Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Trump issues executive order directing DOJ not to enforce TikTok ban — On his first day in office, President Trump issued an executive order instructing the Department of Justice not to enforce the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACAA), a bipartisan law passed by Congress requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok or face a ban in the U.S. The order effectively suspended enforcement of the congressionally mandated ban, allowing the app to remain available to American users despite ByteDance's failure to comply with the divestment deadline.
• Executive Order suspends enforcement of TikTok-related Act — President Donald J. Trump issued Executive Order 14166, instructing the Attorney General to suspend enforcement of the Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act concerning TikTok for 75 days. This pause allows the administration to assess national security concerns and negotiate a resolution. The order prevents the Department of Justice from imposing penalties for noncompliance during this period and asserts the Executive's exclusive enforcement authority.
• Trump orders DOJ to pause TikTok ban enforcement — President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the Department of Justice to halt enforcement of a federal law banning TikTok in the United States for 75 days. Trump justified this decision by stating that TikTok was popular among young voters who supported him, and he no longer considered it a national security threat. This order reflects Trump's approach to leveraging executive power to influence regulatory actions based on political considerations.
• Executive Order Delays Enforcement of TikTok Restrictions — On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order delaying the enforcement of the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act as it applies to TikTok. The order instructs the Attorney General not to enforce the Act for 75 days, allowing the administration time to assess national security concerns and negotiate a resolution. This delay aims to prevent an abrupt shutdown of TikTok, a platform used by 170 million Americans, while addressing potential security risks associated with its China-based parent company, ByteDance Ltd.
• President Trump issued executive order delaying enforcement of TikTok ban for 75 days — President Trump signed an executive order on January 20, 2025, instructing the Attorney General to suspend enforcement of the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act for 75 days. The order prohibits the Department of Justice from taking action against TikTok or other entities for noncompliance during this period and retroactively shields providers from liability for conduct occurring from January 19, 2025, onward. The administration states it will use this time to consult on national security concerns and pursue a negotiated resolution.
• Trump delays TikTok ban — On January 20, 2025, President Trump delayed the TikTok ban by 75 days, ignoring a Congressional statute and a Supreme Court ruling. This decision has raised questions about the administration's adherence to legal processes and the separation of powers. The delay affects the ongoing debate over data privacy and national security concerns related to the app.

Supporting reports

• Executive Order Restores Accountability in Federal Workforce — President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Order 14171, reinstating Executive Order 13957, which creates Schedule F in the excepted service. This order aims to enhance accountability for policy-influencing positions within the federal workforce by allowing easier removal of employees for poor performance or misconduct. It revokes Executive Order 14003, which protected federal workforce rights, and mandates amendments to civil service regulations to align with the reinstated policies.
• Presidential Memorandum on Accountability for Senior Executives — President issued a memorandum to enhance accountability among Career Senior Executive Service (SES) officials. The directive mandates the Office of Personnel Management and Office of Management and Budget to issue SES Performance Plans. Agency heads are instructed to reassess and realign SES members, reconstitute Executive Resources Boards, and enforce performance evaluations. The memorandum emphasizes the President's authority to remove SES officials who fail to meet performance standards or violate duties.
• Presidential Memorandum on Hiring Freeze — President issued a memorandum ordering a freeze on hiring Federal civilian employees across the executive branch, effective January 20, 2025. The freeze excludes military personnel and positions related to immigration enforcement, national security, or public safety. The Office of Management and Budget, in consultation with other agencies, is tasked with developing a plan to reduce the workforce through efficiency improvements and attrition within 90 days. The memorandum remains in effect for the IRS until further notice.
• Trump removes protections for career employees — President Donald Trump initiated a process to remove protections for career employees within the executive branch, aiming to dismiss officials perceived as part of the "deep state" or insufficiently loyal to him. This action is part of a broader effort to reshape the executive branch and consolidate power by eliminating perceived opposition within the federal workforce. The move signals a significant shift in the treatment of civil service employees under Trump's administration.
• Trump issues executive order on federal workforce accountability — On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order titled "Restoring Accountability to Policy-Influencing Positions Within the Federal Workforce." This order reinstates and amends Executive Order 13957, originally issued in 2020, which created Schedule F in the excepted service. The order aims to enhance accountability among federal employees in policy-influencing positions by reinstating the prior administration's policy with modifications. It also revokes Executive Order 14003, which protected the federal workforce, and mandates changes to civil service regulations to align with the new order.
• President Trump signed executive order reinstating Schedule F civil service exemption with amendments — President Trump signed an executive order on January 20, 2025, reinstating and amending Executive Order 13957 (Schedule F), which creates a new "Schedule Policy/Career" category in the excepted service for federal employees in policy-influencing positions. The order removes civil service protections and adverse action procedures for these employees, allowing their dismissal without the procedural safeguards that apply to competitive service employees. The order revokes Executive Order 14003 and directs the Office of Personnel Management to rescind regulations protecting civil service merit principles.
• White House issued memorandum on Senior Executive Service accountability and presidential removal authority — The White House issued a presidential memorandum directing executive agencies to restore accountability for career Senior Executive Service (SES) officials. The memorandum asserts that SES officials must serve at the pleasure of the President and directs the Office of Personnel Management to issue new performance plans within 30 days, requires agency heads to reassign SES members to align with the administration's agenda, instructs agencies to reconstitute performance review boards with noncareer officials as majority members, and authorizes immediate removal of SES officials deemed inconsistent with administration priorities.
• Trump reimplements Schedule F — President Trump reimplemented Schedule F on January 20, 2025, allowing him to potentially purge around 50,000 career civil servants from the federal government. This action revives a controversial policy from his first term aimed at increasing political control over the civil service. Critics argue it undermines the independence and effectiveness of federal agencies.
• Trump reclassified federal employees as political hires — On January 20, 2025, Trump signed an executive order reclassifying thousands of federal employees as political hires, making it much easier for them to be fired. The order reinstates "Schedule F," an executive order Trump signed in his first term seeking to reclassify tens of thousands of federal workers. Biden had rescinded the order. Key Trump aides have called for mass government firings as part of an attack on the "administrative" or "deep" state, a core part of Project 2025.
• Trump plans to revive Schedule F executive order — Donald Trump plans to revive his Schedule F executive order from 2020, which would reclassify tens of thousands of federal employees as political appointees, making them easier to dismiss. This move could dramatically reshape the federal workforce and faces likely legal opposition.
• Trump reclassifies federal employees — President Donald Trump signed an executive order reclassifying thousands of federal employees as political hires, making it easier to fire them. This action reinstates "Schedule F," a policy from Trump's first term, and is part of an effort to target the "deep state" by allowing for mass firings of civil servants deemed politically unreliable.
• Trump administration sued over Schedule F executive order — The National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration following the reinstatement of Schedule F, an executive order that reclassifies thousands of federal workers as political hires, making them easier to fire. The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief, arguing that the order deprives federal workers of due process rights and wrongly applies political appointee rules to career staff. The executive order has been criticized by various labor unions as an attack on federal employees and a return to a political spoils system.
• State Department replaces consular affairs leadership with ideological allies on January 21, 2025 — On the morning of January 21, 2025, the White House immediately removed deputy assistant secretaries from the Bureau of Consular Affairs and replaced them with ideological allies, primarily members of the Ben Franklin Fellowship. This rapid replacement of career diplomats with ideologically vetted personnel was designed to prevent the "deep state" from thwarting administration immigration plans. Most senior members now managing visa policy are BFF members committed to border security and immigration restriction.
• Trump sidelines NSC aides — On January 22, 2025, President Trump sidelined about 160 career employee National Security Council aides. This action is part of a broader effort to consolidate control over national security policy and has raised concerns about the loss of experienced personnel and the impact on national security decision-making.

Supporting reports

• White House signed executive order establishing Department of Government Efficiency — The White House signed an executive order on January 20, 2025, establishing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to modernize federal technology and software. The order renames the United States Digital Service as the United States DOGE Service, establishes a USDS Administrator reporting to the White House Chief of Staff, and creates a temporary organization set to terminate July 4, 2026. Each federal agency must establish DOGE Teams of at least four employees within 30 days. The order directs USDS to conduct a Software Modernization Initiative and grants USDS full access to unclassified agency records and IT systems.
• Lawsuit filed against Trump's 'Doge' program — A lawsuit was filed against the 'department of government efficiency' (Doge) program, initiated by Donald Trump and led by Elon Musk, shortly after Trump's swearing-in. The lawsuit, filed by the public interest law firm National Security Counselors, claims that Doge violates federal transparency rules. It argues that Doge should be considered a federal advisory committee, which requires balanced representation, record-keeping, and public access to meetings. The program, which aims to cut government programs and jobs, has reportedly hired staff working from Musk's SpaceX offices.
• Elon Musk given office in West Wing — Elon Musk has reportedly secured an office in the West Wing of the White House, following negotiations with Donald Trump. This development suggests a close relationship between Musk and the Trump administration, raising questions about the influence of private sector leaders on government policy and operations.

Supporting reports

• Executive Order Designating Cartels as Terrorist Organizations — President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Order 14157, designating certain international cartels and organizations as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists. This order aims to address the national security threat posed by these entities, which are involved in violence and illegal activities across the U.S. southern border. The order mandates the Secretary of State, in consultation with other federal officials, to recommend designations under the Immigration and Nationality Act and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
• Trump designates drug cartels as terrorist organizations — President Trump signed an executive order designating drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. This designation aims to enhance the US government's ability to combat drug trafficking and related violence. The order is part of a broader strategy to address security concerns at the US-Mexico border and is expected to have significant implications for US foreign policy and law enforcement.
• Trump designates cartels as terrorist organizations — On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order designating certain international cartels and other organizations as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists. This order aims to address the national security threat posed by these groups, which are involved in activities such as drug trafficking and violence across the U.S. southern border. The order mandates the Secretary of State, in consultation with other federal officials, to recommend designations under the Immigration and Nationality Act and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The order also declares a national emergency to address these threats.
• White House signed executive order designating cartels and transnational organizations as foreign terrorist organizations and specially designated global terrorists — The White House signed an executive order on January 20, 2025, directing the Secretary of State to recommend within 14 days the designation of international cartels, Tren de Aragua, and MS-13 as Foreign Terrorist Organizations under the Immigration and Nationality Act and/or Specially Designated Global Terrorists under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The order declares a national emergency under IEEPA and directs the Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security to prepare for potential invocation of the Alien Enemies Act. The order characterizes cartels as posing national-security threats comparable to foreign terrorist organizations and states they functionally control illegal border traffic and operate as quasi-governmental entities in parts of Mexico.
• Designation of Ansar Allah as a Foreign Terrorist Organization — President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Order 14175, designating Ansar Allah, also known as the Houthis, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. This action, under the Immigration and Nationality Act, aims to curb the group's capabilities and operations, which threaten U.S. personnel and regional stability. The order mandates the Secretary of State to report on the designation process and take appropriate actions, including reviewing USAID's partners in Yemen for any ties to Ansar Allah.
• Designation of Ansar Allah As A Foreign Terrorist Organization — On January 22, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order designating Ansar Allah, also known as the Houthis, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. This order initiates a process under the Immigration and Nationality Act to formally label the group as a terrorist organization due to its attacks on U.S. Navy warships and civilian infrastructure in the Middle East. The order mandates the Secretary of State to report on the designation and take appropriate actions, including reviewing USAID's partnerships in Yemen to ensure no support is provided to Ansar Allah.
• White House initiates Foreign Terrorist Organization designation process for Ansar Allah (Houthis) — President Trump signed a presidential action on January 22, 2025, directing the Secretary of State to initiate a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) designation process for Ansar Allah (the Houthis) within 30 days, followed by formal designation within 15 days thereafter. The order cites Houthi attacks on U.S. Navy vessels, civilian infrastructure in the Middle East, commercial shipping in the Red Sea, and Israeli targets. It directs the State Department to consult with intelligence and Treasury officials, and mandates USAID to review and terminate relationships with entities that have made payments to or are controlled by Ansar Allah or have criticized counter-Houthi efforts.
• White House issues fact sheet on executive order re-designating Houthis as foreign terrorist organization — The White House published a fact sheet on January 22, 2025, announcing that President Trump signed an executive order directing the re-designation of Ansar Allah (the Houthis) as a foreign terrorist organization. The order reverses the Biden administration's removal of the designation in 2021. The fact sheet states the order directs the Secretary of State to recommend re-designation within 30 days and instructs USAID and State to review UN partners, NGOs, and contractors in Yemen, with the President to direct USAID to end relationships with entities that have made payments to the Houthis or opposed counter-Houthi efforts.