Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• AI industry funds Innovation Council led by January 6 operative to boost MAGA candidates — The AI industry has hired Taylor Budowich, a key operative in efforts to overturn the 2020 election, to lead the Innovation Council, a new group planning to spend $100 million to boost Republican candidates in the 2026 midterms. Budowich previously directed over $200,000 in advertisements to build crowds for the January 6, 2021 attack and founded MAGA Inc., Trump's main Super PAC. The Innovation Council is organized as a nonprofit to avoid disclosing donors or filing with the Federal Election Commission, maintaining donor anonymity through complex organizational structures.
• Leading the Future PAC spent more on attacking Democrat than supporting Democrats — Leading the Future, a pro-AI PAC that raised over $125 million and claims to be bipartisan, has spent approximately $2.9 million supporting Republicans and $2.5 million supporting Democrats. However, the PAC's Democratic affiliate, Think Big, spent $2.3 million attacking Democrat Alex Bores running for Congress in New York. The Democrats supported by the PAC, Jesse Jackson Jr. and Melissa Bean, are running in historically blue Illinois districts where Republican candidates are unlikely to win.
• Leading the Future pledged $5 million to support Byron Donalds' gubernatorial campaign — Leading the Future, the pro-AI PAC claiming bipartisan support, pledged to spend $5 million in support of Representative Byron Donalds' (R-FL) campaign for Florida Governor. This spending was reportedly an effort to solidify the PAC's relationship with the White House, demonstrating how corporate political spending is used to maintain access and influence with the Trump administration.
• Innovation Council created pages describing AI concerns as "hoaxes" — The Innovation Council, led by Taylor Budowich, created a series of web pages that describe concerns about AI job displacement, data center energy use, and safety as "hoaxes." The pages were later taken offline but were indexed by the Bing search engine. The group's public website features materials created by the Trump White House.
• Meta created multiple Super PACs with $65 million in funding — Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, created multiple new pro-AI Super PACs: Mobilizing Economic Transformation Across (Meta) California, which received $20 million, and the American Technology Excellence Project (ATEP), which received $45 million. While Meta indicated the PACs would support bipartisan candidates, the ATEP appears to favor Republicans, with spending concentrated in Illinois and Texas. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg was appointed to Trump's President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, and Meta donated $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund.
• Andreessen appointed to Trump's science advisory council after major political donations — Marc Andreessen, a cofounder of Andreessen Horowitz, was appointed to Trump's President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. Andreessen and his partner Ben Horowitz each donated $12.5 million to Leading the Future, a pro-AI PAC, and both had previously donated millions to a Super PAC supporting Trump in the 2024 election. Andreessen's appointment follows this pattern of corporate political investment followed by executive branch access.

Supporting reports

• US judge halts Trump's $400m White House ballroom project via preliminary injunction — US District Judge Richard Leon granted a preliminary injunction requested by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, halting construction of a $400 million White House ballroom project. Trump had demolished the historic East Wing without congressional approval. Leon ruled that Trump exceeded his authority and must obtain congressional authorization before continuing. The Trump administration immediately appealed the order. Trump attacked both the nonprofit and the judge on Truth Social, claiming the project was "under budget, ahead of schedule" and required no congressional approval.
• Department of Justice appealed Judge Leon's ballroom ruling — Following Judge Richard Leon's ruling that Trump cannot proceed with White House ballroom construction without congressional approval, the Department of Justice filed an appeal of the decision.
• Judge Richard Leon blocked Trump's White House ballroom construction project — U.S. District Judge Richard Leon of the District of Columbia ruled that Trump cannot proceed with construction of a giant ballroom on the site of the demolished East Wing of the White House without congressional approval. The National Trust for Historic Preservation had sued Trump and federal agencies to halt construction, alleging Trump bypassed required legal reviews and approvals. Leon wrote that "The President of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of First Families. He is not, however, the owner!" and stated that "no statute comes close to giving the President the authority he claims." Leon ordered that "the ballroom construction project must stop until Congress authorizes its completion." The Department of Justice immediately appealed.
• Appeal filed — National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States v. National Park Service (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-04316 — The government appealed to the court's March 31 order to the D.C. Circuit, Case No. 26-5101 .
• Preliminary injunction ruling — National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States v. National Park Service (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-04316 — In an opinion and order , Judge Leon granteda preliminary injunction stopping the planned White House ballroom project, finding the President is acting without statutory authority. “[U]nless and until Congress blesses this project through statutory authorization, construction has to stop!,” the judge wrote. The court stayed its order for 14 days.
• US District Judge Richard Leon halted construction of Trump's ballroom project — US District Judge Richard Leon issued a preliminary injunction halting construction of Trump's ballroom, ruling that the National Trust for Historic Preservation was likely to succeed on the merits of its claim that the President lacks statutory authority for the project. The judge found no statute grants the President the claimed authority and ordered construction to stop until Congress authorizes completion. Trump responded with a lengthy Truth Social post attacking the National Trust and comparing the ballroom to other federal projects.
• NCPC approves Trump White House ballroom project despite pending judicial review — The National Capital Planning Commission, chaired by Trump's former personal lawyer William Scharf, approved Trump's $400 million East Wing ballroom project on Thursday. The approval came two days after a federal judge ruled that work cannot proceed without congressional approval and granted a preliminary injunction to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Justice Department has appealed the judge's ruling. The commission described the 90,000 sq ft ballroom as a continuation of the White House's historical evolution.
• Stay pending appeal decided — National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States v. National Park Service (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-04316 — The administration filed an emergency motion for a stay pending appeal of the District Court's March 31 preliminary injunction. In the alternative, the administration requested “at least” a 14-day stay so the Solicitor General could seek emergency relief from the Supreme Court. Per the motion, the East Wing is actively under construction and the building materials onsite must be installed rather than “be exposed to the conditions and elements of an open construction site. Time is of the essence!”

Supporting reports

• US Supreme Court hears oral arguments in Pitchford death penalty case involving alleged racial bias in jury selection — The US Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Pitchford v. Mississippi, a capital murder case in which prosecutor Doug Evans removed nearly all Black jurors from the 2006 trial jury that convicted Terry Pitchford. The case centers on whether trial judge Joseph Loper properly applied the Batson v. Kentucky standard prohibiting race-based jury strikes. Conservative justices focused on whether defense counsel should have objected more forcefully, while liberal justices questioned whether the defense waived her argument or was rebuffed by the judge. The case echoes the Court's 2020 reversal of Curtis Flowers' conviction in a similar Evans-prosecuted case.

Supporting reports

• State Department directs embassies to launch coordinated counter-propaganda campaigns using X and military psychological operations — Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed a cable directing all U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide to launch coordinated campaigns against foreign propaganda, explicitly endorsing Elon Musk's X platform and its Community Notes feature as an "innovative" tool. The directive instructs diplomatic staff to coordinate with the Pentagon's Military Information Support Operations (Miso) unit, recruit local influencers and community leaders to amplify American narratives, and rebrand U.S. foreign assistance with prominent American flags. The cable frames these efforts as countering hostile state disinformation from Iran, Russia, and China.

Supporting reports

• Federal judge expresses skepticism of Pentagon's revised press policy restricting journalist access — Federal Judge Paul Friedman held a hearing on the Pentagon's newly implemented press restrictions, calling aspects "weird" and "Kafkaesque." The policy requires journalists to be escorted by Pentagon staff, closes the Correspondents' Corridor, and penalizes reporters for offering anonymity to sources—measures Friedman suggested violate First Amendment rights. The judge had previously struck down key aspects of an earlier Pentagon media policy on March 20 but stopped short of ruling on the New York Times' motion to force compliance with his decision.

Supporting reports

• The Save America Act: A Modern Day Poll Tax — The Democracy Docket article discusses the implications of the Save America Act, which is characterized as a modern-day poll tax. The act is critiqued for potentially restricting voting rights and access, drawing parallels to historical poll taxes that disenfranchised voters. The article emphasizes the importance of monitoring such legislative actions as they can significantly impact democratic participation and election fairness.
• Trump administration executive order restricting mail-in voting challenged in federal court — A coalition of civil rights groups filed a lawsuit in federal court in Massachusetts on Thursday challenging an executive order Trump signed on Tuesday that restricts mail-in voting. The order instructs the federal government to create a list of eligible voters in each state and directs the US Postal Service to transmit mail-in ballots only to people on that list. The plaintiffs argue the order violates the Constitution's separation of powers, Article I Section 4 (state control of elections), the Voting Rights Act, and the Privacy Act. This is Trump's second attempt to unilaterally alter voting procedures; a previous order was largely blocked by a federal judge last year.
• Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections — President Trump issued an executive order directing creation of lists of US citizens eligible to vote in each state and requiring the US Postal Service to refrain from sending mailed ballots to anyone not on those lists. The order drew immediate condemnation for apparent unconstitutionality and swift threats of legal action from voting rights advocates.
• Trump issues executive order on voter eligibility lists and mail ballot restrictions — President Trump signed an executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration to compile a national voter file and restricting mail-in ballot use. The order requires USPS to establish rule-making for a process prohibiting mail-in ballots unless voters are on a federal approval list. Election law experts and Democratic officials immediately challenged the order as unconstitutional, citing the Constitution's grant of election authority to states. Multiple lawsuits were announced within hours of signing.
• Trump signs executive order restricting mail-in ballots and directing national voter file compilation — President Trump signed an executive order attacking mail-in voting, directing the Department of Homeland Security to work with the Social Security Administration to create a federal list of verified U.S. citizens eligible to vote in each state. The order directs the U.S. Postal Service to send mail-in ballots only to voters on the list and to mark each ballot with a unique barcode. It threatens states refusing to cooperate with loss of federal funding and directs Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate anyone wrongfully distributing mail-in ballots. Election law experts and Democratic officials immediately challenged the order as unconstitutional.
• Trump signed executive order restricting mail-in voting — The White House published a fact sheet characterizing the Trump administration's policies on transgender issues as dismantling "woke" initiatives. The document claims the administration declared two immutable sexes as official policy, banned federal funding for gender-affirming medical care for minors, ended federal support for "gender ideology" curricula, enforced sex-based sports eligibility, reinstated military service standards based on biological sex, eliminated gender ideology from service academies, directed enforcement of single-sex spaces based on biological sex, ended gender self-identification on federal documents, and redirected billions in grants. The fact sheet attributes policy changes to multiple health systems and sports organizations.
• White House issued fact sheet on Trump administration policies regarding transgender-related healthcare, military service, and education — The White House published a fact sheet on March 31, 2026, describing an executive order signed by President Trump that directs the Secretary of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration to compile state citizenship lists of eligible voters, requires the Postmaster General to establish secure ballot procedures through USPS, and directs the Attorney General to investigate and prosecute election officials who issue ballots to ineligible voters and to withhold federal funds from noncompliant states. The fact sheet frames the order as strengthening election integrity and preventing non-citizen voting.
• White House issues fact sheet on executive order requiring citizenship verification for federal elections — On March 31, Trump signed an executive order directing the administration to compile lists of verified eligible voters in each state and requiring USPS to deliver mail-in ballots only to voters on state-approved absentee lists. On April 21, 37 Democratic senators warned that the order illegally transforms USPS into an election administration agency. State attorneys general filed suit on April 22, and senators introduced the Absentee and Mail Voter Protection Act to nullify the order. Election law experts called it unconstitutional.
• Trump's mail-voting executive order drew legal challenges and legislative response — On Tuesday, March 31, 2026, President Trump signed an executive order framed as an "election integrity" measure that directs the Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration to create a national voter list, orders the Postal Service to send mail-in ballots only to those on the list, and instructs the Attorney General to withhold federal funds from "non-compliant" states and cities. Legal experts and voting rights advocates say the order is unconstitutional and likely to be blocked by courts, as the President lacks authority over elections—a power reserved to states and Congress.
• Trump signs executive order restricting mail-in voting and directing creation of national voter list — Trump signed an executive order at 5:00 PM requiring the federal government to compile a list of US citizens eligible to vote in each state and mandating that ballots be sent only to those on each state's approved mail-in ballot list. The order threatened to withhold federal funding from states that disobey. The Postal Service was directed to monitor mail-in ballot distribution for federal elections.
• Trump signed executive order restricting mail-in voting nationwide — President Trump signed an executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security to compile and transmit state citizenship lists to election officials, requiring the Postal Service to implement unique ballot identifiers (barcodes) on mail-in ballots, and instructing the Attorney General to prioritize investigation and prosecution of election officials and others involved in issuing ballots to non-citizens. The order mandates DHS establish infrastructure within 90 days and USPS complete rulemaking within 120 days to enforce these requirements across federal elections.
• Trump issues executive order on citizenship verification and mail-in ballot tracking for federal elections — President Trump signed Executive Order 14399 on March 31, 2026, directing the Department of Homeland Security to compile and transmit to state election officials a "State Citizenship List" derived from federal citizenship, naturalization, and Social Security Administration records. The order requires the U.S. Postal Service to initiate rulemaking within 60 days mandating that all outbound ballot mail bear unique Intelligent Mail barcodes and "Official Election Mail" markings, with states required to submit lists of eligible mail-in voters to USPS at least 60 days before elections. The order directs the Attorney General to prioritize investigation and prosecution of state and local election officials and others involved in issuing ballots to ineligible individuals. The USPS must issue final rules within 120 days.
• Trump signed Executive Order 14399 directing federal citizenship verification and mail-in ballot tracking for federal elections — Trump signed an executive order on March 31 to restrict mail-in voting by creating a list of eligible US citizen voters in every state and prohibiting the US Postal Service from sending absentee ballots to voters not on state-approved lists. The order threatens to withhold federal funding from states that refuse to comply. States including Oregon and Arizona have challenged the order, arguing it violates the Constitution.
• Trump signs executive order restricting mail-in voting

Supporting reports

• Endangered Species Committee votes to exempt Gulf of Mexico oil and gas drilling from ESA protections — The Endangered Species Committee, convened for the first time in over 30 years, voted unanimously to grant an exemption from the Endangered Species Act for oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth requested the exemption citing national security concerns related to Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and global energy prices. The exemption could jeopardize the Rice's whale (51 remaining), whooping cranes, sea turtles, and other marine species. Environmental groups have pledged legal challenges.
• Endangered Species Committee grants exemption for Gulf of America oil and gas activities from Endangered Species Act requirements — The Endangered Species Committee, by unanimous vote on March 31, 2026, granted an exemption under section 7(h) of the Endangered Species Act for Gulf of America Oil and Gas Activities based on a national security finding by the Secretary of War. The exemption exempts federal agencies from consultation, jeopardy, and adverse modification mandates, and prohibits the taking of endangered species in connection with covered oil and gas exploration, development, and production activities in federal and state waters of the Gulf of America.
• Complaint filed — Healthy Gulf v. Endangered Species Committee, Secretary of Defense (D.D.C. 1:26-cv-01118) — Conservation nonprofits filed a complaint challenging an Endangered Species Committee decision issued March 31, 2026, granting a categorical exemption excusing all oil and gas activities in the Gulf of America from Endangered Species Act requirements. The exemption was based on a March 13, 2026 National Security Finding by the Secretary of Defense asserting that litigation threatens national security. Plaintiffs allege the Committee bypassed mandatory ESA procedures, including public hearings and formal reports, and that the Finding lacks evidence of irreconcilable conflict between species protection and oil production. Plaintiffs seek declaratory relief and vacatur of both the Finding and the Exemption.

Supporting reports

• ICE detention of Salah Sarsour, mosque president, for 80+ days on retaliation and political grounds — Salah Sarsour, president of Wisconsin's largest mosque and a green card holder of nearly three decades, was detained by ICE on 30 March 2026 after being surrounded by armed agents. A federal judge found he was likely detained in retaliation for his Palestinian rights advocacy, rendering the detention potentially unlawful. The Trump administration continues seeking his deportation; Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed a memo deeming him deportable for allegedly undermining US foreign policy on antisemitism. Sarsour reported dehumanizing conditions, denial of medical care, and religious observance restrictions during his 80+ days in custody.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration executive order restricting mail-in voting challenged in federal court — A coalition of civil rights groups filed a lawsuit in federal court in Massachusetts on Thursday challenging an executive order Trump signed on Tuesday that restricts mail-in voting. The order instructs the federal government to create a list of eligible voters in each state and directs the US Postal Service to transmit mail-in ballots only to people on that list. The plaintiffs argue the order violates the Constitution's separation of powers, Article I Section 4 (state control of elections), the Voting Rights Act, and the Privacy Act. This is Trump's second attempt to unilaterally alter voting procedures; a previous order was largely blocked by a federal judge last year.
• Senate Democrats and election officials condemned Trump's mail-in voting order — Senate Rules Committee top Democrat Alex Padilla (D-CA) called Trump's mail-in voting executive order a "blatant, unconstitutional abuse of power," stating Trump has "no authority to commandeer federal elections or direct the Postal Service to undermine mail and absentee voting." Representative Joe Morelle (D-NY), top-ranking Democrat on the House Administration Committee, said the order is "illegal, dangerous and subversive" and that "Donald Trump fears the American people and is willing to violate the Constitution to stop them from voting." Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) posted "See you in court. You will lose." Election law expert David Becker told Democracy Docket that "This is unconstitutional on its face. The Constitution clearly gives the president no power over elections."
• Trump issues executive order restricting mail-in voting — On Tuesday, April 2, 2026, President Trump signed an executive order directing the US Postal Service to restrict mail-in and absentee ballot distribution to individuals on a pre-approved list of eligible citizens. The order tasked the Department of Homeland Security with creating the list using federal citizenship records, defining eligibility by age 18+ and US citizenship. States and localities refusing compliance face loss of federal funding and investigations. The order prompted immediate legal challenges.

Supporting reports

• Justice Department sues Minnesota over Title IX athletic and facility policies — The Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division filed suit against the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota State High School League, alleging violations of Title IX by permitting transgender girls to compete in girls' athletic competitions and access girls' intimate spaces (locker rooms, bathrooms). The complaint characterizes these policies as sex-based discrimination that denies female athletes equal opportunity and safety. The suit seeks declaratory, injunctive, and damages relief. MDE receives over $3 billion in federal education and health funding.
• DOJ sues Minnesota over transgender athlete participation in girls' sports — The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Minnesota's education department and school athletics body, claiming that policies allowing transgender girls to compete in girls' sports violate Title IX's sex-based discrimination protections. The DOJ argues the policies create unfair competition, deny cisgender girls equal educational opportunities, and expose them to hostile environments with injury risks. Minnesota, a "trans refuge" state, has previously resisted Trump administration pressure and filed its own lawsuit challenging administration gender-recognition orders.

Supporting reports

• Trump attacked the Supreme Court on birthright citizenship case — Trump publicly attacked the Supreme Court, calling it "stupid" and "dumb" as he attempted to pre-spin a potential and likely loss in a case on birthright citizenship. The attack on the judiciary reflects contempt for the court and an attempt to delegitimize an unfavorable ruling before it is issued.
• Trump posted criticism of Supreme Court justices ahead of birthright citizenship oral arguments — Two days before Trump administration lawyers were scheduled to argue the birthright citizenship case before SCOTUS, Trump posted on social media that the justices are "dumb," stating: "Birthright Citizenship is not about rich people from China, and the rest of the World, who want their children, FOR PAY, to ridiculously become citizens of the US. It is about the BABIES OF SLAVES! The World is laughing at how STUPID our US Court System has become (TARIFFS!). Dumb Judges and Justices will not a great Country make!"

Supporting reports

• Nine activists convicted on terrorism charges in Texas ICE protest case — Nine activists were convicted in Texas federal court on terrorism and related charges stemming from a March 2025 protest outside an ICE facility near Fort Worth. Eight were convicted of riot, explosives, and material support to terrorists; one (Benjamin Song) was convicted of attempted murder after shooting a police officer; a ninth was convicted for moving zines days after the protest. The Trump administration framed the verdict as vindication of its campaign against "antifa," though legal experts and the trial judge noted the charges had no organizational nexus and the terrorism label was legally irrelevant to the convictions.

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• Sen. Ron Johnson claimed Democrats conspired to get ICE protesters killed for political leverage. — Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) alleged on Fox News that Democrats engaged in a conspiracy to cause deaths among ICE protesters for political advantage, claiming they "trained activists to obstruct justice, encouraged them to put themselves in harm's way" to create "martyrs" and justify defunding law enforcement. The statement followed fatal shootings of two American citizens by federal agents in January during immigration enforcement operations.

Supporting reports

• House approved two-month DHS spending stopgap; Senate vote uncertain. — The House approved a two-month stopgap spending plan for the Department of Homeland Security late Friday night. The bill heads to the Senate on Monday morning for a vote. A Republican senator is expected to seek unanimous consent to take up the bill, but if any senator objects, the House bill dies and the DHS shutdown continues. If the Senate blocks the bill, it is unlikely the shutdown will end until after both bodies return in mid-April following the Easter/Passover recess.
• Department of Homeland Security shutdown continued with TSA workers unpaid — The Department of Homeland Security shutdown continued, with TSA workers having gone weeks without pay. Back pay was beginning to arrive, allowing workers to afford food, gas, medication, and catch up on rent. Many TSA agents reported receiving only a fraction of what they were actually owed. The shutdown resulted from Trump and House Republicans refusing a bipartisan Senate bill that would have funded DHS except for ICE and Border Patrol, demanding additional funding for ICE instead.
• House and Senate Republicans publicly blamed each other for DHS shutdown impasse — During the 44-day DHS funding shutdown, House and Senate Republicans engaged in public recriminations over responsibility for the impasse. House Speaker Johnson rejected Senate Majority Leader Thune's negotiating approach, ensuring continued shutdown. Senate Republicans, led by Thune, attempted to negotiate with Senate Democrats while House Republicans maintained their position. Trump remained silent on the Senate proposal initially, then sided with House Republicans when rejection became clear, leaving House Republicans with ownership of the impasse.
• Senate Democrats rejected House Republican DHS funding proposal — Senate Democrats, through Schumer's office, rejected the House Republican DHS continuing resolution, stating they would not accept anything less than what was passed unanimously by the Senate. A Schumer spokesperson attributed the shutdown to Republican division and intransigence, stating that Johnson and House Republicans "needlessly extended this DHS shutdown" and that Republicans should not expect Senate Democrats to resolve Republican internal caucus problems.
• Trump endorses Republican plan to fund ICE and CBP via reconciliation — President Trump endorsed a plan by Republican leaders Mike Johnson and John Thune to pass the Senate's DHS compromise bill, then separately fund ICE and CBP through the budget reconciliation process, which bypasses the Senate filibuster. Trump also directed that the reconciliation measure be completed by June 1 and signaled it may include funding for Iran conflict operations and voter identification requirements from the Save America Act.
• Senate passes DHS funding bill excluding ICE and CBP — The Senate passed a compromise measure funding most of the Department of Homeland Security while excluding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and elements of Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The deal emerged after weeks of deadlock between Democrats, who demanded guardrails on federal immigration enforcement agents, and Republicans. The measure represents a negotiated settlement but was rejected by House Republicans, who sought full DHS funding including ICE and CBP.
• Senate Republicans plan reconciliation bill to fund ICE and border enforcement outside Democratic reach — Senate Budget Committee Chair Lindsey Graham initiated a budget resolution to fund ICE and immigration enforcement using the reconciliation procedure, which requires only Republican votes and cannot be filibustered by Democrats. This move circumvents Democratic demands for conduct reforms on immigration arrests, including mask-wearing bans and warrant requirements for residential entry. The reconciliation bill is also expected to include funding for conflict with Iran and voter identification requirements from the Save America Act.

Supporting reports

• Nine activists convicted on terrorism charges in Texas ICE protest case — Nine activists were convicted in Texas federal court on terrorism and related charges stemming from a March 2025 protest outside an ICE facility near Fort Worth. Eight were convicted of riot, explosives, and material support to terrorists; one (Benjamin Song) was convicted of attempted murder after shooting a police officer; a ninth was convicted for moving zines days after the protest. The Trump administration framed the verdict as vindication of its campaign against "antifa," though legal experts and the trial judge noted the charges had no organizational nexus and the terrorism label was legally irrelevant to the convictions.

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• FBI Director Kash Patel pressed to release decade-old investigative file on Rep. Eric Swalwell. — FBI Director Kash Patel directed agents in the San Francisco office to quickly redact and prepare for public release a decade-old investigative file involving Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and a suspected Chinese intelligence operative, despite no evidence of wrongdoing by Swalwell. The file concerns Christine Fang (Fang Fang), who courted Swalwell and other California politicians from 2011–2015. When FBI agents conveyed concerns about Fang to Swalwell around 2015, he cut off ties and cooperated with investigators. Swalwell was not accused of wrongdoing in the original investigation, and the Republican-led House Ethics Committee closed a two-year investigation in 2023 with no action. Patel has reassigned multiple agents to work on bringing a criminal case against Swalwell, a vocal Trump critic and leading Democratic candidate for California governor.
• Trump FBI director Kash Patel pushes for release of Eric Swalwell investigative records — FBI Director Kash Patel, under the Trump administration, is reportedly pushing to release records from a decade-old FBI investigation into Eric Swalwell's alleged links to a Chinese agent. Swalwell, a Democratic congressman and California gubernatorial candidate, was found cooperative and not suspected of wrongdoing. The move occurs as Swalwell gains traction in the governor's race. Democrats characterize the effort as weaponized retaliation against a political opponent. Swalwell's attorneys issued a cease-and-desist letter on Monday.

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• DHS agent shoots USC student with less-lethal projectile at No Kings march, causing permanent eye loss — On 28 March, Tucker Collins, 18, an 18-year-old USC freshman and photographer, was struck in the right eye by a "less-lethal" projectile fired by a Department of Homeland Security agent during a No Kings protest outside the Metropolitan detention center in downtown Los Angeles. The impact fractured the bones in his eye socket; the eye was subsequently surgically removed. Collins's attorney states he was documenting the protest, posed no threat, and was shot in violation of a September federal court injunction prohibiting DHS use of force against journalists and legal observers exercising First Amendment rights. DHS claims officers followed training and used minimum necessary force after seven warnings.

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• House Freedom Caucus blocked Senate DHS measure — Members of the far-right House Freedom Caucus opposed the Senate's DHS funding measure, apparently because they wanted more money for ICE and Border Patrol, inclusion of the SAVE Act, and Trump's approval. House Speaker Mike Johnson, dependent on the far-right caucus to maintain his speakership, refused to bring the Senate measure to a vote despite knowing it could pass with Democratic votes and most Republican votes.
• House Republicans reject Senate funding measure — House Speaker Mike Johnson announced that House Republicans would not pass the Senate's funding measure for DHS, which excludes additional funding for ICE and Border Patrol. Instead, he indicated a preference for a 60-day continuing resolution to maintain current funding levels.
• Speaker Johnson announced 60-day continuing resolution instead of Senate bill — House Speaker Mike Johnson announced he would refuse to pass the Senate's DHS funding measure and instead direct the House to pass a 60-day continuing resolution to fund DHS at current levels. This action left TSA agents facing two more weeks without paychecks while the Senate was on recess. Johnson stated the Senate "went dark and did not communicate with us," despite the Senate having just passed and departed after voting on the measure.
• House Republicans reject Senate-passed DHS funding bill — House Republicans rejected a Senate-passed bill to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security, including FEMA and the Coast Guard, but excluding ICE and border patrol. House Speaker Mike Johnson called the bill a "gambit," and Majority Leader Steve Scalise claimed it defunded 25% of DHS operations at a time of heightened threat level. The House had previously sent a short-term alternative bill, but the impasse over ICE operations remained unresolved as Congress entered spring recess.
• House Speaker Johnson rejected Senate DHS funding bill and adjourned House — House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) rejected the Senate's plan to fund the Department of Homeland Security without appropriations for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. Bowing to pressure from far-right House Republicans, Johnson called the Senate bill "a joke" and sent House members home until April 13 without a vote. Johnson announced he would bring the bill forward with Democratic support and attempt to fund ICE and CBP through budget reconciliation, which does not require Democratic votes.
• House Republicans reject Senate DHS compromise, extend partial shutdown — The US House of Representatives declined to vote on a Senate-passed compromise bill funding most of the Department of Homeland Security on Thursday, April 3, despite Republican leaders Mike Johnson and John Thune agreeing to advance it. The partial DHS shutdown, ongoing since mid-February, has become the longest in US history. House Republicans instead passed their own 60-day funding measure that includes ICE and CBP, which Senate Democrats blocked via filibuster. The impasse reflects internal Republican divisions over separating ICE/CBP funding from broader DHS appropriations.

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• House Republicans passed DHS appropriations with ICE and CBP funding — The House of Representatives passed an appropriations bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security for 2026, including full funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The measure was sent to the Senate with a simple Republican majority vote. This action initiated a funding dispute that would dominate legislative activity for weeks, as Senate Democrats used the filibuster to block passage without reforms to ICE and Border Patrol operations.

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• Trump signs executive order directing DHS to immediately pay TSA agents during partial shutdown — President Trump signed an executive order on Friday, March 28, 2026, instructing the Department of Homeland Security to immediately pay Transportation Security Administration agents who had gone without pay for over 42 days due to a partial government shutdown. The order came after House Republicans rejected a Senate-passed funding deal for key DHS subagencies. Trump blamed Democrats for prioritizing "criminal illegal aliens" over American citizens. DHS confirmed TSA began paying its workforce immediately, with officers potentially receiving paychecks by March 30. The shutdown had caused nationwide staffing shortages, record airport wait times, and nearly 500 TSA resignations.
• Trump signs presidential memorandum directing DHS to pay TSA employees from available funds — Trump signed a presidential memorandum late Friday, March 28, directing DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin to restore pay to TSA employees who had missed two paychecks. The memo instructed the secretary to redirect funds "that have a reasonable and logical nexus to TSA operations" to cover accrued pay and benefits. White House border czar Tom Homan stated the measure was "a start" but acknowledged thousands of other DHS employees remained unpaid and that ICE deployment at airports would continue pending TSA staffing recovery.
• Trump announces emergency order to pay TSA agents — President Trump announced he would sign an emergency order to pay TSA agents who have gone unpaid for over a month, although the legality and source of the funding remain unclear. This announcement came amid growing airport congestion and dissatisfaction with the handling of TSA funding.
• Trump issued executive order to pay TSA employees during 44-day DHS funding impasse — During a record-breaking 44-day Department of Homeland Security funding impasse, Trump issued an executive order to authorize payment of TSA employees. The shutdown resulted from Republican infighting between the House and Senate over DHS funding, with House Republicans rejecting a Senate proposal. House Speaker Johnson sided with House Republicans against Senate Majority Leader Thune's approach. TSA agents reported receiving only partial paychecks despite the executive order authorization.
• Trump declared national emergency to pay TSA officers during DHS shutdown — The White House issued a fact sheet stating that President Trump declared a national emergency to authorize payment of TSA officers who had gone unpaid during a Department of Homeland Security shutdown. The document claims Trump also deployed ICE officers to major airports to assist with crowd control and security. The fact sheet cites media reports indicating that TSA wait times improved after workers received back pay and absenteeism declined.
• Trump signs executive order directing TSA back pay during DHS partial shutdown — Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the Transportation Security Administration to pay employees back pay during an ongoing partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security. TSA employees received retroactive paychecks covering at least two full pay periods on Monday. The order instructed DHS to use funds with "reasonable and logical nexus to TSA operations" to cover salaries. Airport security lines reportedly shortened following the payment. Congress remains deadlocked over DHS funding, with Democrats and Republicans disagreeing over guardrails on immigration enforcement operations.

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• Trump deployed ICE agents to fourteen airports without security training — As TSA agents went unpaid for over a month and airport lines grew longer, President Trump deployed ICE agents to fourteen airports in eleven cities to relieve congestion. The ICE agents lacked training for security checkpoint operations and were ineffective at reducing delays. The deployment appeared designed to pressure Democrats into capitulating on funding demands, but instead highlighted the contrast of ICE agents collecting paychecks while TSA agents worked without pay, ultimately pressuring Trump rather than Democrats.

Supporting reports

• Peter Ticktin promotes draft emergency executive order to overhaul voting rules and restrict voting access — Peter Ticktin, an 80-year-old Florida lawyer with ties to Trump, has been actively promoting a draft executive order that would fundamentally alter U.S. voting procedures. The 17-page draft, dated April 2025, proposes requiring voter re-registration with proof of citizenship, ending machine and mail-in voting, mandating hand-counting of all ballots by midnight on election day, and other restrictive measures. Ticktin claims to have emailed Trump urging action on the order and states he is in contact with other Trump administration officials, though he declines to name them. Election experts warn the proposals are legally dubious, infeasible, and would sharply restrict voting rights and turnout.
• Trump requests congressional ban on state-issued driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants — At the State of the Union address, President Trump asked lawmakers to ban states from granting new driving licenses to immigrants in the country illegally. This legislative request seeks to expand federal restrictions beyond commercial licenses to all state-issued driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants, further limiting mobility and work capacity.

Supporting reports

• Peter Ticktin promotes draft emergency executive order to overhaul voting rules and restrict voting access — Peter Ticktin, an 80-year-old Florida lawyer with ties to Trump, has been actively promoting a draft executive order that would fundamentally alter U.S. voting procedures. The 17-page draft, dated April 2025, proposes requiring voter re-registration with proof of citizenship, ending machine and mail-in voting, mandating hand-counting of all ballots by midnight on election day, and other restrictive measures. Ticktin claims to have emailed Trump urging action on the order and states he is in contact with other Trump administration officials, though he declines to name them. Election experts warn the proposals are legally dubious, infeasible, and would sharply restrict voting rights and turnout.

Supporting reports

• Defense Secretary Hegseth removes four Army officers from promotion list — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth removed four Army officers from a one-star promotion list, including two Black officers and two women, overruling Army leaders who had cited their strong records. The New York Times reported the removals occurred despite positive evaluations from Army leadership.
• Defense Secretary Hegseth's chief of staff opposed promotion of Black female officer to Military District of Washington command — During a heated exchange in summer 2025, Ricky Buria, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's chief of staff, chastised Army Secretary Dan Driscoll for selecting Major General Antoinette Gant, a combat engineer who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, to command the Military District of Washington. Buria told Driscoll that Trump would not want to stand next to a Black female officer at military events. The Military District of Washington provides security and performs ceremonial duties in the nation's capital, and its commander often appears alongside the president at Arlington National Cemetery.
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth blocked promotion of four Army officers to one-star general rank — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth blocked the promotion of four Army officers to one-star general rank, a highly unusual move that prompted senior military officials to question whether the officers were being singled out based on race or gender. Two of the officers targeted are Black and two are women on a promotion list of approximately three dozen officers, most of whom are white men. Hegseth had pressed Army leaders, including Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, for months to remove the officers' names. Driscoll repeatedly refused, citing the officers' decades-long records of exemplary service. Hegseth unilaterally struck the officers' names from the list, though it is unclear whether he has legal authority to do so. The list was under White House review for Senate approval.
• Hegseth chief of staff told Army Secretary Trump would not stand next to Black female officer — During a heated exchange, Defense Secretary Hegseth's chief of staff Ricky Buria reportedly told Army Secretary Dan Driscoll that Trump would not want to stand next to a Black female officer at military events. The statement indicates that personnel decisions may be influenced by the President's racial preferences.
• Defense Secretary Hegseth blocked promotions of Black officers and women — The New York Times reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth blocked four Army officers from receiving promotions to one-star generals: two Black officers and two women. The Times characterized the decision as "highly unusual" and noted that senior military officials have questioned whether the decision was rooted in racial and gender bias. The action represents potential discrimination in military advancement based on race and gender.

Supporting reports

• Trump announced easing of sanctions on Belarus — Trump announced he would ease further sanctions on Belarus to facilitate fertilizer imports into the United States, following the U.S. easing of sanctions on Belarusian banks the previous week. The action aims to circumvent fertilizer supply disruptions caused by Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has blocked approximately 20 percent of global fertilizer transportation.