Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Trump denounces Utah redistricting ruling as "absolutely unconstitutional" — On Wednesday night, President Trump posted on Truth Social attacking Judge Gibson's redistricting order, calling it "absolutely unconstitutional" and questioning how Utah—a state he won in every election—could have "so many Radical Left Judges." Trump urged Utah Republicans to "stay united" and keep the state's four Republican House members in place. Gibson was appointed to the district court in 2018 by Republican Governor Gary Herbert.

Supporting reports

• Trump publicly demands prosecution of political rivals including Letitia James — In a September post on Truth Social addressed to US Attorney General Pam Bondi, Trump wrote: "What about Comey, Adam 'Shifty' Schiff, Leticia [sic]??? They're all guilty as hell, but nothing is going to be done. We can't delay any longer, it's killing our reputation and credibility." The statement explicitly demands prosecution of named political opponents and reflects Trump's stated intent to use the Department of Justice to punish rivals.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration demands voting data from 19 states — Trump's appointees at the Department of Justice demanded voting data from at least 19 states in an apparent attempt to identify ineligible voters. This action follows Trump's earlier executive order requiring documented proof of citizenship to register to vote, much of which has been blocked by courts. The demand represents a coordinated federal effort to scrutinize voter rolls ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Supporting reports

• Complaint filed — Bangstad v. Noem (W.D. Wis.) — A Wisconsin resident filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of Wisconsin residents challenging U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's policy of conducting civil immigration enforcement operations using masked officers without visible identification. The complaint alleges violations of the First, Fourth, and Fifth Amendments and claims the policy was adopted in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act. Plaintiff seeks a court order declaring the DHS and ICE policies unconstitutional and blocking masked enforcement operations without identifying insignia.

Supporting reports

• Appeals court judges stay closure order for Florida's "Alligator Alcatraz" immigration detention facility — Two Trump-appointed judges on the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a stay of Miami District Judge Kathleen Williams's preliminary injunction ordering closure of "Alligator Alcatraz," a 3,000-capacity immigration detention camp in the Florida Everglades. Williams had ruled the facility's hasty construction breached federal environmental laws. The appeals panel found 2-1 that because Florida initially funded construction with state money, no environmental impact study was required. The stay allowed the facility to resume operations and rapidly refill with detainees after a brief shutdown period in late August.
• Appeals court judge stays closure of "Alligator Alcatraz" immigration detention facility — Barbara Lagoa, a judge on the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, authored a 2-1 majority ruling in September 2025 that stayed (paused) a Miami district judge's order to close "Alligator Alcatraz," a state-run detention camp for undocumented migrants in the Florida Everglades. The ruling reversed the lower court's finding that the DeSantis administration must comply with federal environmental regulations. The facility, criticized for harsh conditions, remains operational. Lagoa's husband, Paul Huck, is a senior attorney at a law firm that has received over $10 million in state contracts from the DeSantis administration, raising conflict-of-interest concerns.
• Eleventh Circuit stays federal judge's order to close "Alligator Alcatraz" immigration detention facility — A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit voted 2–1 on September 4, 2025, to stay (suspend) a federal district judge's order requiring closure of the "Alligator Alcatraz" immigration detention center in Florida's Everglades within 60 days. The stay allows construction and operation to continue while Florida's appeal proceeds. The facility, built by Florida at a cost of approximately $250 million and operated on behalf of ICE, has faced criticism for harsh conditions, abuse allegations, denial of due process, and environmental damage.

Supporting reports

• Trump signs executive order requiring citizenship documentation for voter registration — President Trump signed an executive order earlier this year requiring documented proof of citizenship to register to vote, along with other voting-related changes. Much of the order has been blocked by courts. The order represents an attempt to impose new voter registration requirements that courts have found to exceed executive authority and to suppress voter participation.

Supporting reports

• Trump attempts to remove Federal Reserve governor and other non-appointed officials — Trump is attempting to remove dozens of personnel he did not appoint, including a Federal Reserve governor, a top official at the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, prosecutors who investigated him, and leaders across the government including the National Archivist.
• Trump installs second deputy at FBI after souring on first — The White House installed a second deputy at the FBI after becoming dissatisfied with the first, continuing a pattern of rapid personnel changes across agencies.
• Trump pressures Treasury secretary to fire agency's second-in-command — Trump pushed his Treasury secretary to fire the agency's second-in-command, demonstrating continued pressure on cabinet officials to remove personnel who may not align with administration priorities.
• Trump removes acting FEMA administrator over disagreement on agency's continued existence — The White House removed the acting FEMA administrator after he stated the agency should continue to exist, contradicting others in the administration.
• Trump removes IRS director after two months over Treasury Department clash — Trump replaced the head of the IRS less than two months into the job because appointee Billy Long clashed with officials at the Treasury Department. This removal is part of a broader pattern of Trump firing appointees and career officials across multiple agencies.
• Trump removes two DOJ antitrust officials over alleged deal-making with lobbyists — Two top DOJ antitrust officials were removed from their roles after clashing with senior officials at the agency. They accused their colleagues of cutting deals with favored lobbyists. One of the removed officials has publicly questioned the integrity of other DOJ officials.
• Department of Justice launched criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook — The Department of Justice launched a criminal investigation into Lisa Cook, a governor of the U.S. Federal Reserve, for allegedly committing mortgage fraud by claiming two separate properties as her primary residence. Pro Publica reported that three Trump Cabinet members—Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin—have engaged in the same conduct but face no investigation.
• Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired CDC director Susan Monarez — Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired newly confirmed CDC Director Susan Monarez after she refused to preapprove recommendations from a vaccine advisory panel that Kennedy had stacked with anti-vaccine advocates. This action followed Kennedy's earlier purges of thousands of CDC advisors and staffers who did not share his opposition to vaccines.
• Trump fires Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook — President Trump removed Lisa Cook from her position as a Federal Reserve governor. This action raised concerns about central bank independence, as it represents part of a broader pattern of Trump's attacks on the Federal Reserve's autonomy. Trump's nominee to replace Cook stated he would respect Fed independence, but the removal itself signals potential politicization of monetary policy.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration plans to rebrand Department of Defense as Department of War — The Wall Street Journal reported that the Trump administration is drawing up plans to rebrand the Department of Defense as the Department of War. The change could be accomplished through an act of Congress, but the White House is considering other avenues to make the change.
• Trump signed executive order renaming Department of Defense to Department of War — In September 2025, President Trump signed an executive order changing the name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War. At the signing ceremony, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated the department would focus on "maximum lethality, not tepid legality" and would pursue "violent effect, not politically correct" operations, emphasizing "restoring the warrior ethos" and "raising up warriors, not just defenders."
• Trump signed Executive Order 14347 authorizing secondary titles "Department of War" and "Secretary of War" for Defense Department officials, with recommendation for permanent statutory renaming within 60 days. — President Trump signed Executive Order 14347 on September 5, 2025, authorizing the Secretary of Defense and subordinate officials to use secondary titles "Secretary of War" and "Department of War" in official correspondence, public communications, and ceremonial contexts. The order invokes historical precedent (the original 1789 Department of War) and frames the renaming as signaling strength and resolve. It directs the Secretary to submit within 60 days a recommendation for permanent legislative and executive actions to formally rename the Department of Defense to the Department of War. Statutory references remain controlling until changed by law.
• Trump signs executive order rebranding Pentagon as Department of War — Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday rebranding the Department of Defense as the Department of War, using a secondary title to circumvent congressional approval requirements. The administration redirected the Pentagon's website from defense.gov to war.gov. Trump justified the move as reverting to the department's original 1789–1947 name, claiming it better reflects military victories. Congressional approval would be required for a permanent name change, though Republican legislators introduced legislation to formalize the switch.
• Trump signs executive order renaming Department of Defense to "Department of War" — Trump signed an executive order on Friday authorizing the renaming of the Department of Defense to the "Department of War." The order was referenced in Trump's subsequent Truth Social post threatening Chicago. The renaming represents a symbolic shift in framing military and enforcement operations and was invoked in the context of immigration enforcement against a domestic city.
• Trump signs executive order to rebrand Department of Defense as "Department of War" — Donald Trump signed an executive order authorizing the U.S. Department of Defense to rebrand itself as the "Department of War," designating it as a "secondary title" to circumvent the need for congressional approval. The order instructs the executive branch to use "Department of War" in communications and permits Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to use the title "Secretary of War." The order also directs Hegseth to recommend legislative measures for permanent renaming. Trump claimed the change would project military aggression and referenced historical victory under the old name.
• Trump issues executive order authorizing secondary titles renaming Department of Defense as Department of War — President Trump issued Executive Order "Restoring the United States Department of War" on September 5, 2025, authorizing the Secretary of Defense to use the secondary title "Secretary of War" and permitting the Department of Defense to be referred to as the "Department of War" in official correspondence, communications, and non-statutory documents. The order directs the Secretary to submit recommendations within 60 days on permanent legislative and executive actions needed to formally rename the department. Statutory references remain unchanged pending future legislation.
• White House issued executive order renaming Department of Defense to Department of War — The White House issued Executive Order 14347 on September 5, 2025, authorizing the Secretary of Defense to use the secondary title "Secretary of War" and permitting the Department of Defense to be referred to as the Department of War in official communications, ceremonial contexts, and non-statutory documents. The order directs the Secretary to submit recommendations within 60 days on permanent legislative and executive actions required to formally rename the department. Statutory references remain unchanged pending future law.
• White House issues fact sheet on executive order restoring "Department of War" as secondary title for Department of Defense — The White House published a fact sheet on September 5, 2025, describing an executive order signed by President Trump authorizing the Secretary of Defense and subordinate officials to use secondary titles including "Secretary of War" and "Department of War" in official communications. The order directs all executive departments and agencies to recognize these titles and instructs the Secretary of War to recommend legislative and executive actions for a permanent rename of the Department of Defense to the Department of War. The fact sheet frames the change as projecting strength and deterrence.

Supporting reports

• Trump directs DOJ to investigate ActBlue, Democratic fundraising platform — President Trump ordered the Department of Justice to investigate ActBlue, an online portal that has raised hundreds of millions in small-dollar donations for Democratic candidates over two decades. The investigation targets a Democratic fundraising tool while Trump's appointees have not similarly investigated WinRed, the Republican equivalent. This action represents a direct use of federal prosecutorial power to disadvantage the opposing party ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration removes union protections from federal employees including VOA staff — The Trump administration moved to remove union protections from a handful of federal employees, including those at Voice of America. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the nation's largest trade union of public employees, responded by stating it would challenge the action in court, characterizing the removal as retaliation against employees fighting to preserve VOA's mission.

Supporting reports

• DOJ accused of coercing guilty plea with deportation threats — In a court filing, lawyers for Kilmar Abrego Garcia accused the Justice Department of attempting to coerce him into entering a guilty plea on human smuggling charges by threatening deportation to Uganda if he refused, while offering deportation to Costa Rica (where he wouldn't face prosecution) if he pleaded guilty. The filing alleges prosecutorial misconduct and abuse of immigration enforcement as a coercive tool.

Supporting reports

• Kari Lake announces layoffs of 532 federal employees at Voice of America and related broadcasters — Kari Lake, acting CEO of the US Agency for Global Media, announced a reduction in force (RIF) eliminating 532 jobs for full-time government employees at Voice of America and related international broadcasting outlets. The announcement came one day after a federal judge blocked Lake from removing VOA director Michael Abramowitz without approval from the International Broadcasting Advisory Board. Lake stated the agency would continue its statutory mission and improve functioning, while affected employees face 30 days until loss of pay and benefits.

Supporting reports

• Federal appeals court rules Trump exceeded presidential authority in imposing sweeping tariffs — A federal appeals court in Washington DC issued a 7-4 ruling on August 30, 2025, striking down Trump's tariffs imposed on April 2 under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The court found the tariffs "unbounded in scope, amount and duration" and beyond the president's legal authority, ruling that Congress did not intend IEEPA to grant unlimited tariff power. The decision upheld a May trade court ruling but delayed implementation until October 14 to allow Trump to appeal to the Supreme Court.
• Federal Appeals Court Strikes Down Trump's Tariffs — A federal appeals court upheld a lower court's ruling that struck down President Trump's use of emergency powers to impose tariffs, stating that Congress did not grant the president such broad authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The decision will take effect on October 14, allowing the administration time to appeal to the Supreme Court.
• Federal court rules Trump lacked legal authority for most tariffs — A federal court ruled that Trump did not have legal authority to issue most of his tariffs. Attorney General Pam Bondi responded by stating that Trump found a national emergency and took action under the law, and that the judges were interfering with the president's role in foreign policy. The DOJ announced it will appeal the decision.

Supporting reports

• Chicago Mayor Johnson signs executive order resisting federal immigration enforcement — Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order on Saturday directing the city to resist the Trump administration's planned immigration crackdown. The order bars Chicago police from assisting federal authorities with civil immigration enforcement, related patrols, traffic stops, and checkpoints. It also directs all city departments to protect residents' constitutional rights amid the anticipated militarized federal operation.
• Chicago mayor signs executive order directing city police not to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement — Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order on August 31, 2025, directing the Chicago Police Department to refuse cooperation with federal immigration authorities during planned ICE enforcement operations. The order bars police from assisting with civil immigration enforcement, patrols, traffic stops, and checkpoints, and prohibits officers from wearing face coverings. Johnson stated the city would guard constitutional rights of residents amid threatened federal deployment and criticized the Trump administration's immigration crackdown as unconstitutional and retaliatory against Democratic cities.
• Chicago Mayor Johnson issues Protecting Chicago executive order — At the end of August, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson passed the "Protecting Chicago" executive order, a sweeping measure designed to limit Trump administration influence on local law enforcement operations. The order represents local resistance to federal intervention and an attempt to shield Chicago's police and community from federal control.

Supporting reports

• White House Cancels $4.9 Billion in Foreign Aid — The White House announced the unilateral cancellation of $4.9 billion in foreign aid funding that had been approved by Congress. This decision, made by the Office of Management and Budget under director Russell Vought, is seen as a violation of the Constitution, which grants Congress the exclusive power to allocate funds.

Supporting reports

• Trump announced mandatory voter ID executive order without congressional authority — On Truth Social, Trump said he will sign an executive order to make voter ID mandatory for elections, a move he cannot legally make without Congress changing election laws. He also repeated calls to ban mail-in voting for most Americans and for the use of "PAPER BALLOTS ONLY!!!" The announcement represents an attempt to unilaterally alter election administration procedures that require legislative authorization.
• Trump announces executive order to end mail-in voting — President Trump announced that lawyers were drafting an executive order to eliminate mail-in balloting, a voting method used by nearly one in three Americans. He also threatened to do away with voting machines entirely. Trump claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin told him mail-in voting was responsible for his 2020 election loss, providing a false rationale for the proposed order.
• Trump announces plan for executive order mandating voter ID for all US elections — President Donald Trump announced via Truth Social that he will issue an executive order requiring identification for all US elections, with no exceptions, and stated he wants to ban most mail-in voting except for the severely ill or military personnel. Legal experts and the article note the Constitution grants primary election authority to states and Congress, not the president, making such an order likely unconstitutional. Trump's push stems from baseless claims about the 2020 election being stolen.
• Trump declares intent to take over all voting via executive order — Trump posted on social media: "Voter I.D. Must Be Part of Every Single Vote. NO EXCEPTIONS! I Will Be Doing An Executive Order To That End!!! Also, No Mail-In Voting, Except For Those That Are Very Ill, And The Far Away Military. USE PAPER BALLOTS ONLY!!!" This declaration signals intent to unilaterally impose voting restrictions via executive order.

Supporting reports

• Pentagon plans National Guard deployment to Chicago — The Washington Post reported that the Pentagon has spent weeks planning to send thousands of National Guard troops to Chicago as soon as next month, with active-duty troop deployment also discussed but considered less likely. The move represents a significant escalation of federal military presence in domestic law enforcement operations.
• Trump administration plans federal takeover of Chicago for immigration enforcement — The Trump administration is preparing a federally led immigration crackdown targeting Chicago, a Democratic "sanctuary city," including a request for a military base on the city's outskirts to assist operations. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker called on citizens to "stand up" against the plan, stating that deploying troops without coordination with local officials would constitute an invasion. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order directing city police to refuse cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and to protect residents' constitutional rights during the anticipated crackdown.

Supporting reports

• Alleged uprising and use of force at Alligator Alcatraz immigration detention facility — Detainees at Florida's Alligator Alcatraz immigration jail reported that guards deployed teargas and beat detainees with batons during an alleged uprising on an unspecified date. The incident reportedly began after a migrant received news of a relative's death and detainees shouted for "freedom." At least three detainees called Miami's Noticias 23 describing indiscriminate beatings and teargas use. Florida's Division of Emergency Management denied the reports, calling them "manufactured." The facility operates under a federal judge's order to close within 60 days for environmental violations.

Supporting reports

• Alleged denial of medical care and due process at Alligator Alcatraz — Luis Manuel Rivas Velásquez collapsed unconscious at Florida's Alligator Alcatraz detention facility in mid-August and was hospitalized with a respiratory infection. Guards were reportedly slow to respond; a Cuban nurse detainee provided CPR. His family and attorneys lost contact for an extended period, leading family to believe he had died. The facility has been criticized for harsh conditions by design, alleged abuse, and denial of due process to detainees awaiting deportation.
• ICE moves detainee without notice to family or attorneys — Luis Manuel Rivas Velásquez, a Venezuelan national detained at Florida's Alligator Alcatraz immigration facility, collapsed and was hospitalized with a respiratory infection in mid-August. After his family believed him dead due to communication blackout, ICE secretly transferred him to Camp East Montana at Fort Bliss, Texas, without notifying his lawyers or family. He was subsequently moved again to an ICE processing center in El Paso. His attorney characterizes the transfers as "enforced disappearance" and potential retaliation for denouncing detention conditions.

Supporting reports

• Nearly 1,000 labor protests planned for Labor Day week opposing Trump administration policies — Labor unions and advocacy groups, led by the AFL-CIO, organized nearly 1,000 "worker over billionaire" protests across all 50 states for Labor Day week beginning August 29, 2025. The actions target Trump administration policies including rescission of collective bargaining rights for 1 million federal workers, cuts to federal contractor minimum wage from $17.75 to $13.30 per hour, proposed elimination of wage protections for 3.7 million childcare and home care workers, and rescission of minimum wage requirements for disabled workers. Protests include marches in major cities and rallies in smaller communities nationwide.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration ends de minimis tariff exemption for all countries — The Trump administration ended the longstanding de minimis tariff exemption on Friday, August 29, 2025, eliminating duty-free entry for packages valued under $800. The exemption, established in the Tariff Act of 1930 and raised to $800 in 2015, had covered approximately 1.36 billion shipments annually. The White House cited protection of American manufacturers and national security concerns, claiming bad actors use the exemption to smuggle drugs. The change is expected to cost consumers up to $13 billion and disproportionately affect lower-income Americans and small overseas businesses.
• International postal service to U.S. collapsed due to tariff policy — Postal traffic into the United States plunged by more than 80% after the Trump administration ended a tariff exemption for low-cost imports. Eighty-eight postal operators told the United Postal Union they suspended some or all postal service to the U.S. until a solution is implemented regarding U.S.-bound parcels valued at $800 or less. The UPU reported that global postal traffic to the U.S. fell 81% on August 29, 2025, compared with a week earlier, affecting nearly all 192 member countries.
• Trump administration imposed tariffs on previously exempt international packages — Multiple international shipping companies announced they will refuse to deliver packages to the United States once a new Trump administration policy takes effect on August 29, imposing tariffs on packages valued at $800, which have always been exempt from tariffs. The Atlantic's David Frum noted that "DHL is suspending commercial package deliveries to US because of Trump tariffs. It's as if the US were imposing punitive trade sanctions on itself."

Supporting reports

• Federal appeals court rules most of Trump tariffs illegal under IEEPA — The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington DC ruled 7-4 on Friday that President Trump overstepped his constitutional authority by imposing most of his tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The court found the tariffs "unbounded in scope, amount and duration" and that IEEPA does not explicitly grant tariff-imposition power. The ruling does not take effect until 14 October, allowing time for appeal to the Supreme Court. Trump immediately disputed the decision on social media, claiming the tariffs remain in effect and accusing the court of political bias.
• Federal appeals court struck down Trump's emergency tariffs as illegal — A federal appeals court, by a 7–4 majority, upheld a May decision by a three-judge panel at the U.S. Court of International Trade striking down President Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs as illegal. The court ruled that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) has "meaningful limits" and that "an unlimited delegation of tariff authority would be unconstitutional." The court stated "Congress manifestly is not permitted to abdicate or to transfer to other the essential legislative functions with which it is thus vested." The decision concluded Congress did not give the President "wide-ranging authority to impose" sweeping tariffs, noting such authorization would mean "Congress had bestowed on a federal agency the taxing power," a "sharp break with our traditions." The decision will not take effect until October 14 to allow the administration to appeal to the Supreme Court.

Supporting reports

• Missouri governor calls special legislative session to redraw congressional districts — Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe announced a special legislative session to redraw the state's congressional districts, following pressure from Donald Trump to reshape boundaries to favor Republicans. The move aims to help the GOP gain an additional House seat in the 2026 midterms. Kehoe's announcement came hours after Texas Governor Greg Abbott ratified a similar map designed to gain five Republican seats. Trump publicly celebrated the announcement and urged Missouri lawmakers to pass a "new, much fairer" map. The session will also address initiative petition reform to restrict citizen-led ballot measures.

Supporting reports

• Texas Governor Abbott signs new redistricting bill favoring Republicans — Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed into law on Friday a new redistricting bill designed to create five additional Republican House seats, as declared by President Trump. The new map faces multiple lawsuits, including one alleging racial discrimination in the drawn districts. The action is part of a broader national arms race in mid-decade redistricting aimed at locking in partisan advantage ahead of the 2026 midterms.
• Texas governor signs redistricting bill favoring Republicans, reducing Democratic House seats — Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a redistricting bill on Friday that redraws the state's congressional map to heavily favor Republicans, creating as many as five additional Republican districts. The Texas House approved the map 88-52 on party lines, and the state Senate approved it early Saturday. The new map will reduce Democratic-majority districts in Houston, Austin, and Dallas-Fort Worth, shifting Republican-favored districts from 25 of 38 to 30 of 38. The bill followed Trump's request for new maps and prompted weeks-long Democratic walkouts.

Supporting reports

• Pentagon restores Robert E Lee portrait to West Point library — The Pentagon, under the Trump administration, is restoring a nearly 20-foot portrait of Confederate General Robert E Lee to the West Point library. The painting, which depicts Lee with an enslaved man holding his horse, had been removed in 2022 following a 2020 law mandating removal of Confederate tributes from military installations. Army communications director Rebecca Hodson stated the academy is "prepared to restore historical names, artifacts, and assets to their original form and place," framing the action as honoring history rather than erasing it. The legal mechanism for reinstalling the portrait without violating the 2020 law remains unclear.