Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• New US Visa Rules Require Social Media Access for Foreign Students — The US State Department has announced new visa rules requiring foreign students to unlock their social media profiles for review by US diplomats before receiving educational and exchange visas. This directive, aimed at F, M, and J visa categories, mandates an online presence review to identify any hostility towards US citizens, culture, or institutions. The guidance also includes screening for support of foreign terrorists and antisemitic activities. The Trump administration paused new education visas issuance to develop these vetting strategies, which have been criticized as targeting opposition to Israel's actions in Gaza.
• State Department to Review Visa Applicants' Social Media — The State Department will review social media accounts of individuals applying for student and visiting scholar visas, looking for indications of hostility toward the U.S. Applicants must make accounts public for review.

Supporting reports

• Trump Administration Blocks Grant Funding for Harvard — The Trump administration, through Education Secretary Linda McMahon, has informed Harvard University that it will no longer receive federal research grants and aid unless it complies with a list of demands. This decision follows Harvard's rejection of demands from the administration's antisemitism taskforce, which were prompted by campus protests against Israel's military actions in Gaza. The administration has already frozen $2.2 billion in funding and threatened to freeze an additional $1 billion, while also considering revoking Harvard's tax-exempt status. Harvard has filed a lawsuit against the government, citing severe impacts on research and education.

Supporting reports

• Trump Administration Investigates Harvard for Race-Based Discrimination — The Trump administration announced an investigation into Harvard University and the Harvard Law Review over allegations of race-based discrimination. This investigation is part of broader scrutiny of academic institutions.
• Trump administration launches investigation into Harvard Law Review for alleged race-based discrimination — The Trump administration announced an investigation into Harvard University and the Harvard Law Review for potential violations of civil rights law, specifically Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The investigation focuses on claims that the Harvard Law Review's article selection process may favor submissions based on the race of the author rather than merit. This move is part of a broader crackdown by the administration on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, which it argues discriminate against white people and men. The investigation was announced by the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration announces funding freezes to Brown, Northwestern, Princeton, and Cornell universities — The White House announced funding freezes to multiple universities including Brown, Northwestern, Princeton, and Cornell, as part of a broader campaign to pressure higher education institutions to comply with Trump administration demands regarding curriculum, admissions, hiring, and DEI programs. The specific demands and freeze amounts are not detailed in the article.
• Trump administration circulates draft executive order for radical State Department restructuring — A draft executive order reportedly circulating within the Trump administration proposes a sweeping reorganization of the U.S. State Department, including elimination of the Bureau of African Affairs, Bureau of International Organizations, Office of Global Women's Issues, and special envoy for climate. The order would close unspecified "non-essential" embassies and consulates in sub-Saharan Africa, reduce diplomatic operations in Canada, and reorganize the department into four regional bureaus. State Department officials disputed the authenticity of the leaked document, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling it "fake news," though the New York Times and Bloomberg reported on the draft.
• Trump administration cuts federal funding to Harvard University and demands policy changes — The Trump administration cut approximately $2.3 billion in federal funding to Harvard University after the institution refused to concede to administration demands. Trump also called for Harvard's tax-exempt status to be revoked. The administration deployed an "antisemitism taskforce" to demand policy changes at universities nationwide. Columbia University capitulated to similar demands, agreeing to restore $400 million in federal funding in exchange for measures including banning face masks, empowering security to arrest people, and placing control of its Middle Eastern department under new oversight.
• Trump administration freezes $2.2bn in Harvard grants and demands government control over admissions, hiring, and curriculum — The Trump administration announced a freeze of $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in multi-year contract value to Harvard University after President Alan Garber refused demands that would grant the government authority to audit the student body, faculty, and leadership for "viewpoint diversity" and to shut down all diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. Garber stated the demands violated the university's independence and constitutional rights. The administration framed the action as addressing antisemitism and civil rights violations, though critics view it as authoritarian overreach targeting higher education as an independent sector.

Supporting reports

• Columbia University capitulates to Trump administration demands and places Mesaas department under receivership — Columbia University announced it would comply with Trump administration demands by placing its Mesaas department under "receivership"—removing it from faculty control—and implementing sweeping restrictions on pro-Palestinian campus activity, including protest limitations and new speech codes. The university also agreed to place the Center for Palestine Studies under receivership. These actions followed the Trump administration's $400 million funding cancellation and represented a capitulation to government pressure to suppress academic discourse on Palestine. The announcement prompted immediate condemnation from academic freedom advocates and prompted the American Association of University Professors and American Federation of Teachers to file suit against the Trump administration on behalf of Columbia faculty members.
• Trump administration cancels $400 million in federal funding to Columbia University over alleged antisemitism — The Trump administration cancelled approximately $400 million in federal funding to Columbia University, primarily allocated for scientific research, citing the university's alleged failure to protect faculty and students from antisemitic violence and harassment. The administration demanded Columbia place its Middle Eastern, South Asian and African Studies (Mesaas) department under "receivership"—external control outside faculty governance. Columbia's interim president announced the university would comply with these demands, including new restrictions on pro-Palestinian protest and academic activity. The funding cancellation was not immediately reversed despite Columbia's capitulation, with Trump officials indicating continued monitoring of the university's adherence to imposed policies.
• Columbia interim president Katrina Armstrong resigns — Columbia University's interim president Katrina Armstrong announced her resignation, becoming the second president of the university to resign within eight months. Her departure followed the university's announcement that it would comply with Trump administration demands to restrict pro-Palestinian activity and place the Mesaas department under external control. The resignation signals institutional instability and the toll of federal pressure on university leadership.