Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Signal group chat leak involving top national security officials — Top Trump administration officials, including Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, inadvertently included journalist Jeffrey Goldberg in a Signal group chat discussing details of an impending military strike in Yemen. When confronted, officials made contradictory or false statements about the content. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard claimed no classified data was shared, then backtracked when Goldberg published the full chat. Hegseth denied texting war plans while Goldberg revealed he had texted precise attack timing and weapons systems. No investigation or punishment is anticipated.

Supporting reports

• Columbia University capitulates to Trump administration demands and places Mesaas department under receivership — Columbia University announced it would comply with Trump administration demands by placing its Mesaas department under "receivership"—removing it from faculty control—and implementing sweeping restrictions on pro-Palestinian campus activity, including protest limitations and new speech codes. The university also agreed to place the Center for Palestine Studies under receivership. These actions followed the Trump administration's $400 million funding cancellation and represented a capitulation to government pressure to suppress academic discourse on Palestine. The announcement prompted immediate condemnation from academic freedom advocates and prompted the American Association of University Professors and American Federation of Teachers to file suit against the Trump administration on behalf of Columbia faculty members.
• Trump administration cancels $400 million in federal funding to Columbia University over alleged antisemitism — The Trump administration cancelled approximately $400 million in federal funding to Columbia University, primarily allocated for scientific research, citing the university's alleged failure to protect faculty and students from antisemitic violence and harassment. The administration demanded Columbia place its Middle Eastern, South Asian and African Studies (Mesaas) department under "receivership"—external control outside faculty governance. Columbia's interim president announced the university would comply with these demands, including new restrictions on pro-Palestinian protest and academic activity. The funding cancellation was not immediately reversed despite Columbia's capitulation, with Trump officials indicating continued monitoring of the university's adherence to imposed policies.
• Columbia interim president Katrina Armstrong resigns — Columbia University's interim president Katrina Armstrong announced her resignation, becoming the second president of the university to resign within eight months. Her departure followed the university's announcement that it would comply with Trump administration demands to restrict pro-Palestinian activity and place the Mesaas department under external control. The resignation signals institutional instability and the toll of federal pressure on university leadership.

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• Trump administration moves to reduce DHS civil rights division — Earlier this month, the Trump administration moved to reduce the Department of Homeland Security's civil rights division. This action is part of a broader effort to streamline immigration enforcement and reduce oversight, potentially impacting the investigation and accountability of rights violations within ICE detention facilities. The move has been criticized by civil rights advocates who argue it will exacerbate existing issues within the immigration detention system.

Supporting reports

• University of Michigan closes flagship DEI program under Trump administration pressure — The University of Michigan announced the closure of its flagship diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) program and corresponding office, citing Trump administration anti-DEI executive orders and threats to eliminate federal funding for institutions maintaining such programs. The program, launched in 2016, had demonstrably increased first-generation and Pell-eligible undergraduate enrollment. The university also terminated its office for health equity and inclusion and discontinued its "DEI 2.0 strategic plan." University leadership stated the decision was made under pressure from federal enforcement actions.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration withholds federal funding from Columbia University over antisemitism concerns — The Trump administration withheld $400 million in federal grants from Columbia University, citing antisemitism concerns, until the university complied with administration demands. After Columbia's leadership agreed to changes, administration officials stated the modifications were only "early steps" and warned that other universities "should expect the same level of scrutiny and swiftness of action if they don't act to protect their students and stop anti-Semitic behavior on campus."

Supporting reports

• Trump administration issues executive orders targeting law firms; Skadden reaches preemptive settlement agreement — The Trump administration issued executive orders targeting law firms that represent clients adverse to the president's interests, threatening to revoke security clearances, bar attorneys from government buildings, and force client disclosures. Skadden, Arps, Meagher & Flom reached a preemptive settlement on March 28, committing $100m in pro-bono services aligned with administration priorities and agreeing to eliminate race-based hiring. More than 80 former Skadden employees sent a letter on April 5 expressing outrage, characterizing the deal as capitulation to bullying. Other firms including Perkins Coie, Jenner & Block, WilmerHale, Willkie Farr, and Milbank also challenged or settled with the administration.
• Jenner & Block and WilmerHale file federal lawsuits challenging executive orders — Jenner & Block and WilmerHale filed separate lawsuits in federal district court in Washington DC on Friday seeking to block executive orders that would halt their government business and revoke attorney security clearances. Both firms characterized the orders as unconstitutional retaliation for representing disfavored clients and employing lawyers critical of Trump. Jenner & Block noted that 40% of its revenue comes from government-affiliated clients and that the order harms its pro-bono practice. WilmerHale is represented by prominent conservative lawyer Paul Clement.
• Perkins Coie successfully blocks executive order in federal court — Perkins Coie, one of five law firms targeted by Trump administration executive orders, successfully convinced a US district judge in Washington to block the order against it. This was the first successful judicial challenge to the administration's targeting of law firms for retaliation.

Supporting reports

• FTC commissioners file lawsuit challenging Trump terminations — Democratic FTC commissioners Rebecca Kelly Slaughter and Alvaro Bedoya filed a lawsuit on March 28, 2025, challenging their terminations by President Trump announced the previous week. They argue the removals violated the FTC Act, which permits removal only for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance, and violated the First and Fifth Amendments. The complaint seeks a court declaration that the terminations are unlawful and that the commissioners be reinstated to serve their remaining terms. Trump's removal notice cited only inconsistency with administration priorities, not statutory grounds.
• FTC commissioners Bedoya and Slaughter fired by Trump administration — Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, Democratic commissioners at the Federal Trade Commission, were terminated by the Trump administration. Bedoya, who had led cases against Amazon and other major tech firms, characterized the firings as illegal removals shielded by law only for "insufficiency, neglect of duty or malfeasance." Both commissioners have sued the administration. Bedoya warned of "quid pro quo" dealmaking between the administration and billionaire allies, citing Amazon's $1 million inaugural donation and reported payments to the Trump family, alongside the nomination of an Amazon safety executive to lead OSHA.

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• Trump grants clemency to Ozy Media co-founder Carlos Watson, convicted of fraud — President Trump granted a presidential commutation to Carlos Watson, former Ozy Media co-founder and talkshow host, hours before Watson was scheduled to report to federal prison to serve a nearly 10-year sentence for wire fraud conspiracy. Watson had been convicted in July 2024 of deceiving investors and lenders by inflating earnings figures and fabricating business deals from 2018 to 2021. The commutation eliminated Watson's prison sentence, the $96 million restitution and forfeiture order, and all penalties imposed on Ozy Media. Trump also granted clemency to Trevor Milton, founder of Nikola, who had donated nearly $2 million to Trump's campaign.
• Trump pardoned Nikola Motors founder Trevor Milton, convicted fraudster — President Trump pardoned Nikola Motors founder Trevor Milton, who was convicted in 2022 on three counts of fraud and sentenced to four years in prison with $169 million in restitution and fines. Milton had never previously made political donations but donated over $2 million to Republicans between September and December 2024, including $920,000 to the Trump 47 PAC. Prosecutors had recommended Milton pay $676 million in restitution to defrauded parties, but the pardon effectively eliminates that obligation.
• Rep. Dan Goldman accused Trump of selling pardons for campaign donations — Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY) issued a statement accusing President Trump of selling a "get-out-of-jail-free card" to convicted fraudster Trevor Milton in exchange for $1.6 million in campaign donations, characterizing the presidency as a "pay-to-play racket" and warning that if "justice is for sale, our system will fail."

Supporting reports

• Elon Musk offers million-dollar payments to Wisconsin voters — Elon Musk advertised a contest offering two Wisconsin voters $1 million each in exchange for signing a petition against "activist judges" in the Wisconsin Supreme Court election. The offer violated Wisconsin law prohibiting offering anything worth more than $1 to induce voting or refraining from voting. After Wisconsin Democrats identified the violation, Musk deleted the original tweet and reposted it, removing language requiring voters to have already voted and instead offering checks to petition spokespeople. Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul sued to stop Musk from making any payments to Wisconsin electors to vote.
• Wisconsin Attorney General sues to stop Musk million-dollar offer — Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul filed suit against Elon Musk to stop him "from any further promotion of the million-dollar gifts" and "from making any payments to Wisconsin electors to vote." Kaul stated that the Wisconsin Department of Justice is committed to ensuring elections are "safe, secure, free, and fair" and that the offer violated Wisconsin law. The lawsuit seeks a court order to prevent the payments before the April 1 election.
• Elon Musk sued by Wisconsin attorney general over illegal campaign giveaway — Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul, a Democrat, sued Elon Musk and his Super PAC on Friday, March 28, 2025, to stop a $1 million giveaway tied to voting and petition-signing in the state supreme court race. Musk had posted on X/Twitter offering $1 million as a sweepstakes-like contest to people who voted, then deleted the post after legal experts flagged potential violations of Wisconsin state law. He reposted a revised version claiming the money would go to petition spokespeople. An appeals court reportedly declined to immediately halt the giveaway.
• Wisconsin Attorney General announced legal action to stop Musk's million-dollar event — Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul stated that the Wisconsin Department of Justice was aware of Elon Musk's offer to award $1 million to two people at a Wisconsin event and announced the department intended to take legal action that day to seek a court order to stop the event from occurring, citing applicable Wisconsin election law.

Supporting reports

• RFK Jr announces 10,000 job cuts and restructuring of HHS — Robert F Kennedy Jr, US Health Secretary, announced the elimination of approximately 10,000 jobs from the Department of Health and Human Services' 82,000-person workforce, combined with previous cuts bringing total losses to roughly 20,000 workers. The restructuring includes closing half of HHS's regional offices, consolidating 28 branches into 15 new divisions, and creating a new agency called the "administration for a healthy America." Specific cuts target the FDA (3,500 employees), CDC (2,400), NIH (1,200), and CMS (300). Kennedy characterized the cuts as streamlining bureaucracy and realigning the department with new priorities.
• Robert F Kennedy Jr announces 20,000 HHS layoffs — Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr announced the Department of Health and Human Services will lay off approximately 20,000 workers—nearly 25% of its 82,000-person workforce—and consolidate 28 branches into 15. The cuts affect agencies including the CDC, NIH, CMS, and FDA. Health experts and Democratic senators warn the layoffs will impair pandemic preparedness and enable privatization of critical public health services, exacerbating health inequalities and undermining disease surveillance and emergency response capacity.
• HHS announces additional workforce reductions — The Department of Health and Human Services announced plans to cut 10,000 employees in addition to 10,000 who have already departed and more than 5,000 probationary workers fired in the previous month. The cuts include 3,500 full-time employees from the Food and Drug Administration and 2,400 employees from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, further degrading public health agency capacity.
• Trump administration implements workforce reductions across federal agencies — Internal White House documents obtained by the Washington Post detail planned employee cuts ranging from 8% to 50% across federal agencies. The Department of Housing and Urban Development faces a 50% workforce reduction, the Interior Department 25%, the IRS approximately one-third, the Justice Department 8%, the National Science Foundation 28%, the Commerce Department 30%, and the Small Business Administration 43%. These cuts follow earlier dismissals of approximately 20,000 IRS employees, particularly in enforcement divisions.
• Trump administration withholds federal funding from Columbia University over antisemitism concerns — The Trump administration withheld $400 million in federal grants from Columbia University, citing antisemitism concerns, until the university complied with administration demands. After Columbia's leadership agreed to changes, administration officials stated the modifications were only "early steps" and warned that other universities "should expect the same level of scrutiny and swiftness of action if they don't act to protect their students and stop anti-Semitic behavior on campus."

Supporting reports

• Trump signs Executive Order 14251 excluding federal agencies from labor-management relations coverage — President Trump signed Executive Order 14251 on March 27, 2025, excluding numerous federal agencies and subdivisions from coverage under the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute (Chapter 71, Title 5, U.S.C.) and the Foreign Service Labor-Management Relations Statute (Subchapter X, Chapter 52, Title 22, U.S.C.). The order amends Executive Order 12171 and designates agencies including State, Defense, Treasury, Veterans Affairs, Justice, HHS, DHS, Interior, Energy, Agriculture, EPA, USAID, NRC, NSF, USITC, FCC, and GSA as having primary national security functions incompatible with collective bargaining. It delegates authority to the Secretaries of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Transportation to issue further exclusions or suspensions. The order requires agency heads to reassign affected employees and terminate pending grievance proceedings upon collective bargaining agreement termination.
• Office of Personnel Management issues guidance implementing union elimination order — Following Trump's executive order, the Office of Personnel Management issued a memo providing guidance to federal departments and subdivisions on implementation, which includes terminating existing collective bargaining agreements and ending voluntary union dues collection through payroll systems. The directive applies across multiple agencies affecting hundreds of thousands of federal workers.
• Trump administration issues executive order stripping collective bargaining rights from federal workers — On 27 March, President Trump issued an executive order citing national security to exempt collective bargaining at several federal departments, affecting more than 1 million federal workers. The order was accompanied by lawsuits filed by the Trump administration against federal unions, including the American Federation of Government Employees and the National Treasury Employees Union, in Texas and Kentucky courts. Unions have filed motions to dismiss and counter-lawsuits, and bipartisan legislation has been introduced in the House to restore bargaining rights. A federal judge in Washington DC granted a preliminary injunction blocking the order on 25 April.
• Trump signs executive order eliminating collective bargaining for federal workers — President Trump signed an executive order on Thursday that attempts to eliminate collective bargaining rights for hundreds of thousands of federal workers across more than 30 agencies. The Office of Personnel Management issued guidance directing departments to terminate collective bargaining agreements and end voluntary union dues collection. The Trump administration subsequently filed a lawsuit in Texas court seeking declaratory relief to rescind or repudiate collective bargaining agreements, citing national security and personnel policy constraints. Union leaders representing approximately 1.2 million federal workers have condemned the order as union-busting and retaliatory, vowing immediate legal action.
• Trump issues executive order excluding major federal agencies from labor-management relations protections — President Trump signed an executive order on March 27, 2025, excluding numerous federal agencies and subdivisions from coverage under the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute (Chapter 71, Title 5, U.S.C.) and the Foreign Service Labor-Management Relations Statute (Subchapter X, Chapter 52, Title 22, U.S.C.). The order designates State, Defense, Treasury, Veterans Affairs, Justice, HHS, DHS, Interior, Energy, Agriculture, Commerce, EPA, USAID, NRC, NSF, USITC, FCC, GSA, and other agencies as having primary national security functions, thereby removing collective bargaining protections from thousands of federal employees. Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs retain limited authority to restore coverage for specific subdivisions if they certify national security compatibility; the Secretary of Transportation gains broad discretion to exclude DOT and FAA subdivisions.
• Trump signed Executive Order 14251 excluding major federal agencies from labor-management relations protections — President Trump signed Executive Order 14251 on March 27, 2025, excluding numerous federal agencies and subdivisions from coverage under the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute (Chapter 71 of title 5, U.S.C.) and related foreign service labor protections. The order claims national security justification and removes collective bargaining rights from employees in the State Department, Defense Department, Treasury, Veterans Affairs, Justice Department, HHS (including CDC and FDA), DHS (including USCIS, ICE, and FEMA), Interior, Energy, Agriculture, Commerce, EPA, USAID, NRC, NSF, ITC, FCC, GSA, and numerous other agencies. The order delegates authority to the Secretaries of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Transportation to issue further exclusions or suspensions.
• White House issues fact sheet on executive order exempting national security agencies from federal collective bargaining — The White House published a fact sheet on March 27, 2025, describing an executive order signed by President Trump that exempts agencies with national security missions from federal collective bargaining requirements under the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978. The order applies to specified components of the Department of Defense, Veterans Affairs, Department of Homeland Security, Department of State, Department of Energy, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Justice, Department of Treasury, Department of Commerce, and other agencies. The fact sheet states the order aims to prevent union obstruction of agency management and policy implementation.
• Trump administration files lawsuit to rescind federal worker collective bargaining agreements — The Trump administration filed a lawsuit in a Texas court seeking declaratory relief to confirm its legal authority to rescind or repudiate collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) with federal workers. The lawsuit claims CBAs "significantly constrain" the executive branch and that rescinding them is necessary to protect national security and develop personnel policies otherwise precluded by the agreements. The filing seeks legal certainty before implementing the executive order's directive to eliminate collective bargaining.
• Department of Justice filed declaratory judgment lawsuit against American Federation of Government Employees affiliates — The Department of Justice announced it filed a lawsuit in the Western District of Texas on March 27, 2025, on behalf of eight federal agencies against locals, councils, and Division 10 of the American Federation of Government Employees. The suit seeks a declaratory judgment confirming the agencies' legal right to terminate collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) with the union. The filing followed a presidential Executive Order titled "Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs" that determined certain agencies performing investigative and national security work need not collectively bargain. The agencies argue CBAs impede national security missions and workforce accountability.

Supporting reports

• Trump issues executive order directing Smithsonian reshaping and ideological content removal — President Trump issued an executive order on March 27, 2025, directing Vice President JD Vance to remove what the administration deems "improper, divisive, or anti-American ideology" from the Smithsonian Institution's museums, education centers, research facilities, and the National Zoo. The order specifically targets exhibits addressing race and American history, directs the American Women's History Museum to exclude transgender recognition, mandates appointment of new board members aligned with the order's policy, and instructs the Secretary of the Interior to restore Confederate-era statues and memorials removed in the past five years. The order frames these actions as correcting a "concerted and widespread" effort to rewrite U.S. history.
• Trump issued executive order "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History" directing federal historic sites to align with administration ideology — On March 27, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order titled "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History," asserting that the nation's history had been rewritten by ideology rather than fact. The order directed the Secretary of the Interior to review federal monuments, memorials, and statues removed or altered since January 1, 2020, and restore them to ensure they do not "inappropriately disparage Americans" and instead focus on "the greatness of the achievements and progress of the American people." The order also targeted the Smithsonian Institution, directing a three-person review team to examine museum exhibitions and ensure they align with the president's directive to celebrate American exceptionalism and remove divisive narratives.
• Trump executive order targets DEI programs at federal cultural institutions — An executive order issued on March 27, 2025, directs federal action against diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, with specific targeting of the African American History Museum and the Kennedy Center. The order aims to eliminate or redirect DEI-related funding and operations at these institutions.
• Trump signed executive order directing removal of exhibits and narratives from federal historical sites and museums — President Trump signed Executive Order 14253 on March 27, 2025, directing federal agencies to remove what the order characterizes as "ideological" content from the Smithsonian Institution, Independence National Historical Park, and other Interior Department historical sites. The order instructs the Vice President to work through his Smithsonian Board seat to "remove improper ideology" from exhibits and programs; directs the Secretary of the Interior to reinstate pre-2020 monuments and ensure descriptions do not "inappropriately disparage Americans"; and mandates that future congressional appropriations to the Smithsonian prohibit exhibits that "divide Americans based on race" or conflict with federal policy. The order names specific current exhibits as examples of objectionable content.
• Trump signed Executive Order 14253 directing removal of exhibits and narratives from federal museums and historical sites deemed ideologically divisive, with authority delegated to the Vice President over the Smithsonian Institution. — President Trump signed Executive Order 14253 on March 27, 2025, directing federal agencies to remove exhibits, programs, and historical narratives from museums and monuments that the order characterizes as "divisive" or promoting "ideology" rather than "objective facts." The order specifically targets the Smithsonian Institution, directing the Vice President to work through his role on the Smithsonian Board of Regents to remove what the order calls "improper ideology." It instructs the Secretary of the Interior to audit and reinstate pre-2020 monuments and ensure all federal historical sites focus on "greatness" and "achievements" rather than narratives the order deems disparaging. Future appropriations are to be conditioned on prohibiting exhibits that "divide Americans based on race" or are "inconsistent with Federal law and policy."
• Trump issues executive order directing federal agencies to remove "ideological" content from Smithsonian Institution and federal historical sites — President Trump signed an executive order on March 27, 2025, directing the Vice President, OMB Director, and Secretary of the Interior to remove what the order characterizes as "divisive, race-centered ideology" from the Smithsonian Institution, Independence National Historical Park, and other federal historical sites. The order mandates restoration of pre-2020 monuments and memorials, prohibits future federal funding for exhibits deemed to "degrade shared American values" or "divide Americans based on race," and requires the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum to exclude recognition of transgender athletes. The order frames this as restoring "truth" and "sanity" to American history.
• White House issued fact sheet promoting executive order on Smithsonian and federal historical sites — The White House published a fact sheet on March 27, 2025, describing an executive order signed by President Trump directing the Vice President to eliminate what the order characterizes as "improper, divisive, or anti-American ideology" from the Smithsonian Institution and its museums. The order directs the Secretary of the Interior to restore federal parks, monuments, and memorials altered in the prior five years, and instructs Congress to condition future Smithsonian appropriations on prohibiting exhibits that "degrade shared American values" or "divide Americans by race." The fact sheet asserts that prior administrations promoted "divisive ideology" and cites specific Smithsonian exhibits as examples.
• Trump administration issues executive order targeting Smithsonian Institution exhibits on race and American history — On Thursday, March 28, 2025, the Trump administration announced an executive order titled "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History" that orders a large reshaping of the Smithsonian Institution to eliminate what Trump described as "improper, divisive or anti-American ideology." The order specifically criticized the Smithsonian American Art Museum's exhibit "The Shape of Power: Stories of Race and American Sculpture" and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Vice President JD Vance was ordered to "remove improper ideology" from Smithsonian museums and educational centers. Artists, academics, and civil rights figures have condemned the order as an attempt to censor and erase Black history and diverse perspectives from public institutions.
• Trump signs executive order on American history curriculum — Trump signed an executive order titled "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History" directing Vice President J.D. Vance, in his capacity as a member of the Smithsonian Board of Regents, to work to eliminate "improper, divisive, or anti-American ideology" from the Smithsonian Institution, its museums, education and research centers, and the National Zoo. The order represents an attempt to reshape how Americans understand and learn their history.
• Trump signs executive order suspending security clearances for law firms representing Democratic clients — Trump signed executive orders suspending security clearances for law firms that represent Democratic clients and barring the federal government from hiring employees from those firms. The orders target legal representation based on client political affiliation, creating a mechanism to exclude attorneys from federal employment based on their professional representation.
• Trump administration challenges judges and undermines judicial credibility — The Trump administration has challenged judges who have ruled against Trump and worked to destroy public faith in the courts. The effort represents a systematic campaign to delegitimize judicial authority when it conflicts with administration preferences.

Supporting reports

• Social Security Administration denies field office closures while reversing announced terminations — On March 27, the Social Security Administration (SSA) sent an email to beneficiaries denying media reports of permanent field office closures, claiming reports were "false" and attributing them to "fake news media." Simultaneously, the SSA and DOGE reversed multiple announced lease terminations for field offices in Campbellsville, Kentucky; Lawton, Oklahoma; and Cullman, Alabama after local protests and congressional intervention. DOGE's website initially listed 47 SSA lease terminations; 25 entries, including more than a dozen field offices, were subsequently removed without public acknowledgment or explanation of the reversal.

Supporting reports

• Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller authorized Yemen military strikes — Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller ended the Signal group discussion about whether to conduct military strikes on Yemen by invoking presidential authority without documented presidential approval. Miller wrote "As I heard it, the president was clear: green light, but we soon make it clear to Egypt and Europe what we expect in return." Miller also stated that if Europe did not cover the cost of the attack, "then what? If the US successfully restores freedom of navigation at great cost there needs to be some further economic gain extracted in return." Secretary of Defense Hegseth responded "Agree" and the attack proceeded.
• Vice President Vance indicated President Trump was not aware of Yemen strike decision — Messages in the Signal chat reveal that Vice President J.D. Vance expressed uncertainty about whether President Trump was aware of the decision to conduct military strikes on Yemen. Vance wrote that attacking the Houthis would "send a message" but stated "I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now." The decision to proceed with the strikes appears to have been made by deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, who invoked the president's authority without documented presidential approval.
• Admiral Christopher Grady serving as acting Chairman of Joint Chiefs was excluded from Yemen strike planning — Admiral Christopher Grady, appointed by President Joe Biden and currently serving as acting Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff following General Brown's firing, was not included in the Signal group chat in which senior officials planned the Yemen military strikes. The Pentagon's highest-ranking officer would normally be included in planning a military operation, but was excluded from the discussion and decision-making process.

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• Columbia University agrees to overhaul protest policies and hire internal security force following Trump administration pressure — Columbia University agreed to overhaul its protest policies and hire an internal security force of 36 "special officers" empowered to remove people from campus after the Trump administration revoked $400 million in federal funding. The action represents institutional capitulation to administration pressure to suppress campus protests and pro-Palestinian activism, with faculty viewing it as a dangerous threat to academic freedom.
• University of Michigan closes flagship DEI program under Trump administration pressure — The University of Michigan announced the closure of its flagship diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) program and corresponding office, citing Trump administration anti-DEI executive orders and threats to eliminate federal funding for institutions maintaining such programs. The program, launched in 2016, had demonstrably increased first-generation and Pell-eligible undergraduate enrollment. The university also terminated its office for health equity and inclusion and discontinued its "DEI 2.0 strategic plan." University leadership stated the decision was made under pressure from federal enforcement actions.

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• President Trump signed proclamation imposing 25% tariff on automobile and automobile parts imports under Section 232 — The White House issued a fact sheet announcing that President Trump signed a proclamation on March 26, 2025, invoking Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to impose a 25% tariff on imports of automobiles and certain automobile parts. The tariff applies to passenger vehicles and light trucks, as well as engines, transmissions, powertrain parts, and electrical components. USMCA-compliant vehicles may certify U.S. content to reduce tariff exposure; USMCA-compliant parts remain tariff-free pending a Commerce Department process. The fact sheet characterizes the action as protecting U.S. national security and the domestic automotive industrial base.
• Trump issued proclamation imposing 25 percent tariffs on imported automobiles and automobile parts effective April 3, 2025 — President Trump signed Proclamation 9889 on March 26, 2025, imposing a 25 percent ad valorem tariff on imported automobiles and certain automobile parts, effective April 3, 2025 for automobiles and no later than May 3, 2025 for parts. The proclamation invokes Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, citing national security concerns including supply chain vulnerabilities exposed by COVID-19, foreign subsidies, and declining domestic automotive production. The order establishes processes for identifying and tariffing additional automobile parts and permits USMCA-qualifying vehicles to apply tariffs only to non-U.S. content if importers provide documentation of domestic content.
• White House issues fact sheet praising auto tariffs as labor victory — The White House published a fact sheet on March 26, 2025, announcing that President Trump imposed a 25% tariff on foreign automobiles imported into the United States. The document states the move was "immediately hailed" by the United Auto Workers as a "victory for autoworkers." The UAW statement quoted in the release characterizes the tariffs as reversing "decades of working-class people going backwards" and calls on automakers to "bring back good union jobs to the U.S."
• Trump announced 25% tariffs on imported automobiles and parts — President Trump announced new 25% tariffs on imported cars and car parts from Canada and Mexico, despite a deal worked out earlier in March that items covered under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement Trump signed in his first term would not face new tariff levies. The 25% tariff represents a major change that will raise prices across the board and significantly impact the automotive sector, which employs more than one million Americans. The stock market fell upon the announcement.
• Trump announced new tariffs on imported cars and parts — President Trump announced new 25% tariffs on imported cars and car parts, including those from Canada and Mexico. This decision contradicts a previous agreement under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada agreement, raising concerns about its economic impact on the automotive sector and the potential for increased prices for consumers. The announcement contributed to a decline in the stock market.

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• Trump issues executive order on election integrity titled "Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections" — President Trump issued an executive order titled "Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections" that asserts presidential powers over election administration, including restricting which ballots states can count and granting DOGE unspecified authority to review state voter rolls. The order lacks constitutional or statutory basis, as election regulation authority rests with state legislatures and Congress, not the president. Election law advocates announced plans to challenge the order in court.

Supporting reports

• Der Spiegel reports Trump officials' private data accessible online via hacked dumps and commercial providers — German magazine Der Spiegel reported that mobile phone numbers, email addresses, and passwords belonging to US national security officials—including National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard—were discoverable online through commercial data-search services and hacked data dumps. The exposure followed the officials' use of Signal to discuss sensitive military plans for airstrikes on Yemen. The NSC stated that Waltz's accounts had been changed in 2019, but the report raised concerns about potential foreign espionage during the recent classified communications.
• German newspaper Der Spiegel revealed contact information and passwords of senior U.S. officials online — The German newspaper Der Spiegel reported that contact information, email addresses, and some passwords for private accounts of senior U.S. officials were available online, making it easy for hackers to access their personal devices. Those compromised included National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth—all of whom were participants in the Signal group chat discussing classified military operations.
• Senior officials left Venmo accounts public, exposing financial information — Wired reported that National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and National Security Council official Walker Barrett left their Venmo accounts public, demonstrating reckless behavior that exposed their financial transaction information. National security experts described this as creating additional vulnerability to foreign intelligence services seeking to identify contacts and relationships of senior U.S. officials.

Supporting reports

• ICE detention of Turkish student for co-authoring Gaza op-ed — US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the State Department had canceled at least 300 student visas related to pro-Palestinian protests. The number has more than doubled since the announcement. The visa revocations target individuals connected to US universities who have expressed public support for Palestinians or participated in pro-Palestine demonstrations, without providing affected students opportunity to protect their rights before their legal status changed.
• ICE detains Tufts doctoral student and transfers her to Louisiana before court order — Rumeysa Ozturk, a 30-year-old Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University, was detained by ICE agents on Tuesday, March 25, outside her home in Somerville, Massachusetts. On Wednesday, she was transferred to a detention center in Basile, Louisiana. On Thursday, federal judge Indira Talwani issued an order requiring the government to explain why Ozturk was being detained. DOJ lawyers acknowledged that the transfer to Louisiana occurred before the court's Tuesday order directing ICE not to move her out of Massachusetts without prior notice. DHS terminated her student visa and accused her of supporting Hamas without providing evidence, citing her pro-Palestinian activism at Tufts.
• ICE detains Turkish doctoral student Rumeysa Ozturk on visa revocation over pro-Palestinian activism — US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, wearing masks and hoodies, detained Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish national and Tufts University doctoral student, on the street in Somerville, Massachusetts on Tuesday. She was transferred to a Louisiana detention center despite a federal court order requiring 48 hours' notice before removal from Massachusetts. DHS accused her of supporting Hamas without providing evidence, citing her pro-Palestinian activism and op-ed criticizing Israel's Gaza campaign. A federal judge ordered DHS and ICE to respond by Thursday morning to an emergency motion to produce her and justify the detention.
• Tufts student detained by ICE reports medical neglect and civil rights violations in Louisiana facility — Rümeysa Öztürk, a 30-year-old Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University detained by ICE on March 25, 2025, filed a court declaration describing multiple asthma attacks while held at the South Louisiana ICE processing center in Basile. She alleges denial of medical care, unsanitary conditions, and a nurse forcibly removing her hijab without consent. Her attorneys petitioned federal court in Vermont for her release or transfer while her case proceeds. The facility, operated by private contractor Geo Group, has faced prior complaints of medical neglect and inhumane conditions.
• Federal authorities detain Tufts University international student on alleged Hamas support — On Tuesday, March 25, federal authorities in plain clothes took Tufts University international student Rumeysa Ozturk into custody on a street in Somerville, Massachusetts, alleging she had "engaged in activities in support of Hamas." The alleged basis for detention was a pro-Palestinian op-ed she had written for the Tufts newspaper. On Wednesday, March 26, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed she was being held at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement center in Louisiana.
• Rumeysa Ozturk arrested by masked ICE agents — Rumeysa Ozturk, a 30-year-old Turkish student at Tufts University who co-wrote an op-ed criticizing the school's response to the pro-Palestinian movement, was arrested by plainclothes masked immigration officers in Somerville, Massachusetts, as she was on her way to break her Ramadan fast. She was taken to several detention centers before being flown to a Louisiana ICE facility, despite a court order that said she wasn't supposed to be taken out of the state without notice.
• ICE detains Tufts student on visa revocation; alleged retaliation for pro-Palestinian speech — Rümeysa Öztürk was arrested by ICE on Tuesday in a Boston suburb while heading to an Iftar dinner during Ramadan. DHS revoked her visa, claiming she engaged in activities supporting Hamas but providing no evidence. Her attorneys allege the detention is retaliation for an opinion piece she co-authored advocating Palestinian rights. ICE transferred her to Louisiana without notifying her counsel or the court, violating a prior judicial order. She suffered an asthma attack during transport and was unreachable for nearly a full day.
• ICE detains Tufts doctoral student Rumeysa Ozturk and transfers to Louisiana detention center — Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish doctoral student and Fulbright scholar at Tufts University, was detained by ICE agents in plainclothes near her apartment and transferred to an ICE detention center in Louisiana. The Department of Homeland Security accused her of supporting Hamas but provided no evidence. Her detention appeared linked to her co-authorship of a March 2024 opinion piece in the Tufts student newspaper supporting Palestinian rights. A federal judge had ordered DHS to provide advance notice before transferring her out of state; ICE records suggest this order was violated.

Supporting reports

• ICE detains University of Alabama doctoral student Alireza Doroudi — US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained Alireza Doroudi, an Iranian doctoral student in mechanical engineering at the University of Alabama, at his home early Tuesday morning. The student was in the US on a valid student visa. ICE provided no stated justification for the detention. The arrest occurred amid reports of the Trump administration systematically targeting college students, including visa holders and green card holders, for arrest and deportation. University officials confirmed the off-campus arrest but declined further comment citing privacy laws.

Supporting reports

• Trump signs executive order requiring documentary proof of citizenship for federal voter registration — President Trump signed an executive order on March 25 requiring documentary proof of citizenship to be added to federal voter registration forms. States that do not comply face federal funding cuts. White House staff secretary Will Scharf characterized the order as "the farthest-reaching executive action taken" in the country's history. Multiple states have announced they will challenge the order as an unconstitutional federal overreach. The order targets the same nonexistent problem of noncitizen voting that the Save Act addresses.
• Trump executive order directs EAC to amend federal voter registration form — President Trump's March 25 executive order "Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections" instructs the Election Assistance Commission to amend the federal voter registration form to require proof of citizenship documentation, such as a passport. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, 21.3 million eligible Americans lack readily available proof of citizenship, meaning the requirement could disenfranchise millions of voters despite noncitizen voting being extremely rare.
• Trump executive order threatens to withhold federal election funding from states — Trump's March 25 executive order threatens to withhold federal election funding from states that count mail-in ballots received after Election Day, even if those ballots were mailed before Election Day. Over a dozen states allow this practice. The order also instructs the Secretary of Defense to add proof-of-citizenship requirements to military and overseas voter registration forms and directs the EAC to decertify all previously certified voting machines.
• White House issued fact sheet on executive order directing election integrity measures — The White House published a fact sheet on March 25, 2025, describing an executive order signed by President Trump that day. The order directs federal agencies to require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration, mandates state access to federal databases for citizenship verification, prioritizes prosecution of non-citizen voting, conditions federal election funding on state compliance with citizenship verification and paper ballot requirements, and directs the Attorney General to enforce voter-list maintenance and prevent non-citizens from election administration roles.
• White House signed Executive Order 14248 on election integrity requirements — The White House signed Executive Order 14248 on March 25, 2025, directing federal agencies to enforce citizenship verification in voter registration, require paper ballots with voter-verifiable records, enforce Election Day ballot receipt deadlines, prevent non-citizen voting, coordinate with states on voter list maintenance, prosecute election crimes, and secure voting systems. The order mandates the Election Assistance Commission amend voting system guidelines within 180 days and condition federal funding on state compliance with citizenship documentation and ballot receipt requirements.
• Trump signed Executive Order 14248 requiring documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration, enforcing Election Day ballot receipt deadlines, and directing federal agencies to verify voter eligibility and prosecute election crimes. — President Trump signed Executive Order 14248 on March 25, 2025, establishing federal election-integrity policies. The order mandates documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration; requires states to reject ballots received after Election Day; directs DHS, DOJ, and SSA to share citizenship and eligibility databases with election officials; authorizes DOJ to withhold federal funds from non-compliant states; requires voting systems to produce voter-verifiable paper records; and directs cessation of prior administration voting-access initiatives. The order invokes federal statutes governing election administration and citizenship verification.
• Trump signed executive order on election integrity requiring citizenship documentation and voter list maintenance — President Donald Trump issued an executive order on March 25, 2025, titled "Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections." The order directs federal agencies to enforce existing election laws, including requiring documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration, mandating states maintain accurate voter rolls, restricting mail-in ballot counting to Election Day, and requiring paper ballots with voter-verifiable records. It tasks the Election Assistance Commission, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, and Social Security Administration with implementing citizenship verification, voter list audits, and prosecution of election crimes.
• Trump signed executive order on election laws — Trump signed an executive order making changes to election laws, including requiring proof of US citizenship on voter registration forms. States that don't comply with the directive could lose federal funding. The order also directs the attorney general to take action against states that count ballots received after election day in federal elections. The order also gives DOGE access to state voter lists, which could result in voter purges.
• Trump signs executive order requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration — Donald Trump signed a far-reaching executive order on March 26, 2025, that fundamentally alters U.S. voter registration processes by requiring documentary proof of citizenship (such as a passport) to vote in federal elections. The order amends the federal voter registration form, empowers federal agencies to cut funding to non-compliant states, instructs the DOJ to prosecute alleged "election crimes," and seeks to block states from accepting mail-in ballots after election day. Legal experts and voting rights advocates warn the order could disenfranchise tens of millions of eligible voters and faces constitutional challenges.
• Trump signed executive order on voter citizenship requirements — President Trump signed an executive order that would, if enforceable, dramatically change U.S. elections and restrict voting rights for tens of millions of Americans by imposing new citizenship verification requirements. Legal analyst Marc Elias of Democracy Docket characterized the order as "confused, rhetorical and—in places—nonsensical. It asserts facts that are not true and claims authority he does not possess. It is not meant to be taken seriously or literally. Rather, it is the empty threat of a weak man desperate to appear strong."
• Trump issues executive order on election integrity titled "Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections" — President Trump issued an executive order titled "Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections" that asserts presidential powers over election administration, including restricting which ballots states can count and granting DOGE unspecified authority to review state voter rolls. The order lacks constitutional or statutory basis, as election regulation authority rests with state legislatures and Congress, not the president. Election law advocates announced plans to challenge the order in court.
• Trump issues executive order on voting rules and mail ballot administration — President Donald Trump issued an executive order on voting on Tuesday, March 26, 2025, that directs states to change rules for accepting mail ballots and empowers the Department of Government Efficiency to subpoena state records to investigate voter fraud claims. The order represents a direct federal intervention in state election administration that exceeds the scope of Biden's 2021 voter registration executive order, which Republicans had challenged as unconstitutional federal overreach.
• Trump signed an executive order affecting U.S. elections — President Trump signed an executive order that aims to change U.S. elections by requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote. This order has been criticized as confusing and nonsensical, with experts suggesting it is not meant to be taken seriously. The order could potentially disenfranchise millions of Americans and raises concerns about voter access and election integrity.

Supporting reports

• ICE detention of farm worker activist Alfredo Juarez Zeferino — On 25 March 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained farm worker activist Alfredo "Lelo" Juarez Zeferino, 25, during a traffic stop north of Seattle. Officers broke his car window and transferred him to an unmarked ICE facility, then to the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, Washington, where he remains held. Colleagues and legal advocates assert the detention is politically motivated retaliation for his labor organizing, including successful campaigns for farm worker heat protections, overtime pay, and H-2A guest worker oversight. ICE and DHS deny political targeting, citing a 2018 deportation order stemming from a 2015 traffic stop.

Supporting reports

• HHS announced pullback of $11 billion in COVID-19 funds — The Department of Health and Human Services announced it would pull back over $11 billion in COVID-19-related funds for state and local public health departments and other health organizations. The pullback defunds critical public health infrastructure.
• HHS Pulls Federal Grants for Health Programs — HHS abruptly pulled more than $12 billion in federal grants for state programs tracking infectious diseases, mental health services, and addiction treatment. This decision affects public health funding and services.
• Department of Health and Human Services cancels $12 billion in federal grants to states — The Department of Health and Human Services suddenly cancelled more than $12 billion in federal grants to states that had supported mental health services, addiction treatment, and programs to track infectious diseases. The cancellation occurred without advance notice to state officials and represents a significant reduction in public health infrastructure funding.

Supporting reports

• House Speaker Johnson vows Congress will "act" against judges; judiciary subcommittee explores banning nationwide injunctions — On March 25, House Speaker Mike Johnson vowed that "desperate times call for desperate measures, and Congress is going to act" regarding judges. A House judiciary subcommittee hearing on April 1 focused on banning nationwide injunctions issued by judges. A House bill to ban such injunctions is expected to pass in coming weeks. Senator Charles Grassley, who leads the Senate judiciary committee and received a donation from Musk, held a similar hearing and introduced a bill to end "universal injunctions," though Senate passage is deemed unlikely.
• House Speaker Mike Johnson floated eliminating federal courts — House Speaker Mike Johnson floated the possibility of eliminating some federal courts, telling reporters that Congress has the authority to "eliminate an entire district court." He later clarified it wasn't meant as a threat, but the statement signals consideration of dismantling the federal judiciary.
• Mike Johnson floats eliminating federal courts as Trump faces judicial pressure — House Speaker Mike Johnson suggested Congress could defund, restructure, or eliminate federal courts to counter judicial decisions blocking Trump administration policies. Speaking to reporters on March 25, Johnson stated Congress has "authority over federal courts" and could "eliminate an entire district court." While Johnson later clarified his remarks illustrated Congress's constitutional powers rather than a direct threat, the statement reflects mounting Republican pressure on judicial independence, particularly targeting judges who issued nationwide injunctions blocking immigration enforcement actions.
• House Republicans advance bill to restrict nationwide injunctions — California Republican Representative Darrell Issa is advancing a bill to be voted on the following week that would limit district court judges' ability to issue nationwide injunctions. House Speaker Johnson described the measure as a "dramatic improvement" to the federal court system, arguing such injunctions violate separation of powers. The bill represents an alternative legislative approach to constraining judicial power in response to courts blocking Trump administration policies.
• House Republicans pursue impeachment of federal judges over injunctions — Multiple House Republicans have introduced or are pursuing articles of impeachment against federal judges, including US District Judge James Boasberg, who issued a nationwide injunction preventing deportation of Venezuelan immigrants. Trump called for Boasberg's impeachment, and several House Republicans have taken up the call to impeach judges who issued similar nationwide injunctions blocking Trump administration actions. This represents an escalation in Republican efforts to pressure the judiciary over policy disagreements.
• House Speaker suggests Congress could eliminate federal courts — House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters that Republicans in Congress possess the authority to eliminate federal district courts, stating: "We do have the authority over the federal courts, as you know. We can eliminate an entire district court. We have power of funding over the courts and all these other things." The statement represents a direct challenge to judicial independence and the separation of powers.
• Trump administration challenges judges and undermines judicial credibility — The Trump administration has challenged judges who have ruled against Trump and worked to destroy public faith in the courts. The effort represents a systematic campaign to delegitimize judicial authority when it conflicts with administration preferences.

Supporting reports

• Social Security Administration appoints DOGE operative as CIO following federal court order blocking DOGE database access — The Trump administration appointed Scott Coulter, a DOGE operative previously assigned to the SSA, as the agency's new Chief Information Officer on March 25, 2025, one day after the SSA submitted a status report certifying compliance with a federal court order. On March 21, Judge Ellen Lipton Hollander issued a Temporary Restraining Order prohibiting the SSA from granting DOGE members access to systems containing personally identifiable information of millions of Americans. The appointment appears designed to circumvent the court order by reclassifying Coulter from a DOGE team member to a regular SSA employee, potentially allowing continued access to sensitive data and continuation of DOGE projects.