Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Trump suggests he may pardon Ghislaine Maxwell — President Trump told reporters that he is "allowed" to pardon Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for conspiring with Jeffrey Epstein to sexually abuse children. This statement came amid the administration's refusal to release the Epstein files and ongoing DOJ meetings with Maxwell.
• Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche meets with Ghislaine Maxwell — Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche met with Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking, over two days in the week prior to July 27, 2025. The meetings occurred amid pressure on the Trump administration to disclose more information about Jeffrey Epstein's crimes and raised questions about the purpose and nature of the meetings, particularly given Maxwell's potential value as a witness or source of information.

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 administration directs ICE to increase daily arrests to 3,000, a tenfold increase from Biden administration levels — The Trump administration, through Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller, has directed ICE to achieve at least 3,000 daily arrests—a tenfold increase from the approximately 300 daily arrests during Biden's final year in office. This directive is driving the documented pattern of courthouse arrests, the targeting of migrants with ongoing cases, and the apprehension of individuals who do not meet legal criteria for expedited removal. The increased arrest targets are being met through the systematic use of immigration courthouses as enforcement sites.

Supporting reports

• Trump signs Executive Order 14321 directing federal agencies to expand civil commitment, restrict homeless encampments, and redirect homelessness funding toward institutional treatment and enforcement. — President Trump signed Executive Order 14321 on July 24, 2025, directing the Attorney General, HHS, HUD, and DOT to pursue reversal of judicial precedents limiting civil commitment; prioritize federal grants to jurisdictions enforcing anti-camping and anti-loitering laws; redirect homelessness funding away from "housing first" and "harm reduction" programs toward institutional treatment and drug courts; require data-sharing between homeless assistance recipients and law enforcement; and freeze federal assistance to programs operating drug injection sites. The order frames homelessness as a public safety and disorder issue requiring civil commitment and enforcement-focused solutions.
• Trump signs executive order to remove restrictions on forcing unhoused people into treatment and institutional settings — President Trump signed an executive order on Thursday directing the federal government to reverse judicial precedents and terminate consent decrees that restrict local governments' ability to force unhoused people into mental health treatment and "long-term institutional settings for humane treatment through the appropriate use of civil commitment." The order redirects funds toward rehabilitation and treatment programs and aims to "restore public order" by removing people from streets. The White House framed it as delivering on commitments to make America safe and end homelessness.
• Trump issues executive order on homelessness, civil commitment, and street disorder — President Donald Trump issued an executive order titled "Ending Crime and Disorder on America's Streets" on July 24, 2025, directing federal agencies to expand civil commitment of homeless individuals with mental illness or substance use disorders, enforce prohibitions on street camping and loitering, and redirect federal homelessness grants to jurisdictions meeting enforcement criteria. The order instructs the Attorney General and HHS Secretary to reverse judicial precedents limiting civil commitment, prioritize law enforcement over "housing first" policies, and condition federal funding on compliance with enforcement standards.
• White House issues fact sheet promoting executive order on homelessness, vagrancy, and public order — The White House published a fact sheet on July 24, 2025, promoting an executive order signed by President Trump directing the Attorney General to reverse judicial precedents and consent decrees limiting state and local commitment of individuals on streets; requiring coordination among federal agencies to prioritize grants for jurisdictions enforcing prohibitions on open drug use, camping, and loitering; and redirecting funding toward institutional treatment settings. The fact sheet states the order aims to move individuals experiencing homelessness and mental illness or addiction into treatment centers and assisted outpatient facilities.
• White House signed Executive Order 14321 directing civil commitment, vagrancy enforcement, and federal resource redirection on homelessness — The White House issued Executive Order 14321 on July 24, 2025, directing the Attorney General and federal agencies to pursue reversal of judicial precedents limiting civil commitment, prioritize federal grants to jurisdictions enforcing vagrancy and camping prohibitions, redirect federal homelessness funding away from "housing first" and "harm reduction" programs, and require data-sharing between homelessness service providers and law enforcement. The order states the homeless population reached 274,224 in the previous administration and claims the majority suffer from addiction or mental illness.

Supporting reports

• Trump issues Executive Order 14322 directing federal action to regulate college athletics, restrict third-party pay-for-play, and protect non-revenue sports. — President Trump signed Executive Order 14322 on July 24, 2025, establishing federal policy to stabilize college sports by prohibiting third-party pay-for-play payments to athletes, mandating expansion of women's and non-revenue sports scholarships at high-revenue athletic departments, and directing the Secretaries of Education, Labor, and the Attorney General to develop regulatory and litigation strategies within 30–60 days to enforce these policies and defend college athletics from antitrust challenges.
• Trump issues executive order on college sports governance — President Trump issued an executive order on July 24, 2025, directing federal agencies to develop policies protecting non-revenue and women's college sports while prohibiting third-party pay-for-play athlete compensation. The order tasks the Secretary of Education, Attorney General, and FTC with creating enforcement mechanisms within 30–60 days to stabilize collegiate athletics through regulatory, litigation, and policy actions, citing concerns that unregulated athlete compensation and transfer rules threaten the viability of most college sports programs.
• Trump signed Executive Order 14322 directing federal action to regulate college athletics compensation and preserve non-revenue sports. — President Trump signed Executive Order 14322 on July 24, 2025, directing the executive branch to regulate collegiate athletics through federal enforcement mechanisms. The order states that third-party pay-for-play payments to athletes are "improper" and should not be permitted, while legitimate fair-market-value endorsements may continue. It directs the Secretary of Education, Attorney General, and FTC Chair to develop enforcement plans within 30–60 days using Title IX, antitrust litigation, and federal funding decisions. The order also directs the Secretary of Labor and NLRB to clarify athlete employment status and instructs White House staff to consult the U.S. Olympic Committee on protecting collegiate athletics' role in Olympic team development.
• White House issued fact sheet on executive order regarding college sports — The White House published a fact sheet on July 24, 2025, describing an executive order signed by President Trump on college sports. The order states it aims to protect student-athletes and collegiate athletic scholarships, prohibit third-party pay-for-play payments to athletes, preserve women's and non-revenue sports opportunities, and directs federal agencies (Labor, NLRB, DOJ, FTC) to clarify athlete employment status and protect athletes' rights. The fact sheet claims the order addresses litigation and booster-funded roster payments that the document states have concentrated resources in revenue sports.

Supporting reports

• Trump signed Executive Order 14318 accelerating federal permitting for AI data center infrastructure and revoking prior EO 14141. — President Trump signed Executive Order 14318 on July 23, 2025, establishing expedited federal permitting procedures for AI data center projects and related infrastructure exceeding 100 megawatts. The order directs agencies to streamline environmental reviews under NEPA through categorical exclusions, expedite Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act permitting, facilitate programmatic consultation under the Endangered Species Act, and identify federal lands for data center development. It revokes Executive Order 14141 from January 2025 and authorizes financial support including loans, grants, and tax incentives for qualifying projects.
• Trump signed Executive Order 14319 restricting federal AI procurement to models meeting "Unbiased AI Principles" excluding diversity, equity, and inclusion frameworks. — President Trump signed Executive Order 14319 on July 23, 2025, directing federal agencies to procure only large language models (LLMs) that comply with "Unbiased AI Principles" emphasizing truth-seeking and ideological neutrality. The order defines DEI as suppression of factual information, manipulation of representation, and incorporation of concepts like critical race theory and intersectionality. OMB must issue implementation guidance within 120 days. Agencies must include compliance terms in new LLM contracts and revise existing ones where practicable, with vendor decommissioning costs charged for noncompliance.
• Trump administration unveils plan to fast-track AI infrastructure by dismantling environmental regulations — The Trump administration rolled out a 28-page scheme on Wednesday to accelerate AI sector development by removing environmental and land-use regulations, streamlining permitting for datacenters and semiconductor facilities, rolling back Biden-era climate-linked subsidy requirements, and seeking exclusions for datacenters from the National Environmental Policy Act and Clean Water Act. Trump is expected to sign three AI-related executive orders during a DC summit keynote address. The plan explicitly rejects "radical climate dogma" and pledges to review state AI laws for interference with federal authority, threatening to withhold federal funding from states with protective AI regulations.
• Trump signs three executive orders on AI, targeting "woke" models and removing environmental protections for datacentres — On Wednesday at an AI summit in Washington, Trump signed three executive orders aimed at advancing U.S. AI development. One order requires AI companies receiving federal funding to maintain "politically neutral" models free of "ideological dogmas such as DEI." A second order deregulates AI development and removes environmental protections for datacentre construction. A third expedites federal permitting for datacentre infrastructure. The orders accompany a 24-page "AI action plan" titled "Winning the Race" that repeals Biden-era AI safeguards and emphasizes speed over regulation.
• Trump issued executive order establishing American AI Exports Program to promote global deployment of U.S. AI technology packages. — President Donald Trump signed an executive order on July 23, 2025, directing the Secretary of Commerce to establish the American AI Exports Program within 90 days. The program supports development and deployment of full-stack U.S. AI technology packages—including hardware, data pipelines, AI models, security measures, and applications—to allied and partner nations. The order mobilizes federal financing tools through the Economic Diplomacy Action Group to provide loans, guarantees, equity investments, and technical assistance for selected industry consortia. The initiative aims to extend American technological dominance and reduce international dependence on adversary-developed AI systems.
• Trump issues executive order accelerating federal permitting for AI data center infrastructure — President Trump issued an executive order on July 23, 2025, directing federal agencies to streamline permitting and environmental reviews for large-scale data center projects (>100 MW) and related infrastructure. The order establishes expedited review processes under NEPA, creates categorical exclusions for environmental assessment, authorizes use of federal lands for data center development, and revokes a prior Biden-era AI infrastructure order. Agencies must identify financial support mechanisms and coordinate permitting timelines.
• Trump issues executive order requiring federal AI procurement to prioritize "truth-seeking" and "ideological neutrality" over diversity and inclusion principles. — President Donald Trump signed Executive Order "Preventing Woke AI in the Federal Government" on July 23, 2025, directing federal agencies to procure only large language models (LLMs) that comply with two principles: truth-seeking (prioritizing historical accuracy and scientific objectivity) and ideological neutrality (rejecting DEI-influenced outputs). The order defines DEI in AI as suppression of factual information about race or sex, manipulation of representation, and incorporation of concepts like critical race theory and intersectionality. Within 120 days, the Office of Management and Budget must issue guidance to agencies; agencies must include compliance terms in new LLM contracts and revise existing ones within 90 days of guidance issuance.
• Trump signed Executive Order 14319 directing federal agencies to procure only large language models compliant with "Unbiased AI Principles" excluding diversity, equity, and inclusion frameworks. — President Trump signed Executive Order 14319 on July 23, 2025, directing federal agencies to procure large language models (LLMs) that comply with two stated principles: "truth-seeking" and "ideological neutrality." The order defines "DEI" as including suppression of factual information about race or sex, manipulation of representation, and incorporation of concepts like critical race theory and systemic racism. OMB must issue implementation guidance within 120 days. Agencies must include compliance terms in new LLM contracts and revise existing ones where practicable, with vendor decommissioning costs charged for noncompliance.
• White House issued fact sheet promoting executive order on AI procurement standards — The White House published a fact sheet on July 23, 2025, describing an executive order signed by President Trump directing federal agencies to procure artificial intelligence models that adhere to "Unbiased AI Principles" emphasizing truthfulness and ideological neutrality. The order instructs the Office of Management and Budget to issue guidance for agency implementation and mandates that federal contracts for large language models include compliance terms and vendor accountability provisions. The fact sheet frames the order as preventing "woke AI" and DEI-driven bias in federal AI systems.
• White House issues fact sheet on executive order accelerating federal permitting for data center infrastructure — The White House published a fact sheet on July 23, 2025, describing an executive order signed by President Trump to accelerate federal permitting of data center infrastructure. The order directs the Secretary of Commerce to provide financial support (loans, grants, tax incentives) for qualifying projects exceeding 100 megawatts of new load, including data centers, semiconductors, and related infrastructure. The order revokes a Biden-era executive order, streamlines environmental reviews, designates projects for expedited permitting under FAST-41, promotes use of Brownfield and Superfund sites, and authorizes data center construction on federal lands.
• White House releases "America's AI Action Plan" outlining 90+ federal policy actions — The White House issued "Winning the AI Race: America's AI Action Plan" on July 23, 2025, pursuant to President Trump's January executive order on AI leadership. The plan identifies over 90 federal policy actions across three pillars: accelerating innovation, building AI infrastructure, and leading in international diplomacy. Key policies include exporting American AI to allies, expediting data center permits, removing federal regulations hindering AI development, and updating procurement guidelines to ensure frontier AI models are "objective and free from top-down ideological bias."
• White House signed Executive Order 14318 accelerating federal permitting for data center infrastructure — The White House issued Executive Order 14318 on July 23, 2025, directing federal agencies to expedite permitting and environmental reviews for data center projects exceeding 100 megawatts of new load dedicated to AI, as well as related energy and component manufacturing infrastructure. The order revokes Executive Order 14141, establishes categorical exclusions under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to bypass environmental review, streamlines Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act permitting, authorizes use of federal lands including military installations for data center development, and directs the EPA to expedite Brownfield and Superfund Site reuse. The order defines "Qualifying Projects" to include facilities with $500 million+ capital commitments or national security designation, with authority to designate projects vested in Commerce, Defense, Interior, and Energy secretaries.
• Trump signs Executive Order 14320 establishing American AI Exports Program to promote global deployment of U.S. AI technology packages. — President Trump signed Executive Order 14320 on July 23, 2025, establishing the American AI Exports Program to coordinate federal support for exporting full-stack American AI technologies globally. The order directs the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with State and OSTP, to issue a public call for industry proposals within 90 days. Selected proposals will receive priority access to federal financing tools, including loans, loan guarantees, equity investments, and political risk insurance, coordinated through the Economic Diplomacy Action Group. The program aims to extend U.S. technological dominance and reduce international dependence on adversary AI systems.
• White House issues fact sheet promoting export of American AI technologies via executive order — The White House issued a fact sheet on July 23, 2025, describing an executive order signed by President Trump to establish an American AI Exports Program. The order directs the Secretary of Commerce to develop and deploy full-stack AI technology packages (hardware, data systems, models, cybersecurity, sector applications) to allies and partners. The fact sheet states the initiative aims to strengthen ties with allies, promote U.S. standards, maintain technological dominance, and reduce global reliance on systems from adversarial nations.
• White House issues fact sheet promoting U.S.-Indonesia reciprocal trade deal — The White House published a compilation of industry statements praising a reciprocal trade framework with Indonesia. The document claims the deal eliminates approximately 99% of tariff barriers on U.S. industrial, food, and agricultural exports, unlocks market access, and removes non-tariff barriers. Industry groups representing steel, petroleum, technology, agriculture, dairy, and meat sectors issued statements welcoming the agreement's provisions on digital trade, tariff elimination, and market access.
• White House signed Executive Order 14320 establishing American AI Exports Program — The White House signed Executive Order 14320 on July 23, 2025, directing the Secretary of Commerce to establish the American AI Exports Program within 90 days. The order mandates a coordinated federal effort to promote export of full-stack American AI technology packages (hardware, data pipelines, models, security measures, and applications) to specified target countries. The order mobilizes federal financing tools through the Economic Diplomacy Action Group, including direct loans, loan guarantees, equity investments, and political risk insurance, to support selected priority AI export packages.

Supporting reports

• Trump calls for prosecution of Obama and senior officials — President Trump, responding to DNI Gabbard's report, called for the prosecution of former President Obama, Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, and Susan Rice, claiming they committed treason and orchestrated a coup. Trump posted on Truth Social that "Obama himself manufactured the Russia, Russia, Russia HOAX" and called it "THE CRIME OF THE CENTURY" and "Irrefutable EVIDENCE." He demanded severe consequences for those involved.
• Trump baselessly accused Obama of committing treason — Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump baselessly accused Obama of committing treason, falsely claiming the former president and his administration "tried to rig the [2016] election, and they got caught. And there should be very severe consequences for that." Obama's spokesperson responded that the claims are "outrageous" and "ridiculous," noting that documents issued by Gabbard "undercuts the widely accepted conclusion that Russia worked to influence the 2016 presidential election."
• Trump accused Obama and Clinton of treason and election rigging — When asked about Deputy Attorney General Blanche's meeting with Maxwell, Trump attacked former President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, claiming they "tried to rig the [2016] election, and they got caught" and should face "very severe consequences." Trump referenced allegations made by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard on Friday, in which she called for prosecution of Obama and former senior national security officials for a "treasonous conspiracy" against Trump related to Russian interference in the 2016 election.
• Trump directed Republican congressmembers to deflect questions about Epstein files by claiming Obama cheated in 2016 election — During a morning meeting with Republican members of Congress, President Trump stated his popularity is rising and instructed them to redirect questions away from the Epstein files by repeatedly claiming that former president Barack Obama cheated in the 2016 election. Trump requested that cameramen cut cameras during the accusation, though the recording continued uninterrupted. He told congressmembers to use the Obama claim as a deflection tactic for any "inappropriate" questions.
• Trump publicly calls for prosecution of Obama, alleging "coup" and "treason" — Donald Trump told reporters that Barack Obama attempted to lead a "coup" against him and committed "treason" by allegedly manufacturing evidence of Russian interference in the 2016 election. Trump named Obama as the primary target of a criminal investigation recommended in a report by Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence. Obama's office responded with an emphatic public refutation, breaking precedent to reject the accusations as "outrageous" and "ridiculous," and reaffirmed that Russia's 2016 interference was confirmed by bipartisan Senate investigation and the Mueller report.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration targets sanctuary cities with escalated ICE enforcement operations — Tom Homan, Trump's border czar, announced plans to "flood the zone" with ICE agents in sanctuary cities, specifically targeting New York following a shooting incident involving an off-duty CBP officer allegedly shot by an undocumented person. Homan vowed to deploy more agents in communities and worksites, stating that if arrests cannot be made in county jails, they will occur in public spaces. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem blamed sanctuary city policies for the incident, claiming they endanger public safety, though evidence does not support this claim.
• Tom Homan announces plan to flood sanctuary cities with ICE agents — Deportation Czar Tom Homan announced on MSNBC that ICE will "flood the zone of sanctuary cities" with additional agents and officers, and will "flood the neighborhoods with officers" and "flood worksite enforcements" now that Congress has tripled ICE's budget, making it the largest law enforcement organization in America. Homan blamed Democrats for the controversial policy of ICE officers wearing masks.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration dismisses Epstein file inquiries as "waste of time" — Donald Trump publicly denounced demands for more information on Jeffrey Epstein as a "waste [of] Time and Energy" about "somebody that nobody cares about," seeking to contain a rift with his own supporters over the sex-trafficking scandal. The statement triggered backlash from influential Maga figures, including Tucker Carlson, who criticized the administration's dismissive handling of public questions about Epstein's influence and connections at a Turning Point USA event in Tampa.
• Trump posted that Epstein files release is a "Democrat SCAM" — Trump posted on social media that Democrats have "gone absolutely CRAZY" and are playing a "Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax" but "under the guise of what we will call the Jeffrey Epstein SCAM," calling it a "Democrat CON JOB." He stated he hopes grand jury files will be released quickly but that "people who are innocent should not be hurt," a reference to his earlier statement that AG Pam Bondi should only release materials deemed "credible."

Supporting reports

• Trump demands Senate end blue-slip judicial confirmation tradition — On July 20, Trump posted on social media demanding the Senate immediately abandon the blue-slip tradition, an informal process allowing minority-party senators to block judicial nominees for their state. Trump characterized the practice as preventing him from appointing his chosen nominees and demanded Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley end it, while reposting attacks calling Grassley a "RINO" and suggesting he hates America. Grassley refused, stating he was offended by Trump's personal insults.

Supporting reports

• Pete Hegseth renames military bases with Confederate namesakes using legal workaround — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reverted multiple U.S. Army bases to Confederate names by claiming to rename them after non-Confederate soldiers with identical surnames (e.g., Fort Bragg after "Roland Bragg," Fort Benning after "Fred Benning"). Congress had passed legislation in January 2021 mandating new names for Confederate-named bases; the House Armed Services Committee voted 15 July to block Hegseth's actions. Hegseth also announced plans to rename the USS Harvey Milk after a different honoree, stripping recognition from the gay rights pioneer.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration pursues anti-voting executive order affecting overseas voters — The Trump administration is working to implement an anti-voting executive order that would impose strict citizenship documentation requirements and ban the counting of ballots received after Election Day. These provisions directly contradict UOCAVA's long-standing protections that allow extended counting periods and flexible documentation for overseas voters. The order represents a federal effort to undermine overseas voting rights.

Supporting reports

• Trump threatened to interfere with NFL stadium deal over team name — Trump threatened to interfere with a deal to build a new football stadium in Washington, DC, if the local NFL team did not change its name back to the "Redskins," a name dropped in 2020 for being a racial slur tied to genocide of Indigenous peoples. He also called for the Cleveland Guardians to revert to their former name, the "Indians."
• Trump Threatens to Block Name Change of Washington Commanders — President Trump threatened to block the relocation of the Washington Commanders back to Washington, D.C., unless the team reverts to its former name, the "Washington Redskins." He claimed that there is a significant demand from the public to restore the name, which has been criticized for its racist connotations. This statement follows the team's previous name change in 2020.

Supporting reports

• White House issues fact sheet claiming six-month record of policy achievements — The White House published a fact sheet asserting accomplishments across economic, border, military, and diplomatic domains during the first six months of the Trump administration. The document claims the largest tax cut in history, record-low border encounters, 671,000 net job additions, egg price declines, tariff revenue collection, military recruitment goals met, and diplomatic agreements including ceasefires and NATO defense spending increases. The fact sheet attributes these outcomes to executive orders, legislation, and administration policy direction.
• White House issues promotional fact sheet claiming fulfillment of campaign promises — The White House published a fact sheet titled "President Trump Has Kept His Promises — and Then Some," asserting that the administration has delivered on 20 core campaign commitments within six months. The document claims achievements across border security, deportations, inflation reduction, energy production, manufacturing, tax cuts, constitutional protections, military modernization, and election integrity. It attributes specific policy actions (executive orders, regulatory changes, enforcement operations) to each claimed promise and frames them as accomplished outcomes.

Supporting reports

• Trump publicly attacks Federal Reserve Chair Powell and threatens removal over tariff-driven inflation — President Trump has launched a series of public attacks on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, claiming Powell is "too late" to cut interest rates and that Fed inaction is harming the economy. Trump has called for Powell's resignation and raised the prospect of firing him, citing a $2.5 billion Fed building renovation as potential grounds. This occurs as Trump's tariff rollout—now at 20.6% average effective rate, the highest since 1910—drives consumer prices upward, contradicting Trump's campaign promise to reduce prices. Powell has stated tariff costs will eventually reach consumers.
• Trump denied needing explanation about firing Federal Reserve Chair Powell — Trump posted on Truth Social responding to a Wall Street Journal report that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had explained to him that firing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell would be bad for the market. Trump denied needing such an explanation, stating "I know better than anybody what's good for the Market, and what's good for the U.S.A." The post reflected Trump's continued interest in removing the Fed chair he had appointed.
• Trump visited Federal Reserve headquarters to pressure Powell — President Trump visited the Federal Reserve headquarters to pressure Fed Chair Jerome Powell, claiming the Fed may be committing fraud by going over budget on building renovations by approximately $3.1 billion. Powell publicly contradicted Trump on camera, stating he was not aware of the claimed overages and correcting Trump's assertion that a building was being built when it had actually been completed five years ago. When asked what would cause him to back off his criticism, Trump stated he would like Powell to lower interest rates.

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• ICE acting director issues memo restricting bond hearings for detainees — Todd Lyons, ICE's acting director, issued a memo this week changing ICE policy to argue that detainees are not entitled to bond hearings before their deportation case is heard in court. Immigration advocates expect to challenge the move in court. The policy change affects detainees like Guevara, whose family was prevented from paying a $7,500 bond after the immigration judge granted it, because government attorneys appealed the bond order.
• Trump administration makes undocumented immigrants ineligible for bond hearings — The Washington Post reported that the Trump administration implemented a policy making undocumented immigrants no longer eligible for bond hearings while they challenge their deportation proceedings in court. Under the new policy, only DHS officials can release detainees on parole, rather than judges, affecting millions of immigrants.

Supporting reports

• Newsom threatens to redraw California congressional districts in response to Texas redistricting plan — California Governor Gavin Newsom announced he is prepared to redraw the state's 52 congressional districts to offset a Republican plan in Texas to pick up seats through redistricting. Newsom framed the threat as a response to what he characterized as Republicans playing by different rules. However, California voters approved a constitutional amendment over a decade ago that stripped lawmakers of redistricting power and gave it to an independent commission. Newsom suggested the legislature could call a voter referendum or attempt to enact new maps unilaterally, though legal experts said such moves would be unlawful and undermine the independent process.
• California Democrats consider competitive district strategy — Some California Democrats have indicated willingness to run in more competitive districts to gain approximately a half dozen more blue seats in response to Texas redistricting efforts. However, a major roadblock is that California voters approved a constitutional amendment handing redistricting authority to an independent commission ahead of the 2011 remap.
• Newsom mobilizes California response to Texas redistricting — Gov. Gavin Newsom is mobilizing California to respond to Texas calling a special session to attempt to gerrymander congressional districts before the midterms at Trump's direction. Trump stated he believes Republicans could gain five additional seats through this redistricting. Some California Democrats have indicated willingness to run in more competitive districts to gain a half dozen more blue seats.
• Rep. Garcia supports Newsom's redistricting response — Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) stated that Gov. Newsom is a street fighter who will not let Trump or anyone interfere with California or the country, and that if Republicans bring knives to the fight, Newsom is bringing tanks.
• Rep. Jacobs pledges California response to Texas redistricting — Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA) stated that California is ready and if Texas proceeds with redistricting, California will respond.

Supporting reports

• Texas AG Ken Paxton threatened to arrest Democratic legislators for breaking quorum — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, in response to Democratic legislators' plan to break quorum to prevent a special redistricting session, threatened arrest. Paxton stated: "If Democrats ignore their duty to their constituents by breaking quorum, they should be found and arrested no matter where they go" and pledged his office would assist in "hunting down and compelling the attendance of anyone who abandons their office."

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• Trump directed Texas Republicans to redraw congressional map for partisan gain — Trump told Texas Republicans on a call that the GOP should seek to gain 5 new red seats through mid-decade redistricting. Trump later confirmed the directive, stating "we pick up 5 seats. And then a couple of other states where we will pick up seats also." The effort represents executive direction of partisan gerrymandering to alter electoral outcomes.
• Trump calls for "simple redraw" of Texas congressional map — Trump called for a "simple redraw" of the Texas congressional map that would likely result in House Republicans picking up five seats in the 2026 midterm elections. He also said there are "a couple of other states where we will pick up seats also" due to redistricting.
• Texas Republicans prepare to redraw congressional map at Trump's direction — At Donald Trump's behest, Texas Republicans are preparing to redraw the state's congressional map in a special legislative session to gain as many as five additional congressional seats. The effort targets Democratic-held districts, particularly in south Texas and Houston, and would further dilute the political influence of the state's fast-growing non-white population. The Justice Department issued a July 7 letter claiming unconstitutional racial sorting in four districts, which Governor Greg Abbott cited to justify the special session. Democrats are considering a legislative walkout to deny Republicans a quorum, and Attorney General Ken Paxton has threatened to "hunt down" members who walk out.

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• Two-thirds of DOJ Federal Programs lawyers resign — Nearly two-thirds of the lawyers in the Department of Justice's Federal Programs unit, responsible for defending Trump administration policies in court, have quit. One departing lawyer told Reuters that many joined the unit to defend constitutional systems but could not participate in "the project of tearing it down." The resignations reflect internal DOJ opposition to the administration's legal positions.

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• DHS Secretary Kristi Noem denied FEMA response delays in Texas flood disaster — DHS Secretary Kristi Noem denied multiple media reports that she delayed FEMA search and rescue team deployment in response to a Texas flood disaster. When asked whether she approved deployment of FEMA search and rescue teams until Monday—72 hours after the flood—Noem claimed teams were deployed immediately upon request, contradicting reports that FEMA search and rescue teams did not arrive until three days after the storm. Noem also denied implementing a new policy requiring her sign-off on contracts exceeding $100,000, characterizing it as not "extra red tape," and denied that thousands of calls from flood victims to FEMA call centers went unanswered due to non-renewed contracts, calling the reports "false reporting, fake news." However, FEMA data showed that on July 7, only 15.9% of calls were answered.

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• Trump authorizes ICE agents to use "whatever means necessary" to protect themselves and arrest protesters — President Trump posted on Truth Social granting "total authorization" to ICE agents to protect themselves during immigration enforcement operations, directing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and border czar Tom Homan to arrest protesters impeding ICE operations. Trump instructed law enforcement to use "whatever means is necessary" against those throwing rocks or bricks. The authorization followed clashes between federal agents and protesters during immigration raids on two California cannabis farms in Ventura County on July 10, where teargas was deployed and approximately 200 suspected undocumented immigrants were arrested.

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• Trump Suggests Revoking O'Donnell's Citizenship — On July 12, 2025, President Trump suggested he might revoke comedian Rosie O'Donnell's citizenship, claiming she is a "Threat to Humanity." This statement follows a federal judge's ruling that barred the administration from denying citizenship to U.S.-born children of undocumented immigrants.
• Trump threatened to revoke citizenship of natural-born American citizen Rosie O'Donnell — On July 12, 2025, at approximately 9:42 a.m., President Trump posted on Truth Social that he was "giving serious consideration to taking away" the citizenship of comedian and talk show host Rosie O'Donnell, a natural-born American citizen born in New York who has relocated to Ireland. Trump called her "a Threat to Humanity." O'Donnell responded on Instagram, asserting her rights and criticizing Trump's authoritarian posture. A federal judge had barred the administration from denying citizenship to U.S.-born children of undocumented immigrants on Thursday, July 10.
• Trump threatens to strip Rosie O'Donnell of citizenship — Trump posted on Truth Social that he is "giving serious consideration" to taking away the US citizenship of Rosie O'Donnell, a longtime critic who moved to Ireland after his 2024 election. Trump called O'Donnell "a Threat to Humanity." Legal experts note Trump lacks constitutional authority to unilaterally revoke citizenship.

Supporting reports

• Homeland Security Secretary Noem imposes centralized approval requirement for FEMA expenditures over $100,000 — Kristi Noem, Homeland Security Secretary, issued a directive requiring that all FEMA expenditures or contracts worth $100,000 or more be submitted to her office for prior approval. Former officials warn this centralization of decision-making will impede rapid disaster response and may result in preventable loss of life by slowing mobilization during emergencies.
• Trump administration imposes grant cuts and spending restrictions on FEMA, degrading disaster-response capacity — The Trump administration has cut FEMA grant programs and imposed new spending restrictions, including a requirement that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem approve all expenditures over $100,000. These actions, combined with a mass staff exodus of approximately 2,000 employees since January 2025, have left the agency dangerously underresourced ahead of hurricane season. Former FEMA officials warn the agency may lack funds by month's end and cannot handle multiple concurrent disasters, potentially resulting in preventable loss of life.
• Noem diverted HHS disaster funds to immigration enforcement and advertising — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem spent $200 million on an advertising campaign promoting Trump's agenda and $21 million to transport approximately 400 migrants to Guantanamo Bay, many of whom were subsequently transferred out. Senator Chris Murphy warned in May 2025 that Noem was on track to violate the Anti-Deficiency Act by spending more money than Congress allocated, leaving the agency "broke by July, over two months before the end of the fiscal year." Noem justified the spending as fulfilling a mandate from voters for border security.

Supporting reports

• Attorney General Bondi rescinds 30-year-old federal benefits exemption for undocumented immigrants — Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced the rescission of a 1996 order that had exempted certain federal benefit programs from the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act (PRWORA) restrictions on benefits to non-citizens. The order, originally issued by Attorney General Janet Reno, had created broad exceptions to PRWORA's limitation of public benefits to citizens and "qualified aliens." Bondi's action, conforming to a Trump Executive Order, expressly declines to exempt any programs from PRWORA, effective immediately.
• White House issues release on restricting benefits access for undocumented immigrants — The White House issued a release stating that at President Trump's direction, the administration is restricting undocumented immigrants' access to taxpayer-funded benefits across multiple federal agencies. The release claims the action preserves approximately $40 billion in benefits for U.S. citizens and states that the Departments of Health and Human Services, Education, Agriculture, Labor, and Justice are implementing restrictions on programs including Head Start, post-secondary education tuition, food assistance, workforce development, and other services. The release frames this as reversing "decades of bureaucratic defiance."