Trump Action Archive

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."

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• DOJ issues subpoenas to clinics and doctors providing gender-affirming care to minors — The U.S. Department of Justice issued more than 20 subpoenas to clinics and doctors offering gender-affirming care to minors, following Attorney General Pam Bondi's April 22 memo directing federal prosecutors to investigate and prosecute providers under FGM statutes. The specific recipients and information requested remain unclear. Medical associations maintain that such care provides lifesaving treatment; a Stanford study found better mental health outcomes for transgender youth receiving hormone therapy. The investigation has not yet resulted in charges but may serve to deter providers from offering care.
• Department of Justice subpoenas doctors and clinics performing gender-affirming medical procedures on minors — The Department of Justice announced on July 9, 2025, that it has issued more than 20 subpoenas to doctors and clinics involved in performing transgender medical procedures on children. The investigations, announced by Attorney General Pamela Bondi, allege healthcare fraud, false statements, and related violations. The department characterized the procedures as "mutilation" in service of "warped ideology." The subpoenas represent the opening phase of a federal investigation into these medical practices.

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• Federal prosecutors charge nine protesters with conspiracy for blocking ICE transport — Federal prosecutors brought conspiracy charges against nine demonstrators who protested Joswar Torres's detention in June 2025, including blocking an ICE transport vehicle. The charges mark an escalation in prosecuting First Amendment protest activity. Richard Barker, a career DOJ prosecutor and acting U.S. attorney for eastern Washington, resigned rather than sign the indictments, citing that protesters were exercising free speech rights and witnessing injustice.
• War veteran faces six-year prison sentence for protest participation — Bajun Mavalwalla, an Afghanistan war veteran, was charged with conspiracy for participating in the June 2025 protest against Torres's detention. He faces up to six years in prison if convicted and has pleaded not guilty, intending to take the case to trial. His prosecution exemplifies the federal government's aggressive pursuit of protest participants.

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• ICE detention of Egyptian imam Ayman Soliman following immigration check-in — Ayman Soliman, a 51-year-old Egyptian imam and hospital chaplain, was detained by ICE and FBI agents on July 9 during a routine immigration check-in in Cincinnati. He was held at Butler County Jail for over 10 weeks under allegations of terror-related charges in Egypt, despite having fled Egypt in 2014 after detention for his journalism work. Soliman was subjected to isolation, denial of commissary access, restricted attorney contact, and alleged abuse by correctional officers. He was released in mid-September with his visa status restored after legal intervention.
• ICE detention of Egyptian-born imam Ayman Soliman at routine immigration check-in — Ayman Soliman, an Egyptian-born imam at Clifton mosque in Cincinnati, Ohio, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on July 9 while attending a routine check-in appointment. USCIS had terminated his seven-year asylum status, alleging he provided material support to the Muslim Brotherhood through membership in an Egyptian charity organization. Neither the Brotherhood nor the charity are designated as foreign terrorist organizations by the U.S. government. Soliman's lawyers argue the reasoning is pretextual and may constitute retaliation for his prior lawsuit against the government. He faces an immigration judge hearing on July 22 and a bond hearing on July 23.

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• Jeff Small contacts Colorado election clerks requesting access to voting machines — Jeff Small, a political consultant claiming to work with the White House on Trump's election security executive order, contacted at least 10 Republican county clerks in Colorado via text and phone between July 9–24, 2025, requesting access to voting equipment and election records. Clerks including Steve Schleiker (El Paso), Justin Grantham (Fremont), and Bobbie Gross (Mesa) reported the requests as alarming and potentially illegal. Small's lawyer later claimed he was acting on a volunteer basis during paternity leave. DHS distanced itself from Small, stating he has no official role. Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold called the defense "completely misleading."

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• Greg Abbott announces plan to redraw Texas congressional districts — Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced a plan to redraw the state's congressional districts as part of his legislative priorities for the upcoming session beginning July 21. The move, reportedly made in response to Trump administration pressure for additional Republican seats, would constitute a mid-decade gerrymander. Democrats and voting-rights advocates condemned the action as an attack on democracy, particularly given its timing during a state emergency following deadly flooding. The Texas legislature, with Republican majorities in both chambers, is expected to approve Abbott's conservative agenda.

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• Miami city commission postpones municipal election to 2026 without voter approval — On an unspecified date in late June 2025, Miami's city commission voted 3-2 to change municipal election bylaws, pushing the scheduled 2025 off-year races to 2026. Commissioners cited cost savings and increased voter engagement during higher-profile election years, but did not seek voter permission. The change extends the terms of term-limited Mayor Francis Suarez and Commissioner Joe Carollo by one year. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier issued a warning letter on 26 June stating the change violates the city and county charter and state constitution. Multiple candidates have filed lawsuits challenging the ordinance.

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• US Supreme Court blocks Florida from enforcing anti-immigration law — The US Supreme Court denied Florida's emergency request to lift a judicial block on SB 4-C, a state law criminalizing undocumented entry into Florida. US District Judge Kathleen Williams had issued a preliminary injunction in April, finding the law probably unconstitutional for encroaching on federal immigration authority. The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the block in June. The law, signed by Governor Ron DeSantis in February, imposed felony charges and mandatory minimum sentences (9 months to 5 years) for undocumented immigrants entering the state, with no exceptions for humanitarian cases or pending relief applications.
• Supreme Court denies stay in Uthmeier v. Florida Immigrant Coalition — The Supreme Court denied an application for stay in Uthmeier v. Florida Immigrant Coalition (Docket 24A1269), referred to Justice Thomas. The denial means the lower court's decision proceeds without suspension pending further Supreme Court review or appeal.

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• Florida Attorney General found in civil contempt for violating immigration law injunction — US District Judge Kathleen Williams found Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier in civil contempt of court on the same day he filed the emergency request to the Supreme Court. Williams determined that Uthmeier violated her order by informing state law enforcement agencies of the injunction blocking SB 4-C but then instructing them to arrest people anyway under the law. Williams ordered Uthmeier to provide court updates every two weeks on any continued enforcement of the blocked immigration measure.

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• Trump administration sues California over transgender athletes in girls' school sports — The U.S. Department of Justice, under Attorney General Pam Bondi, filed a federal lawsuit in Los Angeles against California, alleging that the state's policies permitting transgender girls to compete in girls' school sports violate Title IX's sex-discrimination protections. The suit cites five instances of transgender athletes competing in girls' events across California's nearly 6 million public school students and seeks a court order barring such participation and establishing compensation for allegedly harmed female athletes.
• Justice Department sued California over Title IX and student athletics policy — The Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division filed suit against the California Department of Education and the California Interscholastic Federation, alleging violations of Title IX by permitting male participation on female high-school sports teams. The complaint characterizes this as sex discrimination depriving girls of equal athletic opportunities. The suit seeks declaratory, injunctive, and damages relief. California receives approximately $44.3 billion in federal education funding, of which $3.8 billion remains available for drawdown.

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• Judge Boasberg finds probable cause for criminal contempt against Trump officials — Federal Judge James Boasberg found probable cause to hold Trump administration officials in criminal contempt of court for showing "a willful disregard" toward his orders regarding the detained Venezuelan migrants. The contempt proceedings were temporarily halted by an appeals court but may resume, with the El Salvador U.N. disclosure now serving as significant evidence against the officials.

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• Judge Gallagher orders Trump administration to explain negotiation requirement for detainee return — Federal Judge Stephanie Gallagher, a Trump appointee, ordered the Trump administration to explain why diplomatic negotiations with El Salvador are required to return a 20-year-old detainee identified as "Cristian" if El Salvador does not have sovereign authority over him. The order was issued after Gallagher reviewed El Salvador's U.N. disclosure, which contradicts ICE official Mellissa Harper's prior claims that negotiations were necessary.

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• White House issues release attributing ICE facility attacks to Democratic rhetoric — The White House published a release on July 9, 2025, attributing a reported 700% surge in assaults on ICE agents to "dangerous, inflammatory rhetoric from Democrat politicians." The release cites three specific incidents: a July 4 ambush at an ICE facility in Alvarado, Texas, where one officer was shot in the neck; a July 4 assault on federal agents at an ICE facility in Portland, Oregon; and a July 7 shooting at a Border Patrol facility in McAllen, Texas. The release then catalogs statements by Democratic officials and mayors, characterizing them as incitement.

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• Secretary of State Rubio imposed sanctions on UN human rights investigator — On Twitter, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the State Department imposed sanctions on UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, who is investigating human rights abuses in Gaza. Rubio noted that Albanese's "campaign of political and economic warfare against the United States and Israel will no longer be tolerated." In response, Albanese tweeted, "Just to be sure, on this day more than ever: I stand firmly and convincingly on the side of justice, as I have always done."

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• Trump administration ended temporary protected status for Honduran and Nicaraguan migrants — The Trump administration terminated temporary protected status (TPS) for approximately 72,000 migrants from Honduras and 4,000 from Nicaragua, stripping them of legal status. This decision echoes similar terminations for migrants from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Haiti, Nepal, and Venezuela. A federal court has blocked the early termination of protected status for Haitians.
• Trump administration terminates temporary protected status for Hondurans and Nicaraguans — The Department of Homeland Security announced the termination of temporary protected status (TPS) for approximately 72,000 Hondurans and 4,000 Nicaraguans, effective in about 60 days. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that circumstances justifying the original protections—granted after Hurricane Mitch in 1998—no longer exist. Those without green cards will be encouraged to depart voluntarily via a CBP app offering plane tickets and $1,000 exit bonuses. The move continues a broader Trump administration effort to strip TPS from multiple countries including Venezuela, Haiti, Afghanistan, Cameroon, and Nepal.
• Trump administration ends temporary protection for migrants — The Trump administration announced the termination of temporary protected status for approximately 72,000 migrants from Honduras and 4,000 from Nicaragua, stripping them of their legal status. This decision follows similar actions regarding migrants from other countries, including Afghanistan and Haiti, and has faced legal challenges in federal court.
• DHS terminated Temporary Protected Status for Honduran and Nicaraguan immigrants — DHS terminated the Temporary Protected Status of roughly 72,000 immigrants from Honduras and another 4,000 from Nicaragua, with their humanitarian relief ending on Sept. 6. Both countries have been designated for TPS since 1999.

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• Trump administration issues policy barring bond hearings for undocumented immigrants in removal proceedings — The Trump administration, through Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), issued a memo on 8 July reversing prior policy to bar millions of undocumented immigrants from requesting bond hearings before immigration judges during removal proceedings. ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons stated that the Homeland Security and Justice departments had "revisited" their legal position and determined such immigrants "may not be released from ICE custody." The policy applies to immigrants who entered without legal status and are in removal proceedings that can span years. Immigration attorneys and judges have signaled legal challenges.

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• Agriculture Secretary Rollins proposes Medicaid work requirements and automation to replace deported farm workers — US Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins stated at a news conference with Republican governors that the Trump administration would rely on automation and forcing Medicaid recipients to work to replace migrant farm workers being deported. She cited 34 million able-bodied adults in Medicaid as potential workers. Trump had signed legislation Friday creating federally mandated work requirements for Medicaid recipients, effective by end of 2026. Agricultural experts warn neither automation nor welfare reform can realistically replace the migrant workforce that dominates US farming.
• Agriculture Secretary rejected protection for undocumented farm workers — Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins rejected the idea that the government would protect undocumented agricultural workers. She stated "There will be no amnesty" and announced the administration would pursue "mass deportations" in a "strategic way" while moving the workforce toward automation and "100% American participation," citing 34 million able-bodied adults on Medicaid as a replacement labor source.

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• Trump announces new tariff rates for 14 countries, extends reciprocal tariff deadline to August 1 — President Trump announced new unilateral tariff rates targeting 14 countries, ranging from 25% to 40%, effective August 1, 2025. Countries include Japan (25%), South Korea (25%), South Africa (30%), Laos and Myanmar (40%), and others. Trump simultaneously signed an executive order extending a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs first introduced in April, pushing the deadline from July to August 1. Trump stated the August deadline was "firm, but not 100% firm" and signaled willingness to negotiate. The US has completed deals with only three countries (UK, China, Vietnam) so far.

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• Democratic senators introduce bill to prohibit ICE agents from wearing masks — Senators Alex Padilla (California) and Cory Booker (New Jersey) introduced legislation requiring Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal immigration enforcement officers to clearly display their agency name, badge number, and either their name or badge number without tactical gear or face coverings. The bill prohibits masks and balaclavas that obscure officer identity, with exceptions for officer safety in specific circumstances such as gas mask use during crowd dispersal. The measure responds to reports of masked agents in unmarked vehicles conducting enforcement operations without meaningful identification.

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• House Democrats demand DOJ release Epstein files mentioning Trump — Jamie Raskin and 15 House Democrats sent a six-page letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi demanding the release of Epstein documents that mention or reference Donald Trump, and the full second volume of Jack Smith's classified documents report. The Democrats accused Bondi of withholding materials to protect the president, citing her prior role as Trump's client and her track record of using DOJ to shield him from damaging disclosures.
• House Democrats demanded release of Epstein documents mentioning Trump — A group of 16 House Democrats sent a letter to AG Bondi demanding the release of key documents related to Jeffrey Epstein's sex-trafficking case that mention or refer to Trump, writing, "Stop protecting your boss and former client."

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• Mark Zaid files lawsuit challenging security clearance revocation — National security lawyer Mark Zaid filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration challenging the revocation of his security clearance. The lawsuit argues the revocation order was unconstitutionally vague, violated due process rights, and impeded First Amendment protections for free speech, association, and the right to petition the government. Zaid contends the action was politically motivated retaliation for his representation of whistleblowers and public criticism of Trump. The lawsuit seeks reinstatement of his clearance and aims to hold the administration accountable to the rule of law. Oral arguments were heard on June 27, 2025.

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• Planned Parenthood sues Trump administration over Medicaid defunding provision — Planned Parenthood filed a lawsuit in Boston federal court challenging a provision in Trump's domestic policy bill that strips Medicaid funding from its health centers. The organization argues the provision is unconstitutional and designed to punish it for its role in abortion provision. Planned Parenthood estimates the defunding could force approximately 200 clinics to close, affecting over 1 million annual Medicaid patients and disproportionately impacting blue states. The lawsuit seeks a court declaration that the provision is unconstitutional or requests preservation of Medicaid funding for non-abortion services.

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• Trump administration doubled down on exaggerated Iran nuclear claims — Trump claimed he had "totally obliterated" Iran's nuclear program, a statement that turned out to be exaggerated. When journalists questioned the claim, the administration doubled down on it rather than correcting the record.

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• Trump claims Epstein files are fabrications by political opponents and discourages public interest — On July 8, after sustained criticism from his MAGA base over the administration's handling of Epstein-related disclosures, Trump dismissed the controversy as a "desecration" of flood victims. When criticism persisted, Trump posted on Truth Social claiming that additional Epstein files exist but were "written by Obama, Crooked Hillary, Comey, Brennan, and the Losers and Criminals of the Biden Administration." He urged supporters to "not waste Time and Energy on Jeffrey Epstein, somebody that nobody cares about." This statement contradicted the administration's earlier promise to release such files and reframed legitimate investigative material as partisan fabrication.

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• Trump suggested federal takeover of New York City if Mamdani elected — Speaking to reporters during a Cabinet meeting, Trump suggested he may initiate a federal takeover of New York City if Zohran Mamdani is elected mayor, saying, "We have tremendous power at the White House to run places when we have to." Trump has no authority to run New York City, but "there are ways in which he can make life difficult," one legal expert told Newsday. Trump added that his administration has been "looking at" doing the same in Washington, DC.
• Trump suggested federal takeover of New York City and Washington D.C. — Trump suggested the administration could take over New York City if voters elect Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. He also suggested the administration could take over Washington, D.C., stating "We could run D.C." and "We want a capital that's run flawlessly, and it wouldn't be hard for us to do it."