Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Justice Department filed statement of interest supporting Enbridge against Michigan pipeline regulation — The Department of Justice's Environment and Natural Resources Division and Civil Division filed a statement of interest in federal court supporting Enbridge Energy against Michigan's termination of the company's Line 5 pipeline easement. The DOJ argued that Michigan's 2020 notice terminating the easement improperly encroached on federal authority under the Pipeline Safety Act and interfered with exclusive federal foreign-affairs power over a U.S.-Canada treaty pipeline. Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson stated the federal government "already comprehensively regulates pipeline safety" and characterized Michigan's action as "state overreach."

Supporting reports

• Senate Democrats block Republican spending bill over healthcare cuts — The GOP-controlled House passed a bill extending government funding through November 21 on a near party-line vote. Senate Democrats blocked it, citing inadequate protections for Medicaid and Affordable Care Act subsidies. Republicans rejected a Democratic counter-proposal to extend funding through October while preserving healthcare programs. The impasse risks a federal shutdown nine months into Trump's term, with both parties accusing the other of obstruction.
• House passed continuing resolution on September 19 — The House passed a continuing resolution on September 19 by a 217–212 vote, largely along party lines, to fund the government at current levels through November 21 and provide additional security funding for Congress members. One Democrat voted for the measure and two Republicans voted against it. Speaker Johnson subsequently informed members the House would not meet on September 29 or 30, forcing the Senate to either accept the House measure or face a shutdown.
• Senate rejected House continuing resolution on September 19 — The Senate failed to pass the House continuing resolution on September 19, with two Republicans voting no. Democrats refused to support any measure that did not extend Affordable Care Act subsidies that Republicans had cut in their July budget reconciliation bill and roll back some of that act's cuts to Medicaid. The Republican budget reconciliation law allows enhanced premium tax credits to lapse at year's end, which the Congressional Budget Office estimated will result in 4.2 million Americans becoming uninsured over the next decade.
• House passes seven-week government funding bill — The House of Representatives passed a seven-week government funding bill on a 217-212 vote, nearly along party lines, ahead of a September 30 shutdown deadline. Speaker Mike Johnson could afford to lose only two votes given unified Democratic opposition. GOP Representatives Thomas Massie and Victoria Spartz voted no, while Democrat Jared Golden voted yes. The short-term patch was crafted with minimal Democratic input, and Senate Democrats indicated the measure is expected to fail in the upper chamber, prolonging funding negotiations and shutdown risk.

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• Trump administration petitions Supreme Court to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook — The Trump administration filed an emergency petition with the U.S. Supreme Court on September 19, 2025, seeking to overturn a lower court order blocking the removal of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. The administration cited unconfirmed mortgage fraud allegations predating her Fed appointment. Cook's lawyers argue the president lacks statutory authority to fire her. The filing represents an escalation in Trump's effort to gain political control over the Federal Reserve's traditionally independent board, following his installation of loyalist Stephen Miran as a governor.

Supporting reports

• House Democrats demand FCC Chair Carr's resignation over media pressure — Six House Democratic leaders, led by Hakeem Jeffries, issued a joint statement demanding the resignation of FCC Chair Brendan Carr, accusing him of "corrupt abuse of power" for bullying ABC into suspending Jimmy Kimmel Live. The lawmakers characterized the suspension as government-coerced censorship, warned of congressional investigations, and threatened to deploy "relentless unleashing of congressional subpoena power" to expose the truth to the American people.
• House Oversight Committee announced investigation into Trump administration pressure on media — House Oversight ranking member Robert Garcia announced he will launch an investigation to examine communications between the Trump administration, FCC officials, and media executives to determine whether political influence played a role in ABC's programming decisions. Garcia stated "We will not be silent as our freedoms are threatened by corrupt schemes and threats." The Oversight Committee has broad authority to subpoena documents and compel testimony.
• Rep. Eric Swalwell warned FCC officials of future accountability — Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) stated in committee that "There's going to be a Democratic majority in just over a year. To the FCC chairperson and anyone in involved in these dirty deals: get a lawyer and save your records because you're going to be in this room answering questions."
• House Democrats launched investigation into Kimmel suspension — Top Democrats on the House Oversight Committee launched an investigation into ABC, Sinclair, and the FCC over the suspension of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!," writing in a letter to FCC Chair Carr that "this corrupt political intimidation is unacceptable." House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and his leadership team called for Carr to resign.

Supporting reports

• US Supreme Court schedules oral arguments on Trump tariff legality — The US Supreme Court announced it will hear oral arguments on November 5, 2025, regarding the legality of President Trump's sweeping global tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). A federal appeals court had ruled in August that Trump overstepped his authority by using a law meant for emergencies to impose broad tariffs without congressional approval. The case was placed on a fast track. A Supreme Court defeat could halve the current average US effective tariff rate and force repayment of tens of billions in collected tariffs.

Supporting reports

• Department of Justice sues Oregon and Maine over voter registration list disclosure — The Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division filed lawsuits against Oregon and Maine, naming their respective Secretaries of State, alleging violations of the National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, and Civil Rights Act of 1960. The suits charge that both states refused to provide unredacted electronic copies of statewide voter registration lists and information on voter list maintenance procedures. The DOJ stated both states provided identical information to a private organization but withheld it from the federal government.
• DOJ files lawsuits against Oregon and Maine demanding voter data — The Department of Justice filed lawsuits against Oregon and Maine seeking to compel disclosure of private voter registration data, including driver's license numbers and partial social security numbers. The lawsuits cite an executive order signed by President Trump on March 25 claiming, without evidence, that states have failed to protect voters from fraudulent voting. Oregon's Secretary of State and election experts argue the DOJ has no legitimate purpose for the data and plans to use it to substantiate false voter-fraud conspiracy theories and suppress voting.

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• Supreme Court allows Slaughter firing to proceed pending appeal — The US Supreme Court issued an order allowing Trump's firing of FTC Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter to take effect while the Court agreed to hear full arguments on the merits of the case. The order drew dissents from the three liberal justices, signaling deep disagreement over presidential removal power and independent agency protections.

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• Justice Department filed motion for summary judgment challenging Vermont's climate liability statute — The Department of Justice's Environment and Natural Resources Division filed a motion for summary judgment on September 16, 2025, challenging Vermont's "climate superfund" law, which imposes liability on energy companies for alleged past contributions to climate change. The DOJ characterized the statute as unconstitutional state overreach that violates federal authority over greenhouse gas emissions and threatens energy production. The motion was filed in support of an earlier complaint filed in May 2025, alongside a similar challenge to New York's statute, both framed as advancing President Trump's executive order to protect American energy from state regulation.
• Trump DOJ files motion to declare Vermont Climate Superfund Act unconstitutional — The Trump administration's Department of Justice filed a motion in federal court in Burlington, Vermont, seeking to shut down the state's Climate Superfund Act, which requires major polluters to pay for carbon emissions and climate damages. The DOJ argued the law was "unlawful on its face" and asked the court to declare it unconstitutional and permanently enjoin its enforcement. This follows a DOJ and EPA lawsuit filed four months earlier against Vermont and New York over similar climate accountability laws.

Supporting reports

• Supreme Court ruling permits warrantless immigration raids and racial profiling in California — The U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling that invalidated a July temporary restraining order barring federal agents from racially profiling immigrants in southern and central California. The decision cleared the way for the Department of Homeland Security to conduct warrantless raids targeting people based on skin color, accent, or employment. Following the ruling, DHS announced plans to "flood the zone in Los Angeles" with enforcement operations, intensifying fear in immigrant communities already experiencing economic hardship and deportation risk.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration pressured Supreme Court on tariff ruling — The Trump administration ramped up public pressure on the Supreme Court to reverse a lower court ruling that his tariffs are illegal. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that delaying a ruling until June 2026 could result in $750 billion to $1 trillion in tariffs already collected, with unwinding causing significant disruption. The court was scheduled to hear arguments on Wednesday.