Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Complaint filed — Environmental Defense Fund v. Wright — The Environmental Defense Fund filed a complaint in D.D.C. alleging that Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Acting Archivist James Byron violated the Federal Records Act by failing to recover records improperly maintained in personal email accounts by DOE political appointees during work on a Climate Working Group report used to support EPA's proposed rescission of the 2009 Endangerment Finding. EDF seeks declaratory relief, injunctive relief, and mandamus compelling the defendants to fulfill their nondiscretionary duties under 44 U.S.C. §§ 2905(a) and 3106(a).

Supporting reports

• DOJ removed 50+ pages of Epstein files interviews about Trump — According to The Telegraph, four days before the bombing of Iran, a report revealed that the Department of Justice removed more than 50 pages of interviews about Trump from the Epstein files, including one victim who claimed the now-president abused her when she was a child decades ago. The timing of the removal—just before military action—raised questions about the relationship between the two events.

Supporting reports

• Pentagon revises upward casualty estimate for U.S. troops in Iran conflict — After Reuters reporter Phil Stewart reported that as many as 150 U.S. troops had been wounded in the Iran conflict, the Pentagon publicly revised its estimate upward from fewer than a dozen to approximately 140 wounded service members. The revised figure includes brain trauma, shrapnel wounds, and burns. Seven service members have been killed. Congressional aides expressed frustration that the Pentagon had not voluntarily disclosed accurate casualty numbers, with one aide telling the Washington Post: "Just own it and be transparent. You owe it to the service members."
• Reuters reported 150 U.S. troops wounded in Iran War, far exceeding Pentagon disclosure — Reuters reported that as many as 150 U.S. troops have been wounded in the Iran War according to two sources familiar with the matter, a figure far exceeding the Pentagon's prior public disclosure of only 8 injuries. The discrepancy suggests significant underreporting of casualty figures to the public.

Supporting reports

• Secretary Hegseth refuses to answer questions about girls school strike — During a 60 Minutes interview, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was asked directly whether the U.S. bombed the Iranian girls school. He declined to provide a substantive answer, stating only that the matter "is being investigated, which is the only answer I'm prepared to give." Fox host Laura Ingraham subsequently criticized the response, calling for the administration to "wrap up its investigation and address head-on" the "horrible unintended tragedy."
• Secretary Hegseth held press conference avoiding questions on Iranian school bombing — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth conducted a press conference where he called exclusively on right-wing media outlets (Gateway Pundit, OAN) and avoided all questions about the bombing of an Iranian girls school that killed at least 175 people, mostly children. Neither Hegseth nor Joint Chiefs Chair Dan Caine commented on any investigation into the bombing. A reporter attempting to ask about it was ignored.

Supporting reports

• Department of Justice released Epstein documents concerning Trump rape allegation — Under pressure regarding the Epstein files, the Department of Justice released documents concerning an allegation from an Epstein survivor that Trump raped her when she was thirteen or fourteen. The release included four separate FBI interview summaries (FD-302 forms). The DOJ's initial document drop included only the interview discussing abuse at Epstein's hands; the other three interviews discuss Trump. Some files related to the accusation and interviews remain missing.
• DOJ releases Epstein documents related to Trump — The Department of Justice released documents concerning an allegation from an Epstein survivor that Donald Trump raped her when she was a minor. The documents included four FBI interview summaries, known as 302 reports, detailing the survivor's accounts of abuse, including interactions with Trump. Some files related to the accusation remain missing.
• DOJ continues to withhold 37 pages of documents related to Trump sexual assault allegations — According to NPR reporting cited in the article, 53 pages of materials related to Trump's alleged sexual assault of a minor were excluded from the DOJ's January 30, 2026 release of Epstein documents. As of March 10, only 16 pages have been disclosed, leaving 37 pages still withheld by the Trump administration. The missing documents include notes from interviews, a law enforcement report, and license records. The DOJ has not provided an explanation for the continued withholding.

Supporting reports

• DOJ proposes rule requiring state bars to defer ethics investigations into DOJ attorneys — The Department of Justice published a proposed rule requiring state bar authorities to suspend parallel investigations into DOJ attorneys' conduct and wait while DOJ conducts its own internal review first. The rule would also direct DOJ personnel not to share non-public information with state bar proceedings until DOJ completes its review. State bars would retain final disciplinary authority but would face procedural delays in investigating allegations tied to DOJ attorneys' official federal duties. The rule is open for public comment for 30 days via Regulations.gov under Docket No. OAG199.
• Department of Justice proposed rule to shield its own attorneys from state bar ethics investigations — The Department of Justice published a proposed rule requiring DOJ to review state bar complaints against its attorneys first and request that state bar authorities suspend their investigations until DOJ completes its own review. The rule would also direct DOJ personnel not to share non-public information with parallel state bar proceedings. Attorney General Pam Bondi signed the draft rule. State bar discipline is described as one of the few accountability mechanisms that follows attorneys across jobs and administrations.

Supporting reports

• DOJ releases documents describing Trump's alleged sexual assault of a minor — The Department of Justice released documents on March 5, 2026, containing summaries of FBI interviews with a woman who alleges that President Trump sexually assaulted her when she was 13 years old and had been trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein. The victim told the FBI that Trump forced her to perform oral sex and struck her when she resisted. The DOJ initially withheld these three interview summaries in its January 30 release, claiming they were "incorrectly labeled as duplicative," but released them only after public outcry and reporting by independent journalist Roger Sollenberger.
• DOJ releases additional Epstein files containing uncorroborated allegations against Trump — The US Department of Justice released 20 additional documents related to Jeffrey Epstein on Thursday, March 6, 2026, including FBI memos describing interviews with a woman who made uncorroborated allegations of sexual assault against Epstein and Donald Trump in the 1980s. The DOJ stated the files were initially withheld because they were mistakenly categorized as duplicates. The woman's allegations have not been verified, and the FBI never brought charges. Trump has denied wrongdoing, and the White House called the allegations "completely baseless."
• DOJ releases 3 million Epstein investigative documents — The US Department of Justice released more than 3 million investigative documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. Legal experts note the DOJ has possessed these materials for years and already made charging decisions regarding potential co-conspirators. The release prompted public and international scrutiny but has not yet resulted in new federal arrests or prosecutions in the United States.

Supporting reports

• Bill Clinton testified in Epstein deposition — Bill Clinton appeared for a closed-door deposition before the House Oversight Committee regarding his knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein. The deposition was interrupted when Rep. Lauren Boebert photographed Hillary Clinton's testimony and leaked it to media. Rep. Suhas Subramanyam noted that no Republicans were present to question Les Wexner, who bankrolled Epstein's fortune.
• Clinton depositions held before House Oversight Committee amid photo leak and transparency dispute — Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were scheduled for depositions before the House Oversight Committee in Chappaqua, New York. During Hillary Clinton's closed-door deposition, Rep. Lauren Boebert shared an unauthorized photograph from the hearing with Benny Johnson, who posted it on social media. The deposition was paused following the leak. Hillary Clinton subsequently demanded press access for the remainder of the proceeding, but House Oversight Chair James Comer refused, despite Boebert's unauthorized photography. The central focus of the depositions concerned missing FBI 302 interview memos related to a survivor who accused Donald Trump of sexual assault as a minor.
• Hillary Clinton testified in Epstein deposition — Hillary Clinton appeared for a closed-door deposition before the House Oversight Committee regarding her knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein. Clinton maintained that she did not recall meeting Epstein, never visited his island, and never visited his homes or offices. She also reported being asked questions about UFOs and the "Pizzagate" conspiracy theory, which she characterized as "one of the most vile bogus conspiracy theories that was propagated on the internet." Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA) noted the absence of Republicans who could have questioned Les Wexner, who bankrolled Epstein's fortune.
• Representative Lauren Boebert shared closed deposition photo with right-wing podcaster — Representative Lauren Boebert (R-CO) shared a photograph from the closed Hillary Clinton deposition with right-wing podcaster Benny Johnson, who posted it on social media with the caption: "This is the first time Hillary has had to answer real questions about Epstein. Clinton does not look happy." The sharing of material from a closed proceeding violated the confidentiality of the deposition and appeared designed to generate partisan social media content rather than advance the stated investigative purpose.
• Rep. Lauren Boebert leaked unauthorized photograph from House deposition — During Hillary Clinton's deposition before the House Oversight Committee, Rep. Lauren Boebert photographed the closed-door hearing and shared the unauthorized image with Benny Johnson, a right-wing media figure, who subsequently posted it on social media. The leak prompted a pause in the deposition proceedings.
• Lauren Boebert photographed Hillary Clinton testimony and leaked to media — During a closed-door House Oversight Committee deposition of Bill and Hillary Clinton regarding Jeffrey Epstein, Rep. Lauren Boebert photographed Hillary Clinton testifying and sent the image to right-wing podcaster Benny Johnson, who posted it on social media. The deposition rules strictly prohibited photography. Clinton's legal team halted the deposition to address the breach. The deposition resumed later. The incident violated the explicit terms governing the confidential proceeding.
• Committee Chair Comer mischaracterizes Clinton testimony to reporters — During a break in Clinton's deposition, House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer told reporters that Clinton said Trump had never said anything to make him think Trump was involved with Epstein. However, Ranking Democrat Robert Garcia later told reporters that Comer's characterization did not accurately reflect Clinton's actual answer. Garcia called for release of the full transcript so the public could see what Clinton actually said, noting that Republicans have repeatedly broken the rules regarding disclosure of closed-door hearing content.
• Hillary Clinton testifies before House Oversight Committee — Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified via video before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee regarding her knowledge of investigations into Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Clinton criticized the committee for its lack of transparency and for not hearing from key witnesses involved in the investigation, asserting that her testimony was a distraction from President Trump's actions.
• House Oversight Committee compels Hillary Clinton to testify on Epstein — The Republican majority on the House Oversight Committee, led by Chair James Comer (R-KY), required former first lady Hillary Clinton to testify before the committee regarding the Epstein investigation. Clinton testified under oath that she had never met Epstein and knew Maxwell only as an acquaintance. Clinton is not mentioned in the Epstein files. The compelled testimony occurred despite Clinton's prior sworn statements denying knowledge of Epstein's crimes.
• House Oversight Republicans held closed-door deposition of former President Bill Clinton on Epstein investigation — House Oversight Republicans convened a closed-door deposition of former President Bill Clinton related to the Epstein investigation. Democrats participated and questioned why Trump, whose name appears repeatedly in released materials, was not being sought for testimony. Large portions of the Epstein files remain withheld or heavily redacted, and some survivor accounts have not been fully released. Republicans characterized the deposition as a political spectacle rather than a genuine accountability exercise.
• Representative James Comer spoke to press to ensure Trump not implicated in Epstein crimes — Representative James Comer left the Bill Clinton deposition during a break to speak with the press, with the stated goal of ensuring everyone that Trump is not implicated in Epstein's crimes. This action characterized the Republican investigation as functioning as Trump's personal crisis law firm rather than a legitimate fact-seeking inquiry.
• DOJ removed and restored Epstein-related photograph from public website — The Department of Justice removed a photograph from its Epstein files website showing Trump appointee Howard Lutnick with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Epstein's island. The photo had been archived by the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine on January 31 and was later removed, returning a "Page not found" error. Within hours of CBS News publishing a story about the removal, DOJ restored the photograph. DOJ later stated the removal was due to the image being "part of a batch of files that had been flagged for nudity."
• James Comer mischaracterized Clinton deposition testimony on Trump-Epstein relationship — House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer told media that former President Bill Clinton had exonerated Trump regarding his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, stating Clinton said Trump "has never said anything to me to make me think he was involved." Democratic oversight members immediately contradicted this account, releasing the full deposition context showing Clinton had confirmed Trump and Epstein had a "close relationship" and that Trump reported having "great times" with Epstein. Rep. Maxwell Frost clarified that Clinton said Trump cited a land dispute as the reason for their falling out.

Supporting reports

• Representative Lauren Boebert shared closed deposition photo with right-wing podcaster — Representative Lauren Boebert (R-CO) shared a photograph from the closed Hillary Clinton deposition with right-wing podcaster Benny Johnson, who posted it on social media with the caption: "This is the first time Hillary has had to answer real questions about Epstein. Clinton does not look happy." The sharing of material from a closed proceeding violated the confidentiality of the deposition and appeared designed to generate partisan social media content rather than advance the stated investigative purpose.
• Rep. Lauren Boebert leaked unauthorized photograph from House deposition — During Hillary Clinton's deposition before the House Oversight Committee, Rep. Lauren Boebert photographed the closed-door hearing and shared the unauthorized image with Benny Johnson, a right-wing media figure, who subsequently posted it on social media. The leak prompted a pause in the deposition proceedings.
• Lauren Boebert photographed Hillary Clinton testimony and leaked to media — During a closed-door House Oversight Committee deposition of Bill and Hillary Clinton regarding Jeffrey Epstein, Rep. Lauren Boebert photographed Hillary Clinton testifying and sent the image to right-wing podcaster Benny Johnson, who posted it on social media. The deposition rules strictly prohibited photography. Clinton's legal team halted the deposition to address the breach. The deposition resumed later. The incident violated the explicit terms governing the confidential proceeding.

Supporting reports

• House Democrats launch investigation into alleged DOJ withholding of Epstein files containing Trump abuse allegations — House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Democrats, led by ranking member Robert Garcia, announced an investigation into whether the Department of Justice withheld materials from the public release of Epstein files. The investigation focuses on allegations that the DOJ concealed FBI interviews with a woman who accused President Trump of sexually abusing her as a minor decades ago. An NPR investigation published the same day reported the DOJ withheld over 50 pages of FBI interviews and removed documents mentioning Trump from the public database. The White House denied wrongdoing, claiming documents were temporarily pulled only for victim redactions or PII removal.
• House Oversight Democrat Robert Garcia confirmed DOJ illegal withholding — Robert Garcia, top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, released a statement confirming that after reviewing unredacted evidence logs at the Department of Justice, "Oversight Democrats can confirm that the DOJ appears to have illegally withheld FBI interviews with this survivor who accused President Trump of heinous crimes." The statement corroborates NPR's reporting that material related to sexual assault allegations against Trump was removed from the publicly released Epstein files.

Supporting reports

• DOJ withheld Epstein files related to Trump sexual abuse allegations — An NPR investigation found that the Department of Justice withheld some Epstein files related to allegations that Trump sexually abused a minor. The DOJ also removed some documents from the public database where accusations against Epstein mention Trump. Files that should have been made public under law were not released, including more than 50 pages of FBI interviews and notes from conversations with a woman who accused Trump of sexual abuse decades ago when she was a minor. NPR's investigation identified dozens of pages catalogued by DOJ but not shared publicly by examining serial numbers on documents.
• Justice Department withheld Epstein documents referencing Trump allegations — NPR reported that the Justice Department removed documents from the public Epstein database that contained accusations against Donald Trump, including allegations of sexual abuse of a minor. More than 50 pages of FBI interviews and notes from a woman who accused Trump of sexual abuse decades ago when she was a minor were not made public. Some documents mentioning Trump were briefly available and later removed from the database. The gaps were identified by reviewing Bates numbers, the serial identifiers used in legal document production.
• DOJ claims withheld Epstein files fall within legal exemptions despite contradictory evidence — The Department of Justice released a statement claiming that withheld documents fall within categories of duplicates, privileged materials, or ongoing federal investigations. However, the article documents that these justifications do not withstand scrutiny. The interviews about Trump allegations are not duplicates; Deputy Attorney General Blanche stated in July that the DOJ determined "there was nothing in there that allowed us to prosecute anybody," contradicting the ongoing investigation claim. The DOJ also claimed the documents were withheld pursuant to a protective order in Ghislaine Maxwell's criminal case, but the DOJ itself acknowledged in a court filing that those documents were not subject to the protective order.
• DOJ removed photo of Commerce Secretary Lutnick from Epstein Files — The DOJ was caught removing a photo of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick from the Epstein Files that showed him alongside Epstein on Epstein's island. Months earlier, Lutnick had insisted he thought Epstein was disgusting upon first meeting and never associated with him afterward. The removal of the photograph contradicts Lutnick's public statements.
• DOJ withheld FBI interview summaries related to Trump accuser in Epstein case — The New York Times reported that the DOJ failed to include key materials related to a woman who accused both Trump and Epstein of sexual assault decades earlier when she was a minor. An index of investigative materials indicated that the FBI conducted four interviews in connection with her claims and wrote summaries about each. However, only one summary—describing her accusations against Epstein—was released by DOJ. The other three summaries and underlying interview notes were missing. DOJ stated that withheld materials were either privileged or duplicates, or were withheld due to an ongoing federal investigation. On Wednesday, DOJ announced it would review which documents were released and publish any documents "found to have been improperly tagged in the review process."
• Missing FBI interview memos in Epstein investigation identified — During the Clinton depositions, it was revealed that FBI 302 interview memos tied to a survivor who accused Donald Trump of sexual assault as a minor are missing from the Department of Justice's released Epstein materials. Rep. Robert Garcia, Ranking Member on the Oversight Committee, stated that the Department of Justice continues to lead a White House cover-up and noted that missing materials extend beyond a single survivor's account, with a significant portion of Epstein investigation files remaining unreleased.
• Rep. Robert Garcia demands release of missing Epstein files related to Trump accuser — House Oversight Committee Ranking Member Robert Garcia announced that the committee will demand release of remaining Epstein files, including newly discovered files from a survivor who made serious accusations against Trump. Garcia stated that an archive manifest shows that interviews and information related to this survivor have been removed and are missing. He demanded answers about the location of the files and who removed them, stating: "Where are these files? Who removed them? Those questions have to be answered."
• DOJ appears to have illegally withheld material from Epstein files — NPR reporter Stephen Fowler reported on Tuesday morning that the Department of Justice appears to have illegally withheld material from the Epstein files. The withheld material relates to allegations that Trump sexually assaulted two girls when they were approximately thirteen years old. The DOJ also removed from published files documents mentioning Trump among allegations against convicted sexual abuser Epstein. On February 14, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche told Congress they had not withheld or redacted records "on the basis of embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity." The Epstein Files Transparency Act, which required release of all files by December 19, 2025, prohibits such redactions except to protect victims and survivors.

Supporting reports

• Judge Aileen Cannon blocked release of Special Counsel Jack Smith's classified documents report — U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon issued an order permanently blocking the release of Volume Two of Special Counsel Jack Smith's report on classified documents. Cannon ruled that releasing the report would be "unfair" to Trump and his co-defendants, citing her prior conclusion that the Special Counsel lacked lawful authority. The Department of Justice did not oppose the motion, allowing Cannon to write that "all parties agree" disclosure would violate the court's dismissal order. The decision shields the report from public scrutiny.
• Judge Cannon permanently blocks release of Jack Smith's classified documents report — US District Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, issued a permanent injunction barring the Department of Justice from releasing Special Counsel Jack Smith's report on the classified documents case (Volume II). Cannon condemned Smith's compilation of the report after she had dismissed the underlying case in 2024 on grounds of unlawful appointment, calling it a "brazen stratagem" and a breach of her dismissal order. She ruled that release would expose grand jury material and cause irreparable harm to Trump, distinguishing the case from prior special counsel reports (Mueller) that were publicly released.
• Judge Aileen Cannon blocked release of Jack Smith's classified documents report — Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, blocked the release of Special Counsel Jack Smith's report on his investigation of Trump's retention of classified documents after leaving office in 2021. It is standard procedure for a special counsel's report to be made public. Legal analyst Joyce White Vance noted that Cannon has consistently worked to suppress Smith's report and that Trump's fierce fight to keep it under wraps has led to speculation about surprising contents.
• Judge blocks release of Jack Smith’s report on Trump — Judge Aileen Cannon blocked the release of special counsel Jack Smith's report regarding Trump's retention of classified documents. This decision is notable as it deviates from the usual procedure of making such reports public, raising concerns about transparency and accountability.

Supporting reports

• Complaint filed: Democracy Defenders Fund v. Federal Bureau of Investigation (D.D.C. 1:26-cv-00496) — Democracy Defenders Fund, a non-profit organization, filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against the FBI for violating the Freedom of Information Act by failing to respond to a FOIA request concerning the FBI's investigation of Thomas Homan, Trump's "Border Czar." DDF alleges that Homan accepted $50,000 from undercover FBI agents posing as contractors in 2024, and that the FBI ended its investigation after Trump took office in 2025. The FBI denied DDF's FOIA request on January 5, 2026, denied expedited processing on February 9, 2026, and has not responded to DDF's appeal. DDF seeks a declaration that the FBI wrongfully withheld records and a permanent injunction requiring disclosure.

Supporting reports

• Preliminary injunction ruling — State of Minnesota v. Noem (D. Minn.) 0:26-cv-00190 — A magistrate judge denied Minnesota's motion for expedited discovery, holding that despite the “far-reaching and deeply traumatizing effects” of Operation Metro Surge, Plaintiffs had not shown good cause because they had not yet filed the contemplated preliminary injunction motion or narrowly targeted their request to support specific and necessary ends.
• Stay motion decided — Lesly Miot v. Trump (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-02471 — A coalition of 17 states and the District of Columbia filed an amicus brief in opposition to the emergency motion to stay pending appeal.
• Case update — Democracy Forward Foundation v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-04424 — Defendant answered Plaintiff's complaint and included the defense that its actions did not violate FOIA or other statutory provisions.
• Case update — State of Washington v. Federal Emergency Management Agency (D. Mass.) 1:25-cv-12006 — Plaintiff States filed a Motion to Enforce Judgment.
• Motion to dismiss decided — State of New York v. Department of Education (D. Mass.) 1:25-cv-11116 — Judge Young granted parties' joint motion to dismiss the complaint without prejudice after the administration withdrew its appeal in American Federation of Teachers v. Department of Education of a court order vacating the same challenged agency action.
• Ruling vacated — Lazaro Maldonado Bautista v. Ernesto Santacruz Jr. (C.D. Cal.) 5:25-cv-01873 — Judge Sykes granted Plaintiffs' motion to enforce judgment, finding that the government violated her prior order by continuing to detain noncitizens without a bond hearing. Judge Sykes vacated a Board of Immigration Appeals decision that conflicted with her order, finding that the administration's continued reliance on that decision “far crossed the boundaries of constitutional conduct.” Judge Sykes also ordered the government to provide notice to a nationwide class of detained noncitizens of their ability to seek bond hearings under her order.
• Stay motion decided — U.H.A. et al v. Bondi et al (D. Minn.) 0:26-cv-00417 — Judge Tunheim granted the motion to stay consideration of Plaintiffs' contempt motion for seven days.
• Case update — Center for Constitutional Rights v. United States Department of State (S.D.N.Y.) 1:25-cv-06879 — Defendants filed a status report which indicates that USAID had begun its production of priority documents to Plaintiff and that the parties would continue to confer on narrowing the scope of Defendants' searches in light of USAID initially locating over 17 million potentially responsive records and DOS initially locating over 900,000 pages of responsive records.
• Case update — Vizguerra-Ramirez v. Choate et al (D. Colo.) 1:25-cv-00881 — In a minute order , Judge Wang directed that the case be administratively closed.
• Complaint filed — Lemmon v. Trump (D.D.C. 1:26-cv-00544) — Private plaintiffs, including Vietnam War veterans, diplomats, and a historic preservation expert, filed a complaint in D.D.C. challenging President Trump's proposed 25-story "Independence Arch" on Memorial Circle between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. Plaintiffs allege the administration violated the Commemorative Works Act, National Historic Preservation Act, and National Environmental Policy Act by proceeding without required legislative approval and environmental review on an accelerated schedule ahead of July 4, 2026. They seek declaratory and injunctive relief to bar construction and have filed a motion for preliminary injunction.
• Complaint filed: Williams v. National Aeronautics and Space Administration — Two scientists and an association of engineers and scientists at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center filed suit in D.D.C. against NASA and the Archivist of the United States, challenging the September 2025 reversal of NASA's records-preservation framework and the closure of the Goddard Information and Collaboration Center and NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive. Plaintiffs allege the decisions violated the Administrative Procedure Act as arbitrary and capricious and seek vacatur, rescission, and an order requiring preservation of the database and records.
• Motion granted — Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance v. United States Department of the Interior (D. Utah) 2:25-cv-00657 — Judge Barlow granted a motion allowing Peak Minerals, the owner of mineral leases at stake in Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance's lawsuit against the government, to intervene in the case.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — Citizens For Responsibility And Ethics In Washington v. Department Of Justice (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-04426 — Judge Kollar-Kotelly issued an order which granted in part and denied in part Plaintiff's preliminary injunction motion . The DOJ was ordered to expedite its processing of CREW's FOIA requests, however Judge Kollar-Kotelly declined to direct the DOJ to process its requests at a specific rate, instead opting to direct the parties to develop a proposal for the expedited processing and production of the most urgent records.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — Tincher v. Noem (D. Minn.) 0:25-cv-04669 — The Eight Circuit stayed the appeal proceedings pending an indicative ruling by the district court on a motion to dissolve the preliminary injunction, following the reported end of Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis.
• Appeal filed — State of Illinois v. Noem (D.R.I.) 1:25-cv-00495 — The government appealed Judge McElroy's Dec. 22, 2025 order granting summary judgment to Plaintiffs to the First Circuit (Case No. 26-1182 ).
• Case update — Jorge Lujan v. FMCSA (D.C. Cir.) 25-1215 — The court severed Lujan v. FMCSA , 26-1032 from Lujan v. FMCSA , 25-1215. The court ordered Lujan v. FMCSA , 25-1215 remain in abeyance pending further order of the court following the disposition of Lujan v. FMCSA , 26-1032.
• Case update — Jorge Lujan v. FMCSA (D.C. Cir.) 26-1032 — Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint alleging they have exhausted administrative remedies under FOIA and are now entitled to an injunction.
• Case update — Protect Democracy Project v. U.S. Department of the Treasury (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-04101 — The court consolidated American Public Health Association v. EPA , 26-1037 with Elena Venner v. EPA , 26-1038. These cases will proceed under American Public Health Association v. EPA .
• Cases consolidated — American Public Health Association v. EPA (D.C. Cir.) 26-1037

Supporting reports

• DOJ claims full compliance with Epstein Transparency Act — Attorney General Pam Bondi and Todd Blanche issued a letter asserting that the Department of Justice has completely fulfilled its obligations under the Epstein Transparency Act, claiming release of all records, documents, communications, and investigative materials in DOJ's possession relating to Epstein. House Oversight ranking member Robert Garcia disputed this claim, stating that approximately 50% of Epstein files remain withheld.
• Rep. Massie alleges DOJ removed Epstein documents — Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) stated that the DOJ took down significant Epstein documents before Congress could review unredacted versions. Massie said the DOJ cannot keep documents down after already producing them, indicating potential destruction or concealment of evidence.
• Sen. Schumer accuses DOJ of Epstein file cover-up — Sen. Chuck Schumer stated that the Epstein Transparency Act required all files to be released by December 19, 2025. Schumer alleged that DOJ delayed release for 43 days, cherry-picked documents with heavy redactions, and admitted to releasing less than 1% of all documents until recently. Schumer accused Attorney General Bondi of attempting to deceive the American people.
• Trump administration declares Epstein files case closed despite evidence of undisclosed material — Reporting indicates the Epstein files are substantially larger than previously disclosed, with researchers estimating as much as 50 terabytes of material, with only a fraction produced publicly. The Trump administration has declared the case "closed" and insisted there is nothing more to see, despite evidence to the contrary. Millions of documents reportedly remain undisclosed.
• DOJ withholds approximately 3 million Epstein files despite congressional mandate — The Trump administration's Department of Justice continues to withhold approximately 3 million documents related to Jeffrey Epstein's crimes, despite Congress mandating their release in late 2025. Hillary Clinton, speaking at the Munich Security Conference, accused the DOJ of "slow-walking" the release and urged the administration to "get the files out." Periodic document dumps have occurred, but the vast majority remain unreleased.

Supporting reports

• DHS/ICE announces $38.3bn warehouse-to-detention-center conversion plan across 24 facilities — US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) disclosed plans to acquire and retrofit 24 warehouses nationwide into immigration detention centers with capacity for tens of thousands of detainees. The plan includes 16 regional processing centers (1,000–1,500 capacity each) and 8 large-scale facilities (7,000–10,000 capacity) designated as "primary locations" for deportations. DHS estimates $158m to retrofit a Merrimack, New Hampshire facility and $146m to operate it over three years. The broader $38.3bn effort is intended to support mass deportations and is funded by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
• ICE expands facilities across United States — ICE has quietly and aggressively expanded across the United States in recent months, buying or leasing new facilities in nearly every state, many outside the country's largest cities but concentrated in Texas. DHS asked the General Services Administration to ignore competitive bidding rules and hide lease listings citing "national security concerns."
• ICE plans $38.3 billion detention center expansion — ICE officials are planning to spend $38.3 billion to buy warehouses across the country. ICE will retrofit sixteen of them to become processing centers that can hold 1,000 to 1,500 detainees at a time before funneling them into eight megacenters that can hold up to 10,000 detainees each.

Supporting reports

• DHS uses SAVE tool to identify noncitizen voters — DHS has been using an electronic tool called Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE), previously used to check eligibility for public benefits, to find noncitizen voters in a database made up of confidential data from different government agencies. That information includes confidential data from the Social Security Administration, accessed by the Department of Government Efficiency. Republican secretaries of state in twenty-seven states have agreed to use SAVE to check their voter rolls.
• SAVE system makes persistent errors identifying naturalized citizens — The SAVE system makes "persistent mistakes," frequently assessing naturalized citizens as noncitizens. The system automatically refers those individuals to DHS for possible criminal investigation, and in certain states, individuals have had to prove their citizenship to be reinstated as voters. County clerk Brianna Lennon of Boone County, Missouri, stated the system is "not ready for prime time" and she will not risk the security and constitutional rights of voters for bad data.
• ProPublica reported federal voter-verification tool misidentifies citizens as noncitizens — ProPublica reported that a federal tool designed to identify noncitizens on voter rolls is consistently and incorrectly marking U.S. citizens as noncitizens, particularly those born outside the United States. This tool is the same system that states would be required to use under the GOP's SAVE America Act, which passed the House this week. Research from Kansas showed that when a similar version was implemented, approximately 40 ineligible voters were purged while 31,000 legal citizens were prevented from registering—a ratio of 775 legal voters lost for every 1 ineligible voter.

Supporting reports

• Attorney General Bondi testified before House Judiciary Committee and refused to answer questions about Epstein co-conspirators — Attorney General Pam Bondi testified before the House Judiciary Committee on February 11, 2026. When asked by Congressman Nadler how many of Jeffrey Epstein's co-conspirators had been indicted and how many perpetrators were being investigated, Bondi did not answer directly. Instead, she attacked members of Congress throughout the hearing. When Congresswoman Jayapal asked survivors of Epstein's crimes to stand if they had not met with the Department of Justice, all survivors present raised their hands. Jayapal then asked Bondi to turn and apologize to the survivors; Bondi refused to acknowledge them and instead attacked Democrats over past impeachment proceedings.
• Pam Bondi testified before House Judiciary Committee on Epstein files handling — Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared before the House Judiciary Committee to address her handling of Epstein-related documents and redactions. Her testimony drew intense criticism from Democratic lawmakers and observers who alleged she was covering up information, lying under oath, and that the DOJ had improperly surveilled members of Congress reviewing the files. Multiple representatives and senators called for her impeachment or resignation, citing her conduct as unprofessional and her role in withholding documents and redacting victim information.
• Attorney General Bondi refused to release Epstein files to public as required by law — Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared before the House Judiciary Committee but refused to release all Epstein files to the public as Congress required when it passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Bondi did not acknowledge survivors of Epstein's sexual assaults and sex trafficking who were present in the audience. When Representative Pramila Jayapal urged her to apologize to survivors for the sloppiness of the release that left many survivors' names, identifying information, and sexually explicit photos unredacted while covering perpetrators' names, Bondi accused Jayapal of theatrics and dragging the hearing "into the gutter."
• Pam Bondi defends DOJ Epstein file handling in heated House judiciary committee hearing — US Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared before the House judiciary committee on Wednesday to defend the Department of Justice's handling of files related to Jeffrey Epstein. Democrats questioned the DOJ's compliance with a law mandating complete release of the files, citing concerns about released survivor names and unexplained redactions of names of potential crime perpetrators. Bondi avoided substantive answers, instead attacking and insulting Democratic questioners, calling one a "washed-up loser lawyer" and refusing to apologize to Epstein victims present in the hearing room.
• DOJ Refuses to Release Epstein Files to Congress — The Department of Justice (DOJ) did not comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which required the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein. Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared before the House Judiciary Committee but did not provide satisfactory answers regarding the withheld documents, which has raised concerns about transparency and accountability in the administration.

Supporting reports

• Federal judge blocks California ICE mask ban, upholds identification requirement — On February 10, 2026, U.S. District Judge Christina Snyder issued a preliminary injunction blocking California's law banning facial coverings by federal immigration agents, ruling the mask ban discriminated against the federal government because it did not apply equally to state and local law enforcement. However, Snyder upheld a separate California law requiring both federal and state officers to display clear identification and badge numbers. The Trump administration had sued in November 2026 arguing the mask ban violated the Constitution and threatened officer safety. California state senator Scott Weiner announced plans to introduce revised legislation applying the mask ban to all law enforcement agencies.

Supporting reports

• Jamie Raskin accuses DOJ of improper redactions in Epstein files — Rep. Jamie Raskin, House Judiciary ranking member, reviewed unredacted Epstein files at a DOJ facility in Washington DC on February 9 and publicly accused the Justice Department of making "mysterious redactions" that obscured names of alleged abusers while failing to redact victims' identities. Raskin stated the redactions were either "spectacular incompetence" or a deliberate threat to survivors. He said he reviewed approximately 30–40 unredacted files and identified unnecessary redactions of public figures including Les Wexner and references to Trump. Raskin announced he would raise the issue with Attorney General Pam Bondi at her scheduled House Judiciary Committee testimony.
• House members reviewed unredacted Epstein documents revealing child victims as young as nine years old and multiple co-conspirators — Representatives including Jamie Raskin, Jared Moskowitz, and Jasmine Crockett reviewed previously redacted Epstein documents at the Department of Justice. The documents revealed evidence of victims as young as nine years old and identified numerous co-conspirators in the international child sex trafficking operation. Raskin noted unnecessary redactions beyond victim name protection and stated that a billion-dollar trafficking ring could not operate with only two perpetrators. The documents also contained references to Trump's relationship with Epstein at Mar-a-Lago that had been redacted.
• Rep. James Walkinshaw identified improperly redacted Epstein email involving Trump — Rep. James Walkinshaw reported that he reviewed Epstein file redactions and found an email from Epstein's attorneys recounting a 2009 conversation with Trump that contained no mention of victims and should not have been redacted. Walkinshaw noted there were many other inexplicable redactions in the files.
• Rep. Jamie Raskin documented severe restrictions on congressional access to Epstein files — Rep. Jamie Raskin stated that the DOJ is providing Congress with only four computers in a satellite office to review more than 3 million unredacted Epstein documents. Raskin calculated that working 40 hours per week on nothing else, it would take more than 7 years for the 217 House members who signed the discharge petition to read only the documents the DOJ has decided to release, with 3 million additional documents still being withheld.
• Rep. Ro Khanna criticized DOJ redactions of Epstein files — Rep. Ro Khanna stated on MSNBC that the Epstein files released by the DOJ had already been scrubbed by Trump's FBI in March 2025 before being provided to Congress. Khanna alleged that the DOJ is protecting powerful people by maintaining redactions and that the vast majority of documents containing survivor statements remain unredacted, preventing full accountability for crimes.
• Rep. Thomas Massie revealed DOJ unredacted co-conspirator identities in Epstein files — Rep. Thomas Massie reported that in response to his social media posts, the DOJ unredacted FBI files labeling two individuals as co-conspirators in child sex trafficking, unredacted files listing men who might be implicated, and tacitly admitted that Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem sent a torture video to Epstein. Massie noted that FBI's own 2019 document listed Wexner as a coconspirator, information not previously unredacted, and that no one knew the sender of the torture video until he obtained the unredacted email.
• Attorney General Bondi refused to release Epstein files to public as required by law — Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared before the House Judiciary Committee but refused to release all Epstein files to the public as Congress required when it passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Bondi did not acknowledge survivors of Epstein's sexual assaults and sex trafficking who were present in the audience. When Representative Pramila Jayapal urged her to apologize to survivors for the sloppiness of the release that left many survivors' names, identifying information, and sexually explicit photos unredacted while covering perpetrators' names, Bondi accused Jayapal of theatrics and dragging the hearing "into the gutter."
• National Parks Foundation agreed to keep Freedom 250 donors anonymous — A representative for the National Parks Foundation, which is serving as the legal vehicle for Freedom 250, told a Congressional committee that it would keep donors anonymous upon request. This arrangement allows major corporations to fund partisan political advocacy through a nonprofit structure while maintaining donor confidentiality.

Supporting reports

• DHS purchases three major detention facilities for $194.4 million — The Department of Homeland Security has secured at least three facilities for the detention warehouse system. DHS paid $87.4 million for one facility outside Philadelphia, $37 million for another outside San Antonio (a warehouse of nearly 640,000 square feet), and $70 million for a building the size of seven football fields in Surprise, Arizona, outside Phoenix. The total expenditure for these three facilities is $194.4 million.
• ICE purchased multiple warehouses nationwide to convert into large-scale detention camps with minimal oversight — Immigration and Customs Enforcement has spent over half a billion dollars purchasing warehouses across the country to convert into detention camps. The planned facilities would hold between 8,500 and 10,000 people each in buildings not originally designed for human habitation, making them larger than Rikers Island, the physically largest jail in the United States. ICE has purchased at least six warehouses at costs of $70–$110 million each, with billions more required for retrofitting and staffing. Recent purchases include warehouses in multiple states. Immigration attorney Aaron Reichlin-Melnick noted these mega-camps would operate with little to no real oversight.
• DHS and ICE acquire multiple large warehouse properties across six states for immigration detention expansion — The Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement have purchased or are planning to acquire approximately 23 warehouse-style properties nationwide, with confirmed acquisitions documented in Arizona (418,000 sq ft, $70M), Pennsylvania (520,000 sq ft, $87.4M), Texas (640,000 sq ft, $66.1M), Maryland (825,000+ sq ft, $102.4M), Texas near El Paso (over $122M), and Georgia. Additional proposals include a Mississippi facility designed to hold 8,500+ beds and a Texas site in Hutchins. The acquisitions bypass traditional approval processes by utilizing already-zoned industrial properties, enabling rapid expansion of detention and processing capacity.
• DHS and ICE Acquire Large Warehouses for Detention Expansion — The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have been acquiring large industrial warehouse properties across multiple states to expand immigration detention and processing capacity. Confirmed purchases include a 418,000-square-foot warehouse in Surprise, Arizona, a 520,000-square-foot facility in Upper Bern Township, Pennsylvania, a 640,000-square-foot site in San Antonio, Texas, an 825,000-square-foot warehouse in Washington County, Maryland, and a property in Socorro, Texas. These acquisitions are part of a broader strategy involving approximately 23 warehouse-style properties nationwide, as reported by the Washington Post.
• Oklahoma City warehouse owner terminates DHS detention facility negotiations following public opposition — A warehouse owner in Oklahoma City ended negotiations with the Department of Homeland Security for use as an ICE detention facility after public opposition and community scrutiny. The outcome demonstrates that local engagement and documentation can alter federal acquisition outcomes.
• DHS purchased six warehouse properties for detention infrastructure — Public records confirm that the Department of Homeland Security has purchased at least six massive warehouse properties across multiple states totaling hundreds of millions of dollars: Arizona (418,000 sq ft, $70M), Pennsylvania (520,000 sq ft, $87.4M), Texas (640,000 sq ft, $66.1M), Maryland (825,000+ sq ft, $102.4M), another Texas site ($122M+), and Georgia. Internal DHS planning documents describe a strategy involving approximately 23 warehouse-style properties nationwide. These industrial structures near highways, freight corridors, and airports are selected for logistical efficiency and rapid conversion into processing centers capable of handling large numbers of individuals simultaneously.

Supporting reports

• State Department removing pre-Trump posts from X — The State Department is removing all posts on its public accounts on the social media platform X made before Trump returned to office on January 20, 2025. The posts will be internally archived but will no longer be on public view. Staff members were told that anyone wanting to see older posts will have to file a Freedom of Information Act request. This differs from how the U.S. government typically handles archiving the public online footprint of previous administrations.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration strips civil service protections — The Office of Personnel Management issued a final rule to remove civil service protections from approximately 50,000 federal employees, allowing the administration to replace nonpartisan civil servants with loyalists. This move reverses a long-standing nonpartisan civil service established in 1883.
• Trump administration removed job protections for approximately 50,000 federal workers — The Trump administration moved to remove job protections for approximately 50,000 federal workers by creating a new employment category called "Schedule Policy/Career," shifting whistleblower handling away from the independent Office of Special Counsel toward internal agency processes. The Office of Personnel Management framed the change as "accountability," but the rule raises questions about whether professional government can remain professional if continued employment depends more directly on alignment with leadership than on neutral expertise.
• Federal employment protections eliminated for 50,000 workers — The Trump administration finalized rules removing job protections for up to 50,000 federal workers by shifting them into a new "Schedule Policy/Career" employment category. The change redirects whistleblower complaints away from independent oversight mechanisms toward internal agency processes, reducing external accountability for federal employees.

Supporting reports

• DOJ removes Epstein prosecution memo from website — An 86-page Department of Justice prosecution memo related to the Epstein case, which listed possible coconspirators and detailed victims' allegations, disappeared from the DOJ website after the Miami Herald questioned the Department about the document. The memo had been marked as privileged attorney work product and subject to federal grand jury rules. Under the Epstein Transparency Act, much of the material was supposed to be produced with only identifying information about victims protected. The DOJ is now claiming deliberative process privilege over essentially all content and has removed the document from public view.
• Calls for Release of Epstein Files and Public Hearings — There is a growing demand for the release of the full Epstein files and for public hearings to be held. These files reportedly contain information on a network of powerful individuals involved in criminal activities. Advocacy groups are urging the public to contact their US Representatives and Senators to push for transparency and accountability in this matter.

Supporting reports

• White House announced 700-agent drawdown from Minnesota — White House border czar Tom Homan announced on February 4 that 700 immigration agents would leave Minnesota immediately. However, as of the article date, fewer than 1,000 agents remain in the state, not zero. Court filings confirm thousands of federal agents were assigned to Operation Metro Surge at various points, described by DHS as its largest enforcement operation ever. Legal observers continue reporting enforcement activity in suburbs despite the announced drawdown.
• White House border czar announces partial withdrawal of federal agents from Minnesota — Tom Homan, White House border czar, announced that approximately 700 federal immigration agents would be withdrawn from Minnesota, reducing the surge but leaving roughly 2,000 agents in the state—far above historical levels. The reduction is contingent on county jails agreeing to hold immigrants for up to 48 hours after their release dates to facilitate federal pickup. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey stated the drawdown is insufficient and called for complete withdrawal of Operation Metro Surge, citing two killings of U.S. citizens by federal agents in January and widespread community fear.
• Tom Homan replaces Gregory Bovino as federal immigration enforcement lead in Minnesota — Trump's "border czar" Tom Homan announced a drawdown of 700 federal immigration officers in Minnesota while maintaining roughly 2,000 officers in the state—far above the typical 150. Homan, replacing Gregory Bovino following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti and mounting local backlash, stated the operation remains focused on deporting all undocumented immigrants regardless of criminal history. He emphasized "unprecedented collaboration" with county sheriffs to access local jails for ICE notifications, though major Minnesota counties have not confirmed participation.