Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Vice President Vance announces withholding of $1.3 billion in Medicaid payments from California — Vice President J.D. Vance announced that the Trump administration intends to withhold $1.3 billion in Medicaid payments from California, citing alleged fraud in state Medicaid programs and claiming the state is not cooperating with federal anti-fraud efforts. The announcement was made during a visit to Maine where Vance promoted the administration's stated anti-fraud agenda in public services.

Supporting reports

• JD Vance threatens to withhold federal Medicaid and Medicare funding from states refusing anti-fraud compliance — Vice President JD Vance announced that the Trump administration will threaten to "turn off" federal Medicaid and Medicare funding to states that do not comply with the administration's fraud investigation efforts. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services simultaneously halted new enrollments for hospices and home health agencies for six months pending fraud investigation. The HHS Inspector General sent letters to all 50 state attorneys general warning that non-compliance with fraud audits of Medicaid Fraud Control Units puts "all of your state's Medicaid funds in jeopardy," despite legal experts noting the HHS lacks statutory authority to withhold all state Medicaid funds.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration cuts all federal funding to Minnesota USDA programs — Trump's USDA cut off all federal funding to Minnesota, following earlier efforts to cut childcare funding to multiple blue states before a federal judge blocked that action. The funding cut is described as a deliberate act of economic punishment targeting a state that did not vote for Trump.

Supporting reports

• White House OMB argues furloughed federal workers not entitled to back pay under GEFTA — The White House Office of Management and Budget issued a draft memo arguing that the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act (GEFTA) of 2019 does not automatically guarantee back pay to furloughed federal workers during the ongoing government shutdown. OMB General Counsel Mark Paoletta stated that Congress must include express appropriations language for back pay in legislation ending the shutdown. The OMB previously removed references to GEFTA from shutdown guidance. An estimated 750,000 federal workers have been furloughed as of the shutdown's seventh day.
• White House OMB memo argues federal workers not entitled to back pay — On Tuesday, the White House Office of Management and Budget released a memo contending that federal workers are not entitled to back pay during the shutdown, contradicting a 2019 law that mandates such compensation. House Speaker Mike Johnson subsequently stated at a press conference that he believes federal employees should receive back pay, citing statutory law. The memo represents an attempt to reduce pressure on Republicans to end the shutdown quickly.
• White House threatens federal workforce layoffs during shutdown — White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that if the shutdown continued, the Trump administration would lay off federal employees, despite federal law entitling them to back pay. She also warned that a food assistance program for low-income mothers and children would exhaust its funding. Director of OMB Russ Vought had already cancelled funding for energy and transportation projects in Democratic-governed states.
• Administration announces continuation of illegal cuts during government shutdown — On October 1, 2025, as the government shutdown began, Office of Management and Budget director Russell Vought announced plans to use the shutdown to implement $26 billion in cuts to infrastructure and climate projects in Democratic-led states, as well as to lay off federal employees instead of furloughing them. This action is part of a broader strategy to impose significant cuts to government programs.
• OMB floats denial of back pay guarantee for furloughed federal workers — The Office of Management and Budget issued a memo suggesting that federal workers furloughed during a government shutdown are not guaranteed back pay when the shutdown ends, departing from the administration's own guidance issued the previous month. This reverses the 2019 law that President Trump himself signed to guarantee such pay. Administration officials told media outlets the memo is intended to give Republicans leverage in shutdown negotiations with Democrats. OMB director Russell Vought had previously threatened mass firings if Democrats refused the Republican continuing resolution.
• Trump suggested not all furloughed employees deserve back pay — Speaking to reporters alongside Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Trump suggested that not all furloughed federal employees should receive back pay following the government shutdown. He noted, "It depends on who we're talking about," and added, "We're going to take care of our people. There are some people that really don't deserve to be taken care of, and we'll take care of them in a different way."
• OMB revised guidance removing back pay guarantee — Government Executive reported that the Office of Management and Budget quietly revised a guidance document last week to remove references to a law passed during Trump's first term, guaranteeing all federal workers back pay following a government shutdown.
• Trump signals furloughed federal workers may not receive back pay — During a White House event, President Trump stated that some furloughed federal workers may not receive customary back pay when the government reopens, saying "there are some people that don't deserve to be taken care of" and that back pay "depends on who we're talking about." This breaks with historical precedent and creates uncertainty for unpaid workers already under financial strain.

Supporting reports

• Cuts to healthcare for 9/11 first responders reported — Reports indicate that cuts to a program funding healthcare for first responders and survivors of the September 11 attacks have left many patients uncertain about their cancer treatment coverage.
• Cuts to IRS enforcement budget announced — The Trump administration announced a 31% cut to the enforcement wing of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which is expected to exacerbate tax evasion among high earners, costing the government approximately $700 billion annually.
• Cuts to USAID contracts reported — The Trump administration's cuts to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) are projected to result in approximately $2 billion less in contracts for American farmers and leave food that could feed millions rotting in government warehouses.
• Trump administration cuts grants for Harvard University — The Trump administration cut an additional $450 million in grants for Harvard University, expanding a lawsuit by the school against the administration for violating proper procedures and First Amendment rights.
• Trump administration cuts federal grants to Harvard University — The Trump administration cut off federal grants to Harvard University over allegations of racial discrimination against white and Asian individuals. This action is part of a broader initiative to address perceived discrimination in hiring and admissions practices at the university.