Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Federal Judge Rules Against DOJ in Comey Case — A federal judge has ruled that the Department of Justice unlawfully seized attorney-client communications in the failed prosecution of James Comey. The judge ordered the return of the materials, but the DOJ missed the deadline and filed an emergency motion for more time, citing staffing shortages. The case highlights issues of competence and legality within the DOJ under the Trump administration.

Supporting reports

• Complaint filed — Ahmed v. Rubio et al. (S.D.N.Y.) — On December 24, 2025, Imran Ahmed, a British national and U.S. permanent resident who founded the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), filed a complaint in the Southern District of New York challenging the State Department's December 23 determination that his presence in the United States would have "potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences" and would subject him to removal under INA § 237(a)(4)(C). Ahmed alleges the determination was retaliatory action taken in response to his research and advocacy highlighting hate speech on social media platforms, and specifically in retaliation for the EU's €120 million fine against X Corp. in early December 2025. Ahmed names Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Under Secretary of State Sarah B. Rogers, then-Attorney General Pam Bondi, then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Acting ICE Director Todd M. Lyons, and Acting ICE New York Field Office Director Judith Almodovar as defendants. Ahmed alleges violations of his First Amendment and Fifth Amendment due process rights, arbitrary and capricious action under the Administrative Procedure Act, abuse of discretion, and violation of the non-delegation doctrine. He seeks vacation of the State Department's determination, an injunction blocking enforcement action, and an order requiring notice and opportunity to challenge any movement or residency restrictions.

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• Rep. Thomas Massie accused DOJ of violating Epstein Files Transparency Act — Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) publicly accused the Trump administration of violating the Epstein Files Transparency Act, stating on X that "DOJ did break the law by making illegal redactions and by missing the deadline." Massie also questioned who was controlling the DOJ's X account on Christmas Eve and using unprofessional language toward reporters.

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• Federal judge blocks Trump administration's conditional cuts to homeland security funding for states — US District Judge Mary McElroy of Rhode Island ruled on December 23, 2025, that the Trump administration's cuts of over $230 million in federal homeland security and FEMA grants to seven states and DC were unlawful. The administration had reduced funding for Connecticut, Delaware, Minnesota, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and DC as punishment for non-compliance with immigration enforcement policies. McElroy's 48-page decision found the cuts violated administrative law and held vital counterterrorism and law enforcement programs hostage to political demands. The Department of Homeland Security indicated it would appeal.

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• Justice Kavanaugh adds Fourth Amendment guardrails to immigration stops in concurrence — In a concurring footnote to the National Guard decision, Justice Brett Kavanaugh addressed the September Supreme Court ruling permitting immigration officers to stop individuals based on apparent race, ethnicity, language, or location. Kavanaugh wrote that the Fourth Amendment requires immigration stops be based on reasonable suspicion, remain brief, arrests require probable cause, and officers must not use excessive force or make stops based on race or ethnicity.

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• Supreme Court rejected Trump administration's argument to deploy federalized National Guard in Chicago — On December 23, 2025, the Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration's legal argument that it possessed the power to deploy federalized National Guard troops in and around Chicago. The decision limited Trump's authority to use military forces within the United States without explicit congressional authorization or state consent.
• Supreme Court rejected Trump administration's National Guard deployment authority in Chicago — On December 23, 2025, the Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration's argument that it possessed the power to deploy federalized National Guard troops in and around Chicago. The 6-3 decision blocked the administration's attempt to militarize American cities without state consent.
• Supreme Court rejects Trump's National Guard deployment in Illinois as unlawful — The U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6-3 preliminary ruling that President Trump's deployment of federalized National Guard troops in the Chicago area beginning in October violated the Posse Comitatus Act. The majority held that a president must first attempt to execute laws using regular U.S. military forces and may deploy the National Guard only if unable to do so with regular forces. The Court found the Government failed to identify statutory or constitutional authority permitting military enforcement of laws in Illinois.
• Supreme Court rejected Trump's National Guard deployment for immigration enforcement in Illinois — The Supreme Court rejected Trump's deployment of the National Guard to aid immigration enforcement in Illinois, ruling that federal law limits use of the National Guard to situations where regular military forces are insufficient. The majority found that the President does not have inherent authority to deploy the military to protect ICE property. Three justices (Alito, Thomas, Gorsuch) dissented.
• Supreme Court blocks Trump administration from deploying National Guard in Illinois — The Supreme Court blocked the Trump administration from deploying National Guard troops in Illinois as part of his mass immigration crackdown, ruling that the government "failed to identify a source of authority that would allow the military to execute the laws in Illinois." The decision represents a rare judicial check on executive power in the Trump administration.
• Supreme Court Denies Stay in Trump v. Illinois — On December 23, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court denied the federal government's request for a stay in the case of Trump v. Illinois. This decision upheld a lower court's order that barred the Trump administration from deploying the federalized National Guard in Illinois for immigration enforcement actions. The case arose after the Trump administration federalized the Texas and Illinois National Guard to assist with immigration enforcement in Chicago, which was challenged by the state of Illinois. The Supreme Court's denial means the federal government cannot deploy the National Guard in Illinois pending further legal proceedings. Justices Alito, Thomas, and Gorsuch dissented from the decision.
• US Supreme Court blocks Trump national guard deployment to Chicago — The US Supreme Court denied the Trump administration's emergency request to lift a lower court order blocking the deployment of national guard troops to the Chicago area. In a 6-3 decision, the majority ruled that the government failed to meet the legal burden required to show it could not enforce immigration laws without federal military intervention. The decision upholds a ruling by US District Judge April Perry from October and signals potential impact on similar deployments in other Democratic-led cities.

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• Justice Department files proposed consent decree against LivCor for algorithmic rent coordination — The Department of Justice's Antitrust Division filed a proposed consent decree on December 23, 2025, against LivCor LLC, a Blackstone portfolio company and major U.S. landlord, to resolve allegations of algorithmic coordination and anticompetitive information sharing in rental markets. The decree, filed in the Middle District of North Carolina, follows similar settlements with RealPage, Cortland Management, and Greystar Management Services. If approved, it would prohibit LivCor from using algorithms that incorporate competitors' pricing data, sharing competitively sensitive information, and attending RealPage-hosted landlord meetings.

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• Federal judge restores whistleblower lawyer's security clearance after blocking White House revocation — Attorney Mark Zaid, a national security lawyer who represented whistleblowers critical of the Trump administration, had his security clearance revoked in March 2025 via presidential memo. Zaid sued in May, arguing the revocation was political retribution. On December 23, 2025, federal judge Amir H. Ali granted a preliminary injunction requiring immediate restoration of Zaid's clearance, finding the revocation was solely motivated by Zaid's representation of government-adverse clients and violated due process. The administration complied by January 13, 2026.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — Zaid v. Executive Office of the President (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01365 — Judge Ali granted in part and denied in part Plaintiff's motion for preliminary injunction and denied the government's motion to dismiss. Judge Ali enjoined the government from giving effect to the security clearance revocations or denial of access to classified information as to Zaid. The preliminary injunction will not go into effect until Jan. 13, 2026.

Supporting reports

• Supreme Court Denies Stay in Trump v. Illinois — On December 23, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court denied the federal government's request for a stay in the case of Trump v. Illinois. This decision upheld a lower court's order that barred the Trump administration from deploying the federalized National Guard in Illinois for immigration enforcement actions. The case arose after the Trump administration federalized the Texas and Illinois National Guard to assist with immigration enforcement in Chicago, which was challenged by the state of Illinois. The Supreme Court's denial means the federal government cannot deploy the National Guard in Illinois pending further legal proceedings. Justices Alito, Thomas, and Gorsuch dissented from the decision.

Supporting reports

• White House takes control of Justice Department X account — The White House took over the X account of the Justice Department on December 23. On the same day, that account posted a message claiming that accusations in the Epstein files are "unfounded and false."
• Trump White House assumed control of DOJ social media accounts — Following bizarre exchanges on the DOJ's official social media account, reporting from Axios revealed that the Trump White House has assumed direct control over the Department of Justice's social media accounts. The article notes this explains the unprofessional tone of the exchanges and raises concerns about the politicization of the Justice Department.

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• Justice Department sues District of Columbia over semi-automatic firearm registration ban — The Department of Justice, through its Civil Rights Division and newly established Second Amendment Section, filed a lawsuit against the District of Columbia and its Metropolitan Police Department, alleging that D.C.'s ban on AR-15 and other semi-automatic firearms violates the Second Amendment. The suit challenges the District's registration requirement and pattern of refusing to register protected firearms, claiming the policy unconstitutionally restricts law-abiding citizens' rights to own commonly used weapons for lawful purposes including self-defense.
• Justice Department sues DC over AR-15 ban — The Justice Department sued Washington, DC and its Metropolitan Police Department, arguing that DC's gun laws banning AR-15 style weapons—which have been used in the deadliest mass shootings in the US—are "unconstitutional" and violate the Second Amendment. The suit represents federal intervention to overturn local gun safety measures.

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• Complaint filed in O'Neill v. Hartman (D. Md. 1:25-cv-04228) — A transgender data scientist employed by the National Security Agency filed a complaint in federal district court on December 22, 2025, challenging Executive Order 14168, issued by President Trump on January 20, 2025. The order directs federal agencies to implement policies based on sex rather than gender and prevents accommodation of transitioning employees. The plaintiff alleges the NSA created a hostile work environment in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and seeks a declaration that the executive order violates Title VII, an injunction against its implementation, and compensatory damages.

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• Complaint filed — State of New York v. Vought — Eighteen states and the District of Columbia filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon against Russell Vought (acting CFPB director), the CFPB, and the Federal Reserve Board, challenging Vought's reinterpretation of the law governing CFPB funding. Plaintiffs allege the new interpretation will terminate all CFPB funding in violation of Congressional mandate, the Administrative Procedure Act, and the Constitution. They seek declaratory and injunctive relief to restore the statutory funding formula and compel the defendants to request funds from the Federal Reserve.

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• Federal judge blocks ICE re-detention of immigrant through Christmas — A federal judge ruled that ICE is prohibited from re-detaining Kilmar Abrego Garcia through the Christmas holiday. During the hearing, the judge pressed government lawyers about whether they plan to pursue removal proceedings and questioned whether Trump administration officials would follow court orders, calling the situation "extremely irregular and extraordinary."

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• Judge Boasberg orders return of Venezuelan deportees or court challenge — Judge James Boasberg ordered the Trump administration to either help facilitate the return of 137 Venezuelan men who were deported to El Salvador's megaprison in March before being sent back to their home country or allow them to challenge their removals in US courts. Boasberg ruled that their deportations under the Alien Enemies Act were illegal and violated due process rights.

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• Rep. Beatty sues to block Kennedy Center name change — Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), an ex officio member of the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees, sued the Trump administration to block the Center's name change, calling the move a "flagrant violation of the rule of law." The suit challenges the administration's authority to unilaterally alter the name of a congressionally chartered institution.
• Democratic lawmaker sues Trump over Kennedy Center renaming — Democratic U.S. Representative Joyce Beatty of Ohio filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump on Monday challenging the Kennedy Center board's vote to rename the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to the "Trump-Kennedy Center." Beatty, an ex-officio trustee, argued the renaming violates federal law requiring congressional approval and alleged she was muted and prevented from speaking during the board vote. The Trump administration announced the "unanimous" board vote last week, and workers have already changed the name on the building's exterior.

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• Brennan's lawyer accuses DOJ of leaking grand jury information and judge shopping — In a letter to the chief judge of Florida's Southern District Court, former CIA Director John Brennan's lawyer accused Trump's Justice Department of leaking grand jury information and potential judge shopping to ensure a future prosecution against Brennan will be overseen by the same judge who issued favorable rulings to Trump in his classified documents case. Brennan appears to be the target of a grand jury investigation into a 2017 intelligence assessment about Russia's 2016 election interference.

Supporting reports

• Raskin and Lieu demand investigation into Caribbean double-tap strike — Reps. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) and Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) sent a letter to the Justice Department demanding an investigation into a September 2 double-tap strike in the Caribbean that killed two survivors. The lawmakers argued that the order to conduct the strike constituted either a war crime or premeditated murder, stating that "the killing of unarmed, helpless men clinging to wreckage in open water is simply murder."

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• House Speaker Johnson warns of Democratic impeachment if Republicans lose majority — At a Turning Point USA event over the weekend, House Speaker Mike Johnson warned attendees that if Republicans lose their House majority, Democrats will move to impeach the president and "create absolute chaos." Johnson's statement was framed as a cautionary message intended to mobilize Republican voters, though observers characterized it as reflecting internal anxiety within the administration about its political standing and vulnerability to oversight.

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• Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie announced drafting articles of impeachment and inherent contempt against Attorney General Pam Bondi — Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) stated on CNN that he and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) are drafting articles of impeachment and inherent contempt against Attorney General Pam Bondi for her failure to comply with the Epstein Files Release Act. Khanna indicated the decision to move forward has not been made but noted that the question is not whether Democrats would support it, but how many Republicans would. Massie separately stated on CBS that bringing inherent contempt against Bondi is "the quickest way and most expeditious way to get justice for these victims" and does not require going through the courts.

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• Career prosecutor Erik Siebert resigns after refusing baseless prosecutions — Career prosecutor Erik Siebert resigned from the Department of Justice after refusing to pursue what he characterized as baseless prosecutions of New York Attorney General Letitia James and former FBI Director James Comey. He was replaced by Trump-aligned attorney Lindsey Halligan, whose appointment was later ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge.

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• Ghislaine Maxwell transferred to minimum-security facility after Blanche interview — After Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche interviewed Ghislaine Maxwell in federal custody, Maxwell was transferred from a high-security facility to a minimum-security prison camp. When questioned about the move, Blanche declined to answer direct questions, citing "security issues," while simultaneously acknowledging that all such decisions ultimately fall under his authority.
• Deputy Attorney General Blanche acknowledges approving Ghislaine Maxwell's prison transfer — Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, when asked on Meet the Press about Ghislaine Maxwell's transfer to a lower-security prison facility days after an interview, seemingly acknowledged he approved the transfer, stating that "every decision" made by the Bureau of Prisons "lands on my desk." The timing and circumstances of the transfer raised questions about potential preferential treatment.

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• Gov. Ron DeSantis designated CAIR as foreign terrorist organization; CAIR filed lawsuit — Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued an executive order designating CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations), a Muslim civil rights nonprofit organization with over 20 chapters nationwide, as a "foreign terrorist organization." The order directed Florida's state and local agencies to deny contracts, employment, funding, benefits, and privileges to CAIR. CAIR filed a lawsuit arguing the executive order violated the Constitution's guarantee of due process and was discriminatory. CAIR's attorney Omar Saleh stated: "It's clearly retaliatory. After over 25 years of being in FL, all of a sudden, we're illegal?" CAIR noted that its advocacy for Palestinian human rights and criticism of Israel's government stand in direct opposition to the governor's viewpoints.

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• Vice President JD Vance announced list of judges and prosecutors for "swifter justice" — Vice President JD Vance stated at the TPUSA event: "Greatness awaits every single one of you in the America First movement we are building together, but we need your help to get there. Do you want more prosecutions? Great. So do we. Trump and I have a list of better judges and prosecutors to enact swifter justice." The statement indicates the administration is preparing to appoint judges and prosecutors based on loyalty to the "America First" movement rather than judicial independence.

Supporting reports

• Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie announce legal options against justice department non-compliance — Representatives Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, co-authors of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, announced they are "exploring all options" in response to the justice department's non-compliant release, including possible impeachment of justice department officials, contempt of Congress findings, and referral for prosecution of those obstructing justice. Massie noted that the Epstein Files Transparency Act, unlike a congressional subpoena, does not expire at the end of each Congress, potentially exposing current officials to future prosecution.