Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Polymarket promoted false vaccine injection claim on X — On August 10, Polymarket's official X account posted a graphic falsely claiming U.S. babies receive 72 injections, attributing this to Trump policy. Fact-checkers including PolitiFact, FactCheck.org, STAT News, and CNN determined the claim false; babies actually receive 12–30 shots by age two depending on vaccine combinations. The White House had previously posted the same false graphic in January 2026. Polymarket did not respond to requests for comment.
• New York Times documented hundreds of false Polymarket posts — In a March 2026 review, the New York Times identified hundreds of posts on Polymarket's social media accounts (which have millions of combined followers) containing false or misleading information. The review documented a pattern of misinformation, frequently targeting opponents of the Trump administration. Polymarket is connected to Trump through Donald Trump Jr., who has invested in the company and serves as an unpaid advisor.
• Polymarket falsely attributed quote to Jeff Bezos — In January 2026, Polymarket posted on X that Amazon founder Jeff Bezos advised young people to work at McDonald's or Palantir before starting their own companies. Bezos replied directly, stating "Nope. Not sure why [P]olymarket made this up." The claim distorted an earlier interview answer in which Bezos advised working at "best-practices companies" to learn fundamentals; he did not mention McDonald's or Palantir.
• Polymarket posted false claim about Ilhan Omar's net worth — In December 2025, Polymarket posted conspiracy theories about how Congresswoman Ilhan Omar's net worth increased since 2019, without disclosing that her net worth now includes assets of her husband, whom she married in 2020. The omission was material to understanding the increase and fueled unfounded speculation about financial impropriety.

Supporting reports

• Trump signs executive order redefining U.S. childhood vaccine recommendations and directing legal challenges to state vaccine mandates. — President Trump signed Executive Order 14420 establishing "Gold Standard Childhood Vaccine Recommendations" aligned with peer nations' practices, reducing the number of recommended vaccines and doses. The order directs the Attorney General to challenge state vaccine-mandate laws on constitutional grounds (parental authority, religious freedom, disability accommodations, equal protection) and instructs federal agencies to ensure contractors and grantees comply with religious and medical exemptions. It also establishes an HHS Task Force to develop single-dose vaccine alternatives and reassess vaccine safety and timing.
• Trump signs executive order restructuring childhood vaccination schedule — Donald Trump signed an executive order directing sweeping changes to the CDC childhood vaccination schedule, including breaking the MMR vaccine into three separate shots, reducing recommended vaccines from 18 to 11 diseases, and moving several vaccines to "shared clinical decision-making." The order bypasses the CDC—the federal agency tasked with vaccine recommendations—and attempts to reinstate changes halted by a federal judge in March for violating federal law. Trump and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. repeatedly invoked an unproven autism-vaccine link during the signing.
• Trump issued executive order mandating split MMR vaccine and separate childhood immunizations — Trump signed an executive order requiring the combined MMR vaccine to be administered as three separate single-disease shots and mandating that childhood immunizations be given at separate medical visits, once domestically available. The order reflects a decades-long personal belief that vaccines cause autism, a claim contradicted by scientific evidence. Sen. Bill Cassidy, a physician who confirmed RFK Jr. as health secretary, publicly opposed the order, stating vaccines are safe, effective, and do not cause autism, and that splitting vaccines will increase hesitancy and make children less safe.
• Trump issues executive order realigning U.S. childhood vaccine recommendations with peer-developed-nation standards — President Trump signed an executive order on August 10, 2026, directing the Department of Health and Human Services to implement "Gold Standard Childhood Vaccine Recommendations" aligned with practices in peer developed countries. The order identifies three vaccine categories (universal, high-risk, and shared clinical decision-making), directs HHS to develop single-dose vaccine alternatives to combination products, and instructs the Attorney General to challenge state vaccine mandate laws on constitutional grounds. The order emphasizes parental choice and religious exemptions while maintaining vaccine availability.
• Trump signed Executive Order 14420 establishing "Gold Standard Childhood Vaccine Recommendations" and directing federal agencies to challenge state vaccine mandate laws. — President Trump signed Executive Order 14420 on August 10, 2026, declaring a new set of "Gold Standard Childhood Vaccine Recommendations" based on a HHS scientific assessment. The order categorizes vaccines into three tiers: those recommended for all children (measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Haemophilus influenzae type B, pneumococcal disease, HPV, varicella); those for high-risk groups; and those based on shared clinical decision-making. The order directs the Attorney General to challenge state vaccine mandate laws and directs federal agencies to ensure contractors comply with parental choice and religious exemption obligations. It also establishes an HHS Task Force on Safer Childhood Vaccines to develop single-dose vaccine options and reassess vaccine schedules.
• White House issued fact sheet on executive order revising childhood vaccine recommendations — The White House published a fact sheet on August 10, 2026, describing an executive order signed by President Trump that revises U.S. childhood vaccine recommendations. The order reduces recommended routine childhood vaccines from 18 diseases to 11, recommends separating the combined MMR vaccine into three single-disease shots, and advises spacing vaccines across separate medical visits. The order directs HHS to present plans for vaccine research and directs federal agencies to advance the new recommendations. States with school vaccine requirements are advised to consider updating their laws accordingly.
• Trump issues executive order on vaccines attempting to reinstate vaccine schedule changes — Donald Trump issued an executive order attempting to reinstate sweeping changes to the US vaccine schedule previously made by Robert F Kennedy Jr, the health secretary, which had been halted by a federal judge. The order cannot change CDC recommendations or federal law, but experts warn it creates confusion and undermines public trust in vaccines. The order invokes religious freedom, potentially pressuring states to reduce vaccination mandates for school attendance.
• Trump issues executive order on childhood vaccine schedule — On Monday, Trump issued an executive order directing states to revise their recommendations on childhood vaccinations. The order calls for separating the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine into three single-disease shots administered at separate appointments, despite such separate vaccinations not being available in the United States. Trump falsely claimed the vaccines could be "quite lethal" in combination, contradicting scientific evidence of the MMR vaccine's safety and effectiveness. Separating vaccines would require multiple doctor visits, reducing vaccination rates among poor families and leaving communities more vulnerable to disease.

Supporting reports

• FDA proposes mandatory notification system for food ingredients under GRAS pathway — The FDA submitted a proposed rule to the Federal Register on Monday requiring food manufacturers to notify the agency of all ingredients brought to market under the Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) pathway, closing a regulatory loophole that has allowed companies to use ingredients without formal FDA review since 1958. The Trump administration simultaneously delayed its promised definition of "ultra-processed foods," saying additional details would be shared later. Legal experts question whether the FDA has authority to mandate rather than merely request such notifications.

Supporting reports

• Senate confirms Erica Schwartz as CDC director in 51-44 vote — The U.S. Senate confirmed Dr. Erica Schwartz as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in a 51-44 vote largely along party lines, with Democrat Tim Kaine as the sole Democratic supporter. Schwartz, Trump's third CDC nominee, is a navy veteran and former deputy surgeon general. She replaces Susan Monarez, who was fired by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. last year over vaccine policy disagreements. At her confirmation hearing, Schwartz pledged to "never betray the science" regarding vaccines amid concerns about Kennedy's vaccine hesitancy.

Supporting reports

• RFK Jr calls for measles vaccination while continuing to spread vaccine misinformation — Robert F Kennedy Jr, US health secretary and longtime vaccination skeptic, told CNN's State of the Union on Sunday that parents should vaccinate children against measles as cases surged to 2,371 in 2026—the highest in 35 years. Despite this call, Kennedy claimed vaccines are a "personal choice," blamed religious communities and global conditions for outbreaks, denied responsibility for the surge, and spread further misinformation about RSV, Lyme disease, and autism links. He became combative with the interviewer, using personal attacks and condescension.

Supporting reports

• Fauci invokes Fifth Amendment and refuses to testify at Senate Covid hearing — Dr. Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and declined to answer questions at a Senate committee hearing on Covid-19 origins called by Kentucky Senator Rand Paul. Fauci stated Paul's goal was to embarrass, intimidate, and land him "behind bars." Paul responded by threatening a contempt vote and removing one of Fauci's attorneys from the room. The hearing became contentious, with Republican senators demanding apologies and attacking Fauci's credibility while Democrats defended him as a victim of harassment.
• Rand Paul announces intent to pursue contempt of Congress vote against Fauci — Following Fauci's invocation of the Fifth Amendment during the Senate hearing, Senator Rand Paul told reporters he intends to call a vote for contempt of Congress the following week in the committee on homeland security and governmental affairs. Paul stated there would be "repercussions" for Fauci's refusal to testify. Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri joined in, asserting Fauci has no Fifth Amendment rights in this context and accused him of contempt for Congress and the American people.
• Rand Paul chairs Senate hearing on Covid origins; Fauci invokes Fifth Amendment and declines testimony — Dr. Anthony Fauci appeared before a Republican-led Senate committee hearing chaired by Senator Rand Paul, ostensibly to investigate Covid-19 origins. Fauci, citing his attorneys' advice and invoking the Fifth Amendment, declined to answer questions throughout the hearing. Paul had asserted that Fauci could bear responsibility for the pandemic due to NIH funding to the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Fauci characterized Paul's investigation as an "unhinged obsession." Paul indicated he intends to call a vote for contempt of Congress the following week.
• Republican senators attack Fauci's pandemic record and scientific credibility — Multiple Republican senators used the hearing to criticize Fauci on various grounds. Senator Ron Johnson accused Fauci of covering up unfavorable vaccine information, calling vaccines "experimental gene therapy." Senator Bernie Moreno demanded Fauci apologize for military vaccine mandates, pandemic business closures, and a mask-enforcement arrest, calling him a "total and complete disgrace." Senator Joni Ernst criticized use of aborted fetal tissue in research. Democratic Senator Gary Peters warned the hearing was scapegoating one official for a crisis involving hundreds of officials across administrations.
• Fauci invokes Fifth Amendment during Senate testimony — Dr. Anthony Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment right during a Senate hearing led by Senator Rand Paul, where he faced aggressive questioning regarding his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fauci stated that he believed the hearing was aimed at vindicating Paul's public claims for his imprisonment, and he refrained from answering questions over 100 times.
• Senator Rand Paul subpoenas Fauci to testify — Senator Rand Paul, now chair of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, subpoenaed Dr. Anthony Fauci to appear before the committee. Fauci's lawyers noted Paul's history of calling for Fauci's imprisonment, which influenced Fauci's decision to invoke his Fifth Amendment rights during the testimony.
• Republicans continue to target Fauci amid political tensions — Republicans, including Senator Rand Paul, have intensified their attacks on Dr. Anthony Fauci, accusing him of lying about the origins of COVID-19 and calling for his arrest. This campaign has been fueled by the release of Fauci's private diary, which Republicans have used to further their narrative against him, despite a lack of evidence of wrongdoing.

Supporting reports

• Trump pressures RFK Jr to accelerate vaccine schedule cuts despite court halt and electoral unpopularity — Donald Trump reportedly pressured Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to make more aggressive cuts to the US childhood vaccination schedule, according to Wall Street Journal reporting. Kennedy had previously reduced routine immunizations from 17 to 11 recommendations in an unprecedented move, but a federal judge halted further changes in March following an American Academy of Pediatrics lawsuit. Trump, citing a desire to make "alleviating autism" part of his legacy, issued a May executive order directing HHS to change vaccine recommendations despite decades of research showing no link between vaccines and autism. The White House had previously paused vaccine changes due to polling showing such moves were electorally damaging.

Supporting reports

• Sen. Bill Cassidy stated CDC vaccine page contains misinformation — Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) stated on CNN that the CDC's vaccine webpage, which states "the claim vaccines do not cause autism is not an evidence-based claim," does not represent a good-faith attempt to stop spreading misinformation. Cassidy had previously pledged support for Dr. Schwartz and cited the CDC's agreement to modify its website as a sign of good faith, but stated the current language fails that standard.

Supporting reports

• GDP growth slowed to 1.5% in Q2, below economist expectations of 2.1%, attributed to Iran war disruptions and elevated energy costs. — The Commerce Department reported Thursday that U.S. GDP grew at an annualized rate of 1.5% in the second quarter, falling short of the 2.1% rate economists had predicted. The slowdown reflects economic strain from the Iran conflict, which has disrupted shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and driven global energy costs higher. U.S. gas prices surged from $2.98 per gallon before the war to over $4 during the quarter. The first quarter had shown 2.1% growth.
• Trump administration campaign to rewrite pandemic history and restrict scientific funding — The article documents a broader Trump administration effort to rewrite the history of the Covid-19 pandemic and restrict scientific research funding. The administration has invoked the "lab leak" theory to criticize past pandemic policies while simultaneously cutting $11.4 billion in state and local health department funding. Disruptions to cancer and Alzheimer's research funding are justified as eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. A proposed rule would place the entire $1 trillion federal grant-making apparatus under control of political appointees, based on trials at the National Institutes of Health in 2025.
• Q2 GDP growth falls to 1.5%, below forecast — Second-quarter GDP growth came in at 1.5%, significantly below the 2.1% estimate. Trump administration officials have continued to promise 4–6% growth, creating a gap between official projections and actual economic performance.
• Treasury bond selloff follows Fed decision to hold rates steady — A selloff in Treasury bonds occurred after the Federal Reserve held interest rates steady for a seventh consecutive month. The bond market reaction suggests investor concern about inflation or economic conditions despite the Fed's decision to maintain current rates.
• U.S. GDP Growth Slows Amid Iran Conflict — The U.S. GDP grew at an annual rate of 1.5% in the second quarter, falling short of the expected 2.1% growth. The Commerce Department attributes the slowdown to the ongoing conflict in Iran, which has disrupted shipping and increased global energy costs. The economic impact is evident in rising gas prices and concerns over future growth.
• US GDP Growth Slows in Q2 2026 — The US GDP grew at an annual rate of 1.5% in the second quarter of 2026, below expectations. The slowdown is attributed to the economic impact of the conflict in the Middle East, which has disrupted shipping and increased energy costs.

Supporting reports

• NIH cancels Harvard professor's $1 million discrimination-health research grant — The National Institutes of Health canceled a nearly $1 million grant held by Harvard School of Public Health professor Nancy Krieger studying how discrimination affects population health. The grant had one year remaining when it was terminated without advance notice. Krieger's cancellation was among the first R-01 grant cancellations under the Trump administration's "department of government efficiency" initiative, which targeted research on gender, race, equity, and related topics deemed "woke" by the administration.

Supporting reports

• Defense Secretary Hegseth announces testosterone deficiency screening program for military personnel — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a new Department of Defense screening program for testosterone deficiency targeting service members aged 30 and older. The program will conduct annual testosterone tests as part of health assessments, with voluntary treatment including testosterone replacement therapy available. Hegseth framed the initiative as supporting "maximum psychological and mental readiness" and "lethality" on the modern battlefield. The announcement did not address the 231,000 women serving as active duty service members.
• Hegseth announced mandatory testosterone screening program for service members — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a new mandatory annual screening program to test all service members age 30 and older, including women, for testosterone deficiency. Hormone treatment for troops with low testosterone will be voluntary. Troops under 30 can volunteer for screening. Hegseth framed the initiative as restoring "natural capability" and maintaining tactical advantage, calling it a "High-T Department of War."
• Pete Hegseth announced testosterone screening program for service members — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced that the Department of Defense will offer testosterone deficiency screenings to service members age 30 and older, with treatment available for those who want it. The Atlantic reported that the program is not medically necessary and has no connection to military readiness, but rather serves to project a particular image of masculinity.

Supporting reports

• Wildfires and smoke create hazardous air quality across North America — More than 800 wildfires in Canada and at least a dozen in northern Minnesota, driven by extreme weather caused by climate change, are producing smoke that exposes Americans from the Midwest to the Northeast to hazardous levels of air pollution. Detroit, Minneapolis, and Chicago rank in the top five most polluted cities in the world. New York City officials are distributing N95-type masks to commuters. More than 115 million people are in the plume of unhealthy to hazardous air quality, with conditions expected to worsen. The Trump administration has dismissed addressing climate change as a "scam."
• Canadian wildfire smoke degraded air quality in Northeast before World Cup final — Smoke from more than 100 uncontrolled fires in Canada blanketed the Northeast and Midwest with unhealthy air quality, occurring just as New Jersey prepared to host the World Cup final outdoors on July 20, 2026. The environmental degradation affects public health and major international sporting events.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration drastically cut endangered species protections — The Trump administration announced a final rule on July 10, 2026, that drastically cut protections for endangered species by opening vulnerable animals' habitats to farming, drilling, mining, and real estate development. Environmentalists characterized the move as the biggest erosion of wildlife protections in half a century. The rule eliminates regulatory barriers to commercial exploitation of critical habitat areas.

Supporting reports

• Trump appoints climate science denier Matthew Wielicki to lead US Global Change Research Program — The Trump administration appointed Matthew Wielicki, a former geochemist who publicly denies established climate science and lacks formal training in climate science, to lead the US Global Change Research Program and oversee the National Climate Assessment. Wielicki has criticized "climate alarmism" online and cast doubt on climate science conclusions. The appointment occurs as the Trump administration has gutted climate research programs, shuttered data-collection offices, and previously shut down the online portal providing access to five editions of the congressionally mandated National Climate Assessment published since 2000.

Supporting reports

• Trump issues proclamation exempting chemical manufacturers from Clean Air Act emissions standards for two years — President Trump issued Proclamation 11041 on July 9, 2026, exempting certain stationary sources subject to the EPA's May 2024 Hazardous Organic Naphtha (HON) Rule from compliance with Clean Air Act section 112 emissions-control requirements for two years beyond the rule's original compliance deadlines. The proclamation invokes national security and chemical manufacturing resilience, claiming the required emissions-control technology is not commercially viable. Affected facilities will revert to pre-HON Rule emissions obligations during the exemption period.
• Trump issued proclamation exempting chemical manufacturers from Clean Air Act emissions standards for two years — President Trump signed a proclamation on July 13, 2026, exempting certain stationary sources in the synthetic organic chemical manufacturing industry from compliance with the EPA's May 2024 Hazardous Organic Emissions (HON) Rule for two years beyond the rule's original compliance deadlines. The proclamation states the exemption applies to section 112 Clean Air Act requirements and claims the technology to comply is not commercially available. The proclamation invokes national security and chemical supply chain resilience as justification.

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• Trump administration discourages antidepressant use — The Trump administration, led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has been actively discouraging the use of antidepressants, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). This campaign aligns with the Church of Scientology's long-standing opposition to psychiatric medications. On May 4, 2026, the Department of Health and Human Services announced initiatives to reduce "psychiatric overprescribing" and promote non-medication treatments. The American Psychiatric Association criticized this approach, arguing it oversimplifies the mental health crisis and ignores barriers to comprehensive care. Kennedy's financial ties to a Scientology-linked law firm further complicate the administration's stance.

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• White House releases 162-page report attacking Smithsonian Institution's historical interpretation — The White House Domestic Policy Council released a 162-page report on July 4, 2026, arguing that the Smithsonian Institution and the National Museum of American History "cannot be trusted to tell America's story honestly." The report criticizes the museum for "extreme political activism," "anti-White activism," "transgender activism," and supporting illegal immigration. It accuses the museum of presenting slavery too negatively and failing to adequately credit Christian moral philosophy in the founding. The report recommends exhibits be altered to reflect its findings.

Supporting reports

• Trump issues 11 pardons including Clean Air Act violators and fraudsters — On Friday, July 4, 2026, President Trump issued pardons to 11 men: two convicted fraudsters (Adam Kidan, sentenced in 2006 for fraud related to gambling boats; Jack Harvard, convicted of bank fraud in the 1980s) and nine individuals charged with Clean Air Act violations for disabling vehicle emissions controls. Trump posted on Truth Social that he was "SETTING THEM ALL FREE," framing the emissions-control cases as people being imprisoned for "fixing their car." Days earlier, Trump signed an EPA memo asserting people could modify vehicles however they wanted and repealed scientific findings on greenhouse gas endangerment.

Supporting reports

• RFK Jr. ordered CDC to remove flu vaccine promotion campaign — Less than 24 hours after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. became health secretary, his press secretary delivered an order from him to the CDC to take down its ad campaign promoting flu vaccines. On the same day, the CDC reported that influenza-related ailments that season had killed 68 children—11 in that week alone—and 16,000 people overall.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration directs CDC to impose new funding priorities deprioritizing harm reduction and overdose prevention — The Trump administration directed the CDC to inform state, territorial, tribal, and local health programs that they must align with new federal priorities within five business days or face potential funding cancellation. The new priorities deprioritize proven overdose-prevention methods like harm reduction and housing-first programs, prioritize "parental authority" in education (signaling potential pressure on school vaccine mandates), and emphasize reducing "public disorder." Public health experts warn the move will worsen the opioid crisis and represents political interference in evidence-based public health.

Supporting reports

• NIH froze HIV research funding in South Africa — The National Institutes of Health froze HIV research funding in South Africa, home to the world's largest HIV and HIV-tuberculosis epidemic. The decision was attributed by researchers to racism within the administration and represents a targeted cut affecting research tied to racial disparities, transgender health, and immigrant health.
• Proposed 2027 budget eliminates CDC HIV-prevention funding and federal housing aid for people with AIDS — A proposed 2027 budget would eliminate the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's entire HIV-prevention budget, zero out federal housing aid for people with AIDS, and cut funding earmarked for Black, Latino, and Indigenous communities. The cuts compound other reductions to Medicaid and the Ryan White program.
• Trump administration issued stop-work order freezing nearly all US foreign assistance in January 2025 — In January 2025, the Trump administration issued a stop-work order that froze nearly all US foreign assistance overnight. The freeze dismantled international HIV/AIDS programs, particularly the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which had been credited with saving more than 25 million lives globally. The administration later dissolved USAID, laying off more than 12,000 workers and folding its functions into the State Department.

Supporting reports

• USDA confirms New World Screwworm cases in Texas — The USDA confirmed two new New World Screwworm cases in the United States: a calf in La Salle County, Texas, and a dog in Andrews County, Texas. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Senator Roger Marshall blamed the Biden administration and migrants, claiming migrants brought the screwworm through Central America during Biden's "open borders" era.

Supporting reports

• Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins blamed the Biden administration for screwworm infestation despite timeline inconsistencies. — Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins appeared on CNBC and attributed the recent screwworm infestation to Biden-era immigration policy, claiming migrants brought the disease across the border. However, the screwworms are appearing 17 months after Biden left office, while the average screwworm lifecycle is approximately three weeks, making the causal claim scientifically implausible. Rep. Shontel Brown (D-OH) countered that the Trump administration cut screwworm detection funding and fired 25% of tracking staff.
• USDA confirms New World Screwworm cases in Texas — The USDA confirmed two new New World Screwworm cases in the United States: a calf in La Salle County, Texas, and a dog in Andrews County, Texas. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Senator Roger Marshall blamed the Biden administration and migrants, claiming migrants brought the screwworm through Central America during Biden's "open borders" era.
• DOGE cuts eliminated screwworm prevention program; disease outbreak occurred in Texas — The Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cut the USAID program designed to prevent screwworm from crossing the U.S.-Mexico border and cut USDA animal disease control and prevention funding that had supported 180+ outbreak investigations in 22 countries and capacity-building in 160+ laboratories. The screwworm monitoring and response program at the border was eliminated. In June 2026, screwworm appeared in Texas cattle, prompting Governor Greg Abbott to declare a disaster for Zavala and Uvalde counties. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins blamed the Biden administration on CNBC, despite the cuts occurring under her watch in March 2025, after she took office in February 2025. The screwworm had been eradicated from the U.S. in the 1960s using a sterile fly program that was defunded.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration signs executive order exploring changes to childhood immunization schedule — President Trump signed an executive order directing exploration of changes to the childhood immunization schedule, claiming the US recommends more vaccines than peer nations. The order follows a December presidential memo on the same topic and comes after a federal judge paused changes made by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) due to concerns about the selection process overseen by Robert F. Kennedy, the health secretary. The order may signal plans to reconvene the committee, though legal experts note any changes would violate the existing judicial halt.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration dismantles deep-ocean observation system — The Trump administration is tearing out a $368 million deep-ocean observation system that monitors marine ecosystems, coastal environments, and ocean currents affecting climate change. The U.S. began operating the system in 2016 and expected it to continue for 25 years. The action aligns with Project 2025's criticism of federal science programs for paying too much attention to climate change. Democrats have pledged to fight the plan.