Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Trump negotiates $1.7 billion fund to compensate allies for alleged DOJ weaponization — Trump is in talks to drop his $10 billion IRS lawsuit in exchange for the government establishing a $1.7 billion taxpayer-funded account to compensate Trump's allies who claim they were harmed by the Biden administration's alleged weaponization of the Department of Justice. Eligible recipients would include nearly 1,600 people convicted of crimes related to the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack, whom Trump pardoned or commuted shortly after taking office in January 2025. While Trump himself will likely be barred from direct payments, entities associated with him will not be.
• Trump DOJ creates $1.7 billion compensation fund for January 6 defendants and Trump allies — The Trump administration is expected to settle Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS by creating a $1.7 billion taxpayer-funded compensation fund to pay individuals and entities claiming wrongful targeting by the Biden administration. The fund would compensate approximately 1,600 January 6 Capitol attack defendants and potentially Trump-associated entities. Trump would retain authority to remove commission members without cause, and the commission would operate with minimal disclosure requirements or oversight of its decision-making process for distributing over $1 billion in public funds.
• Trump administration considers $1.7 billion compensation fund for allies investigated under Biden — The Trump administration is reportedly considering a $1.7 billion fund to compensate President Trump's allies and others who claim they were harmed by Justice Department investigations during the Biden administration. The fund could cover legal costs for people in Trump's orbit and potentially extend to some of the nearly 1,600 people charged in connection with the January 6 Capitol attack. The administration has discussed modeling the program on past federal settlement funds, with possible payments through the Treasury Department's Judgment Fund. The proposal has not been finalized or approved.
• White House and DOJ explore settlement of Trump's $10 billion IRS lawsuit — The New York Times reported that the White House and Justice Department are exploring a settlement in Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS for releasing his tax returns. ABC News reported that Trump is expected to settle in exchange for launching a $1.7 billion compensation fund for his allies, including those pardoned for Jan. 6 involvement, with a Trump-controlled commission overseeing distribution and recipient identities potentially kept private. The settlement would use taxpayer funds to reward political allies.

Supporting reports

• Harvard University refused to comply with Trump administration demands; government froze $2.3 billion in funding — After Harvard University said it would not comply with a list of demands from the Trump administration, the government announced it was freezing $2.3 billion in federal funding to the school. The funding freeze represents retaliation for the university's refusal to comply with the administration's directives.
• Trump administration retaliates against Harvard by freezing $2.2bn in federal grants and $60m contract — Within hours of Harvard University's rejection of the administration's demand letter, the Trump administration froze $2.2bn in federal grants and a $60m contract to the university. The action was characterized as retaliation for Harvard's refusal to comply with the administration's conditions regarding faculty diversity, DEI programs, and antisemitism policy.
• Education Department freezes $2.3 billion in federal funds to Harvard University — The U.S. Education Department announced a freeze of approximately $2.3 billion in federal funds to Harvard University after the university rejected Trump administration demands to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, restrict student protests, and implement "merit-based" admissions policies. Harvard President Alan Garber characterized the demands as a political ploy and stated the university would not comply. The freeze prompted legal challenges and protests from the academic community.
• Trump administration freezes $2.2 billion in Harvard grant funding — The Trump administration froze $2.2 billion in grant money to Harvard University as part of a broader effort to take over and reshape elite American universities. The administration also canceled a research contract worth over $100 million, threatened to revoke Harvard's tax-exempt status, and demanded records on foreign students.

Supporting reports

• Department of Justice terminates environmental justice settlement agreement — The Department of Justice announced termination of an environmental justice settlement agreement involving Lowndes County, Alabama, citing President Trump's Executive Order 14151 on ending DEI programs. The Civil Rights Division closed the matter effective immediately. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon stated the DOJ will no longer pursue "environmental justice" through what the department characterizes as a "distorting, DEI lens," and indicated the department is closing similar cases in compliance with the Attorney General's directive.
• Trump administration terminates environmental justice settlement protecting Alabama residents from raw sewage exposure — On April 11, 2025, the Department of Justice announced termination of a 2023 settlement agreement with Alabama stemming from a DOJ investigation into the Alabama Department of Public Health's failure to address raw sewage exposure in Lowndes County (72% Black residents). The settlement required Alabama to cease criminal enforcement of sanitation laws against impoverished residents, assess health risks, and improve wastewater infrastructure. The termination, framed as part of Trump's January 20 executive order eliminating "environmental justice" programs, removes federal monitoring and leaves a $1.5 million septic system improvement program (covering only 60 homes in a county where two-thirds of 3,000 surveyed homes have failing systems) without enforcement obligation.

Supporting reports

• Trump signs executive order pausing FCPA enforcement — President Trump signed an executive order directing the Department of Justice to pause enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), which prohibits American companies from bribing foreign officials to obtain or retain business. This move could undermine efforts to prevent public corruption and maintain the rule of law in international business practices.
• Executive Order Pauses FCPA Enforcement — President Donald J. Trump issued Executive Order 14209, pausing enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) for 180 days to review guidelines and policies. The order aims to enhance American economic competitiveness and national security by reducing barriers to commerce abroad. The Attorney General is tasked with reviewing and potentially revising FCPA enforcement actions and guidelines during this period.
• Trump halts enforcement of Foreign Corrupt Practices Act — President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the Department of Justice to halt prosecutions under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), which bans bribery of foreign officials. The order requires the Attorney General to pause these prosecutions until new enforcement guidance is issued, aimed at promoting American competitiveness. This move has been criticized by anti-corruption groups, who argue it undermines the US's leadership in fighting global corruption. The FCPA has been instrumental in significant corporate cases, including actions against Goldman Sachs.
• Trump Pauses FCPA Enforcement — President Donald Trump issued an executive order pausing enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) for 180 days. The order directs the Attorney General to cease new FCPA investigations and review existing ones, with the possibility of extending the review period for another 180 days. The order aims to enhance American economic competitiveness and national security by reducing perceived overreach in FCPA enforcement, which Trump argues impedes U.S. foreign policy objectives.
• White House issued executive order pausing Foreign Corrupt Practices Act enforcement — The White House issued an executive order on February 10, 2025, directing the Attorney General to cease initiating new FCPA investigations and enforcement actions for 180 days while reviewing enforcement guidelines. The order states that FCPA enforcement "harms the interests of the United States" and "impedes" foreign policy objectives. The Attorney General is instructed to review existing investigations and issue revised guidelines prioritizing "American economic competitiveness" and "Presidential foreign policy prerogatives." The order characterizes current FCPA enforcement as "overexpansive" and claims it wastes prosecutorial resources.
• White House issues fact sheet on FCPA enforcement pause — The White House issued a fact sheet on February 10, 2025, announcing that President Trump signed an executive order directing the Attorney General to pause Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) enforcement actions and issue revised enforcement guidance. The fact sheet states that past and existing FCPA actions will be reviewed, and future investigations and enforcement must be approved by the Attorney General. The document frames the pause as necessary to restore American competitiveness and national security.
• Trump signs executive order pausing Foreign Corrupt Practices Act — President Trump signed an executive order pausing the enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits bribery of foreign officials. This suspension could lead to increased corruption in international business dealings.
• Trump signed executive order pausing prosecutions under Foreign Corrupt Practices Act — On February 10, 2025, Trump signed an executive order directing the DOJ to halt prosecutions of Americans accused of bribing foreign government officials. Attorney General Pam Bondi was instructed to pause prosecutions under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 until she issues revised enforcement guidance promoting American competitiveness. Trump stated the action would "mean a lot more business for America." The White House claimed the law disadvantages US firms compared to foreign competitors.