacks on Saudi oil facilities, crude oil prices jumped to $109 per barrel. U.S. gasoline prices rose to an average of approximately $4.28 per gallon, and diesel fuel reached $6.00 per gallon for the first time in history, up from approximately $3.70 one year prior.

Supporting reports

• Florida Attorney General sues Netflix over alleged deceptive data collection practices targeting minors — Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed a 66-page lawsuit against Netflix on Wednesday, alleging the company misled parents about data collection on minors and designed features to encourage excessive viewing. The complaint claims Netflix promised not to track and monetize user data like other tech companies but violated that pledge after launching its advertising service in November 2022, allegedly sharing Floridians' data with commercial brokers and advertisers without required consent under Florida law.

Supporting reports

• AFL-CIO releases report warning electronic shelf labels will cost jobs and enable surveillance pricing — The AFL-CIO Tech Institute released a policy brief analyzing electronic shelf label (ESL) manufacturers' marketing materials, concluding that universal adoption could eliminate 44,223 to 191,633 jobs and cost workers $1.6 billion to $6.9 billion annually in lost wages. The report warns ESLs enable algorithmic "surveillance pricing" that changes prices based on personal data, potentially raising grocery costs further. The AFL-CIO calls for a federal ban on electronic labels and surveillance pricing to protect workers and consumers.

Supporting reports

• Study estimates 700,000 deaths from USAID funding halt — In July 2026, NPR reported on a study by Boston University infectious disease modeler Brooke Nichols estimating that more than 700,000 people died from the sudden stop in USAID funding, including more than half a million children in developing countries. The study quantified the humanitarian toll of Musk's dismantling of the agency.

Supporting reports

• Trump's trade war and Iran conflict contributed to inflation — Trump refused for months to help pass a major legislative package designed to lower housing costs. His ongoing trade wars and conflict with Iran have contributed to persistent inflation. A recent import deal designed to address rising beef prices came at the cost of upsetting American cattlemen. GOP lawmakers had urged Trump to address the high cost of living, but he openly scoffed at "affordability" as a Democratic talking point.

Supporting reports

• Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals dismisses Jackson residents' constitutional right to clean water lawsuit — The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld dismissal of a 2022 lawsuit filed by Jackson, Mississippi residents claiming that tainted drinking water violated their constitutional rights. The court ruled that the federal Constitution does not guarantee a right to clean water and that states have no constitutional duty to provide water services in a competent fashion. The court suggested residents pursue tort claims or electoral remedies instead, while acknowledging "serious government misfeasance" but declining to convert such claims into constitutional violations.

Supporting reports

• ICE bans contact visits at California City detention center — Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has implemented a blanket prohibition on contact visits at the California City detention facility, the state's largest ICE detention center housing approximately 1,600 people. The facility, operated by private prison firm CoreCivic, permits only non-contact visits through glass barriers with phone communication. A California Department of Justice audit found the policy appeared to violate CoreCivic's own stated standards. Detained residents and families have launched a "Hugs Beyond Bars" campaign demanding the policy be reversed.

Supporting reports

• DOJ issues legal opinion expanding state reporting requirements for undocumented immigrants — The Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel issued a legal opinion reversing a 1998 Clinton-era interpretation that had limited state reporting obligations for undocumented immigrants to the specific welfare agency administering federal programs. The new opinion, authored by Deputy Assistant Attorney General Joshua Craddock, requires any state receiving federal funds through TANF or SSI to report undocumented immigrants across its entire state government. Assistant Attorney General T Elliot Gaiser defended the reinterpretation as necessary to prevent federal funds from encouraging illegal entry. The policy applies prospectively only; states may withdraw from the programs if they object.
• Justice Department Clarifies Duty of States to Report Known Illegal Aliens Under Welfare-Reform Law — The Department of Justice announced this on 2026-09-02 through Office of Legal Counsel. The department's own account of it reads: "The Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel has issued a legal opinion clarifying that when a state chooses to participate in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs, all agencies within that state — not only those that administer TANF or SSI benefits — must report individuals known to be not lawfully present in the United States to the …"

Supporting reports

• Los Angeles County sues State Farm for false advertising and underpaying wildfire victims — Los Angeles County filed a 107-page lawsuit against State Farm on behalf of California residents, seeking at least $160 million in restitution plus civil penalties of up to $2,500 per violation. The complaint alleges State Farm systematically failed to pay benefits to 2025 LA wildfire victims, refused to authorize environmental testing for contamination, and delayed or denied claims until policyholders contacted the press or EPA representatives. The lawsuit also cites State Farm's "Halfway There" Super Bowl advertising campaign as false advertising, arguing the company marketed complete claims service while delivering inadequate coverage to its own California policyholders.
• California Department of Insurance found State Farm violated state law in majority of wildfire claims reviewed — The California Department of Insurance (CDI) concluded that State Farm "delayed, underpaid, and buried policyholders in red tape at the worst moment of their lives." CDI found that in more than half of the claims it reviewed related to the 2025 LA wildfires, State Farm violated state law. The agency's findings are cited as evidence in the Los Angeles County lawsuit and document systematic violations of insurance regulations affecting disaster victims.
• Los Angeles County sues State Farm for wildfire benefits denial — Los Angeles County filed a lawsuit against State Farm alleging that the insurance company failed to pay benefits to victims of the 2025 LA wildfires. The lawsuit cites State Farm's Super Bowl advertisement claiming comprehensive coverage and seeks at least $160 million in restitution for the alleged failure to honor claims.

Supporting reports

• Department of Labor rescinds coordinated enforcement regulations for migrant farmworker protections — The Department of Labor finalized a rule rescinding 29 CFR Part 42, which established formal procedures for coordination of enforcement activities among the Wage and Hour Division, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and Employment and Training Administration regarding migrant and seasonal farmworkers. The Department determined the 1980 regulations are obsolete, no longer reflect current organizational structure or operational practices, and are unnecessary because modern coordination mechanisms—including interagency working groups, task forces, and statutory frameworks under the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act and H-2A visa program—have proven effective. The rule becomes effective September 30, 2026.