Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• New York City Council votes to ban horse-drawn carriage rides by 2028 — The New York City Council voted to pass Romanch's Law, legislation banning horse-drawn carriage rides citywide by June 2028, named after 18-year-old Romanch Mahajan who died after being ejected from a runaway carriage in Central Park. The measure includes a plan to help affected workers and business owners transition out of the industry in 2027. The vote followed a committee approval and occurred amid protests from the Transport Workers Union Local 100, which represents carriage drivers and disputes the adequacy of worker protections and transition support.

Supporting reports

• Independent truckers face severe financial hardship from diesel price surge — Independent trucking business owner Sean Howarth and thousands of owner-operator truck drivers are experiencing severe financial strain as diesel prices have surged to $6.39 per gallon nationally, up from $3.71 a year ago, following the war in Iran. Howarth has not returned home since mid-August, missing family time and personal events, to maximize income. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association reports that a one-dollar-per-gallon increase costs drivers an additional $400 per week. Many truckers are turning to crowdfunding or parking their rigs. Exit polls showed 75% of truckers voted for Trump in 2024.

Supporting reports

• Mortgage rates reach 7.50%, up from 6.38% one year prior — The average 30-year mortgage rate hit 7.50 percent, up from 6.38 percent exactly one year ago. Economist Peter Schiff noted that the yield on the 10-year Treasury just hit 5.27 percent, having first hit 5 percent exactly two weeks ago, and predicted the yield will hit 6 percent by November 5, just two days after the midterm elections, at which point the interest rate on a 30-year mortgage will exceed 8 percent. NYC Councilman Justin Brannan noted that on a $500,000 30-year mortgage, every half-point increase in interest rate adds $165 to the monthly payment, or nearly $2,000 per year.
• National gas prices reach $4.48 per gallon; diesel at $6.47 — The national average for a gallon of gasoline reached $4.48, with diesel at $6.47. With fewer than five weeks until midterm elections and the Iran war ongoing, Republicans on Capitol Hill acknowledge that voters are focused on the economy. An analysis of Trump's social media posts since Labor Day found that Trump had posted roughly 30 times about renovations to Washington and the White House, approximately 10 times about renaming Lake Ontario and New Mexico, and more than 20 times about press coverage, including criticism of MSNBC and CNN, while devoting significant attention to obscure topics including former baseball player Johnny Damon, Gracie Mansion, Zohran Mamdani, his Greenland deal, and polls about renaming AI.
• Americans paid record amounts for gasoline and diesel — According to fuel market analyst Patrick De Haan on September 29, 2026, Americans have paid $74.4 billion more on gasoline and $47.5 billion more on diesel since March 1 compared to the same period a year earlier. The total additional cost reached $122 billion by September 29. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve stands at approximately 285 million barrels, its lowest level since 1982 and roughly 40% of its 714 million barrel capacity.
• Treasury bond market experienced severe decline — The U.S. Treasury bond market experienced significant losses on September 29, 2026, with traders aggressively selling off government bonds of all types, driving yields across the entire curve to multiyear and multidecade highs. The bond market was on the verge of recording one of its worst monthly performances in years. The decline in Treasury yields affects borrowing costs for American consumers and businesses on mortgages, car loans, and credit-card debt.
• U.S. Treasury yields hit highest level in over two decades — U.S. Treasury yields hit their highest level in more than two decades on Thursday as a global bond sell-off deepened. The 10-year Treasury yield breached a level last seen in April 2002, rising 4 basis points to 5.3338 percent. The 30-year Treasury bond yield jumped 3 basis points to 5.6702 percent, its highest level since July 2002. The 2-year yield was 2 basis points higher at 4.91 percent. These yields are key to rates for mortgage borrowing, auto loans, and credit card debt.

Supporting reports

• DoorDash sued NYC in federal court to block tipping regulation — In 2025, DoorDash and Uber Eats sued New York City in federal court to prevent enforcement of a regulation requiring an up-front tipping option for customers. The apps had switched from allowing tips at checkout to only allowing tips after delivery, which the city found significantly reduced driver tips. DoorDash and Uber Eats argued the regulation would cause loss of customer "goodwill." A federal judge refused to block the regulation in a January 2026 ruling, allowing the city's tipping requirement to stand.
• DoorDash sued NYC to block 2023 minimum pay rule for delivery workers — In 2023, DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub sued New York City to overturn the minimum pay rule requiring $22.13 per hour multiplied by delivery and waiting time. The delivery apps argued the rule would force price increases and reduce driver availability. A judge initially blocked the rule, but ultimately allowed it to proceed in September 2023. A New York state appeals court denied the companies' appeal, and the rule took effect in December 2023. DoorDash subsequently violated this rule, which it had challenged in court.
• DoorDash admits systematic underpayment and commits to compliance monitoring — In a statement, DoorDash acknowledged it "screwed up" and that its mistakes resulted in underpayment or late payment to workers, attributing errors to technical problems and complicated situations. The company stated it calculated on-call time differently than the city required but chose to settle rather than litigate. As part of the settlement, DoorDash agreed to submit monthly data reports for three years, make software updates, create internal controls to prevent violations, and work with worker advocacy groups to develop software allowing workers to share trip and pay data with the city.
• DoorDash settled $100 million misclassification lawsuit in Massachusetts and California — In 2021, DoorDash settled claims in Massachusetts and California that it had misclassified drivers as independent contractors rather than employees, hindering their ability to receive minimum wage, overtime pay, and compensation for costs like fuel and mileage. The settlement totaled $100 million. The misclassification allowed DoorDash to avoid providing employee protections and benefits.
• DoorDash settled healthcare and sick leave benefit violations in San Francisco and Seattle — DoorDash settled investigations in San Francisco and Seattle over allegations that the company failed to provide mandatory healthcare and sick leave benefits to drivers. DoorDash paid $5.3 million in the San Francisco case and $1.6 million in the Seattle case. These settlements address violations of local requirements for driver benefits.
• DoorDash settled multi-state lawsuits over tip-credit practices (2020–2025) — Between 2020 and 2025, DoorDash reached settlements with Washington, D.C., Illinois, New York state, and Chicago over allegations that the company used customer tips to cover baseline driver pay rather than providing tips in addition to guaranteed compensation. For example, if DoorDash guaranteed $10 and a customer tipped $3, DoorDash would pay only $7 instead of $10 plus the tip. DoorDash paid $2.5 million to D.C., $11.25 million to Illinois, $16.75 million to New York state, and $18 million to Chicago (which also included other allegations). The lawsuits alleged DoorDash misled customers about how tips would be used.
• New York City announced $131.5 million settlement against DoorDash for wage theft — New York City announced an enforcement action against DoorDash for underpaying or delaying payments to workers. The company will pay $131.5 million in total, with over $115 million distributed to more than 260,000 workers who were underpaid. The city characterized it as "the largest worker settlement in New York City history and the largest settlement involving food delivery workers in the United States."
• NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection announces $131.5 million enforcement action against DoorDash for wage theft — New York City's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) announced a historic $131.5 million settlement with DoorDash for underpaying or delaying payments to over 260,000 workers. DoorDash will pay more than $115 million in restitution to workers and over $16 million in civil penalties. The investigation found that DoorDash violated a 2023 minimum pay rule requiring $22.13 per hour multiplied by delivery and waiting time, with over $83 million of the settlement covering violations of on-call time calculations. The settlement includes a three-year compliance monitoring program with monthly data reporting and software updates.

Supporting reports

• Senator Grassley criticized Trump's diesel export policy — Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) criticized Trump's failure to impose an embargo on diesel exports, asking why Trump does not "put an embargo on diesel exports like presidents in the 70s put embargoes on Ag products because food prices were inflated." Grassley stated "High diesel prices ARE KILLING FARMERS INCOME," highlighting the impact of Trump's policies on Iowa farmers ahead of the midterm elections.

Supporting reports

• Amazon under Carney's direction responded to labor criticism with coordinated social media campaign — In 2022, the Wall Street Journal reported that Jay Carney was directly involved in crafting Amazon's official social media responses to political criticism about labor practices. When Representative Mark Pocan (D-WI) posted that "Paying workers $15/hr doesn't make you a 'progressive workplace' when you union-bust & make workers urinate in water bottles," Amazon's official account responded: "You don't really believe the peeing in bottles thing, do you? If that were true, nobody would work for us." According to the Wall Street Journal, these tweets were "crafted by executives including Mr. Bezos and Mr. Carney," unlike most tweets from Amazon's news account. Amazon later apologized and acknowledged that "drivers can and do have trouble finding restrooms."
• Jay Carney attacked whistleblower and dismissed Amazon workplace concerns — In 2015, after the New York Times published an article documenting poor working conditions at Amazon, including an account from employee Bo Olson who said "nearly every person I worked with, I saw cry at their desk," Jay Carney posted a rebuttal on Medium. To discredit Olson's account, Carney included additional personal details about Olson, revealing that his tenure at Amazon had ended after an investigation into alleged vendor fraud and falsification of business records. Olson denied the allegation. Carney's response was designed to undermine the credibility of the Times' reporting by attacking the source rather than addressing the substantive workplace conditions described in the article.

Supporting reports

• AFL-CIO releases report warning electronic shelf labels will cost jobs and enable surveillance pricing — The AFL-CIO Tech Institute released a policy brief analyzing electronic shelf label (ESL) manufacturers' marketing materials, concluding that universal adoption could eliminate 44,223 to 191,633 jobs and cost workers $1.6 billion to $6.9 billion annually in lost wages. The report warns ESLs enable algorithmic "surveillance pricing" that changes prices based on personal data, potentially raising grocery costs further. The AFL-CIO calls for a federal ban on electronic labels and surveillance pricing to protect workers and consumers.

Supporting reports

• House Republicans open investigation into labor unions' political spending — House Republicans on the education and workforce committee launched an investigation this summer into six major labor unions (AFT, UAW, United Steelworkers, Smart-TD, BLET, BMWED), alleging they illegally use member dues to fund Democratic causes. The inquiry was prompted by reports from conservative nonprofits including the American Accountability Foundation and Freedom Foundation. Investigators also targeted AFT president Randi Weingarten over claims union dues funded her 2025 book. Union representatives deny wrongdoing and cite strict legal disclosure requirements.

Supporting reports

• Department of Labor rescinds coordinated enforcement regulations for migrant farmworker protections — The Department of Labor finalized a rule rescinding 29 CFR Part 42, which established formal procedures for coordination of enforcement activities among the Wage and Hour Division, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and Employment and Training Administration regarding migrant and seasonal farmworkers. The Department determined the 1980 regulations are obsolete, no longer reflect current organizational structure or operational practices, and are unnecessary because modern coordination mechanisms—including interagency working groups, task forces, and statutory frameworks under the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act and H-2A visa program—have proven effective. The rule becomes effective September 30, 2026.

Supporting reports

• DHS deployed 19 USC 1509 administrative summonses to obtain records on journalists, non-profits, and unions without judicial oversight — The Trump administration's Department of Homeland Security has systematically used an obscure customs law (19 USC 1509) to issue administrative summonses demanding records from social media companies and telecommunications providers targeting journalists (Georgia Fort, Don Lemon, Megyn Kelly, Brendan Gutenschwager, Democracy Now), unions (SEIU, Communications Workers of America), and left-leaning non-profits (Sunrise Movement, Voices for Racial Justice). The summonses bypass judicial review required for search warrants and include secrecy directives. Fort's six-month phone records from T-Mobile and YouTube account information were obtained after a federal judge had twice rejected similar warrant requests in February 2026, citing lack of probable cause.
• Trump administration uses customs law to obtain journalist records without judicial oversight — The Trump administration deployed an obscure legal maneuver to obtain private information on journalists, non-profits, and unions without judicial oversight. The Department of Homeland Security served Google with an administrative summons citing 19 USC 1509, a customs statute, to obtain YouTube account information for journalist Georgia Fort and Don Lemon. The summons bypassed judicial review required for search warrants, which a judge had twice rejected for lacking probable cause. DHS officials used the customs provision—designed to investigate import duties and taxes—to investigate a domestic protest at a Minneapolis church that the journalists were covering.

Supporting reports

• Earthjustice files lawsuit challenging EPA approval of datacenter chemicals — Earthjustice, a nonprofit environmental law organization, filed a lawsuit challenging the EPA's approval of two photoacid generator compounds used in datacenters. The lawsuit argues that the EPA violated the Toxic Substances Control Act by approving chemicals it acknowledged may present unreasonable risk to workers and the public without implementing adequate protective restrictions, and that the approval represents a fundamental failure of the agency's obligation to protect public health.

Supporting reports

• Trump EPA proposes rule to exempt datacenters from public air pollution disclosure — The Trump administration's Environmental Protection Agency proposed a new rule that would eliminate the Clean Air Act requirement for datacenters to publicly disclose air pollution emissions. The rule would make disclosure voluntary at state and local officials' discretion rather than mandatory. Datacenters are significant sources of nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, and heavy metals. Environmental advocates warn the change will reduce public oversight, prevent communities from knowing what pollutants they will breathe, and weaken enforcement of federal pollution limits linked to asthma, heart disease, and cancer.
• EPA approves two toxic datacenter chemicals despite acknowledged health risks — The Trump administration's Environmental Protection Agency approved two photoacid generator compounds for import and immediate use in U.S. datacenters, despite acknowledging in consent orders that the chemicals may present "unreasonable risk" to workers and the public and could cause sudden death, cancer, neurological damage, and reproductive harm. The EPA admitted insufficient data to quantify acute toxicity and lethality risks but approved the chemicals anyway with minimal restrictions, prompting a lawsuit by Earthjustice arguing the approval violates the Toxic Substances Control Act.

Supporting reports

• Oklahoma rancher reports loss of Trump support over beef import policy — An Oklahoma rancher posted on X that his 85-year-old father, a lifelong Trump supporter, expressed disillusionment after Trump announced he was importing foreign beef with no tariffs. The father stated: "you know, I really don't think he gives a damn about anyone who isn't rich, and sure not about ranchers. Never wanted to believe that until today." The rancher noted his father was "a more stalwart Trump supporter on the planet" and that "Trump is losing the room."
• Kentucky cattle farmers report losses from Trump beef import policy — A Kentucky cattle farming couple reported losing $200–$300 per head on a group of 70 cattle they were ready to sell following Trump's beef import announcement. Amanda Hall stated that the administration's policies are undercutting prices and harming farmers whose annual income depends on cattle sales. She and her husband noted that the typical 10-year cycle to raise a calf means the president's 90-day plan to import discounted foreign beef will not help rebuild U.S. herds.

Supporting reports

• Cattle ranchers and farmers criticized Trump's ground beef import plan — Cattle ranchers and farmers, who have historically strongly supported Trump, publicly criticized his plan to suspend tariffs on imported ground beef. They argued that the imports would drive down prices while making it impossible to distinguish between U.S. and foreign meat, particularly following the recall of nearly 30,000 pounds of Argentine beef that had missed required inspection in the U.S. The criticism from a traditionally Trump-supporting constituency signals erosion of agricultural support.
• Trump announced suspension of tariffs on imported ground beef to lower beef prices — Trump announced he would suspend tariffs on imports of up to 300,000 metric tons of imported ground beef, claiming the imports would be sold "at 25 percent below current prices." Trump did not identify the country or countries from which the ground beef would be sourced. The move was intended to address consumer price concerns but immediately drew criticism from cattle ranchers and farmers who have historically supported Trump.
• Trump administration threatens additional tariffs on Canadian autos and steel; Canada rejects US trade proposal over French language protections — Prime Minister Mark Carney rejected a US trade proposal perceived as weakening French language protections in Quebec, instructing negotiators to walk away from talks. Tariffs on Canadian products took effect over the weekend, affecting approximately 5% of Canada's exports. President Trump responded by threatening new tariffs on cars, trucks, auto parts, and steel beginning January 1, claiming Canada has been "ripping off" the US. Canada announced plans to retaliate in early September. The dispute centers on Quebec's language laws (Bills 96 and 109) that US negotiators framed as trade irritants.
• Trump announces 50% tariff increase on Canadian automotive and steel imports effective January 1, 2027 — President Trump posted that tariffs on all Canadian cars, trucks, automotive parts, and steel will increase to 50% effective January 1, 2027, unless manufactured in the U.S. Trump characterized Canada as one of the worst nations to deal with, claiming a $60 billion trade deficit and stating that Canada conducts 95% of its business with the U.S. while the U.S. does not need Canada. The announcement follows Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's statement that Canada will pursue deeper economic partnerships with the EU in response to U.S. tariffs.
• Trump announced 50% tariffs on Canadian automobiles, trucks, and steel effective January 1, 2027 — Trump posted on social media that on January 1, 2027, he would place tariffs of 50% on "all Cars, Trucks, both large and small, Automotive Parts, and Steel" from Canada. The announcement came after Carney's statement that Canada would retaliate against existing tariffs dollar-for-dollar beginning September 8. Trump claimed "Canada has been ripping off the United States of America for years" and stated "Canada will be treated like a State no longer!"

Supporting reports

• Judge Wilson rules California oil pipeline can continue operating under Trump's Defense Production Act order — Federal Judge Stephen Wilson ruled that the Sable offshore oil pipeline off Santa Barbara can continue operating, overriding California state opposition. The Trump administration invoked the Defense Production Act (DPA) in March 2026 to order the pipeline's reopening, citing national security and energy supply needs during the Iran war. Wilson found the DPA order pre-empts conflicting state law, including California's trespass claims. The judge fined Sable $1.5 million for violating a consent decree but allowed operations to proceed under federal oversight rather than state authority.
• Federal court upholds Defense Production Act order requiring Santa Ynez Pipeline operation against California state obstruction — The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California ruled that a Defense Production Act order issued by the Secretary of Energy preempts California state law and environmental challenges to the Santa Ynez Pipeline's operation. The court rejected California's motion for a preliminary injunction, held that federal law bars state trespass claims against pipeline operations, modified an existing consent decree to place pipeline safety oversight under federal rather than state authority, and clarified that state courts cannot enforce injunctions conflicting with federal directives. The Department of Justice announced the ruling as a victory for national energy security.

Supporting reports

• Republican newspapers warned of economic collapse if tariffs were lowered — Republican newspapers, including the Chicago Tribune, published warnings that lowering tariff rates would destroy industries and throw workers out of work. The Tribune stated that "the working classes of the country need such a lesson," indicating that Republican media outlets viewed economic hardship for workers as a necessary consequence of tariff reduction. These publications amplified Republican claims that Democrats' tariff policies would cause economic catastrophe, creating panic among investors and consumers.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration promoted "Freedom Cities" concept — The Trump administration promoted the creation of 10 new "Freedom Cities" in the U.S. that would be built free of all government regulations, a concept the bulletin suggests originated from Silicon Valley tech billionaire networks and their "TESCREALism" ideology. The bulletin notes this was based on Project 2025 and represents an effort to create regulation-free polities controlled by tech elites.

Supporting reports

• State Department cancels visas of parents seeking birthright citizenship for children — A US embassy in North Africa canceled more than 100 visas held by parents accused of traveling to the US primarily so their children would be born American citizens. The action aligns with Trump's separate executive order seeking to restrict birthright citizenship, which is being challenged in court following a Supreme Court setback.
• Secretary of State designates foreign nationals deportable on foreign policy grounds — Secretary of State Marco Rubio determined that a number of foreign nationals are deportable on foreign policy grounds, including a Cuban national linked to an influence campaign tied to Havana, Iranian nationals connected to Tehran's government, and a Kuwaiti national accused of voicing hostility toward the US president. The designations expand grounds for deportation beyond criminal conduct to include alleged foreign ties and political speech.
• State Department cancels 175,000 visas under Trump administration — The US Department of State announced it has revoked more than 175,000 visas since Trump returned to office, quadrupling the pace from Biden's final year. The department cited grounds including alleged visa violations, crimes, calls for violence, fraud, and national security concerns. However, revocations also targeted political speech, including a Turkish doctoral student whose visa was pulled after criticizing her university's Gaza stance, and foreign nationals who commented on a conservative activist's death. The department has not disclosed the categorical breakdown of revocations.
• State Department deports Laotian national despite gubernatorial pardon — Tou Lue Vang, a Laotian national, was deported last month despite having been pardoned weeks earlier by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz for a 2005 conviction for sexually abusing a child. The case illustrates the State Department's disregard for state-level clemency and its assertion of unilateral deportation authority.
• State Department revokes visa of Turkish student for political speech on Gaza — Rümeysa Öztürk, a Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University, had her visa revoked after co-writing an opinion piece criticizing the university's stance on the war in Gaza. She was detained by immigration authorities, though a judge later dismissed the case against her. She has since moved back to Turkey. The case exemplifies the State Department's targeting of political speech as grounds for visa cancellation.
• State Department revokes visas of foreign nationals for comments on activist's death — The State Department canceled the visas of multiple foreign nationals who commented on the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in September 2025, including one who said Kirk had "died too late." The department characterized such speech as incompatible with US national interests and a serious national security concern warranting immediate reconsideration of visa eligibility.
• State Department targets visa applicants based on social media and political views — A March 2025 State Department cable, obtained by the Guardian, ordered consular officers to expand screening of student visa applicants by vetting their social media activity and barring anyone deemed engaged in "terrorist activity"—a category critics interpret as targeting Palestinian-cause supporters. The pattern has continued into 2026, with applicants now required to affirm they have not experienced harm or fear returning home; answering affirmatively or declining to answer sharply increases denial odds, potentially filtering out abuse survivors, threatened journalists, and persecuted minorities.

Supporting reports

• Labor force participation declines; women account for majority of job losses — The unemployment rate fell to 4.1% as nearly one million people stopped looking for work over the past two months. Labor force participation has surrendered all gains since February 2021. According to the National Women's Law Center, women comprise the vast majority of the labor force decline.

Supporting reports

• ICE and TSA expand airport immigration enforcement targeting visa overstayers and asylum seekers — Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) have dramatically expanded collaboration at US airports, conducting as many as three dozen daily arrests in July with a stated goal of 2,000 daily immigration arrests. Targets include people with pending visa, asylum, and green card applications, former au pairs, and asylum seekers with serious medical conditions. Airline workers have reportedly declined to assist federal agents, and Southwest Airlines gate agents refused to allow an ICE officer to board a plane without a judicial warrant. The airline industry has expressed workplace safety and legal concerns.

Supporting reports

• HCA Healthcare workers hold picket protests demanding higher pay and improved staffing — Union workers representing 22,000 employees at HCA Healthcare, the largest for-profit hospital system in the US, launched picket protests across California, Texas, Nevada, and Florida on August 6, 2026, demanding a pathway to $25/hour minimum wage, improved wage scales, paid leave, and staffing guarantees. The action occurs as HCA reported $6.8 billion in 2025 profits (up 17.8% from 2024) while median worker compensation remains $62,955 annually. Workers cite inability to cover basic necessities and patient safety risks from understaffing.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration removes Temporary Protected Status for Haitian nationals; ICE enforces deportations with ankle monitors in Ohio — Following a Supreme Court decision backing the Trump administration on 5 August 2026, federal judge Ana Reyes lifted her stay on the removal of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 350,000 Haitian nationals. ICE subsequently began summoning Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio to a facility in Blue Ash, where they were fitted with ankle monitors restricting travel to 75 miles from their homes. The action affects thousands of Haitians who had legally resided in the US under TPS protections and worked in local manufacturing and food-packaging jobs.
• Trump administration terminates TPS protections for Haitians; DHS begins enforcement and deportations — The Trump administration officially ended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti after a June Supreme Court ruling eliminated judicial review of the program. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced "We're going after them right now," directing over 300,000 Haitians to self-deport or face arrest and deportation. A federal judge confirmed the termination on Wednesday. Removal orders for Haitians surged 96% between March and June, and immigration officials have begun fitting Haitians with ankle monitors for tracking and detention, despite Haiti being on the State Department's "do not travel" advisory list due to gang violence and political collapse.

Supporting reports

• Popular Information analysis reveals billions in taxpayer-funded Medicaid for Amazon and Walmart employees — Popular Information's analysis found that American taxpayers spend approximately $2 billion annually on Medicaid benefits for hundreds of thousands of Amazon and Walmart employees. Despite being among the largest and most profitable U.S. corporations, both companies employ workers whose take-home pay falls at or below the poverty line, making them eligible for federal Medicaid assistance. The analysis documents how public funds subsidize wages at major retailers.

Supporting reports

• President imposes tariffs on 60 economies for forced labor import enforcement failures — The President issued a memorandum directing the U.S. Trade Representative to impose tariffs under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 on goods from 60 economies found to have failed to impose or effectively enforce prohibitions on forced-labor imports. Tariff rates range from 10 percent to 12.5 percent ad valorem, with product-specific exemptions and tariff-rate quotas for certain textile and apparel goods. The action follows investigations initiated March 12, 2026, and determinations made June 2, 2026, that the practices of each economy are unreasonable and burden U.S. commerce.
• Trump issued presidential memorandum imposing tariffs on 60 economies for forced labor enforcement failures — President Trump issued a presidential memorandum directing the U.S. Trade Representative to impose tariffs ranging from 10 to 12.5 percent ad valorem on goods from 60 economies, including major trading partners (Canada, Mexico, European Union, Japan, China, India), based on determinations that these economies fail to impose or effectively enforce prohibitions on forced-labor-produced imports. The memorandum follows a March 2026 section 301 investigation and June 2026 determinations of actionable practices. Tariffs include exemptions for specified products and tariff-rate quotas for certain textile and apparel goods from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Malaysia, to be established by September 1, 2026.
• Trump imposes new tariffs on 80+ countries citing forced labor — At 12:01 a.m. on July 24, Trump imposed tariffs ranging from 10% to 12.5% on goods from more than 80 countries representing 99.4% of U.S. trade, claiming the countries produce goods using forced labor. The action invokes a different legal authority than the "Liberation Day" tariffs struck down by the Supreme Court in February 2026 and differs from tariffs imposed after that ruling. The time limit for imposing tariffs under the law used for the post-Supreme Court decision tariffs expired on July 24. Within hours, two small businesses sued in the U.S. Court of International Trade, alleging the new tariffs were designed to reinstate the unconstitutional tariff system.
• Trump imposes new tariffs on 60 countries — Trump imposed new tariffs of 10 to 12.5 percent on 60 countries, citing forced labor as the pretext. The bulletin does not specify which countries were targeted, the effective date of the tariffs, or the administration's justification for the specific rates.

Supporting reports

• Oil prices spiked amid regional conflict — Oil prices increased significantly during the period of escalating military conflict in the Middle East, with Brent crude reaching $94.50 per barrel. The price increase reflects market concerns about the impact of the conflict on global energy supplies.
• Oil prices surge past $100/barrel amid escalating Iran-U.S. tensions — Brent crude oil surged past $100 per barrel, up 42% in twenty days, as regional military tensions between the U.S. and Iran intensified. The 10-Year Treasury yield spiked above 4.70%, and the 30-year climbed past 5%. Major stock indices sold off sharply at market open, with the Nasdaq down nearly 2.7%. The escalation followed overnight Houthi attacks on Saudi oil tankers and Iranian strikes near Iraq-Kuwait border positions.
• Oil prices surge 7 percent following Houthi attacks on Saudi tankers — Following claims by Iran-backed Houthi rebels that they attacked two Saudi Arabian oil tankers in the Red Sea, the price of Brent crude oil surged 7 percent to more than $100 per barrel. The attacks raise concerns about potential closure of the Bab el-Mandeb strait, through which 12 to 15 percent of the world's maritime trade passes annually. The average price of gasoline in the United States rose to $4.09 per gallon.
• Brent crude surges past $91 per barrel and national gas prices hit $4 per gallon — Brent crude oil surged past $91 per barrel, and national gasoline prices reached $4 per gallon for the second time in 2026. The price increases reflect market response to regional conflict and supply disruptions, affecting consumers and the broader economy.
• Iran conflict escalation drove oil prices to $100 per barrel and gas prices above $4 per gallon — A widening military conflict with Iran entered a dangerous new phase, spooking energy markets and sending global oil prices to $100 per barrel. Gas prices topped $4 per gallon in much of the country. The economic turmoil coincided with the Trump administration's formalization of new tariffs on dozens of countries, creating compounded economic pressure on American families and businesses already weathered by over a year of trade war shocks.