Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Trump administration terminates 639 employees at Voice of America — The Trump administration announced the termination of 639 employees at Voice of America (VOA) and its parent organization, the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM). This move is part of a broader effort that has eliminated 1,400 positions since March, significantly reducing the international broadcasting service. The cuts are seen as a near-complete dismantling of an organization that once reached 360 million people weekly. The administration justified the terminations by labeling the agency as dysfunctional and biased. Legal challenges against the terminations are ongoing.
• Trump Administration Issues Layoff Notices at VOA — The Trump administration issued layoff notices to over 600 employees at Voice of America, with terminations expected by September. The layoffs significantly reduce the organization's staff and impact its operations.

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• Lawsuit Filed Against DHS for Protest Suppression — A group of journalists, legal observers, and protesters filed a lawsuit against DHS and Secretary Kristi Noem, alleging excessive force to suppress First Amendment rights. The lawsuit claims the actions threaten press freedom and protest rights.

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• Journalist Mario Guevara Arrested and Transferred to ICE — Mario Guevara, a Spanish-language journalist, was arrested by police in metro Atlanta while covering the "No Kings" protest. He was charged with pedestrian improperly entering a roadway, obstruction of a law enforcement officer, and unlawful assembly. After being released on a recognizance bond, Guevara was transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. Guevara, originally from El Salvador, has been in the U.S. for over 20 years and is known for his coverage of immigration enforcement. The circumstances of his arrest and transfer to ICE have raised concerns about press freedom and the treatment of journalists.
• Journalist Mario Guevara Transferred to ICE Custody — Spanish-language journalist Mario Guevara was transferred to ICE custody after being arrested while covering a protest. Despite having a valid work permit, he was charged with multiple offenses. Reports indicate he was complying with officer orders before his detention.

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• California Senator Alex Padilla forcibly removed from DHS press conference — California Senator Alex Padilla was forcibly removed by federal agents from a Department of Homeland Security press conference while attempting to ask Secretary Kristi Noem a question. Padilla was performing congressional oversight of federal operations in Los Angeles related to the deployment of troops and ICE raids. He was handcuffed and forced to the ground but not detained. Padilla's office stated that he was exercising his duty to oversee federal government actions.
• California Senator Alex Padilla removed from press conference — During a press conference, California Senator Alex Padilla was forcibly removed by federal agents when he attempted to ask questions about the immigration raids. Padilla, a ranking member of the judiciary subcommittee on immigration, was restrained and taken out of the room by Secret Service agents. The incident has drawn condemnation from California leaders and raised concerns about the suppression of political dissent and oversight.
• Democratic Senator Forcibly Removed from News Conference — Democratic Senator Alex Padilla was forcibly removed and handcuffed during a news conference held by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. The incident raises concerns about the treatment of elected officials and the suppression of dissent.

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• House Republicans Pass Bill to Defund Public Broadcasters — House Republicans narrowly passed a $9.4 billion "rescissions" bill that includes defunding public broadcasters NPR and PBS. The bill now moves to the Senate, where it faces further debate and potential opposition.

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• ABC News Suspends Correspondent Over Trump Criticism — ABC News suspended senior national correspondent Terry Moran after he tweeted criticism of President Trump and Stephen Miller, calling them "world-class hater[s]." The suspension followed the administration's outreach to ABC, suggesting pressure on media organizations to conform to government expectations.
• ABC fires political correspondent Terry Moran — ABC's chief political correspondent Terry Moran was fired for a post about Stephen Miller, which has been interpreted as a capitulation to pressure from Trump.

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• DOJ to Investigate Statements by Democratic Politicians — The Trump administration has asked the Justice Department to investigate statements made by Democratic politicians, including calls for ICE agents to be unmasked, to determine if they threaten ICE officers. This move is part of a broader effort to scrutinize and potentially criminalize political speech against federal immigration enforcement.

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• Trump administration requests Congress to rescind $9.4bn in funding — The Trump administration formally requested Congress to rescind $9.4 billion in already approved funding, targeting foreign aid and public broadcasters such as NPR and PBS. This move follows an executive order signed by Trump in May, which cut federal funding to these media organizations. The rescission process aims to retrieve funds from programs that have already received them. The House and Senate will now consider the request, with Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson expressing support for the cuts. The White House budget director indicated that more rescission packages could follow if this effort succeeds.
• Trump requests Congress to cancel appropriated spending — The White House requested Congress to cancel $9.4 billion in already-appropriated spending identified as wasteful by the Department of Government Efficiency, targeting programs like public media and international aid.

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• NPR and Public Radio Stations File Lawsuit Against Trump's Executive Order — NPR, along with three Colorado-based public radio stations, has filed a lawsuit challenging an executive order by President Trump that cuts federal funding to media outlets he deems "biased." The lawsuit argues that the order violates the First Amendment by targeting NPR and PBS for their news coverage, which the president considers biased. The executive order, signed on May 1, aims to strip direct and indirect funding from these public media organizations. NPR and its partners seek to have the order permanently blocked and declared unconstitutional.

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• Pentagon Press Access Restricted — Gabrielle Cuccia, a correspondent for OAN, reported being fired after criticizing Pete Hegseth's restrictions on press access at the Pentagon. Cuccia claimed that the Pentagon briefing room doors were locked, a protocol not previously in place. Hegseth has not conducted any press briefings as Secretary.

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• Temporary restraining order ruling — RFE/RL, Inc. v. Lake (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00799 — The district court granted a temporary restraining order requiring the government to immediately disburse $12,174,979 to cover RFE/RL's expenditures for the month of May 2025.
• Federal Judge Orders Release of Funds to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty — A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to release over $12 million in previously allocated funding to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. The decision supports the broadcaster's mission to provide independent news in regions with restricted press freedom.

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• NPR files lawsuit against Trump administration — NPR filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over an executive order that bars the use of congressionally appropriated funds for NPR and PBS, claiming it violates the First Amendment.
• NPR files lawsuit against Trump administration over funding cuts — National Public Radio (NPR) has filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging an executive order that cuts federal funding to NPR and PBS. The lawsuit, filed in Washington, argues that the executive order violates the First Amendment by targeting NPR for news coverage that President Trump considers biased. NPR, joined by three Colorado public radio stations, seeks to have the order permanently blocked and declared unconstitutional. The executive order instructs federal agencies to cease funding NPR and PBS, claiming they promote partisanship and left-wing propaganda.
• NPR and Colorado public radio stations sue Trump administration — NPR and three Colorado public radio stations filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over an executive order that seeks to withhold congressionally appropriated funds for public media. The lawsuit claims the order constitutes retaliation against media outlets for their coverage.

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• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Restricts Press Access at the Pentagon — On May 23, 2025, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a memo significantly restricting press access within the Pentagon. The new rules confine credentialed reporters to a specific area and require them to request permission and be escorted to access other parts of the building. The memo also bans reporters from the Pentagon athletic center and mandates new press credentials with more prominent labeling. These measures are reportedly in response to recent leaks of classified and unclassified information, although they have been criticized as punitive actions against the media.

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• CBS News President Wendy McMahon Forced Out Amid Trump Lawsuit — CBS News president Wendy McMahon resigned, citing disagreements with the company amid a lawsuit related to a Kamala Harris interview. Her departure reflects the pressures media organizations face under legal and political challenges.

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• WHCA criticizes restrictions on Air Force One coverage — The White House Correspondents Association issued a statement expressing concern that Trump's trip to the Middle East marks the first time no wire service reporter was aboard Air Force One, indicating a restriction on press access.

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• Trump administration fires nearly 600 contractors at Voice of America — The Trump administration has terminated nearly 600 contractors at Voice of America (VOA), a US-funded international news network. The firings, announced on Thursday, affected mostly journalists and some administrative staff, representing more than one-third of VOA’s workforce. This move defies a recent court order requiring the government to maintain strong news operations at VOA. Many of the dismissed journalists, who are from authoritarian countries, now face deportation as their visas are tied to their jobs. The administration cited "the government’s convenience" as the reason for the firings.

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• Soon-Shiong Suppresses Critical Editorials at LA Times — Patrick Soon-Shiong, owner of the Los Angeles Times, intervened to prevent the editorial board from endorsing Kamala Harris and spiked an op-ed that was mildly critical of Trump's cabinet picks. This action reflects a broader trend of media owners influencing editorial content to align with their political preferences, particularly in the context of the Trump administration.

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• WHCA criticized exclusion of wire service reporters from Air Force One — The White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) expressed concern over the exclusion of wire service reporters from Air Force One during President Trump's trip to the Middle East. This marks the first time in history that no wire service reporter is aboard, which the WHCA views as a restriction on press coverage.

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• Arrests at Columbia University Protests — On Wednesday, Ramona Sarsgaard, daughter of actors Maggie Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard, was arrested at Columbia University during protests against Israel's war in Gaza. She received a desk appearance ticket for criminal trespassing. The protests involved students occupying the Butler library in solidarity with Palestinian liberation, leading to police intervention and multiple arrests. Columbia University officials stated that disruptions to academic activities would not be tolerated. Additionally, four student journalists were temporarily suspended for reporting on the protests, though these suspensions were later lifted.

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• White House Launches "White House Wire" Website
• White House Posts AI-Generated Image with Political Message
• White House Posts Video of Deportation Flights

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• Federal appeals court paused ruling to restore Voice for America operations — A federal appeals court paused a lower court's ruling that would have restored operations at Voice for America, a day after employees were informed they would return to work. This decision affects the programming and operations of a key U.S. government-funded media outlet.

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• Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration's Efforts to Dismantle VoA — A federal judge, Royce Lamberth, blocked the Trump administration's efforts to dismantle Voice of America (VoA) and other USAGM outlets. However, the ruling was paused on appeal, leaving VoA staff on administrative leave. The legal battle continues as VoA journalists challenge the administration's authority to dismantle the agency. The court's decision is crucial in determining the future of these media outlets, which play a vital role in providing independent news in regions with restricted press freedom.
• Appeal filed — Abramowitz v. Lake (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00887 — The D.C. Circuit en banc stayed the panel's May 3 order, but not on matters involving VOA. The D.C. Circuit en banc stayed the panel's order on the Global Media entities, restoring the district courts' orders across those cases, except for provision (1) on VOA staffing. The D.C. Circuit en banc restored Provision 2 of the district court order, which relates to grantees Networks Radio Free Asia and Middle East Broadcasting Networks. Provision 3 - on the statutory mandate that VOA "serve as a consistently reliable and authoritative source of news" - was not appealed by the government.
• Appeal filed — Widakuswara v. Kari Lake (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01015 — The D.C. Circuit en banc stayed the panel's order, restoring the district court's order.
• Case update — Middle East Broadcasting Networks v. United States (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00966 — The D.C. Circuit en banc administratively stayed the panel's order, restoring the district court's order.
• Case update — Radio Free Asia v. United States (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00907
• Case update — RFE/RL, Inc. v. Lake (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00799

Supporting reports

• Voice of America Contracts with One America News for Newsfeed — Voice of America (VoA), a government-funded organization, has contracted with One America News (OAN), a hard-right news network, to provide newsfeed and video services. This decision was announced by Kari Lake, a special adviser to VoA's parent company, who emphasized cost-saving measures. The move has sparked concerns about press freedom and the neutrality of VoA, traditionally a politically neutral news source. VoA journalists, who have been restricted from their newsroom since a March executive order, are challenging these changes in court.

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• Attorney General Pam Bondi rolls back press protections — Following critical reporting by the New York Times and Washington Post regarding the Trump administration's claims about Venezuela, Attorney General Pam Bondi used this coverage as justification to roll back protections for the press in investigations of leaks, indicating a shift towards greater government control over media narratives.

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• Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard responds to media report — Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard criticized the Wall Street Journal for allegedly politicizing and leaking classified information regarding intelligence-gathering efforts about Greenland, claiming it undermines national security and democracy.