Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Trump signed executive order dismantling Voice of America and USAGM — In late March 2025, President Trump signed a late-night executive order aimed at dismantling the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) and its flagship international broadcaster, Voice of America. The order directed USAGM to cancel federal grants supporting VoA's sister outlets—Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks. VoA's broadcast went dark for the first time since its founding in World War II, with approximately 1,300 employees placed on administrative leave. A federal judge blocked the dismantling in April, but subsequent court orders have kept VoA staff sidelined while litigation continues.
• Voice of America representatives sue Trump administration over shutdown attempt — In March 2025, representatives for Voice of America sued the administration, arguing that the shutdown violated their freedom of speech.
• Trump administration dismantled U.S. Agency for Global Media programming — The Trump administration dismantled most of the U.S. Agency for Global Media in March 2025, eliminating billions of dollars in foreign aid and influence programs. The action resulted in the removal of Voice of America content from Indonesian news channels that previously featured both U.S. government-backed and Chinese state media reports. Kari Lake, the official overseeing the retrenchment, accused the agency of misusing funds. The elimination affected decades of U.S. foreign-policy efforts and soft-power initiatives.

Supporting reports

• ICE arrested legal permanent resident without warrant or legal counsel access — In March 2025, Mahmoud Khalil, a legal permanent resident and Columbia University student, was arrested by ICE and transferred to a detention facility in Louisiana without a warrant or access to legal counsel, representing a departure from previous practice. The incident is cited as part of a pattern of policy shifts under the current administration affecting federal agency operations and civil liberties.
• ICE arrests Columbia graduate student Mahmoud Khalil in retaliation for Palestinian advocacy — Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student and green card holder, was arrested by ICE in March 2025. According to ACLU analysis of surveillance footage released in May, the arrest was illegal and conducted in retaliation for Khalil's advocacy for Palestinian rights. The Trump administration falsely claimed Khalil attempted to flee during the arrest. Khalil remains detained in Louisiana awaiting a judge's ruling on his case.
• Mahmoud Khalil arrested by federal immigration authorities for Palestinian activism — Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student and permanent resident, was arrested by federal immigration authorities in early March 2025 for his Palestinian activism. He was detained in front of his pregnant wife, Noor, a U.S. citizen. The arrest occurred amid a broader pattern of federal immigration enforcement targeting students engaged in pro-Gaza activism across multiple U.S. universities.
• Trump administration detained Mahmoud Khalil for pro-Palestinian activism without criminal charges — Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia graduate and international student activist, was detained by plainclothes ICE agents in early March 2025 in the lobby of his Columbia building. The Trump administration held him for over three months at an ICE facility in Louisiana, invoking a rarely used immigration provision allowing the secretary of state to order deportation based on alleged adverse effect on U.S. foreign policy. No criminal charges were filed. The administration accused Khalil of antisemitism and pro-Hamas advocacy without providing evidence, despite Jewish students and faculty submitting court documents supporting him.
• ICE arrests legal permanent resident for pro-Palestine protest leadership — In March 2025, immigration agents arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a legal permanent resident, for his leadership role in pro-Palestine protests at Columbia University. Khalil remains in detention as of the article's publication, representing targeted enforcement against an immigrant for political speech and protest activity.

Supporting reports

• Swarthmore College places student on probation for protest participation — UT, a Muslim woman of color and Swarthmore College senior, was placed on probation until graduation on 6 March 2025 for violating the college's code of conduct during pro-Palestinian rallies between October 2023 and March 2024. The college provided evidence including CCTV footage of UT walking on a campus path. UT reported that surveillance disproportionately targeted students of color and first-generation, low-income students, with few white students charged.
• Swarthmore College suspends student for Palestine protest disruption — EK, a final-semester senior at Swarthmore College, was suspended for one semester in March 2025 for disrupting the college's trustees' dinner in December 2023 using a bullhorn to demand divestment from products fueling Israel's war on Gaza. A disciplinary panel found her responsible for assault and other code of conduct violations. As a first-generation, low-income student on financial aid, EK lost her school job and campus housing during the suspension, though the college later agreed to pay for off-campus housing. She remains barred from on-campus events and graduation ceremonies.

Supporting reports

• White House issues press release attacking Democratic lawmaker Eugene Vindman — The White House published a press release titled "Another Democrat Lawmaker Roots Against American Success" attacking Rep. Eugene Vindman for stating he is "hard pressed to think of a worse 45 days" in American history than the first six weeks of President Trump's second term. The release characterizes Vindman's statement as "stupid" and "moronic," claims he suffers from "Trump Derangement Syndrome," and lists administration claims about border crossings, hostage releases, investment commitments, and other policy achievements as evidence Vindman's criticism is unfounded.

Supporting reports

• Trump threatens to halt federal funding for universities — On Truth Social, President Trump threatened to halt federal funding to colleges and universities that allow "illegal protests." He also called for the expulsion and arrest of student "agitators," raising concerns about academic freedom and free speech on campuses.

Supporting reports

• Department of Homeland Security revokes green card of Columbia student Yunseo Chung for anti-war activism — Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and federal prosecutors revoked the permanent residency (green card) of Yunseo Chung, a Columbia University student, in early March 2025 following her participation in anti-war demonstrations. Chung filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, accusing it of using "immigration enforcement as a bludgeon to suppress speech that they dislike." A federal judge blocked immigration officials from detaining her pending the outcome of her lawsuit.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration targets noncitizen academics for pro-Palestinian speech and activism — The Trump administration, through the Department of Homeland Security and directed by executive orders signed in January 2025, has arrested and deported or sought to deport noncitizen students and scholars for pro-Palestinian activism and speech. Targets include Mahmoud Khalil (Columbia University graduate) and Rümeysa Öztürk (Tufts University student). The administration relied on dossiers compiled by the rightwing Canary Mission and information from the far-right Zionist group Betar USA to identify targets. Federal judges have ordered the release of detainees, but the administration continues enforcement efforts.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration cancels $400 million in Columbia University funding — In March 2025, the Trump administration canceled $400 million in federal funding for Columbia University, the epicenter of pro-Palestinian campus protests in 2024. Columbia subsequently agreed to significant administrative changes demanded by the administration, including placing its Middle Eastern studies department under new supervision, banning face masks on campus, expanding police powers, and staffing up its Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies.
• Trump administration withholds federal funding from Columbia University over antisemitism allegations — The Trump administration pulled $400 million in federal grants and contracts from Columbia University, alleging the institution failed to protect students from antisemitic harassment tied to pro-Palestinian campus protests. Columbia subsequently agreed to changes demanded by the administration as a condition for restoring funding. The administration has also warned at least 60 other universities of possible action and announced a review of $9 billion in federal contracts and grants to Harvard University over similar allegations.
• DOJ, HHS, ED, and GSA announce cancellation of $400 million in federal grants and contracts to Columbia University — The Department of Justice, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Education, and General Services Administration announced the immediate cancellation of approximately $400 million in federal grants and contracts to Columbia University, citing the university's alleged failure to protect Jewish students from harassment and anti-Semitic conduct. The agencies stated the action was taken under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act following a March 3rd notice to the university's acting president. Columbia University holds more than $5 billion in total federal grant commitments. The announcement characterizes the cancellation as the first round of action, with additional cancellations expected.

Supporting reports

• Trump issued executive order suspending Jenner & Block security clearances — In March 2025, President Trump signed an executive order titled "Addressing Risks from Jenner & Block" that suspended security clearances for lawyers at the firm and restricted their access to government buildings, officials, and federal contracting work. Trump accused the firm of engaging in activities that "undermine justice and the interests of the United States" and specifically criticized it for employing Andrew Weissmann, who had worked on the Mueller investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 campaign.