Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Pam Bondi's letter to Governor Walz linking voter files to immigration enforcement — Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote a letter to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz in January suggesting that if he turned over the state's voter files, violent attacks by federal immigration enforcement agencies could end. Legal experts characterized this as coercive and inappropriate, using the threat of continued violence to pressure a state official into surrendering voter data.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration deploys federal immigration enforcement surge to Democratic-led cities — Since January 2026, the Trump administration has deployed unprecedented numbers of federal immigration enforcement personnel to major Democratic-led US cities including Minneapolis, New Orleans, Charlotte, Chicago, and Los Angeles. The Department of Homeland Security declared this the largest operation in its history. ICE's budget nearly tripled to $28.7 billion, and officer numbers more than doubled from roughly 10,000 to 22,000. Federal agents have conducted raids on homes, businesses, parking lots, schools, hospitals, and courthouses, resulting in mass arrests and deportations from the US interior, family separations, and deaths.

Supporting reports

• Trump granted pardons to white-collar crime convicts including fraudsters — Since retaking office in January 2026, President Trump granted presidential pardons to dozens of people convicted of white-collar crimes, including several individuals convicted of fraud. The pardons occurred while the administration simultaneously launched a "fraud czar" initiative targeting Democratic states.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration froze $10 billion in federal childcare and family assistance funds — In January 2026, the Trump administration froze over $10 billion in federal funds for California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, and New York, affecting three programs: the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and the Social Service Block Grant (SSBG). The freeze was justified by unsubstantiated fraud allegations against Somali childcare providers, based on a December 2025 viral social media video that local reporters and state investigators subsequently debunked. The states sued to block the freeze, and a federal judge granted a court order stopping it on January 9, 2026. The administration later withdrew the freeze after being ordered to produce unredacted emails.

Supporting reports

• Chicago jury acquits border patrol hit-plot defendant — A Chicago jury acquitted Juan Espinoza Martinez in January 2026 of charges brought by the Trump administration alleging he had plotted a hit on a high-profile border patrol official. The acquittal represents another collapse of a case brought against individuals in connection with immigration enforcement operations.

Supporting reports

• Oral arguments scheduled in Trump v Cook on presidential removal of Federal Reserve board member — The US Supreme Court scheduled oral arguments for January 2026 in Trump v Cook, examining whether the president can legally remove Lisa Cook, a member of the Federal Reserve Board, whom Trump has attempted to remove amid unproven allegations of mortgage fraud. The case will determine the scope of presidential removal power over independent agency officials and the constitutional protections for the Federal Reserve's independence in monetary policy decisions.

Supporting reports

• San Francisco jury acquits Antoine Watson of murder and elder abuse in Vicha Ratanapakdee killing; found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and assault — A San Francisco jury cleared Antoine Watson of murder and elder abuse charges in the 2021 killing of 84-year-old Vicha Ratanapakdee, a case that became emblematic of anti-Asian violence during the pandemic. Watson was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and assault. The acquittal on the more serious charges upset Ratanapakdee's family and community leaders, who believed he was targeted for his race.

Supporting reports

• DOGE employee allegedly took restricted Social Security databases — According to a whistleblower complaint filed in January 2026, a former employee of the Department of Government Efficiency claimed he had taken two highly restricted databases from the Social Security Administration containing Social Security numbers, birth dates, place of birth, citizenship, race, ethnicity, and parents' names of more than 500 million living and dead Americans. The employee allegedly sought help transferring the data from a thumb drive to a personal computer to "sanitize" it before using it at a government contractor. When a colleague refused to help, citing legal concerns, the employee allegedly said he expected Trump would pardon him if needed.

Supporting reports

• DOGE employee entered secret agreement to share Social Security data — According to a whistleblower complaint filed in January 2026 and reported by the Washington Post in January, the Social Security Administration discovered that a DOGE employee had entered into a secret agreement with a political group, promising to share Social Security data in order to overturn election results in certain states. The SSA also acknowledged that DOGE employees had used an unofficial third-party service to share data with each other and that the SSA had been unable to access it.

Supporting reports

• DOJ releases Epstein records in batches but survivors report missing files — Since Trump signed the Epstein Records Act into law on 19 November 2025, the Department of Justice has released multiple batches of records, including approximately 3 million records in January 2026. However, survivors and lawmakers report that critical materials remain withheld or redacted, including FBI interview files of survivors themselves. DOJ has stated that all responsive documents have been produced unless they are duplicates, privileged, or part of ongoing investigations, but survivors and lawmakers dispute this claim and have raised concerns about unlawful withholding and exposure of survivor personal information.

Supporting reports

• Trump regrets not seizing voting machines after 2020 election — In a January 2026 interview with the New York Times, President Trump stated that he "should have" directed the National Guard to take control of voting machines after the 2020 election, expressing regret over not implementing a plan prepared by conspiracy theorists that would have involved ordering federal agents or troops to confiscate voting machines from swing states to search for evidence of fraud.

Supporting reports

• ICE and Border Patrol arrest foreign students and undocumented immigrants during deportation raids — Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Border Patrol agents conducted sweeping deportation raids that contradicted Trump's stated goal of deporting only "the worst of the worst" criminal undocumented immigrants. Masked agents arrested foreign students who had spoken out against U.S. policy on Israel/Palestine and all undocumented immigrants they could find, including people well integrated into communities. Few of those arrested had been charged or convicted of crimes.

Supporting reports

• 32 people die in ICE custody in 2025, deadliest year in two decades — A total of 32 people died in immigration custody in 2025, marking ICE's deadliest year in more than two decades. This occurred during the same period when the DHS watchdog offices were dismantled (March 2025) and understaffed (March–August 2025), leaving minimal independent oversight of detention conditions. The CRCL reviewed approximately 10 death reports but investigated only one, according to court filings.
• September 2025 ICE detention conditions deteriorate — Between September 2025 and early 2026, multiple reports documented inhumane conditions in ICE detention facilities. A Guardian investigation revealed that U.S. immigration officials had been detaining people in small, secretive holding facilities for days or weeks in violation of federal policy. By the end of 2025, 32 people had died in ICE custody. The reports triggered widespread outrage over the treatment of immigrants.

Supporting reports

• ICE launches $100 million "wartime recruitment" targeting specific demographics — ICE announced a $100 million "wartime recruitment" strategy to hire thousands of new officers, targeting gun rights supporters, military enthusiasts, and listeners of right-wing radio shows. The agency directed ads to people near military bases, NASCAR races, gun shows, trade shows, and college campuses, and to those who have attended UFC fights or shopped for guns and tactical gear.
• ICE launches $100 million "wartime recruitment" media campaign targeting ideological applicants for deportation enforcement — Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced a $100 million, one-year media blitz to recruit new agents for mass deportation operations. The campaign uses geofencing to target conservative radio listeners, gun enthusiasts, military followers, and men's interest audiences near military bases, NASCAR races, and gun shows. ICE offers up to $50,000 signing bonuses and $60,000 in student loan forgiveness. The agency has already received over 220,000 applications and made 18,000 tentative offers. Officials plan to spend $8 million on influencer partnerships to promote the immigration agenda to younger audiences.
• ICE recruitment campaign with $50,000 signing bonuses — In July 2025, ICE expanded its workforce by offering new recruits $50,000 signing bonuses and pledges of patriotism. The recruitment drive reflected the Trump administration's commitment to expanding immigration enforcement capacity and making ICE a central component of its policing strategy.
• US House Representative Jamie Raskin expresses concern about ICE recruitment targeting extremist groups — In early 2026, US House Representative Jamie Raskin publicly expressed concern that ICE was using "white nationalist 'dog whistles'" in its recruitment campaign, seemingly targeting members of extremist militias including the Oath Keepers, Proud Boys, Three Percenters, and other far-right groups involved in the January 6, 2021 Capitol insurrection. Raskin noted that many of these individuals had subsequently received blanket clemency from Donald Trump, raising concerns about the ideological composition and extremist infiltration of ICE.

Supporting reports

• Off-duty ICE agent Brian Palacios fatally shoots Keith Porter Jr in Los Angeles on New Year's Eve; family demands charges — Keith Porter Jr, a 43-year-old father of two, was shot and killed by off-duty ICE officer Brian Palacios outside his apartment complex in Los Angeles on New Year's Eve. Official accounts differ sharply: DHS claimed Palacios acted in self-defense against an "active shooter"; Porter's family and attorney argue Porter was celebrating the new year and posed no threat. No video footage exists. The LA District Attorney's office is investigating whether the officer acted lawfully. Community activists, politicians, and celebrities have mobilized demanding Palacios's arrest and prosecution, citing DHS's documented history of false claims about people killed by federal agents.

Supporting reports

• Publication of "Eating Behind Bars" documenting systemic food deprivation in US prisons — Leslie Soble and Impact Justice colleagues published "Eating Behind Bars," an ethnographic account documenting how US correctional institutions use food deprivation and poor nutrition as punishment. The book, based on surveys of hundreds of formerly incarcerated people, interviews, and in-prison focus groups, details malnutrition, contaminated meals, and the use of food restrictions as disciplinary tools. The work identifies food insecurity as a public health crisis reducing life expectancy by two years per year incarcerated, a labor rights violation (incarcerated workers earning pennies while producing food they cannot consume), and an environmental problem generating 300,000 tons of annual food waste.

Supporting reports

• Trump delays wood-product tariff increases, extends trade negotiations to January 2027 — President Trump issued Proclamation 11000 amending his prior wood-products tariff proclamation (10976 of September 29, 2025). The amendment delays the scheduled January 1, 2026 increases in duty rates for upholstered furniture (from 25% to 30%), kitchen cabinets, and vanities (from 25% to 50%) until January 1, 2027, to allow continued trade negotiations with multiple countries. Existing 10% tariffs on softwood timber and lumber and 25% tariffs on certain upholstered and cabinet products remain in effect. The Trade Representative is directed to provide a status update 180 days after the original proclamation.
• Trump delayed tariff increases on furniture and cabinets — Trump signed a proclamation hours before the end of 2025 postponing tariff hikes on upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets, and vanities for one year, pushing their implementation to 2027. In September, Trump had ordered 25% new tariffs on kitchen cabinets and upholstered furniture, which took effect in October with rates slated to rise to 50% and 30%, respectively, by 2026. The delay represents a reversal of the previously announced escalation schedule.
• Trump issued proclamation amending wood products tariff schedule, delaying duty increases to January 1, 2027 — President Trump signed Proclamation 10977 on December 31, 2025, amending his prior September 29, 2025 proclamation on wood product imports. The amendment delays scheduled tariff increases on upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets, and vanities from January 1, 2026 to January 1, 2027, citing ongoing trade negotiations. The 10 percent tariff on softwood timber and lumber remains in effect; the Trade Representative is directed to continue negotiations with multiple countries and provide status updates within 180 days.
• White House issued fact sheet on timber and lumber tariff proclamation — The White House published a fact sheet on December 31, 2025, describing President Trump's signing of a proclamation invoking Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. The proclamation delays for one year the scheduled January 1, 2026 increase in tariffs on upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets, and vanities, maintaining the current 25% tariff rate. The fact sheet states the delay allows continued negotiations with trade partners on wood product imports, which the administration characterizes as a national security concern.
• Trump administration reduced tariffs on Italian pasta after lobbying — The U.S. Commerce Department stepped back from imposing 92% antidumping duties on Italian pasta makers, instead dramatically reducing the threatened tariffs after weeks of lobbying by Italy's government and affected companies. La Molisana and Garofalo, the two biggest pasta exporters to the U.S., will now face duties of 2.3% and 13.9%, respectively, while 11 other Italian pasta makers will face a 9.1% tariff. The original 92% duties would have forced Italian pasta makers to exit the U.S. market.
• Trump announced delays on higher tariffs — Trump announced delays on higher tariffs for items including upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets, and vanities. This announcement came one day after his administration backed off proposed tariffs on Italian pasta after exporters warned they might pull out of the U.S. market entirely. Trump simultaneously claimed tariffs have been "the greatest success" for the United States.
• Wall Street Journal editorial criticized Trump's tariff policy — The Wall Street Journal editorial board published a scathing piece on Trump's tariff policy, pointing out what it called a "striking contradiction": Trump and his allies loudly claim tariffs are a roaring success, even as he quietly carves out hundreds of exceptions. The editorial noted that rarely has a president worked so hard to cover up the damage from his own policies without admitting it.

Supporting reports

• Appeals court allows Trump administration to end Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood in 22 states — The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit issued an order on December 31, 2025, allowing the Trump administration to enforce a provision of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that strips Medicaid funding from Planned Parenthood health centers in 22 states and Washington DC. The panel reversed an injunction issued by U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani that had blocked the measure. The provision bars Medicaid reimbursements to tax-exempt organizations providing family planning and reproductive health services if they perform abortions and received over $800,000 in Medicaid funds in fiscal year 2023. Planned Parenthood reports at least 20 health centers have already closed since the law's enactment in July 2025.

Supporting reports

• Federal judge orders Trump administration to continue CFPB funding — DC District Judge Amy Berman Jackson issued a 32-page ruling ordering the Trump administration to continue funding the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The administration, through acting director Russell Vought, had claimed the Federal Reserve's operating losses made it unable to fund the agency. Jackson rejected this as a "manufactured" workaround designed to "starve" the agency, noting funding had continued seamlessly since 2011 despite prior Fed losses. The ruling upheld an earlier injunction blocking dismantling of the consumer watchdog and mass firings of its staff.

Supporting reports

• DOJ reviewing 5+ million pages of Epstein files with expanded legal resources and delayed release timeline — The US Department of Justice is reviewing more than 5 million pages of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, drawing prosecutors from national security and criminal divisions across multiple US attorneys' offices. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the effort would extend beyond the congressionally mandated December 19 deadline to at least January 20, 2026, with approximately 400 lawyers enlisted to assist. Senator Chuck Schumer accused DOJ officials of lying about the scope, noting fewer than 40,000 pages released represent less than 0.01% of total documents.
• DOJ reviewing 5.2 million previously undisclosed Epstein documents — The Justice Department announced it is reviewing approximately 5.2 million pages of records related to Jeffrey Epstein that were never previously turned over to the public or courts. Federal officials are enlisting roughly 400 lawyers to process the material, with a timeline extending into late January 2026. The disclosure contradicts an earlier statement made days before Christmas that the total amounted to around one million pages. The scale of the newly discovered records raises questions about the completeness of prior document productions and the adequacy of initial disclosures.
• Department of Justice acknowledges five million additional Epstein-related documents exist — The Department of Justice acknowledged that approximately five million additional documents related to Jeffrey Epstein exist beyond what has already been disclosed to the public. Less than five percent of the total material has been produced so far. House Oversight Democrats characterized this as a blatant violation of federal law and raised questions about what information is being withheld and why.

Supporting reports

• Department of Government Efficiency cuts nearly 10% of federal employees — The Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, concluded that while the Department of Government Efficiency did not actually reduce overall federal spending, it did cut approximately 10% of federal employees. This reduction aligned with a key goal of Office of Management and Budget director Russell Vought, a principal author of Project 2025. The cuts were achieved through unilateral executive action rather than congressional appropriations processes.

Supporting reports

• Elon Musk posts "Novus Ordo Seclorum" on social media following Trump's 2024 election victory — Following the 2024 election results, billionaire Elon Musk, who had supported Trump's campaign through his purchase of Twitter (now X) and $290 million in cash donations, posted "Novus Ordo Seclorum" (Latin for "New World Order") on social media. The post signaled the beginning of a transformative agenda. Trump subsequently announced he had an "unprecedented and powerful mandate" despite winning with less than 50% of the vote, and Musk was tasked to head a new "Department of Government Efficiency" with a stated goal of cutting at least $2 trillion from the federal budget.
• Musk and DOGE operatives gain access to government computer systems and eliminate federal jobs and programs — Elon Musk and his operatives gained access to computer systems across federal government offices and, using keyboard commands, eliminated jobs and programs. Musk specifically described feeding "into the wood chipper" most of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the government agency responsible for combating disease and malnutrition globally. The dismantling of USAID has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people according to public health assessments.

Supporting reports

• Trump posts that Colorado governor and DA should "rot in hell" — On New Year's Eve morning, Trump posted on social media that Colorado's governor and a Republican district attorney should "rot in hell" for refusing to free Tina Peters, a convicted MAGA election fraudster who tampered with voting machines after the 2020 election. The post represents a direct attack on state officials for exercising their lawful authority and refusing to grant a pardon or release to a convicted criminal.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration announced removal of National Guard troops from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland — Following the Supreme Court's December 23 rejection of its deployment authority, the Trump administration announced on December 31, 2025 that it would remove National Guard troops from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland. Trump claimed the troops had "greatly reduced" crime and vowed to return "in a much different and stronger form" when crime rises again.
• Trump announces end of National Guard deployments in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Portland — On December 31, 2025, President Trump announced he was ending his National Guard deployment in Los Angeles and his attempted military takeovers in Chicago and Portland. This retreat followed a Supreme Court ruling one week prior that upheld a lower court decision halting his efforts to send hundreds of Guard troops into Chicago. The Court determined Trump lacked authority to invoke an archaic law to federalize Illinois Guard troops. Trump signaled he may return to Democratic-led cities "in a much different and stronger form," hinting at potential invocation of the Insurrection Act.
• Trump administration withdraws national guard deployment orders from Los Angeles, Chicago, and Portland — Following a California court ruling that returned national guard troops to state authority and a U.S. Supreme Court block on Illinois deployment, the Trump administration announced withdrawal of federal troops from Los Angeles, Chicago, and Portland. The Department of Justice ceased contesting the California court's decision, effectively ending the administration's attempt to maintain federal control over state national guard units in these Democratic-led cities. Trump framed the move as temporary, pledging to redeploy troops later.
• Trump announces withdrawal of National Guard deployments from major cities — Trump announced the withdrawal of National Guard deployments from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland, while simultaneously threatening to redeploy them "in a much different and stronger form" if crime allegedly surged. This announcement came after Trump lost multiple court challenges to the deployments, including a 6-3 Supreme Court ruling the previous week that found his justification for sending National Guard to Chicago insufficient.

Supporting reports

• Fort Hunter Liggett police coordinate with ICE on traffic stops targeting undocumented immigrants — Fort Hunter Liggett Army base police conducted traffic stops along Jolon Road in California starting December 30, 2025, citing minor violations (broken lights, open gas caps). Officers requested social security numbers; when drivers could not provide them, ICE agents arrived within minutes to arrest them. At least 14–15 men were arrested and detained on base before transfer to immigration facilities. Two California members of Congress wrote to DHS and the Army Secretary questioning whether the coordination violated the Posse Comitatus Act, which restricts military involvement in domestic law enforcement.