Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Rep. Beatty sues to block Kennedy Center name change — Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), an ex officio member of the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees, sued the Trump administration to block the Center's name change, calling the move a "flagrant violation of the rule of law." The suit challenges the administration's authority to unilaterally alter the name of a congressionally chartered institution.
• Democratic lawmaker sues Trump over Kennedy Center renaming — Democratic U.S. Representative Joyce Beatty of Ohio filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump on Monday challenging the Kennedy Center board's vote to rename the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to the "Trump-Kennedy Center." Beatty, an ex-officio trustee, argued the renaming violates federal law requiring congressional approval and alleged she was muted and prevented from speaking during the board vote. The Trump administration announced the "unanimous" board vote last week, and workers have already changed the name on the building's exterior.

Supporting reports

• Supreme Court stays Third Circuit orders in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette v. NLRB — Justice Samuel Alito issued an administrative stay of two Third Circuit Court of Appeals orders (dated March 24, 2025 and November 10, 2025) in the case of PG Publishing Co., Inc. dba Pittsburgh Post-Gazette v. National Labor Relations Board. The stay halts enforcement of those appellate decisions pending further order from Justice Alito or the full Court. A response brief is due January 5, 2026.

Supporting reports

• Appeal filed — American Federation of Government Employees v. Office of Management and Budget (N.D. Cal.) 3:25-cv-08302 — The government appealed to the Ninth Circuit.
• Case update — Environmental Defense Fund v. Department of Interior (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00871 — The parties filed a joint status report which indicates that the parties had been working together to reach a final resolution of Plaintiffs' claims.
• Case update — Gonzalez v. Gor (D. Puerto Rico) 3:25-cv-01508 — Defendants filed unopposed motion to hold case in abeyance pending the Supreme Court's resolution of Cook v. Trump .
• Case update — International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers, AFL-CIO v. Trump (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-03615 — Judge Paul Friedman stayed the district court case pending the D.C. Circuit's decisions in National Treasury Employees Union v. Trump (25-5157), American Foreign Service Ass'n v. Trump (25-5184), and Federal Education Association v. Trump (25-5303).
• Preliminary injunction ruling — National Weather Service Employees Organization v. Trump (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-02947 — Judge Paul Friedman stayed the case pending the D.C. Circuit's decisions in National Treasury Employees Union v. Trump (25-5157), American Foreign Service Ass'n v. Trump (25-5184), and Federal Education Association v. Trump (25-5303). Judge Friedman also ordered that Plaintiffs' preliminary injunction motion be held in abeyance.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — Ruiz v. U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (N.D. Cal.) 3:25-cv-09757 — Judge Chesney resolved Plaintiffs' motion for TRO and modified the briefing schedule in accordance with a joint stipulation of the parties. A hearing on Plaintiffs' motion for Preliminary Injunction is scheduled for Feb. 6, 2026.
• Stay motion decided — Schlacter v. U.S. Department of State (D. Md.) 1:25-cv-01344 — Judge Russell granted parties' joint motion to stay pending final disposition of related case in the District of Massachusetts.
• Summary judgment ruling — State of Illinois v. Noem (D.R.I.) 1:25-cv-00495 — Judge McElroy granted Plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment and denied Defendants' cross-motion for summary judgment. Judge McElroy declared unlawful and vacated the Reallocation Decision, Performance Period Decision, and Population Certification Requirement and directed Defendants to amend awards issued to Plaintiffs to bring them into conformity with the 2025 HSGP and EMPG NOFOs.

Supporting reports

• Brennan's lawyer accuses DOJ of leaking grand jury information and judge shopping — In a letter to the chief judge of Florida's Southern District Court, former CIA Director John Brennan's lawyer accused Trump's Justice Department of leaking grand jury information and potential judge shopping to ensure a future prosecution against Brennan will be overseen by the same judge who issued favorable rulings to Trump in his classified documents case. Brennan appears to be the target of a grand jury investigation into a 2017 intelligence assessment about Russia's 2016 election interference.

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• Raskin and Lieu demand investigation into Caribbean double-tap strike — Reps. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) and Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) sent a letter to the Justice Department demanding an investigation into a September 2 double-tap strike in the Caribbean that killed two survivors. The lawmakers argued that the order to conduct the strike constituted either a war crime or premeditated murder, stating that "the killing of unarmed, helpless men clinging to wreckage in open water is simply murder."

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• House Speaker Johnson warns of Democratic impeachment if Republicans lose majority — At a Turning Point USA event over the weekend, House Speaker Mike Johnson warned attendees that if Republicans lose their House majority, Democrats will move to impeach the president and "create absolute chaos." Johnson's statement was framed as a cautionary message intended to mobilize Republican voters, though observers characterized it as reflecting internal anxiety within the administration about its political standing and vulnerability to oversight.

Supporting reports

• Rep. Robert Garcia called for whistleblowers to contact House Oversight Committee regarding hidden Epstein files — Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) appeared on MSNBC and called on whistleblowers within the FBI and DOJ who worked on compiling the Epstein files to contact the House Oversight Committee. Garcia stated that the committee has whistleblower protections and wants to ensure "the truth gets out" and that "survivors are protected." Garcia indicated the committee is "hearing from folks across our govt who have seen or know what are in these files," suggesting internal awareness of withheld information.

Supporting reports

• Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie announced drafting articles of impeachment and inherent contempt against Attorney General Pam Bondi — Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) stated on CNN that he and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) are drafting articles of impeachment and inherent contempt against Attorney General Pam Bondi for her failure to comply with the Epstein Files Release Act. Khanna indicated the decision to move forward has not been made but noted that the question is not whether Democrats would support it, but how many Republicans would. Massie separately stated on CBS that bringing inherent contempt against Bondi is "the quickest way and most expeditious way to get justice for these victims" and does not require going through the courts.

Supporting reports

• Jury found LA tow truck driver not guilty of federal charges for towing ICE vehicle — A jury found Bobby Nuñez, an LA tow truck driver, not guilty of federal charges of theft of government property after he was accused of towing a government vehicle used by ICE during an immigration arrest in August. Nuñez had faced up to 10 years in prison. The DOJ had released a video in September showing the tow truck driver taking the immigration agent's SUV during a raid in downtown LA, and prosecutor Bill Essayli had posted the video with the caption: "Apparently he thought it would be funny to interfere with our immigration enforcement operations. Now he can laugh behind bars while he faces justice." Stephen Miller characterized the verdict as "blatant jury nullification in a blue city" and criticized the jury system, stating that "the justice system depends on a jury of peers with a shared system of interests and values."

Supporting reports

• Career prosecutor Erik Siebert resigns after refusing baseless prosecutions — Career prosecutor Erik Siebert resigned from the Department of Justice after refusing to pursue what he characterized as baseless prosecutions of New York Attorney General Letitia James and former FBI Director James Comey. He was replaced by Trump-aligned attorney Lindsey Halligan, whose appointment was later ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge.

Supporting reports

• Ghislaine Maxwell transferred to minimum-security facility after Blanche interview — After Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche interviewed Ghislaine Maxwell in federal custody, Maxwell was transferred from a high-security facility to a minimum-security prison camp. When questioned about the move, Blanche declined to answer direct questions, citing "security issues," while simultaneously acknowledging that all such decisions ultimately fall under his authority.
• Deputy Attorney General Blanche acknowledges approving Ghislaine Maxwell's prison transfer — Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, when asked on Meet the Press about Ghislaine Maxwell's transfer to a lower-security prison facility days after an interview, seemingly acknowledged he approved the transfer, stating that "every decision" made by the Bureau of Prisons "lands on my desk." The timing and circumstances of the transfer raised questions about potential preferential treatment.

Supporting reports

• Gov. Ron DeSantis designated CAIR as foreign terrorist organization; CAIR filed lawsuit — Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued an executive order designating CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations), a Muslim civil rights nonprofit organization with over 20 chapters nationwide, as a "foreign terrorist organization." The order directed Florida's state and local agencies to deny contracts, employment, funding, benefits, and privileges to CAIR. CAIR filed a lawsuit arguing the executive order violated the Constitution's guarantee of due process and was discriminatory. CAIR's attorney Omar Saleh stated: "It's clearly retaliatory. After over 25 years of being in FL, all of a sudden, we're illegal?" CAIR noted that its advocacy for Palestinian human rights and criticism of Israel's government stand in direct opposition to the governor's viewpoints.

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• Vice President JD Vance announced list of judges and prosecutors for "swifter justice" — Vice President JD Vance stated at the TPUSA event: "Greatness awaits every single one of you in the America First movement we are building together, but we need your help to get there. Do you want more prosecutions? Great. So do we. Trump and I have a list of better judges and prosecutors to enact swifter justice." The statement indicates the administration is preparing to appoint judges and prosecutors based on loyalty to the "America First" movement rather than judicial independence.

Supporting reports

• House Oversight Committee schedules Clinton depositions on Epstein ties — The House Oversight Committee, chaired by James Comer, has scheduled depositions for Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton on January 13 and 14 to address their ties to Jeffrey Epstein. The depositions were originally scheduled for the previous week but were postponed. Comer has threatened contempt proceedings if the Clintons do not appear on the rescheduled dates.

Supporting reports

• Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie announce legal options against justice department non-compliance — Representatives Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, co-authors of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, announced they are "exploring all options" in response to the justice department's non-compliant release, including possible impeachment of justice department officials, contempt of Congress findings, and referral for prosecution of those obstructing justice. Massie noted that the Epstein Files Transparency Act, unlike a congressional subpoena, does not expire at the end of each Congress, potentially exposing current officials to future prosecution.

Supporting reports

• Senate and House Democrats announce investigation and legal action — Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and House oversight committee Democrats, including Robert Garcia and Jamie Raskin, announced they are examining legal options and pursuing accountability for the justice department's violation of the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Schumer characterized the handling as "one of the biggest cover ups in American history" and stated Senate Democrats would "pursue every option to make sure the truth comes out." House Democrats stated they are "examining all legal options in the face of this violation of federal law."
• Representatives Garcia and Raskin issued statement accusing Trump administration of violating federal law on Epstein files — On December 20, 2025, Representative Robert Garcia of California, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, and Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland issued a joint statement accusing the Trump administration and Department of Justice of violating federal law by continuing to cover up facts and evidence about Epstein's trafficking ring. They noted that Attorney General Pam Bondi had denied survivors transparency and defied the Oversight Committee's subpoena, and that the Department of Justice was defying Congress itself while giving "star treatment" to Epstein's convicted co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell. They announced they were examining all legal options in response to the violation.

Supporting reports

• Four House Republicans joined Democrats to force vote on Affordable Care Act premium tax credits — Four Republicans in the House of Representatives joined all Democrats to force Speaker Mike Johnson to hold a vote on extending premium tax credits for purchasing healthcare insurance on the Affordable Care Act markets. This indicated Johnson's weakening power and that Republican lawmakers felt pressure from public concerns about the economy.

Supporting reports

• Luigi Mangione's lawyers file motion challenging AG Pam Bondi's impartiality and seeking to block death penalty — Lawyers for Luigi Mangione filed court documents arguing that Attorney General Pam Bondi has a "profound conflict of interest" because her former employer, Ballard Partners lobbying firm, represents UnitedHealth Group—the parent company of UnitedHealthcare, whose CEO Mangione is accused of killing. The filing seeks to remove the death penalty option, dismiss two federal charges, and exclude certain evidence, citing Bondi's prior lobbying ties and public statements about the case. A hearing is scheduled for 9 January 2025 in Manhattan federal court.

Supporting reports

• Jack Smith testified before House Judiciary Committee on Trump's criminal scheme to overturn 2020 election — Former special counsel Jack Smith testified before the House Judiciary Committee in a closed session, stating that he and his team found "proof beyond a reasonable doubt" that Trump engaged in a "criminal scheme" to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Smith had requested public testimony, which Committee chair Jim Jordan rejected.
• New York Times reported Trump's 2020 phone call to Georgia House Speaker pressuring election overturn — The New York Times published an article by Richard Fausset and Danny Hakim recounting a phone call Trump made in late 2020 pressing David Ralston, then speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives, to hold a special session to overturn Trump's loss in the election. The article reinforced Jack Smith's testimony about Trump's efforts to overturn the election.
• Jack Smith requested public release of his testimony on Trump's election scheme — Former special counsel Jack Smith asked the House Judiciary Committee to release his testimony about Trump's participation in the attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election to the public. Smith stated that the American people should hear the facts of the criminal cases against Trump.

Supporting reports

• Court granted summary judgment for Enbridge, blocking Michigan's shutdown of Line 5 pipeline — The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan granted Enbridge Energy's motion for summary judgment, blocking Michigan's effort to shut down the Line 5 international pipeline. The Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division and Civil Division had filed a statement of interest in September. The court held that federal law preempts Michigan's action on two grounds: the Pipeline Safety Act grants exclusive authority to the U.S. Department of Transportation, and the pipeline is subject to a U.S.-Canada treaty with express federal policy favoring uninterrupted oil flow.