Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Pentagon secretly hired military veterans as paid right-wing influencers to promote Pete Hegseth — The Washington Post reported that the Pentagon has secretly hired military veterans with large social media followings to act as paid right-wing influencers to push Pete Hegseth's propaganda. Although these individuals are now government employees, the Pentagon refuses to provide details on their assignments. Their taxpayer-funded job is to "amplify Pete Hegseth's" messaging.
• Pentagon hires right-wing social media influencers as government employees — The Pentagon has hired right-wing social media influencers as special government employees using taxpayer money to amplify Defense Secretary Hegseth's viewpoints and attack critics of the Trump administration. Reported hires include Rob Maness, Kurt Schlichter, and Thomas Anderson. A Pentagon spokesperson declined to comment on their job content, salaries, or employment duration.
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hired right-wing social media influencers as Pentagon employees — Washington Post Pentagon reporter Dan Lamothe reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hired right-wing social media influencers to work at the Department of Defense as Special Government Employees (SGEs) to promote him on social media platform X. Retired Colonels Rob Maness, Kurt Schlichter, and Tom Anderson acknowledged being SGE employees for the Pentagon after the article's publication. The Pentagon had previously declined to comment on the issue and withheld information about the SGEs' status for days, including after speculation on social media.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration fires Cathy Harris from Merit Systems Protection Board — Cathy Harris was fired from her position at the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), a federal agency statutorily dedicated to protecting merit-based hiring and preventing partisan personnel actions. Following the Supreme Court's Trump v. Slaughter decision, the Court denied review of Harris's case. Harris warned that the ruling enables the White House to interfere with agency independence and return the civil service to a patronage system vulnerable to corruption and manipulation.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration secretly influences Merit Systems Protection Board ruling on presidential power — In June 2026, the New York Times reported that the Trump administration secretly swayed the Merit Systems Protection Board to rule in its favor on a constitutional argument regarding presidential power—a position that contradicts the agency's statutory mission to protect merit-based civil service from partisan interference. The report illustrates how the removal ruling enables direct White House interference in agency decisions without transparency or adversarial process.

Supporting reports

• Trump signs executive order stripping job protections from 8,000 federal workers — Donald Trump signed an executive order making it easier to fire approximately 8,000 senior federal workers earning up to $200,000 annually who are deemed to be "influencing" government policy. The order strips civil service job protections from this group, allowing removal "at will" without traditional due process safeguards. OPM Director Scott Kupor stated the administration needs employees willing to carry out orders aligned with policy priorities. Labor unions and civil rights groups characterized the move as a return to 19th-century spoils system practices and a threat to merit-based government.
• Trump signs executive order stripping civil service protections — President Trump signed an executive order stripping nearly 10,000 career civil service workers of their protected status, making it possible for the president to fire them at will. This move was introduced late in Trump's first term but rescinded under President Joe Biden. It was a key part of Project 2025.
• White House issued fact sheet on federal workforce reclassification into Schedule Policy/Career — The White House published a fact sheet on June 3, 2026, describing an executive order signed by President Trump that reclassifies approximately 8,000 senior federal policy-influencing positions into Schedule Policy/Career status. The fact sheet states these positions become at-will, allowing removal for poor performance, misconduct, corruption, or "subversion of Presidential directives" without lengthy procedural protections. The document claims 97% of affected positions are GS-15 or Senior Level roles, including directors, deputy directors, chiefs of staff, and policy analysts. The fact sheet asserts this addresses a "broken system" where federal employees allegedly ignore presidential orders based on policy disagreement.
• White House signed Executive Order 14410 placing policy-influencing federal positions in Schedule Policy/Career of the excepted service, removing adverse action protections. — The White House issued Executive Order 14410 on June 3, 2026, amending civil service rules to transfer senior policy-influencing positions into Schedule Policy/Career, a new excepted-service classification. The order exempts these positions from adverse action procedures that normally protect federal employees from removal, stating the change enhances accountability. The order directs agencies to notify affected employees within 7 days and directs OPM to create a Presidential award program for Schedule Policy/Career employees. An appendix lists specific positions to be transferred, though the appendix text is not provided in the source.
• Trump issued executive order placing policy-influencing federal positions in Schedule Policy/Career excepted service, removing adverse action protections. — President Trump signed an executive order on June 3, 2026, implementing Schedule Policy/Career in the excepted service. The order transfers senior policy-influencing positions from the competitive civil service into a new excepted service category, exempting them from standard adverse action procedures that normally protect federal employees from removal. The order amends civil service rules, directs agencies to notify affected employees within 7 days, and establishes performance award pools for Schedule Policy/Career employees. The stated purpose is to enhance presidential accountability by enabling removal of policy-influencing staff for poor performance or misconduct without the procedural protections that apply to competitive service employees.

Supporting reports

• OMB proposes rule placing federal research grants under political appointee control — On May 29, 2026, OMB Director Russ Vought proposed a rule that would place all federal research and discretionary grants under the control of political appointees rather than scientific experts. The rule would prohibit grants that "promote anti-American values" and require awards to "demonstrably advance the president's policy priorities." Stand Up for Science estimates nearly half of approximately 10,000 NIH-funded clinical trials could be discontinued, including over 1,000 cancer trials, pediatric studies, and trials addressing veterans' health, suicide, heart disease, and diabetes. The public comment period closes July 13, 2026.
• Trump administration proposed merit-based federal research grant system be replaced with political appointee approval — On May 29, 2026, the Trump administration proposed dramatic changes to federal research grant awards. Rather than continuing the merit-based system established through rigorous peer review, grants would be awarded based on approval by political appointees. The Office of Management and Budget, directed by Christian nationalist Russell Vought, would control grant allocation. The proposal limits foreign collaboration and allows the OMB to revoke grants deemed to fail "program goals, Federal agency priorities, or the national interest."
• Russell Vought proposes political control over research grants — Russell Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget and co-author of Project 2025, proposed on May 28 that political appointees in his office should have final say over research grants, including those for the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and other governmental science agencies. The proposal aims to root out what it characterizes as a "woke" policy agenda and would also require approval by political appointees for international research collaboration.

Supporting reports

• DOJ fires veteran civil rights prosecutor; releases report criticizing anti-abortion prosecution efforts — The justice department fired a veteran civil rights prosecutor who oversaw a criminal case against anti-abortion protesters. The department also released a widely criticized report on efforts to prosecute anti-abortion protesters, signaling a shift away from enforcement against anti-abortion violence and toward protection of anti-abortion activists.

Supporting reports

• Harmeet Dhillon confirmed as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights; dismantles civil rights enforcement — Harmeet Dhillon was confirmed by the Senate in a 52-45 vote in April 2025 as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. Within two weeks, she issued new mission statements abandoning core civil rights laws (Voting Rights Act, Fair Housing Act) in favor of preventing voter fraud, anti-transgender issues, and preventing discrimination against white people. She involuntarily reassigned career lawyers with decades of experience, triggering an exodus of over 100 attorneys. The division has dropped dozens of anti-discrimination cases and reoriented enforcement away from minorities toward white Americans, leaving the division a "shadow of its former self."
• Dhillon served as co-chair of Lawyers for Trump; promoted false 2020 election claims — Before joining the DOJ, Harmeet Dhillon served as co-chair of Lawyers for Trump in 2020, a position from which she worked on lawsuits contesting the 2020 election results and frequently appeared on television promoting the false claim that the election was stolen. During one appearance on Lou Dobbs Tonight on Fox Business, she suggested Trump's Supreme Court appointees would save the election for him, stating "We're waiting for the United States supreme court which the president has nominated three justices to step in and do something and, hopefully, Amy Coney Barrett will come through and pick it up."
• Dhillon's firm defended Trump against 14th Amendment ballot disqualification effort — Before joining the DOJ, Dhillon's law firm successfully defended Trump against an effort to use a novel interpretation of the 14th Amendment to disqualify him from the 2024 presidential ballot. The firm also defended Trump and several close aides in litigation related to the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. David Warrington, who now serves as White House counsel, was a managing partner at the firm.

Supporting reports

• Trump signed Executive Order 14395 establishing Task Force to Eliminate Fraud in federal benefit programs — President Trump signed Executive Order 14395 on March 16, 2026, establishing a Task Force to Eliminate Fraud within the Executive Office of the President. The order, published in the Federal Register on March 19, 2026, directs the Vice President to chair the task force and coordinates representatives from twelve federal agencies to combat fraud, waste, and abuse in federal benefit programs. The task force is authorized to develop eligibility verification measures, establish fraud-prevention controls, disrupt fraud networks, and coordinate information-sharing between federal and state authorities. The order mandates agencies submit fraud-prevention plans within 90 days and directs the Attorney General to promote private civil actions under the False Claims Act.
• Trump issues executive order establishing Task Force to Eliminate Fraud — President Trump signed an executive order on March 16, 2026, establishing a Task Force to Eliminate Fraud within the Executive Office of the President. The Vice President chairs the task force, with the FTC Chairman as Vice Chair. The order directs the task force to coordinate a national strategy to combat fraud, waste, and abuse in federal benefit programs administered by states, including Medicaid, SNAP, and childcare assistance. The order mandates agencies to improve eligibility verification, implement anti-fraud controls, and share data with federal authorities within 30–90 days.
• White House issues fact sheet on Task Force to Eliminate Fraud executive order — The White House published a fact sheet on March 16, 2026, describing an executive order signed by President Trump establishing the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud. The order creates a task force chaired by the Vice President to coordinate government-wide efforts to combat fraud, waste, and abuse in federal benefit programs including housing, food, medical care, and cash assistance. The fact sheet states the task force will improve eligibility verification, implement pre-payment controls, detect fraud trends, and develop minimum anti-fraud requirements including proof of identity and documentation standards.
• White House signed Executive Order 14395 establishing Task Force to Eliminate Fraud — President Trump signed Executive Order 14395 on March 16, 2026, establishing a Task Force to Eliminate Fraud within the Executive Office of the President. The order directs the Vice President to chair the task force, with the FTC Chairman as Vice Chairman. The task force is tasked with coordinating a national strategy to combat fraud, waste, and abuse in federal benefit programs, including Medicaid, food stamps, and childcare assistance. The order directs member agencies to identify fraud-susceptible transactions within 30 days, adopt minimum anti-fraud requirements within 60 days, and submit implementation plans within 90 days. The order also directs the Attorney General to promote private civil actions under the False Claims Act concerning benefits fraud.

Supporting reports

• Utah Governor Spencer Cox signs bill expanding state supreme court from five to seven justices — In late January 2026, Utah's Republican-controlled legislature passed legislation adding two seats to the state's supreme court. Governor Spencer Cox quickly signed the bill into law, expanding the court from five to seven justices. Critics argue the move amounts to court-packing aimed at blunting the impact of judicial rulings related to Proposition 4, the anti-gerrymandering law.

Supporting reports

• Secretary Noem contradicted by ICE and CBP on domestic terrorism designation — During Senate hearings, Border Patrol Commissioner Rodney Scott and ICE Director Lyons both denied that they had provided Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem with an assessment that Alex Pretti was engaged in domestic terrorism. However, Noem had repeatedly stated publicly that she only referred to Pretti as a domestic terrorist because that is what ICE and CBP told her. The contradiction suggests Noem may have misrepresented the basis for her characterization.
• Sen. Gary Peters questioned whether Noem was told Pretti was domestic terrorist — Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) asked Border Patrol Commissioner Rodney Scott and ICE Director Lyons whether they had provided Secretary Noem with an assessment that Alex Pretti was engaged in domestic terrorism. Both officials answered no. Peters then asked how Noem could possibly have come to that conclusion to tell the American public, and Scott responded that he could not speculate on what someone else would say or why.
• Wall Street Journal reports chaos at DHS under Noem and Lewandowski — Wall Street Journal reporters Michelle Hackman, Josh Dawsey, and Tarini Parti published an investigation describing the Department of Homeland Security as in chaos under Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and her advisor Corey Lewandowski. The reporters documented that Noem and Lewandowski are using DHS for personal aggrandizement with an eye to elevating Noem to the presidency, including focus on image, firing or demoting 80% of career field leadership, apparent steering of contracts to allies, and excessive demands including a luxury 737 MAX jet for their travel. DHS is currently leasing the $70 million plane and is in the process of buying it.
• Kristi Noem and Corey Lewandowski misused DHS resources for personal and political purposes — Wall Street Journal reporting revealed that DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and her adviser Corey Lewandowski used departmental resources for personal and political benefit, including using a luxury 737 MAX jet (being acquired for approximately $70 million) for travel, firing a U.S. Coast Guard pilot over a blanket left on a plane, and attempting to obtain law-enforcement badges and guns for political appointees without proper training. The reporting also documented their public denial of an alleged affair while showing little effort to hide their relationship within the department.
• Coast Guard pilot fired over Kristi Noem's blanket, later reinstated — According to a Wall Street Journal report, a U.S. Coast Guard pilot was fired by Corey Lewandowski, described as Kristi Noem's close adviser, after Noem's personal blanket was left behind on a plane. The pilot was later reinstated because no one else was available to fly the leadership home. The incident reflects broader politicization and culture of intimidation within the Department of Homeland Security.
• DHS pushes for political appointees to receive federal badges and weapons — According to a Wall Street Journal report, Kristi Noem's close adviser Corey Lewandowski pushed for political appointees to receive federal badges and weapons. The moves alarmed career officials and deepened concerns about the politicization of law enforcement within the Department of Homeland Security.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration strips civil service protections — The Office of Personnel Management issued a final rule to remove civil service protections from approximately 50,000 federal employees, allowing the administration to replace nonpartisan civil servants with loyalists. This move reverses a long-standing nonpartisan civil service established in 1883.
• Trump administration removed job protections for approximately 50,000 federal workers — The Trump administration moved to remove job protections for approximately 50,000 federal workers by creating a new employment category called "Schedule Policy/Career," shifting whistleblower handling away from the independent Office of Special Counsel toward internal agency processes. The Office of Personnel Management framed the change as "accountability," but the rule raises questions about whether professional government can remain professional if continued employment depends more directly on alignment with leadership than on neutral expertise.
• Federal employment protections eliminated for 50,000 workers — The Trump administration finalized rules removing job protections for up to 50,000 federal workers by shifting them into a new "Schedule Policy/Career" employment category. The change redirects whistleblower complaints away from independent oversight mechanisms toward internal agency processes, reducing external accountability for federal employees.

Supporting reports

• Trump announced deployment of Tom Homan to Minnesota and alleged welfare fraud scheme — Trump announced he was sending Tom Homan to Minnesota, claiming a massive welfare fraud scheme of more than $20 billion and absurdly suggesting it was responsible for "violent, organized protests." Trump also attacked Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, questioning her legitimacy and spreading lies about her wealth. JD Vance reposted the message, amplifying the lies.
• Trump announced deployment of Tom Homan to Minnesota as special envoy — President Trump posted that he was sending Tom Homan, the former ICE director, to Minnesota to serve as a special envoy who would "report directly" to him. Trump stated Homan was "tough but fair" and would work on the situation in Minneapolis. Trump also announced a "major investigation" into alleged welfare fraud in Minnesota, claiming it was "at least partially responsible for the violent organized protests going on in the streets." This move came after internal reports that Trump was unhappy with DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's handling of the shooting incident.
• Trump claimed agreement with Governor Walz to cooperate on immigration enforcement — Trump posted that Governor Tim Walz called him and that they "seemed to be on a similar wavelength." Trump stated he told Walz that Tom Homan would call him and that the administration was looking for "any and all Criminals that they have in their possession." Trump claimed Walz was "happy that Homan was going to MN." However, Governor Walz's statement was significantly different, stating that Trump agreed to ensure Minnesota's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension could conduct an independent investigation and agreed to "look into" reducing the number of federal agents in Minnesota and working in a more coordinated fashion.
• Trump posted a conciliatory message to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz after days of attacks — After days of escalating rhetoric, lies, and authoritarian posturing against Minnesota and Governor Tim Walz, Trump abruptly shifted tone on Monday, posting that he had a "very respectful" call with Walz and that the two were on a similar wavelength. Trump claimed Walz asked to work together and that he told Walz he would have Tom Homan call him. This reversal came hours after Trump had attacked Minnesota, defamed its leadership, and used Pretti's death as a pretext to threaten the state with more ICE and Border Patrol incursions.
• Governor Tim Walz meets with Tom Homan and reiterates Minnesota priorities — Governor Tim Walz met with Tom Homan and reiterated Minnesota's priorities: impartial investigations into the Minneapolis shootings involving federal agents, a swift and significant reduction in federal forces in Minnesota, and an end to the campaign of retribution against the state. Walz tasked the Minnesota Department of Public Safety as the primary liaison to Homan to ensure these goals are met. Both agreed on the need for ongoing dialogue.
• Tom Homan assumes operational role in Minnesota immigration enforcement — Tom Homan is taking over operational decisions and media presence for immigration enforcement in Minnesota, replacing Bovino. According to sources, Homan plans to emphasize more targeted enforcement efforts with fewer confrontational tactics than Bovino's roving squads. The move is framed as Trump seeking a "peace-with-honor withdrawal" that does not appear as a loss driven by botched law enforcement.

Supporting reports

• Stephen Miller accused Democrats of siding with terrorists — White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller responded to the Democratic Party's social media post calling for ICE to leave Minneapolis by characterizing the Democrats as siding with "terrorists" and describing Pretti as a "would-be assassin" attempting to murder federal law enforcement. Miller continued this framing in responses to Senator Chris Murphy and Senator Amy Klobuchar, labeling those opposing ICE operations as supporters of "domestic terrorists" and "insurrection."
• Kristi Noem and Stephen Miller falsely label shooting victim a "domestic terrorist" — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller publicly labeled Alex Pretti, the ICU nurse killed by Border Patrol agents, a "domestic terrorist" and spread false claims that he was holding a gun and attempting to assassinate law enforcement. The false characterization occurred hours after the fatal shooting.
• Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem characterized Pretti as having committed "domestic terrorism" and repeated false claims about his actions. — DHS Secretary Kristi Noem held a press conference repeating talking points used after the killing of Renee Good by an ICE officer. She stated Pretti "committed domestic terrorism" and claimed "this looks like a situation where an individual arrived at the scene to inflict maximum damage on individuals and to kill law enforcement." She also asserted Pretti "came to that scene and impeded a law enforcement operation which is against federal law" and "became aggressive and resisted them throughout that process." Later, when asked if deadly force was protocol after disarmament, she stated "They clearly feared for their lives" without addressing the disarmament or the six shots fired at a motionless body.
• Stephen Miller characterized Pretti as a "would-be assassin" and accused Democrats of siding with "terrorists." — Stephen Miller, a Trump administration official, posted "A would-be assassin tried to murder federal law enforcement and the official Democrat account sides with the terrorists." Miller also responded to Senator Amy Klobuchar's criticism of ICE by stating "A domestic terrorist tried to assassinate federal law enforcement and this is your response? You and the state's entire Democrat leadership team have been flaming the flames of insurrection for the singular purpose of stopping the deportation of illegals who invaded the country."
• Stephen Miller called Alex Pretti a "domestic terrorist" — Stephen Miller, the political architect of the Trump administration's mass deportation policy, called Alex Pretti a "domestic terrorist" in public statements. Pretti was a nurse without a criminal record who was fatally shot by federal agents. Miller also called Pretti an "assassin." These characterizations contradicted video evidence and were later walked back by Deputy AG Todd Blanche.
• Trump administration officials falsely characterized Alex Pretti as a domestic terrorist — Trump administration officials, including Stephen Miller and senior Department of Homeland Security officials, initially smeared Alex Pretti as a domestic terrorist who intended to massacre law enforcement. JD Vance retweeted messages containing these claims. The narrative was later contradicted by video evidence showing Pretti was lawfully armed and attempting to help an assaulted woman.
• Stephen Miller claimed Alex Pretti was a terrorist — Stephen Miller, a Trump administration official, immediately claimed that Alex Pretti, the protester killed by ICE, had been a terrorist intent on massacring ICE agents, despite video evidence showing Pretti was unarmed at the moment of shooting and had been disarmed by officers before being shot.
• Internal Trump administration conflict over responsibility for labeling murder victim as domestic terrorist — Axios reported that internal Trump administration figures are attempting to assign blame for labeling Alex Pretti as a domestic terrorist rather than treating the killing as a potential homicide. The report cites four administration sources stating that Stephen Miller dictated language to Kristi Noem characterizing Pretti as wanting to "massacre" federal agents. The conflict reflects palace intrigue over accountability for the controversial operation.

Supporting reports

• DOJ social media account insulted reporter over Epstein files — The Department of Justice's official social media account responded to reporter Jamie Dupree's question about why the DOJ released documents it now claims are fabricated by calling him a "dope" and mocking critics who accused the department of breaking the law. The exchanges were described as unprofessional and unprecedented in prior administrations.

Supporting reports

• White House takes control of Justice Department X account — The White House took over the X account of the Justice Department on December 23. On the same day, that account posted a message claiming that accusations in the Epstein files are "unfounded and false."
• Trump White House assumed control of DOJ social media accounts — Following bizarre exchanges on the DOJ's official social media account, reporting from Axios revealed that the Trump White House has assumed direct control over the Department of Justice's social media accounts. The article notes this explains the unprofessional tone of the exchanges and raises concerns about the politicization of the Justice Department.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration fired two federal prosecutors who opposed charges against Letitia James — CBS News reported that the Trump administration fired two federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of Virginia last week who opposed bringing criminal charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James. The firings appeared to be retaliation for the prosecutors' professional judgment that the case lacked sufficient evidence.

Supporting reports

• National Nuclear Security Administration furloughs 80% of workforce during government shutdown — The National Nuclear Security Administration announced it will furlough approximately 1,400 employees (80% of its workforce) starting Monday, October 20, 2025, due to exhausted carryover funding during the ongoing federal government shutdown. Only 375 essential staff will remain to handle critical safety operations including nuclear material monitoring, equipment maintenance, and reactor safety. The shutdown has now become the longest complete government-wide funding lapse in U.S. history, surpassing the 16-day 2013 shutdown. Most scientific research, stockpile maintenance, and global security programs will be suspended.
• Trump administration assembled interagency task force to purge the "Deep State" — Reuters reported that the Trump administration has assembled a wide-ranging interagency task force to carry out the president's directive to purge the so-called "Deep State." The group includes officials from the FCC, the FBI, the IRS, and other agencies. The task force represents a systematic effort to remove career civil servants and replace them with loyalists.
• Trump administration furloughed vast majority of civilian staff at National Nuclear Security Administration — The Trump administration sent furlough notices to the vast majority of civilian staff at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), which is responsible for helping manage the country's nuclear weapons stockpile. The furloughs raised serious concerns about the continuity and security of nuclear weapons management during a period of heightened international tensions.
• Trump administration furloughed nuclear weapons stockpile management staff — The Trump administration sent furlough notices to the vast majority of staff at the agency responsible for managing the nation's nuclear weapons stockpile. Of approximately 1,775 total staff, 1,400 were furloughed, with only 375 retained for exempted work. The action occurred during the ongoing government shutdown.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration closes DHS civil rights division and immigration detention ombudsman office — The Trump administration closed the civil rights division of the Department of Homeland Security and the ombudsman office overseeing immigration detention, characterizing staff in these congressionally mandated divisions as "internal adversaries that slow down operations." These divisions previously employed staff tasked with regularly visiting detention centers, investigating complaints, and preparing reports for Congress. The closure eliminates institutional oversight mechanisms available to detainees facing discrimination, neglect, and abuse.

Supporting reports

• Judge Susan Illston grants temporary restraining order blocking Trump's mass layoffs during government shutdown — On Wednesday (October 15, 2025), Judge Susan Illston of the US District Court's Northern District of California granted a temporary restraining order blocking Trump's latest mass layoffs from the government shutdown. The order represents a significant legal victory for unions battling the administration's workforce reduction efforts.
• Federal court rules Trump's federal worker layoffs during shutdown illegal — A federal court in San Francisco ruled that Trump's layoffs of federal workers during the government shutdown were illegal. The ruling represented a judicial check on executive action during the shutdown.
• Federal judge temporarily blocked firing of federal employees during shutdown — A federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration from firing federal employees during the government shutdown, saying the move appeared to be politically motivated and adding, "It's a human cost that cannot be tolerated."
• Federal judge issues temporary injunction blocking federal worker layoffs — A federal judge on October 16, 2025, issued a temporary injunction blocking the Trump administration's layoffs of more than 4,000 federal workers. The injunction halted the firings, though the administration signaled that additional cuts were planned and that the current layoffs represented only a partial reduction in the workforce.
• Judge Illston grants temporary injunction blocking Trump administration federal employee firings during shutdown — Federal Judge Susan Illston of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued a temporary restraining order blocking the Trump administration's mass firings of federal employees during the government shutdown. The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by labor unions (AFGE and AFSCME) alleging that the Office of Management and Budget and Office of Personnel Management violated law by threatening and executing reductions in force during the shutdown. Judge Illston found evidence that OMB and OPM "took advantage of the lapse in government spending" and acted "arbitrarily and capriciously" in excess of authority.
• Trump administration lays off 4,000 federal workers; federal judge issues temporary injunction — The Trump administration laid off more than 4,000 federal government workers during the shutdown. On October 16, 2025, a federal judge issued a temporary injunction blocking the firings. The Office of Management and Budget director, Russ Vought, stated that the 4,000 layoffs were merely a "snapshot" and that the total number could exceed 10,000. The administration indicated further cuts were expected.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration withheld over $27 billion in funds from Democratic districts during government shutdown — During the government shutdown, Trump told reporters his administration was using the shutdown to withhold funds Congress appropriated from Democratic districts. The New York Times estimated the administration cancelled more than $27.24 billion in funds for Democratic districts and states while cutting only $738.7 million from Republican districts and states. Speaker Johnson said such withholding was lawful and constitutional but did not explain his reasoning. Republican representatives, including Senator Susan Collins (chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee), reported they were not consulted about the cuts.
• Trump claims administration is selectively closing Democratic programs — President Trump told reporters that the administration is deliberately closing government programs it disagrees with, framing the cuts as targeting Democratic priorities. Trump stated: "We're not closing up Republican programs because we think they work. So the Democrats are getting killed, but they're not telling the people about that…. So we are closing up Democrat programs that we think that we disagree with, and they're never going to open again."

Supporting reports

• Trump administration begins new round of federal employee layoffs during shutdown — The Trump administration began a new round of federal employee layoffs to pressure Democrats to end the government shutdown. Trump told reporters they were laying off "people that the Democrats want." Legal analysts stated such layoffs are illegal. Labor unions sued preemptively to prevent the layoffs after Office of Management and Budget director Russell Vought threatened to use the shutdown to slash more of the government.
• White House orders layoffs of 4,000+ federal workers during shutdown — On October 10, 2025 (the 10th day of the shutdown), Russ Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget, carried out threatened layoffs of more than 4,000 federal workers across multiple agencies. The budget office stated the funding situation was "fluid and rapidly evolving." Democrats condemned the action as deliberate harm to workers who "protect our country, inspect our food, respond when disasters strike." Legal challenges are expected.

Supporting reports

• DHS reassigned hundreds of national security specialists — Bloomberg reported that the DHS reassigned hundreds of national security specialists, including cyber personnel, to work on efforts related to the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. Employees who refuse their mandatory reassignment could lose their jobs.
• Nearly one-quarter of FBI agents reassigned to immigration enforcement — The Washington Post reported that nearly one out of every four FBI agents has been reassigned from their duties to work on immigration enforcement, which includes upward of 40% of the country's largest field offices staff, according to FBI data obtained by Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.).
• Trump administration redirects 45% of FBI agents in major field offices to immigration enforcement — The Trump administration has reassigned approximately 45% of FBI agents in the country's 25 largest field offices to support Department of Homeland Security immigration enforcement operations, according to personnel data obtained by Senator Mark Warner. Across all FBI offices, 23% of roughly 13,000 total agents are now working on immigration matters, diverted from counterterrorism, cybercrime, drug trafficking, espionage, violent crime, and counterintelligence work. The redirection has raised concerns among former agents and experts about national security gaps and potential for abuse during immigration raids.

Supporting reports

• DOJ fired career prosecutors investigating Trump — The Department of Justice, under Attorney General Pam Bondi, fired dozens of career prosecutors who worked on cases investigating the former president. Bondi refused to answer questions about whether she was firing career professionals specifically because they worked on January 6 investigations or other Trump-related cases.
• Democratic senators denied access to ICE detention facility in Illinois — U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth visited an ICE facility in Broadview, Illinois on Friday, requesting a tour and attempting to deliver supplies to protesters, but were barred from entering. Both senators invoked their congressional oversight authority and expressed concern about undisclosed conditions inside the facility. Durbin stated he had never experienced such "stonewalling" from a presidential administration in his tenure.

Supporting reports

• White House OMB argues furloughed federal workers not entitled to back pay under GEFTA — The White House Office of Management and Budget issued a draft memo arguing that the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act (GEFTA) of 2019 does not automatically guarantee back pay to furloughed federal workers during the ongoing government shutdown. OMB General Counsel Mark Paoletta stated that Congress must include express appropriations language for back pay in legislation ending the shutdown. The OMB previously removed references to GEFTA from shutdown guidance. An estimated 750,000 federal workers have been furloughed as of the shutdown's seventh day.
• White House OMB memo argues federal workers not entitled to back pay — On Tuesday, the White House Office of Management and Budget released a memo contending that federal workers are not entitled to back pay during the shutdown, contradicting a 2019 law that mandates such compensation. House Speaker Mike Johnson subsequently stated at a press conference that he believes federal employees should receive back pay, citing statutory law. The memo represents an attempt to reduce pressure on Republicans to end the shutdown quickly.
• White House threatens federal workforce layoffs during shutdown — White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that if the shutdown continued, the Trump administration would lay off federal employees, despite federal law entitling them to back pay. She also warned that a food assistance program for low-income mothers and children would exhaust its funding. Director of OMB Russ Vought had already cancelled funding for energy and transportation projects in Democratic-governed states.
• Administration announces continuation of illegal cuts during government shutdown — On October 1, 2025, as the government shutdown began, Office of Management and Budget director Russell Vought announced plans to use the shutdown to implement $26 billion in cuts to infrastructure and climate projects in Democratic-led states, as well as to lay off federal employees instead of furloughing them. This action is part of a broader strategy to impose significant cuts to government programs.
• OMB floats denial of back pay guarantee for furloughed federal workers — The Office of Management and Budget issued a memo suggesting that federal workers furloughed during a government shutdown are not guaranteed back pay when the shutdown ends, departing from the administration's own guidance issued the previous month. This reverses the 2019 law that President Trump himself signed to guarantee such pay. Administration officials told media outlets the memo is intended to give Republicans leverage in shutdown negotiations with Democrats. OMB director Russell Vought had previously threatened mass firings if Democrats refused the Republican continuing resolution.
• Trump suggested not all furloughed employees deserve back pay — Speaking to reporters alongside Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Trump suggested that not all furloughed federal employees should receive back pay following the government shutdown. He noted, "It depends on who we're talking about," and added, "We're going to take care of our people. There are some people that really don't deserve to be taken care of, and we'll take care of them in a different way."
• OMB revised guidance removing back pay guarantee — Government Executive reported that the Office of Management and Budget quietly revised a guidance document last week to remove references to a law passed during Trump's first term, guaranteeing all federal workers back pay following a government shutdown.
• Trump signals furloughed federal workers may not receive back pay — During a White House event, President Trump stated that some furloughed federal workers may not receive customary back pay when the government reopens, saying "there are some people that don't deserve to be taken care of" and that back pay "depends on who we're talking about." This breaks with historical precedent and creates uncertainty for unpaid workers already under financial strain.

Supporting reports

• Department of Education employees' email accounts manipulated with partisan talking points — NBC News reported that Department of Education employees who were furloughed discovered their email out-of-office messages had been altered to include partisan talking points blaming Democrats for the government shutdown. Five civil servants provided copies of their manipulated messages, which had been rewritten in the first person without their consent. Employees stated the alterations violated the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from engaging in partisan political activity.
• Department of Education changed furloughed employees' out-of-office messages to blame Democrats — During the government shutdown, the Department of Education changed automated out-of-office email replies for furloughed employees from generic messages to ones blaming Democrats for the shutdown. When employees changed the messages back to neutral language, the Department changed them again to blame Democrats. This represents use of government communications infrastructure to advance partisan messaging during a shutdown.