Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• ABC files First Amendment lawsuit against FCC, alleging retaliatory campaign by Trump administration — ABC filed an unprecedented First Amendment lawsuit in federal court in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday against the FCC, alleging that the agency and its chairman Brendan Carr are conducting a retaliatory campaign to curb the network's free speech. The lawsuit seeks to halt an FCC proceeding demanding that ABC put its eight stations up for early license renewal. The action follows Trump's public attacks on the network, including criticism of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, and ABC News coverage the administration disapproved of.
• ABC sues FCC over early license renewal demand, alleging content-based retaliation — ABC filed a federal lawsuit in the District of Columbia against the FCC, challenging an order by FCC Chair Brendan Carr requiring the network to apply early to renew licenses for eight local television stations it owns. ABC alleges the demand is retaliatory punishment for editorial content the Trump administration disapproves of, and warns the action threatens press independence. The network faces potential license denial or prolonged costly litigation, and conservative groups have filed petitions urging the FCC to deny renewals based on alleged political bias in ABC's journalism.
• ABC and Disney sued the FCC alleging First Amendment violations and government censorship — ABC and its parent corporation The Walt Disney Company launched a federal lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission, alleging that the Trump administration violated their free speech rights. The lawsuit claims that administration officials attempted to launch investigations and challenge broadcast licenses because Trump objected to the network's talk show opinions, news coverage, and late-night comedians. The lawsuit begins with the statement: "Government censorship is deeply un-American."
• Complaint filed — American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. v. Federal Communications Commission — ABC, The Walt Disney Company, and eight ABC-owned television stations filed a federal complaint in D.D.C. challenging an April 28, 2026 FCC order requiring early broadcast license renewal applications. The plaintiffs allege the order and related investigations constitute First Amendment retaliation for editorial decisions, including coverage of a presidential address and personnel decisions regarding late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. The complaint cites over 600 document requests and 13,000 pages of production demands, and alleges the regulatory pressure has chilled editorial discretion, including candidate bookings on The View. Plaintiffs seek declaratory judgment, preliminary injunction, and permanent injunction barring further FCC action on the renewal applications and any coercive conduct aimed at altering editorial decisions.
• ABC sues Trump administration over FCC retaliation — ABC News filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration alleging that the Federal Communications Commission retaliated against the network. The lawsuit represents a legal challenge to alleged government action targeting a news organization.
• Disney and ABC sued Trump's FCC over license renewal — Disney and ABC sued the Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday to stop an early review of broadcast licenses for eight ABC-owned television stations. Disney alleged that the government is attempting to punish the network over its programming and editorial decisions. Reuters reported this is the first time in more than 50 years that a major television broadcaster has been ordered into early license-renewal process.

Supporting reports

• Pete Hegseth announced Pentagon takeover of Stars and Stripes editorial content — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced that the Department of War is taking over editorial content decision-making for Stars and Stripes, the military publication. Hegseth stated the publication would be refocused away from "woke distractions" and toward warfighting, weapons systems, and military lethality. The Pentagon's statement challenged the editorial independence of Stars and Stripes, which has long retained independence under a congressional mandate governed by First Amendment principles.
• Stars and Stripes Editor-in-Chief Erik Slavin defended editorial independence — Stars and Stripes Editor-in-Chief Erik Slavin responded to the Pentagon's takeover announcement by reaffirming the publication's commitment to First Amendment principles and editorial independence. Slavin stated that military personnel who risk their lives in defense of the Constitution have earned the right to press freedoms and accurate, balanced coverage with accountability for military officials.
• Pentagon strikes policy protecting Stars and Stripes editorial independence, seizes control of military newspaper — The Trump administration's Department of Defense published a final rule in the Federal Register on Thursday striking previous policy that required Stars and Stripes to have a civilian editor and independent ombudsman. Pentagon officials will now control content "custom tailored to our warfighters," with the outlet directed to avoid "woke distractions" and focus exclusively on military topics. The action eliminates protections mandated by Congress and a defense department directive guaranteeing "free flow of news and information" without censorship.

Supporting reports

• Senate considers $9.4 billion spending rescission package — The Senate considered a White House request for Congress to approve $9.4 billion in spending cuts the Trump administration made unilaterally to congressionally appropriated funds. The package includes ending federal support for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds NPR, PBS, and local stations. The House had already passed it. Congress must approve by Friday or the funds revert to original appropriations. Senate Republicans expressed frustration that the White House had not specified which programs would be cut.
• Senate Republicans and White House reverse PEPFAR funding cut — Senate Republicans and the White House reached an agreement to reverse a proposed $400 million cut to PEPFAR, the global HIV and AIDS relief program, as part of Trump's $9 billion recissions package. The reversal preserved funding for the international health initiative.
• Trump administration announces plan to defund public broadcasting — The Trump administration included in its rescission package a request to end federal support for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds NPR, PBS, and local public broadcasting stations. The administration stated that NPR and PBS "fuel…partisanship and left-wing propaganda." The cuts are part of the broader $9.4 billion rescission request before Congress.
• Senate Republicans advance rescissions bill cutting $9bn in public broadcasting and foreign aid — Senate Republicans moved to pass a rescissions package slashing up to $9bn in previously appropriated funds, targeting $1.1bn for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (which funds NPR and PBS) and approximately $8bn in foreign assistance. The GOP is racing to meet a Friday legal deadline. Vice President JD Vance broke a tie on a procedural vote after three Republican senators joined all Democrats in opposition. The Senate began a vote-a-rama on Wednesday afternoon. Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced a compromise to preserve $400m in PEPFAR funding, requiring a second House vote.
• Senate passes Trump rescissions package to claw back $9bn in spending — Congressional Republicans advanced legislation requested by President Trump to rescind $9 billion in previously appropriated federal funding, including $1.1 billion for public broadcasting (NPR/PBS) and approximately $8 billion in foreign aid. The Senate passed the bill 51–48 on July 17, 2025, with Republican senators Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins voting against it. The measure now returns to the House for final approval before the 45-day rescission window expires on July 18.
• US Senate passes Trump-requested rescissions package cutting $9bn in foreign aid and public broadcasting — The Republican-controlled Senate voted 51–48 to approve a rescissions bill that claws back $9 billion in previously appropriated spending, including $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (which funds NPR and PBS) and approximately $8 billion in foreign assistance. All Democrats and two Republicans (Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins) opposed the measure. Senate Majority Leader John Thune framed it as "fiscal sanity," while Democrats condemned it as an unconstitutional surrender of Congress's spending authority to the executive branch. The bill now proceeds to the House for final approval before a Friday deadline.

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• Appeals court blocks reinstatement of Voice of America employees — A federal appeals court has blocked the reinstatement of over 1,000 Voice of America (VoA) employees, siding with the Trump administration. The court's decision paused a lower court's order that had temporarily stayed an executive order by Donald Trump dismantling the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees VoA. The ruling means that VoA employees will not return to work until the case is resolved. The decision was made by a divided DC circuit court panel, with Judges Neomi Rao and Gregory Katsas supporting the administration, while Judge Nina Pillard dissented.
• Appeal filed — Abramowitz v. Lake (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00887 — The D.C. Circuit, in a 2-1 decision , granted a stay. The majority held that (1) the district court lacked jurisdiction over agency employment decisions, which should have been brought to administrative bodies for adjudication; (2) the district court lacked jurisdiction over contract disputes, which should have been brought in the Court of Federal Claims (citing the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision in Department of Education v. California, 145 S. Ct. 966 (2025); and that the government, not the Plaintiffs, would suffer irreparable harm absent a stay. The court left in place the specific part of the district court's preliminary injunction requiring the resumption of VOA's statutorily required programming levels, which the government had not appealed.
• Appeal filed — Widakuswara v. Kari Lake (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01015 — The D.C. Circuit, in a 2-1 decision , granted a stay. The majority held that (1) the district court lacked jurisdiction over agency employment decisions, which should have been brought to administrative bodies for adjudication; (2) the district court lacked jurisdiction over contract disputes, which should have been brought in the Court of Federal Claims (citing the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision in Department of Education v. California ; and that the government, not the Plaintiffs, would suffer irreparable harm absent a stay.
• Motion granted — Middle East Broadcasting Networks v. United States (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00966 — The D.C. Circuit issued a stay for the group of consolidated cases included in the May 1 order. But the May 3 order did not include RFE/RL, Inc. v. Lake. The D.C. Circuit stated, “The government has filed a separate motion to stay that order, which we do not resolve here.”
• Motion granted — Radio Free Asia v. United States (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00907 — In March 2025, former President Donald Trump signed an executive order to dismantle the Voice of America (VOA) by cutting off its funding through its parent company, the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM). This action led to the suspension of VOA's operations, placing its staff on administrative leave and terminating contractors. Patsy Widakuswara, a journalist and the lead plaintiff, has filed a lawsuit against this order, arguing it violates press freedom and the First Amendment. A preliminary injunction was issued to restore funding, but a court of appeals later stayed this ruling.
• Stay motion decided — RFE/RL, Inc. v. Lake (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00799 — Following a preliminary injunction that ordered the Trump administration to restore funding to the Voice of America (VOA), a court of appeals issued a stay on this ruling. The court stated it did not have the authority to block Trump's executive order concerning employment matters. This stay prevents the immediate restoration of VOA's operations, leaving its staff and contractors in limbo as the legal battle continues.
• Trump Administration's Executive Order to Dismantle Voice of America
• Court of Appeals Stay on Preliminary Injunction Restoring VOA Funding

Supporting reports

• White House to control press pool access — The White House announced it will decide which news organizations and reporters are allowed into the presidential press pool covering Donald Trump. This decision follows a temporary court ruling allowing the administration to bar the Associated Press (AP) from the Oval Office and Air Force One. The White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) traditionally coordinates press access, but the administration claims it will now include new voices. The AP's access was revoked after it refused to comply with Trump's demand to rename the Gulf of Mexico, leading to accusations of violating First Amendment rights.
• White House takes control of press pool access — The Trump administration announced it will take control of the White House press pool, removing the White House Correspondents’ Association's (WHCA) role in deciding which journalists have access to the president. This decision was announced by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who framed it as democratizing access. The move has been criticized by media members, including a Fox News correspondent, as an attack on press independence. The administration has already barred the Associated Press from official events and removed Reuters from its traditional spot in the press pool.
• Trump administration to control press pool access — The White House announced it will control which reporters are allowed into the presidential press pool to cover Trump, taking over a role traditionally managed by the White House Correspondents’ Association. This decision follows a temporary ruling allowing the administration to bar the Associated Press over a naming dispute.
• — The Trump administration announced it would break precedent by choosing which media outlets are allowed to participate in the presidential press pool, a decision traditionally made by the White House Correspondents' Association. This move could limit press freedom and access to information.