Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Pete Hegseth shared classified Yemen strike details in private Signal chat with family and associates — US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sent detailed information about planned military strikes on Yemen to a private Signal group chat he created, which included his wife Jennifer, his brother Phil, and approximately a dozen other personal associates and advisers. The chat contained operational details including F/A-18 flight schedules for strikes on Houthi targets. This represents a second unauthorized disclosure channel, separate from a previously reported Signal group created by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz. Sources confirmed Hegseth used a personal phone rather than a government device to access the chat.
• Hegseth's second Signal chat with sensitive military details revealed — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth created a private Signal group chat including his wife, brother, and about a dozen personal associates, in which he shared details of a U.S. attack on Yemeni Houthi rebels, including F/A-18 flight schedules. The New York Times reported the existence of this second chat on April 21, 2025. The revelation prompted calls for Hegseth's resignation from Democratic senators and criticism from former Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot, who described the Pentagon as experiencing a "full-blown meltdown" under Hegseth's leadership.
• SecDef Hegseth created Signal chat discussing sensitive DOD operations — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth created a private Signal chat group called "Team Huddle" with 13 people, including his brother and personal attorney, to discuss sensitive Department of Defense operations including bombing targets in Yemen. The New York Times reported the group's existence and composition. This follows an earlier Signal chat scandal involving his wife.
• Don Jr. declares John Ullyot exiled from MAGA movement — Donald Trump Jr. responded to John Ullyot's editorial criticizing Pentagon dysfunction by declaring Ullyot a traitor and officially exiling him from the MAGA movement. Trump Jr. stated that Ullyot has worked for years to subvert his father's agenda and that this behavior ends today.
• Hegseth's former spokesman publishes editorial on Pentagon dysfunction — John Ullyot, Hegseth's former spokesman, published an editorial in Politico describing the Department of Defense as in "total chaos" under Hegseth's leadership. Ullyot detailed mass firings, leaks of sensitive operational plans, and the departure of Hegseth's two closest advisers of over a decade. Ullyot stated the dysfunction is a major distraction for the president and predicted more significant stories would emerge.
• White House begins search for new Secretary of Defense — According to a U.S. official not authorized to speak publicly, the White House has begun the process of looking for a new Secretary of Defense. NPR reported this development, though the White House social media account subsequently denied the report as fake news.
• White House Press Secretary defends Hegseth — White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a statement asserting that President Trump stands strongly behind Pete Hegseth and that he is doing a phenomenal job leading the Pentagon. She characterized the criticism as coming from a Pentagon working against the secretary and against the administration's reform agenda.
• Hegseth defends Signal chat use, blames ousted Pentagon officials for leaks — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended his use of encrypted messaging app Signal to discuss sensitive military operations, including details about strikes against Houthis in Yemen. In a Fox News interview, Hegseth blamed fired Pentagon officials for orchestrating leaks and claimed the shared information was unclassified. The controversy follows reporting that Hegseth shared operational details—launch times, bomb drop timings, missile launches—with 13 people including his wife, brother, and personal lawyer, some lacking security clearance. An internal Pentagon investigation is underway.
• Pete Hegseth disclosed sensitive military intelligence in unsecured Signal group chats — Pentagon Secretary Pete Hegseth repeatedly shared highly sensitive military intelligence, including information on active strikes in Yemen and troop movements, through unsecured Signal group chats with his wife, brother, Trump administration officials, and a journalist. National security experts and former Biden administration officials expressed grave concerns that these disclosures have endangered Pentagon secrets, weakened U.S. defense posture, and made Hegseth and his circle prime espionage targets for foreign adversaries including Russia and China.
• Concerns over Pete Hegseth's unsecured communications — Reports have emerged that Pete Hegseth, the US Secretary of Defense, has been disclosing sensitive military intelligence in unsecured Signal group chats, raising fears that this behavior has compromised US defense secrets and made him a target for foreign espionage. Experts warn that such leaks could endanger military operations and expose the US to significant risks, particularly in the context of ongoing geopolitical tensions with adversaries like Russia and China. Hegseth's actions have led to concerns about the integrity of US intelligence-sharing and the safety of personnel involved in military operations.
• Pete Hegseth used unsecured internet connection for Signal — The Associated Press reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had an internet connection installed in his Pentagon office that bypassed the Pentagon's security protocols to use the Signal messaging app on a personal computer. The connection, known as a "dirty" internet line, connects directly to the public internet without the security filters and protocols maintained on Pentagon secured connections. The Washington Post reported Hegseth used this workaround to continue using Signal in secure areas where personal cell phones were not permitted.
• Pete Hegseth ordered Pentagon makeup studio renovation — CBS reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered modifications to a room next to the Pentagon press briefing room to retrofit it as a makeup studio for TV appearance preparation. The project cost several thousand dollars at a time when the administration is seeking cost-cutting measures. The original renovation plan was estimated at over $40,000 but was scaled back. A DOD spokesperson stated that changes to the Pentagon Briefing Room routinely happen during administrative transitions.
• Pete Hegseth's chief of staff Joe Kasper departed DOD — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's controversial chief of staff Joe Kasper left the Department of Defense today, according to Politico. Kasper is the fifth top DOD official to leave the agency in the past week and was a central figure in a power struggle that cost three top aides their jobs. On Tuesday, Hegseth had stated Kasper was "staying with us" in a "slightly different role."
• Pete Hegseth set up unsecured internet line in Pentagon office to bypass security protocols and use Signal — Pete Hegseth, US defense secretary, had an unsecured commercial internet connection installed in his Pentagon office to circumvent government security filters and use the Signal messaging app on a personal computer. The "dirty line" allowed him to bypass both SiprNet (classified) and NiprNet (unclassified) Pentagon networks. Multiple personal computers were present at his desk, creating vulnerability to hacking and surveillance. The Pentagon's chief spokesperson denied Hegseth used Signal on government computers, contradicting reporting that he directed Signal installation on a desktop in his office.
• Defense Secretary Hegseth directed installation of Signal on unsecured Pentagon computer — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directed staffers to install the Signal messaging application on his desktop computer in a secure area where personal cell phones are not permitted. The computer was connected to the internet via an unsecured commercial line, making it highly susceptible to hacking and creating a significant security vulnerability for classified communications.
• Defense Secretary Hegseth posted classified information in unsecure Signal chat — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted information he had just received from Army General Michael Erik Kurilla, who leads U.S. Central Command, in an unsecure second Signal chat containing his wife, brother, and personal friends. The information was posted from Hegseth's personal phone, violating security protocols for classified material.
• Hegseth's management of the Pentagon criticized for lack of expertise — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has faced scrutiny for his management style, relying on a small circle of advisors without significant experience in defense matters. His approach has led to internal conflicts within the Pentagon, including a breach of security protocols by using unsecured communication methods for sensitive information.
• Hegseth's unsecure communications raise security concerns — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was reported to have shared sensitive information from Army General Michael Erik Kurilla in an unsecure Signal chat with personal contacts. Additionally, he directed staff to install Signal on a desktop computer connected to an unsecured internet line, raising significant security concerns regarding the handling of classified information.
• Pentagon lacks confirmed NSA and Cyber Command director after Hegseth firings — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth fired General Hauck and his deputy without stated reason, leaving the position of National Security Advisor and Cyber Command director vacant with no confirmed replacement or nominee. The position oversees the crown jewel of U.S. intelligence and signals intelligence (SIGINT). This vacancy occurs during sensitive negotiations with Russia and China, creating a gap in senior intelligence leadership.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration announces funding freezes to Brown, Northwestern, Princeton, and Cornell universities — The White House announced funding freezes to multiple universities including Brown, Northwestern, Princeton, and Cornell, as part of a broader campaign to pressure higher education institutions to comply with Trump administration demands regarding curriculum, admissions, hiring, and DEI programs. The specific demands and freeze amounts are not detailed in the article.
• Trump administration circulates draft executive order for radical State Department restructuring — A draft executive order reportedly circulating within the Trump administration proposes a sweeping reorganization of the U.S. State Department, including elimination of the Bureau of African Affairs, Bureau of International Organizations, Office of Global Women's Issues, and special envoy for climate. The order would close unspecified "non-essential" embassies and consulates in sub-Saharan Africa, reduce diplomatic operations in Canada, and reorganize the department into four regional bureaus. State Department officials disputed the authenticity of the leaked document, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling it "fake news," though the New York Times and Bloomberg reported on the draft.
• Trump administration cuts federal funding to Harvard University and demands policy changes — The Trump administration cut approximately $2.3 billion in federal funding to Harvard University after the institution refused to concede to administration demands. Trump also called for Harvard's tax-exempt status to be revoked. The administration deployed an "antisemitism taskforce" to demand policy changes at universities nationwide. Columbia University capitulated to similar demands, agreeing to restore $400 million in federal funding in exchange for measures including banning face masks, empowering security to arrest people, and placing control of its Middle Eastern department under new oversight.
• Trump administration freezes $2.2bn in Harvard grants and demands government control over admissions, hiring, and curriculum — The Trump administration announced a freeze of $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in multi-year contract value to Harvard University after President Alan Garber refused demands that would grant the government authority to audit the student body, faculty, and leadership for "viewpoint diversity" and to shut down all diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. Garber stated the demands violated the university's independence and constitutional rights. The administration framed the action as addressing antisemitism and civil rights violations, though critics view it as authoritarian overreach targeting higher education as an independent sector.

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• Trump administration targets major U.S. law firms with executive orders, prompting capitulation and pledges of pro bono work — The Trump administration issued executive orders targeting major U.S. law firms, prompting many to capitulate and pledge hundreds of millions of dollars in pro bono work to causes backed by the Trump administration. The article frames this as part of a broader authoritarian strategy to intimidate and control independent civic institutions beyond universities.

Supporting reports

• Defense and Homeland Security secretaries to report on Insurrection Act invocation — By April 20, the secretaries of defense and homeland security are required to report to the president on whether he should invoke the 1807 Insurrection Act to enable the use of the military to aid in mass deportations. The Insurrection Act allows the president to deploy the military domestically in response to insurrection, rebellion, or invasion. The administration's consideration of invoking this statute for immigration enforcement represents an extraordinary expansion of executive power and a potential violation of the Posse Comitatus Act.
• Hegseth and Noem ordered to report on Insurrection Act recommendation; deadline April 21 — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem were ordered to report to the president by April 21 whether they recommended invoking the Insurrection Act to deal with conditions at the southern border. The Insurrection Act enables the president to use military troops as law enforcement officers inside the United States. According to CNN reporting on Friday, April 18, when the two officials file their report, they will not recommend invoking the act.

Supporting reports

• Social Security Administration executive placed on leave for objecting to adding living immigrants to death database — A senior Social Security Administration executive was escorted out of his office by security and placed on leave after objecting to the Trump administration's effort to add thousands of living immigrants to the agency's deaths database. The policy would prevent living immigrants from legally earning wages, with officials hoping it would spur them to leave the country. The executive's removal represents retaliation for internal dissent.

Supporting reports

• US Supreme Court orders temporary halt to deportations of Venezuelan men under Alien Enemies Act — The US Supreme Court issued an emergency order early Saturday directing the Trump administration to temporarily halt deportations of Venezuelan men held in ICE custody, particularly at the Bluebonnet detention center in Texas. The ACLU had filed an emergency motion Friday arguing that dozens of detainees classified as Tren de Aragua gang members faced imminent removal without judicial review previously mandated by the Court. The order requires the government to cease removals pending further court direction. Justices Thomas and Alito dissented.
• Supreme Court blocks deportations under Alien Enemies Act; Alito and Thomas dissent — Early Saturday morning, April 19, the Supreme Court issued an emergency order blocking the Trump administration from deporting a group of undocumented Venezuelans under the authority of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act. The men had already been loaded onto buses heading to an airplane when the Court intervened. Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented. The Court issued its decision without waiting for the dissenters to finish writing, signaling urgency and lack of confidence in the government's legal compliance.
• Case update — W.M.M. v. Trump (a.k.a. A.A.R.P. v. Trump) (N.D. Tex.) 1:25-cv-00059 — The Supreme Court issued a stay writing, “The Government is directed not to remove any member of the putative class of detainees from the United States until further order of this Court.” Justice Alito and Thomas dissented.
• SCOTUS stays removal of detainees in A.A.R.P. v. Trump pending Fifth Circuit action — The Supreme Court issued an order in the pending case A.A.R.P. et al. v. Trump (Docket 24A1007), in which a putative class of detainees sought an injunction against removal under the Alien Enemies Act. The Court directed the Government not to remove any member of the putative class from the United States pending further order, invited the Solicitor General to file a response after Fifth Circuit action, and noted that Justices Thomas and Alito dissented from the order.

Supporting reports

• State Department found no evidence against Tufts student Rumeysa Ozturk in deportation case — The Washington Post reported that the State Department found that the Trump administration failed to produce any evidence showing that Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk engaged in antisemitic activities or supported a terrorist organization, raising doubts about the government's deportation case against her. The finding undermines the legal basis for her removal proceedings.

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• Guardian opinion essay comparing Timothy McVeigh's 1995 Oklahoma City bombing ideology to contemporary Trump-era far-right politics — Andrew Gumbel's essay draws parallels between Timothy McVeigh's 1995 truck-bomb attack on the Alfred P. Murrah federal building (which killed 168 people, including 19 children) and present-day far-right ideology now mainstream in Trump's administration. The piece argues that McVeigh's grievances—distrust of federal government, "Deep State" conspiracy theories, America First nationalism, and anti-immigration sentiment—have moved from fringe to center stage. Gumbel notes that former President Clinton observed McVeigh's rhetoric "literally sound[s] like the mainstream today. Like he won!" The essay contextualizes McVeigh's radicalization through 1990s militia culture, botched federal raids at Ruby Ridge and Waco, and The Turner Diaries, while warning that far-right groups now operate with perceived impunity under Trump.

Supporting reports

• Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene disclosed stock purchases before tariff pause announcement — Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene disclosed that she purchased up to $315,000 in stock the day before and on the day Trump announced he was pausing his massive tariff plan. The timing raises questions about potential insider trading or advance knowledge of the announcement.

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• Federal Housing Finance Agency head sent criminal referral on Letitia James to DOJ — The head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency sent a criminal referral letter to the Justice Department requesting an investigation into Letitia James for allegedly "falsifying records" to receive favorable loan terms. James' office responded by saying she "will not be intimidated by bullies – no matter who they are." The referral appears retaliatory.

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• Trump administration argued it has no obligation to return mistakenly deported Kilmar Abrego Garcia — The Trump administration argued it has no legal obligation to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the US, falsely claiming it only has to admit him into the country if the El Salvador government chooses to release him. This position contradicts the administration's own admission in court that Abrego Garcia's deportation was a mistake and defies subsequent court orders.

Supporting reports

• Secretary of State Rubio announced deportation of 10 migrants to El Salvador mega-prison — Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Twitter that the US deported 10 more migrants to El Salvador's mega-prison over the weekend. The announcement represents continued use of the Alien Enemies Act to remove migrants to a foreign detention facility.

Supporting reports

• Harmeet Dhillon issues new civil rights division mission statements deprioritizing marginalized groups — Harmeet Dhillon, Trump-appointed head of the DOJ Civil Rights Division (confirmed early April 2025), sent new internal mission statements to multiple sections this week that fundamentally redirect the division's focus away from protecting marginalized groups' rights. The Voting Rights Section now prioritizes hunting noncitizen voters and preventing "fraud" over enforcing the Voting Rights Act. The Housing and Civil Enforcement Section omits the Fair Housing Act entirely and targets "racially discriminatory lending programs" (code for attacking minority credit initiatives). The Educational Opportunities Section focuses on preventing discrimination against white applicants and anti-transgender issues. The Disability Rights Section redirects resources toward targeting transgender Americans via executive orders.

Supporting reports

• FBI arrests Wisconsin judge Hannah Dugan on obstruction allegations related to immigration enforcement — The FBI arrested Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan on Friday, April 18, 2025, alleging she obstructed federal immigration officers attempting to arrest a defendant in her courtroom. According to the criminal complaint, Dugan directed the defendant and his attorney to a private exit to evade the arrest team. FBI Director Kash Patel posted a photograph of Dugan in handcuffs on social media. Republicans called for her removal; Democrats condemned the arrest as an attack on judicial independence and weaponization of federal law enforcement by the Trump administration.
• FBI Director Kash Patel posts photograph of arrested judge on social media — FBI Director Kash Patel posted a photograph of Judge Hannah Dugan in handcuffs on Twitter/X on Friday night with the caption "No one is above the law." The post served as a public signal that the Trump administration welcomed a political confrontation over the judge's arrest and framed the arrest as enforcement of equal accountability.

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• White House issues fact sheet on new federal employee classification removing civil service protections — The White House Office of Personnel Management issued a fact sheet on April 18, 2025, announcing a proposed rule to create a new "Schedule Policy/Career" category for approximately 50,000 federal employees in policy-influencing roles. The fact sheet states these employees will become at-will workers without access to adverse action procedures or appeals, enabling agencies to remove them without lengthy procedural requirements. The rule implements an executive order titled "Restoring Accountability to Policy-Influencing Positions Within the Federal Workforce," reversing Biden-era protections.

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• Federal judge bars Trump administration from rapid deportation policy — Federal Judge Brian Murphy on Friday barred the Trump administration from implementing a new policy that would allow it to rapidly deport hundreds or thousands of immigrants to countries other than their own without giving them an opportunity to demonstrate they face persecution, torture, or death. The ruling blocks a policy that would circumvent due process protections for asylum seekers and vulnerable migrants.

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• Trump removes Gary Shapley as IRS acting commissioner after Bessent complaint — Donald Trump removed Gary Shapley from his position as acting IRS commissioner days after his appointment on Tuesday, following Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's complaint that Shapley had been installed without his knowledge at the direction of Elon Musk's DOGE office. Michael Faulkender, deputy treasury secretary, is expected to become the next acting head. The removal reflects an internal power struggle between Bessent and Musk over control of the IRS, which reports to the Treasury Department.

Supporting reports

• Hegseth fires three Pentagon aides based on leak investigation later undermined by illegal wiretap claims — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth fired three top aides—Dan Caldwell, Darin Selnick, and Colin Carroll—on April 18 in connection with a leak of a classified Panama Canal document. The investigation, overseen by Hegseth's personal lawyer Tim Parlatore, later claimed the aides were identified via an illegal warrantless NSA wiretap. White House advisers lost confidence in the investigation after learning of this unconstitutional claim, which Parlatore denied making. The episode has left the Pentagon leadership destabilized and raised questions about whether the firings were justified or weaponized against internal rivals.
• Secretary of Defense Hegseth fires three senior staffers; chief of staff departs — On Friday, April 18, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth fired three of his senior staffers. An official announced that his chief of staff was leaving. These personnel actions followed reports of classified information breaches and internal dissatisfaction with Hegseth's leadership.

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• U.S. House approves Save Act requiring proof of citizenship to vote — The U.S. House of Representatives approved the Save Act, a far-reaching federal bill requiring voters to submit proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote and limiting mail and online voter registration. The bill restricts voter registration efforts based on false narratives about noncitizen voting.

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• Trump studies firing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to force interest rate cuts — President Trump instructed his economic advisors to study whether he has the legal authority to fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, citing frustration that Powell has not cut interest rates fast enough. Trump publicly stated "If I ask him to, he'll be out of there," rejecting the notion of Federal Reserve independence. Powell had indicated the Fed would wait for clarity on inflation before adjusting policy, disappointing Trump's hopes for rate cuts to counter stock market losses from tariff announcements.

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• Trump issues executive order requiring documentary proof of citizenship to vote — President Trump issued an executive order calling for documentary proof of citizenship as a requirement for voting. This federal directive aligns with and amplifies state-level Republican efforts to restrict voting access based on unsubstantiated claims of noncitizen voting.

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• President Trump issued proclamation permitting commercial fishing in Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument — President Trump signed a proclamation on April 17, 2025, modifying the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument (PRIMNM) to permit commercial fishing in designated areas. The proclamation states that appropriately managed commercial fishing would not jeopardize the monument's protected objects and directs the Secretary of Commerce to expeditiously publish new rules amending or repealing regulations restricting commercial fishing. The order applies to areas 50–200 nautical miles from landward boundaries and restricts permits to U.S.-flagged vessels, except for transshipment by foreign vessels.
• Trump proclamation permits commercial fishing in Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument — President Trump issued Proclamation 10918 on April 17, 2025, modifying the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument (PRIMNM) to permit commercial fishing in designated zones 50–200 nautical miles from landward boundaries. The proclamation revises prior management language from Proclamations 8336 (2009) and 9173 (2014), which had prohibited all commercial fishing across over 400,000 square miles. The Secretary of Commerce is directed to expeditiously publish new rules amending or repealing regulations restricting commercial fishing. Only U.S.-flagged vessels are permitted, with limited exceptions for foreign vessels transshipping U.S.-harvested fish.
• White House issued fact sheet promoting proclamation opening Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument to commercial fishing — The White House published a fact sheet on April 17, 2025, promoting a proclamation signed by President Trump that opens the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument (PRIMNM) to commercial fishing. The fact sheet states the proclamation allows U.S.-flagged vessels to fish commercially within 50 to 200 nautical miles of the PRIMNM's boundaries, claims this will boost the economy of American Samoa and support American fishermen disadvantaged by "overregulation," and frames the action as part of a broader deregulation initiative.

Supporting reports

• Trump signed Executive Order 14276 directing regulatory review and trade strategy for seafood competitiveness — President Trump signed Executive Order 14276 on April 17, 2025, directing the Secretary of Commerce to review and reduce regulatory burdens on commercial fishing, aquaculture, and fish processing within 30 days; to develop an America First Seafood Strategy with the Secretary of Agriculture; to work with the U.S. Trade Representative on a comprehensive seafood trade strategy within 60 days addressing unfair trade practices and illegal fishing; and to review marine national monuments for potential opening to commercial fishing within 180 days. The order states the U.S. controls over 4 million square miles of fishing grounds but that nearly 90 percent of seafood consumed domestically is imported, with a seafood trade deficit exceeding $20 billion.
• White House issues fact sheet on executive order to restore American seafood competitiveness — The White House published a fact sheet on April 17, 2025, describing an executive order signed by President Trump to strengthen the U.S. fishing industry. The order directs the Secretary of Commerce to suspend or rescind regulations burdening commercial fishing, aquaculture, and fish processing. It instructs the National Marine Fisheries Service to modernize fishery assessments, expand exempted fishing permits, and improve data collection. The order establishes an America First Seafood Strategy, mandates a seafood trade strategy to address unfair foreign competition, and orders a review of marine national monuments to assess opening them to commercial fishing.
• Trump signs Executive Order 14276 to reduce seafood regulations and address trade practices — President Trump signed Executive Order 14276 on April 17, 2025, directing the Secretary of Commerce to suspend, revise, or rescind regulations burdening commercial fishing, aquaculture, and fish processing within 30 days. The order mandates development of an "America First Seafood Strategy," directs the U.S. Trade Representative to assess unfair trade practices and IUU fishing, requires review of marine national monuments for potential opening to commercial fishing, and streamlines the Seafood Import Monitoring Program. The order builds on Executive Order 13921 (2020) and aims to reduce the seafood trade deficit and increase domestic production.
• Trump issues executive order on seafood competitiveness and fishing regulation — President Trump signed Executive Order "Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness" on April 17, 2025, directing the Secretary of Commerce to reduce regulatory burdens on commercial fishing, aquaculture, and fish processing within 30 days. The order mandates development of an "America First Seafood Strategy," requires the U.S. Trade Representative to assess unfair trade practices and IUU fishing, and directs review of marine national monuments for potential opening to commercial fishing. It aims to address the $20 billion seafood trade deficit and the fact that 90 percent of U.S. seafood is imported.

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• White House extends federal hiring freeze through July 15, 2025 — The White House issued a presidential memorandum extending a freeze on hiring of federal civilian employees through July 15, 2025. The freeze, initially directed January 20, 2025, prohibits filling vacant positions or creating new positions except in military, immigration enforcement, national security, public safety, Social Security, Medicare, veterans' benefits, and Executive Office of the President roles. The memorandum permits agency heads to reallocate existing personnel and allows exemptions granted by the Office of Personnel Management.
• White House issues fact sheet on extension of federal hiring freeze — The White House issued a fact sheet announcing that President Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum extending the federal hiring freeze for an additional three months, through July 15, 2025. The freeze, originally implemented January 20, 2025, prohibits filling vacant federal civilian positions or creating new ones, with exemptions for immigration enforcement, national security, and public safety. The fact sheet states that after the freeze expires, agencies will be permitted to hire one employee for every four who depart. The document frames the extension as promoting fiscal responsibility and government efficiency.

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• Federal appeals court denies Trump administration appeal; warns of constitutional crisis — The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit on Thursday denied the Trump administration's effort to appeal a federal judge's order requiring the government to facilitate Ábrego García's return from El Salvador. Judge James Wilkinson issued a stark warning about constitutional democracy, stating the government's claim that it cannot free the resident from a foreign prison "should be shocking" to the public. The court emphasized that Ábrego García is entitled to due process and warned that the executive's "public perception of lawlessness" threatens the constitutional order.
• Federal appeals court rejected Trump administration's attempt to block order requiring return of U.S. resident from El Salvador prison — A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit rejected the Trump administration's appeal of Judge Paula Xinis's order requiring the government to "take all available steps" to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident, from CECOT prison in El Salvador. Conservative Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson, appointed by Ronald Reagan, wrote that the government cannot "stash away residents of this country in foreign prisons without the semblance of due process" and warned that unchecked executive power to deport without due process threatens all Americans, including citizens.
• Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals denies Trump administration appeal in Kilmar Abrego Garcia case — The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals denied the Trump administration's appeal to block Judge Xinis's order to facilitate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia. The court stated: "We shall not micromanage the efforts of a fine district judge attempting to implement the Supreme Court's recent decision. It is difficult in some cases to get to the very heart of the matter. But in this case, it is not hard at all. The govt is asserting a right to stash away residents of this country in foreign prisons without the semblance of due process."
• Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously rejects administration appeal — A three-judge panel at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit unanimously rejected the Trump administration's appeal against Judge Xinis's decision to open an inquiry into compliance with the Supreme Court order. Circuit Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson, a Reagan appointee, wrote that the government was "asserting a right to stash away residents of this country in foreign prisons without the semblance of due process."