Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• FDA approves fruit-flavored vapes after Trump pressure overrides agency scientists — The FDA approved fruit-flavored vapes for the first time after Trump pressured Commissioner Makary to override agency scientists who had halted the approval. Trump made calls over the weekend to pressure the decision. The approval occurred on Tuesday, with the news release attributing the decision to "President Trump's leadership" rather than standard regulatory processes, marking direct political interference in drug approval.
• FDA limits Covid vaccines and refuses Moderna flu vaccine consideration — Vinay Prasad, head of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), overruled center scientists to limit Covid vaccines and refused to consider Moderna's new mRNA-based flu vaccine. The flu vaccine decision was quickly reversed after public outcry. Prasad worked with Commissioner Makary to create a new vaccine approval framework announced through a journal article rather than standard agency processes.
• Trump administration pressures FDA commissioner over fruit-flavored vape approval — Trump signed off on a plan to fire FDA Commissioner Marty Makary in early May 2026 after scolding him for not approving fruit-flavored vapes, according to the Wall Street Journal. Makary had initially overridden agency scientists to halt approval of the first fruit-flavored vapes before the FDA announced the approval would move forward. The dispute exemplifies broader tensions between Trump and Makary over regulatory independence.

Supporting reports

• Department of Government Efficiency uses AI tool to create federal regulation "delete list" — The Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), formerly led by Elon Musk, is using an artificial intelligence tool called the "Doge AI Deregulation Decision Tool" to analyze 200,000 federal regulations and identify those for elimination. Internal documents obtained by the Washington Post show the tool has already been deployed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development to review over 1,000 regulatory sections and by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to draft deregulations. Doge claims 100,000 regulations can be eliminated, with a goal of cutting 50% of all federal regulations by the first anniversary of Trump's second inauguration.
• DOGE staff use AI to eliminate half of government regulations — Staff associated with the "Department of Government Efficiency" are using artificial intelligence to eliminate half of the government's regulations by January 2026. James Burnham, former chief attorney for DOGE, described this as a "creative deployment of artificial intelligence to advance the president's regulatory agenda" as a strategy to make significant progress during Trump's term.

Supporting reports

• Trump EPA plans to remove power plant emissions restrictions — The Trump administration's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reportedly drafted a plan to eliminate all restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions from coal and gas-fired power plants in the United States. The EPA claims these emissions are not significant enough to warrant regulation. This move is part of a broader deregulatory effort targeting various environmental protections. The plan is expected to face legal challenges and public comment before implementation. Critics argue that this action ignores the significant contribution of U.S. power plants to global emissions and the associated public health impacts.
• Trump’s EPA announces rollbacks to power plant pollution limits — The Trump administration's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a plan to roll back regulations on power plant emissions. This includes repealing a climate rule aimed at eliminating greenhouse gases from power plants by the 2030s and weakening the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards. The rollbacks are expected to increase pollution levels significantly, despite scientific evidence of the harmful effects of such pollutants. The proposals will be open for public comment and are anticipated to face legal challenges.

Supporting reports

• Trump Administration Dismantles Consumer Product Safety Commission — The Trump administration has begun dismantling the Consumer Product Safety Commission, raising concerns about the regulation of unsafe consumer products. Karoline Leavitt defended the move, stating that the president has the authority to make changes within the executive branch.

Supporting reports

• Trump’s EPA plans to end Energy Star program — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Trump administration plans to end the Energy Star program, which has certified energy efficiency for home appliances for over 30 years. This decision is part of broader agency cuts and the dissolution of the EPA’s office of atmospheric protection and the office of air quality planning and standards. The move has been criticized for potentially increasing utility bills for consumers and removing a popular non-regulatory collaboration between the private sector and the federal government.

Supporting reports

• EPA dissolves its office of science and technology — The Environmental Protection Agency announced the dissolution of its office of science and technology, which was responsible for developing scientific research and guidelines for water policy. This decision is part of a broader restructuring plan under the Trump administration, which also includes adding 130 positions to the office of chemical safety and pollution prevention to address a backlog of chemical and pesticide reviews. The move has been criticized for potentially compromising the scientific integrity of the agency's work.
• Trump administration announces cuts to EPA staff and budget — The Trump administration, through EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, announced a significant reduction in the Environmental Protection Agency's staff and budget, cutting it to levels reminiscent of the 1980s. The budget will be slashed by $300 million for the fiscal year 2026, and the Office of Research and Development (ORD) will see its 1,500 staff members needing to reapply for about 400 new positions. This move is part of a broader overhaul aimed at aligning with Trump's goals of energy independence and cost-cutting. Critics warn that these changes could undermine scientific independence and turn the EPA into a political entity.

Supporting reports

• Trump Administration Cuts Federal Climate Science Agencies — The Trump administration has enacted sweeping cuts to federal agencies like NOAA and FEMA, firing climate scientists and halting data collection. These actions have disrupted climate research and preparedness, with significant implications for national and global climate response capabilities. The administration bypassed congressional oversight, using executive orders to implement these changes.
• Trump Administration Rolls Back Environmental Regulations — In the first 100 days of his second term, President Trump has taken over 140 actions to roll back environmental regulations, including rewriting pollution limits for vehicles and power plants, and reconsidering the public health impact of greenhouse gases. The administration has also accelerated environmental reviews for drilling projects and rescinded water efficiency standards. These actions have faced legal challenges, with courts scrutinizing the administration's attempts to bypass standard regulatory procedures.
• Trump Signs Executive Orders to Boost Fossil Fuel Industry — President Trump signed executive orders to ease restrictions on fossil fuel extraction and exports, appointing industry supporters to key federal positions. The administration has also exempted the fossil fuel industry from certain tariffs, despite economic instability caused by these policies. These actions have been criticized for prioritizing industry interests over environmental and economic stability.
• Trump Targets Public Lands and Environmental Protections — The Trump administration has rescinded protections for federal waters and initiated changes to the National Environmental Policy Act, reducing public oversight. Plans include fast-tracking mining and drilling on public lands and rolling back the Endangered Species Act. These actions threaten conservation efforts and public land management.
• Trump administration declares an "energy emergency" to expand drilling — President Trump has declared an "energy emergency" to open more land and ocean areas for oil and gas drilling. This declaration is part of a broader effort to increase fossil fuel production in the United States, reversing environmental regulations and dismissing climate science. The administration's actions have led to a surge in expected greenhouse gas emissions from US oil and gas fields, contributing to global climate change concerns.
• Trump administration halts approvals of new solar and wind projects on federal lands and waters — The Trump administration has stopped the approval of new solar and wind projects on federal lands and waters. This move is part of a broader agenda to promote fossil fuels and reduce support for renewable energy. The administration has also criticized subsidies for clean energy and imposed high tariffs on solar panels from countries like Vietnam, Cambodia, and Malaysia. These actions have led to the cancellation or downsizing of several large-scale clean energy projects, affecting planned investments in renewable energy.