Trump Action Archive

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• Pardoned January 6 participant Jake Lang protested at Supreme Court — Jake Lang, a January 6 Capitol riot participant who was pardoned, appeared at the Supreme Court on July 4, 2026, alongside Jayden Scott holding a sign that read "BAN WOMEN FROM THE SUPREME COURT." The protest targeted the Court's female justices.

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• US Supreme Court upholds state bans on transgender athletes in female sports — The US Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that states may exclude transgender girls and women from competing in female sports, overturning lower court judgments favoring two trans students—Lindsay Hecox in Idaho and Becky Pepper-Jackson in West Virginia. The court determined that such bans do not violate Title IX civil rights protections. The ruling is expected to embolden at least 25 other states with similar laws and represents a significant victory for the Trump administration's "culture war" agenda.
• US Supreme Court upholds trans athlete bans in West Virginia and Idaho — The US Supreme Court ruled that West Virginia and Idaho may constitutionally bar transgender girls from competing on girls' sports teams. The decision is legally narrow—it does not mandate bans nationwide or strip trans students of all Title IX protections—but advocates warn it will be weaponized to expand exclusionary policies across the 25 other states with similar restrictions and to erode trans rights in education, employment, and healthcare more broadly.
• Supreme Court upholds state bans on transgender athletes in school sports — The Supreme Court upheld state laws that ban transgender athletes from competing in school sports consistent with their gender identity. The ruling allows states to enforce restrictions on transgender participation in athletics, affecting access and equal treatment in school sports.
• Court rules that states can exclude transgender athletes from girls’ and women’s sports teams — The Supreme Court ruled that states have the authority to exclude transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports teams. This decision allows states to implement policies that restrict transgender athletes' participation based on their gender identity. The ruling has significant implications for the rights of transgender individuals and the ongoing debate over gender and sports. The decision may lead to further legislative and legal actions at the state level as states decide how to implement or challenge this ruling.
• Supreme Court releases opinion in West Virginia v. B. P. J. (24-43) — The Supreme Court released an official slip opinion in West Virginia v. B. P. J. Docket number(s): 24-43.
• White House issues release celebrating Supreme Court ruling on transgender athletes and detailing administration actions — The White House issued a release on June 30, 2026, responding to a Supreme Court decision permitting states to reserve female athletic competition for biological females. The release characterizes this as a "landmark victory" and lists executive actions the administration claims to have taken, including barring transgender individuals from military service, defunding gender-affirming medical care, eliminating "gender ideology" curricula, and requiring biological sex markers on federal documents.
• US Supreme Court rejects transgender girls' participation in female sports — In a Trump-friendly ruling issued on the same day as the birthright citizenship verdict, the Supreme Court effectively dismissed the rights of transgender girls and women to participate in female sports. The decision removes protections previously afforded to transgender athletes.

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• Supreme Court declines to hear Trump's final appeal in E. Jean Carroll defamation case — The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Trump's final appeal of the $5 million jury verdict against him in the E. Jean Carroll defamation case, allowing the lower court judgment to stand.
• US Supreme Court declines to review Trump's $5m E Jean Carroll verdict — The US Supreme Court declined Donald Trump's petition to review a 2023 New York jury verdict that found him liable for sexually abusing and defaming writer E Jean Carroll. The justices provided no explanation or reasoning. The decision leaves intact the $5m civil judgment. A three-judge appellate panel had previously upheld the verdict in 2024, rejecting Trump's claims the trial was unfair due to evidence of his alleged past sexual misconduct being admitted.
• Supreme Court declines to review $5 million verdict against Trump — The Supreme Court has decided not to review a $5 million verdict against former President Donald Trump. This decision leaves in place the lower court's ruling, which found Trump liable for damages. The refusal to hear the case means that the verdict stands as is, without further appeal to the nation's highest court. This outcome is significant as it upholds the accountability of a former president in a legal matter involving substantial financial penalties.
• Supreme Court denies certiorari in Trump v. Carroll (defamation case) — The Supreme Court denied the petition for a writ of certiorari in Trump, President of U.S. v. Carroll, E. Jean (Docket 25-573). This case involved a defamation suit brought by E. Jean Carroll against former President Trump. The denial allows the lower court judgment to stand.
• U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear Trump's appeal in Carroll civil case — The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Donald Trump's appeal of the 2023 civil jury verdict that found him liable for sexually abusing and defaming E Jean Carroll. The decision came after a three-judge appellate panel upheld the verdict in 2024 and rejected Trump's arguments that the trial was unfair. Trump had asked the Supreme Court in 2025 to review and overturn the verdict. The Court's refusal to hear the case leaves the $5 million judgment (now $5.8 million with interest) intact.
• Supreme Court declines to hear Trump's appeal in Carroll defamation case — On June 30, 2026, the United States Supreme Court declined to hear Donald Trump's appeal of a 2023 jury verdict that found him liable for sexually abusing and defaming E. Jean Carroll. This decision upholds the jury's award of $5 million in damages to Carroll. Trump's appeal argued against the admission of testimony from other women and the Access Hollywood tape as evidence, but the Supreme Court found these arguments unworthy of consideration. This marks a significant legal defeat for Trump, concluding a lengthy legal battle and smear campaign against Carroll.
• Supreme Court releases opinion in Trump v. Barbara (25-365) — The Supreme Court released an official slip opinion in Trump v. Barbara. Docket number(s): 25-365.
• E Jean Carroll files motion for expedited enforcement of $5m judgment against Trump — E Jean Carroll's legal team filed papers in federal court in Manhattan requesting that Judge Lewis Kaplan order Donald Trump to pay the $5 million judgment from a 2023 jury verdict finding Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation. The filing came one day after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Trump's appeal of the civil case. Judge Kaplan agreed to expedite the motion, with Trump's response due by July 7, 2026. Carroll's lawyers argued Trump has repeatedly delayed payment and continued making defamatory remarks about Carroll.
• Supreme Court declines to hear Trump's appeal in E. Jean Carroll case — The United States Supreme Court declined to hear former President Trump's appeal of a 2023 jury verdict that found him liable for sexually abusing and defaming E. Jean Carroll. This decision upholds the lower court's ruling, requiring Trump to pay Carroll $5 million. The case has been ongoing since 2019, with Trump repeatedly mocking and insulting Carroll. The Supreme Court's refusal to hear the appeal marks the end of Trump's legal options in this matter, solidifying the jury's decision against him.

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• New Jersey attorney general sued GEO Group over Delaney Hall conditions — New Jersey's attorney general filed suit against GEO Group to force health inspectors into Delaney Hall detention facility. The governor toured the facility. More than 80 people were arrested at solidarity protests outside. Lawmakers from two states demanded access. Some of the most vulnerable detainees were released, including an 18-year-old high school senior who spent nearly two months inside.

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• Trump hosts UFC event on White House South Lawn for 80th birthday — President Trump organized and hosted UFC Freedom 250, a professional mixed martial arts event, on the White House South Lawn on June 13, 2026, featuring seven fights including a lightweight championship unification bout. The event drew approximately 4,300 attendees, including 1,200 active-duty military personnel selected under strict fitness criteria. A watchdog group's legal challenge to block the event was denied by a judge. Trump had purchased up to $50,000 in stock in TKO Group Holdings, the UFC's parent company, earlier in 2026.
• Stunt performer performs backflip over UFC octagon on White House South Lawn — Stunt performer Travis Pastrana performed a backflip on a dirt bike over the UFC octagon fight arena positioned on the South Lawn of the White House. Other riders performed additional stunts, with all activities filmed against the facade of the White House building.
• Federal judge permits UFC event at White House despite legal challenge — Attorneys from the Public Integrity Project filed a lawsuit to block a UFC fight scheduled for the White House lawn on Trump's 80th birthday (billed as a 250th anniversary celebration). On Friday, a federal judge ruled the event could proceed. The lawsuit challenged the appropriateness and use of taxpayer funds for the mixed martial arts event, which Dana White said was Trump's idea. Marjorie Taylor Greene criticized the venue but expressed hope the event would be successful.
• Judge Mehta rejected lawsuit challenging UFC White House event — Judge Amit P. Mehta of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia rejected a lawsuit filed by a political activist and military veteran from Virginia seeking to stop the White House cage fight event. The plaintiff challenged the event as "deeply corrupt," arguing it uses national monuments to promote private businesses in which Trump holds financial interests and that the administration improperly invoked the 250th anniversary to bypass environmental review and congressional approval. Judge Mehta ruled that the plaintiff lacked standing to challenge the event and that the time and money invested in the event outweighed any temporary harm the plaintiff suffered.
• Federal agencies and UFC invested $60 million in White House cage fight event — Federal agencies and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) are investing at least $60 million toward a White House cage fight event scheduled for Trump's 80th birthday on Sunday, June 14, 2026. The funding has paid for a fighting arena on the South Lawn of the White House and approximately 900 workers since May 20, 2026. Trump owns significant stock in TKO Holding Group, the parent company of UFC.
• Trump holds $60 million UFC fight on White House South Lawn funded by corporate entity — Trump marked his 80th birthday by holding a UFC fight on the White House's South Lawn, an event that cost at least $60 million paid for by UFC's parent company TKO and required assistance from more than seven federal agencies. Some fighters received bonuses paid in cryptocurrency from the Trump family's World Liberty Financial. The event blurred the line between private entertainment and official use of federal resources and presidential facilities.
• UFC announces fighter bonuses in Trump family cryptocurrency at White House event — The Ultimate Fighting Championship announced it will pay performance bonuses to fighters in USD1 stablecoins issued by World Liberty Financial, a Trump family cryptocurrency venture co-founded by Donald Trump and his sons in 2024. The event, UFC Freedom 250, is scheduled for June 14 on the White House south lawn on Trump's birthday. World Liberty Financial is listed as the "Presenting Partner" of a $250,000 bonus pool. The arrangement directly connects Trump family financial interests to a high-profile government property event, raising conflict-of-interest concerns despite White House claims that Trump's assets are held in a trust managed by his children.
• White House hosts UFC fight event with corporate sponsors and Trump family business involvement — The White House hosted a professional UFC fight card on Trump's 80th birthday, featuring seven matches on the South Lawn. The event included sponsor logos from crypto platforms (Stake, Polymarket, Crypto.com), a Trump family stablecoin (World Liberty Financial), and other corporate entities. Fighter Josh Hokit made a false conspiracy claim about Michelle Obama during a post-fight interview. A legal challenge to block the event failed on Friday. The broadcast aired on Paramount+, controlled by billionaire Larry Ellison, a Trump ally.
• UFC event held on White House grounds using Bicentennial exemption — Trump held Ultimate Fighting Championship matches on the South Lawn of the White House on June 15, circumventing restrictions on using White House grounds for such events by claiming the event honored the nation's 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, for which Congress had suspended normal regulations. The event was sponsored by World Liberty Financial, the Trump family's cryptocurrency company.
• UFC fighter Josh Hokit makes sexist, racist, transphobic statement about Michelle Obama at White House event; Trump does not condemn — At a UFC event on the White House south lawn on Sunday, June 15, 2026, fighter Josh Hokit shouted a false, sexist, racist conspiracy theory about former first lady Michelle Obama into a microphone in front of President Trump. Trump appeared to half-smile in response while some audience members laughed. The White House did not respond to requests for comment. Despite calls from Trump allies, media figures, and civil society for the president to condemn the statement, Trump remained silent on the matter.
• Allegations of Cheating in White House UFC Fights — President’s son says screenshots that appeared to show him asking analyst Daniel Cormier for information were ‘fake’
• World Liberty Financial became UFC event sponsor and received cash payments — On June 15 at 9:30 p.m., the UFC issued a press release announcing that World Liberty Financial, the Trump family's cryptocurrency company overseen by Zach Witkoff, would be the "Presenting Partner" of a new $250,000 Performance of the Night bonus pool. Under this arrangement, UFC gives cash to World Liberty Financial, which distributes cryptocurrency to fighters and invests the cash in U.S. Treasury bonds while keeping the interest.

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• Pete Hegseth removed women and Black officers from Navy promotion list — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth intervened to remove nine Navy officers from a promotion list to one-star admiral rank, including all three women and two Black men who had been selected. As a result, no women were promoted to one-star admiral rank in the Navy this year, despite women comprising approximately one-quarter of all Navy officers. Female officers reported viewing the intervention as a sign their careers would be politicized and capped if they advanced too far in rank.
• Hegseth removes women and Black nominees from navy promotion list — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth removed all women and several Black nominees from a navy promotion list without explanation, resulting in an all-male, overwhelmingly white slate. The action was reported in the week prior to the article's publication and represents an escalation of Hegseth's purge of military leadership deemed insufficiently aligned with Trump administration priorities.

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• DOJ opens criminal inquiry into E Jean Carroll for alleged perjury — The Trump administration's Department of Justice has opened a criminal investigation into E Jean Carroll, the writer who accused President Trump of sexual assault, examining whether she committed perjury in a 2022 deposition during civil lawsuits against him. Carroll had stated she received no outside financial support for her legal battles, but later disclosed that a non-profit funded by billionaire Reid Hoffman had paid some legal fees. A federal appeals court dismissed perjury claims in 2024. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has recused himself due to his prior representation of Trump in Carroll's civil case.
• DOJ launched criminal investigation into E. Jean Carroll — The Justice Department launched a criminal investigation into E. Jean Carroll, the woman who successfully sued Donald Trump for sexual abuse and defamation. The reported focus is alleged perjury related to funding for her lawsuits against Trump. The investigation was characterized as naked retaliation and revictimization of a sexual assault survivor by the man who assaulted her, using federal law enforcement as a weapon.
• DOJ opens inquiry into Reid Hoffman entity that funded E. Jean Carroll's lawsuit against Trump — The Department of Justice, led by US Attorney Andrew Boutros (Northern District of Illinois), opened an investigation into American Future Republic, a nonprofit backed by LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman that helped fund E. Jean Carroll's defamation lawsuits against Donald Trump. Carroll is not the subject but the investigation focuses on potential money-laundering conspiracy and obstruction related to her 2022 deposition in which she stated she received no outside funding, later contradicted when Hoffman's support was disclosed. The investigation follows similar DOJ actions against other liberal-aligned nonprofits.
• Department of Justice launches criminal investigation into E. Jean Carroll — The Department of Justice under President Trump initiated a criminal investigation into whether E. Jean Carroll, the journalist who successfully sued Trump for defamation and sexual assault, committed perjury in her testimony. Carroll had stated she was not being paid to launch the lawsuit; the investigation centers on whether this was false, given that billionaire Reid Hoffman later paid some of her legal fees and expenses.

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• Senator Andy Kim visited Delaney Hall and documented conditions — On Saturday, May 24, 2026, Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) and Representative Rob Menendez Jr. visited Delaney Hall. Kim subsequently posted on social media documenting conditions he observed, including an eighteen-year-old high school student in distress, a pregnant woman without adequate obstetric care, a woman who had suffered a miscarriage without medical attention, a mother separated from her four-month-old infant, inadequate food, and a court docket showing one judge handling 74 cases in one day (approximately five minutes per case). Kim also documented a detainee from South America threatened with deportation to Congo during an active Ebola outbreak.

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• Detainees at Delaney Hall ICE facility engage in hunger and labor strike over conditions; families report medical neglect and inhumane treatment — Immigrants detained at Delaney Hall, a private ICE jail in New Jersey run by Geo Group, launched a hunger and labor strike beginning May 22 to protest substandard conditions including medical neglect, expired food, and inadequate sanitation. Elder Guerra, a Guatemalan immigrant held for five months, suffered a serious head injury in mid-May and was placed in medical isolation without adequate recovery care. Families report distress over visitation restrictions and fear of retaliation. Congressional oversight visits confirmed detainees' claims. DHS and Geo Group deny allegations while detainees report ongoing threats and discrimination from staff.
• Hunger and labor strike at Delaney Hall enters third week with women joining — The hunger and labor strike at the GEO Group-run Delaney Hall detention facility in Newark, which began May 22 with approximately 300 detainees, entered its third week in June with dozens of detained women joining. Strikers cited medical neglect, spoiled food, lack of sanitation, denial of bond, and coercion to sign deportation documents. Demands include firing a guard accused of sexually assaulting at least 10 detained women. ICE responded by transferring most original hunger strikers to other facilities.
• Hunger and labor strike by detainees at Delaney Hall enters ninth day — On May 22, approximately 300–400 detainees at Delaney Hall immigration detention center began a hunger and labor strike demanding improved conditions, medical care, a meeting with Governor Sherrill, and expedited processing of their immigration cases. The strike continued through the week of protests, with detainees refusing food and work. The strike prompted family visitation cancellations and sparked external protests in support of the detainees' demands.
• Delaney Hall detainees begin hunger strike over case processing delays — On May 22, 2026, approximately 300 detainees at Delaney Hall, the largest detention center in the Northeast, began a hunger strike demanding immediate release of young, elderly, and medically vulnerable detainees and protesting that immigration judges are ignoring their cases. Detainees cited violations of Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendment rights and reported that judges are conducting mass deportations without proper case review, disregarding federal court habeas corpus rulings, and processing cases at an unsustainable rate—one judge handling 74 cases in a single day.

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• FBI flagged San Diego mosque shooter as potential threat; father's guns seized a year prior — Caleb Vazquez, 18, one of two white supremacist shooters who killed three people at the Islamic Center of San Diego on Monday, had been flagged by the FBI as a "potential threat" and was already on law enforcement radar. Local officials, alarmed by his idolization of mass shooters and Nazism, seized his father's guns in a protective order a year before the attack. Vazquez had also been placed in an involuntary psychiatric hold. Despite these interventions, he and accomplice Cain Clark, 17, carried out the mosque attack, which killed a security guard and two other men.

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• Minority Veterans of America files Administrative Procedure Act lawsuit against VA abortion ban — Minority Veterans of America filed suit in the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit challenging the Trump administration's reinstatement of the VA abortion ban. The lawsuit names an anonymous pregnant veteran member with chronic health conditions and prior pregnancy complications who cannot access counseling on abortion as a medical option. The complaint alleges the VA violated the Administrative Procedure Act by acting arbitrarily and capriciously, disregarding its own 2022 findings that limited abortion services were necessary to safeguard veterans' health.

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• Republican Senator Josh Hawley introduces bill to remove FDA approval of mifepristone — Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri introduced a bill in March to remove FDA approval of mifepristone, one of two medications used for abortion. The bill represents legislative effort to restrict access to the medication and reflects ongoing Republican pressure on the FDA regarding abortion-related drug approvals.

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• Trump berated ABC reporter Rachel Scott at Lincoln Memorial — During the Lincoln Memorial inspection, Trump responded to ABC reporter Rachel Scott's question about why he was focusing on construction projects while gas prices were soaring by calling her question "stupid," attacking her personally, and referring to her as "one of the worst reporters" and "a horror show" from "ABC fake news." Trump then pointed at Scott and called her "a bitch" to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who laughed in response.

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• Complaint filed — Espinoza v. Blanche (N.D. Ill.) — Carla Espinoza, a former immigration judge in the Department of Justice's Executive Office for Immigration Review, filed suit in the Northern District of Illinois alleging that the DOJ terminated her employment in July 2025 without cause after declining to convert her probationary appointment to permanent status. Espinoza claims the termination violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act by targeting her on the basis of sex, race, national origin, and association with Latin American and Hispanic immigrants, and violated the First Amendment by punishing her prior association with organizations whose ideologies conflicted with the current administration. She seeks back pay, reinstatement, compensatory damages, and declaratory relief.

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• Mifepristone manufacturer files emergency Supreme Court motion — Following the Fifth Circuit's May 1 order restricting mifepristone nationwide, a manufacturer of the medication filed an emergency motion at the U.S. Supreme Court on or before May 4, 2026, asking the Court to block the Fifth Circuit's decision. The motion seeks to preserve access to the medication pending further judicial review.
• Supreme Court administratively stayed Fifth Circuit mifepristone order pending further review — On May 4, the Supreme Court issued an administrative stay of the Fifth Circuit's May 1 order, temporarily blocking the restriction from taking effect while the Court considers emergency appeals from mifepristone manufacturers. Justice Samuel Alito's order allowed telehealth, mail, and pharmacy access to continue under the FDA's 2023 rules. The stay was temporary, lasting until 5 p.m. EDT on May 11, while the Court decided whether to block the Fifth Circuit's ruling for a longer period. The Supreme Court did not rule on the merits but preserved the status quo pending further consideration.
• Supreme Court temporarily restores mifepristone mail access via emergency stay — On Monday, Justice Samuel Alito signed an emergency order pausing a Fifth Circuit ruling issued Friday that had prohibited abortion providers from prescribing mifepristone (an abortion pill used in nearly two-thirds of US terminations) through the mail. The stay, requested by manufacturer Danco Laboratories, remains in effect until at least May 11, 2026. Louisiana's government had sued the FDA arguing mail distribution ignored health risks and circumvented state abortion bans. The order temporarily restores nationwide access pending further briefing.
• US Supreme Court temporarily extends mail-order mifepristone access via emergency stay — The US Supreme Court, through Justice Samuel Alito, extended a temporary stay on May 4 to continue nationwide mail-order access to mifepristone (an abortion medication) until at least May 14. The Fifth Circuit had ordered a ban on mailing the drug on May 1 in response to Louisiana's lawsuit challenging FDA rules permitting remote dispensation. The case, Louisiana v FDA, argues that mail-order mifepristone circumvents Louisiana's abortion ban and violates the Administrative Procedure Act and the Comstock Act. The stay preserves access while the Court considers next steps.
• Case update — Louisiana v. FDA (W.D. La.) 6:25-cv-01491 — The Supreme Court administratively stayed the Fifth Circuit's decision until May 11, 2026, temporarily restoring access to online and mail-order mifepristone.
• Supreme Court temporarily restores telehealth access to abortion pill mifepristone — The Supreme Court issued a temporary order restoring access to the abortion pill mifepristone via telehealth. The ruling reverses or suspends a prior restriction on remote dispensing of the medication, allowing patients to obtain the drug through telehealth channels pending further proceedings.
• SCOTUS stays Fifth Circuit order in Danco Laboratories v. Louisiana — The Supreme Court issued an administrative stay of a May 1, 2026 Fifth Circuit order in Danco Laboratories, LLC v. Louisiana (5th Cir. No. 26-30203) pending further briefing. The stay remains in effect until 5 p.m. EDT on Monday, May 11, 2026. The respondent was ordered to file a response by Thursday, May 7, 2026 at 5 p.m. EDT. The order was signed by Associate Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr.
• SCOTUS stays Fifth Circuit order in GenBioPro v. Louisiana — The Supreme Court issued an administrative stay of a May 1, 2026 Fifth Circuit order in GenBioPro, Inc. v. Louisiana (No. 25A1208, Fifth Circuit No. 26-30203), effective until 5 p.m. EDT on Monday, May 11, 2026. The Court ordered respondents to file a response by Thursday, May 7, 2026, at 5 p.m. EDT. Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr. signed the order on May 4, 2026.
• Supreme Court temporarily paused Fifth Circuit mifepristone restriction — The Supreme Court issued an administrative stay temporarily restoring access to mifepristone by mail, telehealth, and pharmacies while considering emergency requests from drug manufacturers. The stay expires Monday, May 11, at 5 p.m. ET unless extended. Mifepristone, used with misoprostol, is FDA-approved to end intrauterine pregnancy through ten weeks gestation. The pause does not resolve the underlying threat to access.
• Supreme Court mifepristone stay expires May 11 — The Supreme Court's temporary stay restoring mifepristone access by mail expires on Monday, May 11, at 5 p.m. ET. Louisiana filed a brief arguing the Court should let the 5th Circuit's restrictions take effect. The Trump administration opposed Louisiana's challenge and argued Louisiana lacked standing, while citing an ongoing FDA safety review. A coalition of 22 states and the District of Columbia filed an amicus brief urging the Court to keep the stay in place. Justice Alito's decision on whether to extend the stay, let it expire, or refer it to the full Court will determine whether telehealth access to abortion care continues or shuts down nationally.

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• Federal court blocked access to mifepristone by mail — A federal court issued a decision blocking access to mifepristone by mail. Mifepristone has been proven safe and effective since 2000 and accounts for a majority of abortions, with one in four now provided through telehealth. The ruling restricts medication abortion access.

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• Fifth Circuit orders nationwide restrictions on mifepristone — A federal appeals court (Fifth Circuit) issued an order imposing nationwide restrictions on mifepristone, a medication used for abortion and miscarriage care. The ACLU reported that the ruling could disrupt care even in states where abortion is legally protected. A mifepristone manufacturer filed an emergency motion at the Supreme Court on May 1 asking it to block the Fifth Circuit's decision. The restrictions threaten access to timely care via telehealth, mail, and pharmacy systems, particularly affecting rural, disabled, low-income, and time-sensitive-care patients.
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit restricted mifepristone access by blocking mail distribution and reinstating in-person dispensing requirement — On May 1, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling that reversed the FDA's 2021 decision to remove the in-person dispensing requirement for mifepristone. The court blocked mail distribution of the medication and reinstated the requirement that patients receive the drug in person. The ruling reversed the FDA's 2023 formalization of expanded telehealth and mail distribution, which the agency had concluded were safe and appropriate based on years of safety data. The case originated from Louisiana's challenge to the FDA's regulatory authority under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

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• Tennessee abortion ban lawsuit halted by last-minute appeal — Rachel Fulton, a Tennessee woman who was forced to travel out of state for a medically necessary abortion after her wanted pregnancy was diagnosed with a lethal fetal condition that endangered her life, joined a lawsuit filed by the Center for Reproductive Rights in 2023 against Tennessee's abortion ban. The trial was set to begin on April 28, 2026, but a last-minute appeal by the state halted proceedings indefinitely. The case involves six patient plaintiffs and medical organizations challenging the state's ban as applied to life-threatening pregnancies.

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• Motion to intervene filed in Louisiana Election Assistance Commission lawsuit — A motion to intervene was filed late in the evening in a lawsuit brought by Louisiana against the Election Assistance Commission. Louisiana is attempting to impose a new "proof of citizenship" requirement for voter registration. The intervention was filed on behalf of the Greater New Orleans Chapter of the National Council of Jewish Women, challenging Louisiana's scheme which, despite claims to prevent non-citizen voting, actually burdens married women who have changed their last names.

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• DOJ applies FACE Act religious-freedom provision to prosecute church protest for first time — The Trump administration charged protesters and journalists under an unused provision of the 1994 Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act that prohibits interfering with religious freedom at places of worship. This marks the first use of that provision. Simultaneously, the administration has virtually stopped prosecuting under the FACE Act's original provisions protecting reproductive healthcare access and has pardoned nearly two dozen anti-abortion activists convicted under those provisions. Legal experts call the application to journalists "unprecedented" and "a really dramatic overcharge."

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• Tony Gonzales announces resignation from Congress amid expulsion threat — Representative Tony Gonzales (R-Texas), facing a House ethics committee investigation and expulsion threat over an extramarital affair with a staffer who later died by suicide, announced on Monday that he would file his retirement from office when Congress reconvened on Tuesday. The announcement followed similar resignation by Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell over sexual assault allegations. Gonzales had previously admitted to the affair but denied involvement in the staffer's September 2025 death.
• Rep. Tony Gonzalez announces resignation from Congress — Republican Rep. Tony Gonzalez announced his resignation from Congress on April 14, 2026, hours after Rep. Eric Swalwell's resignation announcement. No specific reason for Gonzalez's departure was provided in the article.
• Tony Gonzales resigns from Congress following sexual misconduct pressure — Republican congressman Tony Gonzales submitted his resignation to the House of Representatives, effective 11:59pm on Tuesday, following mounting pressure to leave office. Gonzales had previously admitted to an affair with an aide who later died by suicide and had announced he would not seek re-election. His resignation came less than an hour after Swalwell's announcement, as bipartisan calls for accountability intensified and lawmakers threatened expulsion resolutions against multiple members accused of misconduct.

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• Rep. Eric Swalwell announced resignation from Congress — Rep. Eric Swalwell announced his resignation from Congress after losing the support of his closest friend Sen. Ruben Gallego and following reports of a new accuser coming forward. Swalwell stated he was aware an expulsion vote was going to be scheduled immediately and chose to resign rather than face expulsion, saying his constituents needed representation in Congress while claiming it was unfair to be expelled so quickly without the ability to prove his innocence.
• Eric Swalwell suspends California gubernatorial campaign following sexual assault allegations — Representative Eric Swalwell, the Democratic frontrunner in California's gubernatorial race, suspended his campaign after the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN published allegations that he sexually assaulted a former staff member twice and sent unsolicited explicit messages to at least three other women. Swalwell initially denied the claims but announced he would not continue his campaign. The Manhattan district attorney opened a criminal investigation into a 2024 sexual assault allegation, and the Department of Homeland Security launched an investigation into alleged immigration law violations related to hiring an undocumented nanny.
• Eric Swalwell suspends California gubernatorial campaign following sexual misconduct allegations — Congressman Eric Swalwell, the early frontrunner in California's 2026 gubernatorial race, suspended his campaign on April 13 following allegations of sexual misconduct. Swalwell had been positioned as a leading Democratic candidate in a field of 150 total candidates. His withdrawal occurs less than two months before the June 2 primary election and leaves the Democratic field uncertain as the party seeks to succeed term-limited Governor Gavin Newsom in the reliably blue state.
• Eric Swalwell Suspends Gubernatorial Bid in California — Congressman Eric Swalwell suspended his campaign for the California governor's race following allegations of sexual misconduct. Swalwell was considered an early frontrunner in the race to succeed Gavin Newsom. His withdrawal from the race leaves the Democratic field open, with less than two months until the primary election on June 2, 2026. The primary will determine the top two candidates, regardless of party, who will advance to the general election.
• Rep. Eric Swalwell resigns from Congress — Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell announced his resignation from Congress on April 13, 2026. The resignation came hours before a fifth woman came forward at a press conference in Beverly Hills on April 14 accusing him of drugging her drink and raping her. Swalwell continues to deny all allegations but has issued a public apology.
• Eric Swalwell suspends California gubernatorial campaign and resigns from Congress amid sexual assault allegations — On Sunday, U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell suspended his campaign for California governor following allegations of sexual assault and misconduct. On Tuesday, a second woman accused him of rape in 2018. Facing expulsion threats, Swalwell formally resigned his House seat on Monday. He denied all allegations. His sudden exit has destabilized the Democratic primary race, forcing candidates to scramble for his supporters with the June 2 primary approaching and ballots set to mail early next month.
• Eric Swalwell resigns from Congress following sexual assault allegations — Representative Eric Swalwell, a California Democrat, announced his resignation from Congress on Monday following multiple allegations of sexual assault and misconduct. The House ethics committee had opened an investigation into allegations that Swalwell engaged in sexual misconduct, including toward an employee under his supervision. Swalwell acknowledged mistakes in judgment while disputing the serious allegations, stating that remaining in office would distract from his constituents' needs. His resignation came after he suspended his gubernatorial campaign.
• Eric Swalwell resigns from Congress amid sexual misconduct allegations — Democratic congressman Eric Swalwell submitted his resignation to the House of Representatives on Tuesday at 2pm ET following allegations of sexual assault and unwanted sexual messages from multiple women. The San Francisco Chronicle and CNN reported the allegations, prompting the House ethics committee to open an investigation. Swalwell's resignation came after lawmakers from both parties threatened expulsion resolutions. California Governor Newsom announced a special election for August 18 to fill the vacant 14th congressional district seat.

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• Rep. Swalwell faced expulsion vote announcement — Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) announced plans to force a House vote next week to expel Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) amid a rapidly expanding scandal. Democrats plan to counter with a vote to expel Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX). Additional expulsion votes for Reps. Cory Mills (R-FL) and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) could follow. House members expressed frustration over multiple scandals without accountability, with one Democrat stating "We want a full house cleaning. Get the garbage out of here."
• Multiple Congress members call for expulsion of Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales — Following allegations of sexual assault and rape against Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell, and an extramarital affair involving Republican Representative Tony Gonzales, members from both parties have called for their expulsion or resignation. Swalwell ended his California gubernatorial campaign on Sunday and denies the allegations. Republican Anna Paulina Luna announced an intention to pair expulsion resolutions for both members. Democratic members including Ro Khanna and Pramila Jayapal indicated openness to voting for Swalwell's expulsion if coupled with action against Gonzales. The Manhattan DA's office opened an investigation into one rape allegation.

Supporting reports

• Electronic Frontier Foundation documented Flock data searches targeting protest activity and abortion-related investigations. — EFF analysis of more than 12 million Flock searches logged by more than 3,900 agencies between December 2024 and October 2025 identified searches tied to February 2025 50501 protests, April 2025 Hands Off protests, and June and October 2025 No Kings protests. In Texas, law enforcement searched 83,345 cameras across 6,809 networks as part of an abortion investigation with the search reason logged as "had an abortion, search for female." In California, cities including Mountain View and Santa Cruz discovered broader out-of-state and federal access than authorized and canceled contracts as a result.

Supporting reports

• Second former staffer accuses Texas congressman Tony Gonzales of sending sexually explicit messages — A second former female staffer for Republican congressman Tony Gonzales came forward claiming he sent her sexually explicit messages in 2020 while she served as his campaign's political director. According to the San Antonio Express-News and NBC News, Gonzales allegedly asked her more than a dozen times over three days to send nude photos and attempted to initiate a sexual relationship over several weeks. The staffer said the relationship never became physical and she resigned citing political differences after Gonzales took office.