Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Robert F. Kennedy Jr. canceled $500 million in mRNA vaccine research funding — Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. canceled $500 million in federal research funding designated for mRNA vaccine research. This action was part of broader efforts to reduce CDC capacity and remove staff opposed to his vaccine skepticism.
• HHS cancels $500 million in mRNA vaccine research funding — Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the cancellation of $500 million in funding for mRNA vaccine research, a decision that has drawn significant criticism from public health experts and former CDC directors. This funding cut is part of Kennedy's broader strategy to reshape the CDC and its approach to vaccines, which he claims have failed during the pandemic.

Supporting reports

• Eighty-five scientists released joint review criticizing Department of Energy climate report — More than 85 scientists released a joint review of the U.S. Department of Energy's new climate report, stating it was "biased, full of errors, and not fit to inform policymaking." The review represents scientific pushback against the administration's climate policy direction.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration slashes CDC funding and eliminates public health programs — Under the Trump administration, the CDC has slashed billions in funding, shed hundreds of employees, and rolled back programs to help Americans quit smoking and prevent infant and maternal deaths, including support for monitoring sudden unexpected infant deaths. Funding for programs to prevent drowning, youth violence, and sexual assault is in limbo under DOGE review. Trump's proposed budget for next year would cut the CDC's budget from $9.1 billion to $4.2 billion. States and local officials report inability to access CDC expertise during health crises and inability to operate certain programs. Communities have felt the pinch of CDC cuts, scaling back vaccination efforts in Georgia and response to a lead hazard crisis in Milwaukee that resulted in school closures after children tested positive for lead.

Supporting reports

• Trump attempts to remove Federal Reserve governor and other non-appointed officials — Trump is attempting to remove dozens of personnel he did not appoint, including a Federal Reserve governor, a top official at the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, prosecutors who investigated him, and leaders across the government including the National Archivist.
• Trump installs second deputy at FBI after souring on first — The White House installed a second deputy at the FBI after becoming dissatisfied with the first, continuing a pattern of rapid personnel changes across agencies.
• Trump pressures Treasury secretary to fire agency's second-in-command — Trump pushed his Treasury secretary to fire the agency's second-in-command, demonstrating continued pressure on cabinet officials to remove personnel who may not align with administration priorities.
• Trump removes acting FEMA administrator over disagreement on agency's continued existence — The White House removed the acting FEMA administrator after he stated the agency should continue to exist, contradicting others in the administration.
• Trump removes IRS director after two months over Treasury Department clash — Trump replaced the head of the IRS less than two months into the job because appointee Billy Long clashed with officials at the Treasury Department. This removal is part of a broader pattern of Trump firing appointees and career officials across multiple agencies.
• Trump removes two DOJ antitrust officials over alleged deal-making with lobbyists — Two top DOJ antitrust officials were removed from their roles after clashing with senior officials at the agency. They accused their colleagues of cutting deals with favored lobbyists. One of the removed officials has publicly questioned the integrity of other DOJ officials.
• Department of Justice launched criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook — The Department of Justice launched a criminal investigation into Lisa Cook, a governor of the U.S. Federal Reserve, for allegedly committing mortgage fraud by claiming two separate properties as her primary residence. Pro Publica reported that three Trump Cabinet members—Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin—have engaged in the same conduct but face no investigation.
• Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired CDC director Susan Monarez — Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired newly confirmed CDC Director Susan Monarez after she refused to preapprove recommendations from a vaccine advisory panel that Kennedy had stacked with anti-vaccine advocates. This action followed Kennedy's earlier purges of thousands of CDC advisors and staffers who did not share his opposition to vaccines.
• Trump fires Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook — President Trump removed Lisa Cook from her position as a Federal Reserve governor. This action raised concerns about central bank independence, as it represents part of a broader pattern of Trump's attacks on the Federal Reserve's autonomy. Trump's nominee to replace Cook stated he would respect Fed independence, but the removal itself signals potential politicization of monetary policy.