Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• FCC Chair Brendan Carr testified that the FCC is under full control of Trump and is not an independent agency. — FCC Chair Brendan Carr testified before the Senate that the FCC is not an independent agency but rather under full control of Trump. Shortly after the testimony, the Trump administration scrubbed any references to the FCC being independent from the agency's website.
• FCC chair declares agency not independent; removes "independent" from mission statement — FCC Chairman Brendan Carr told the Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday that the FCC is "not an independent agency, formally speaking." Shortly before his testimony, the word "independent" was removed from the FCC's official website mission statement, which had previously described it as "an independent US government agency overseen by Congress." The action raised concerns about Trump administration efforts to exert greater control over independent agencies.

Supporting reports

• Federal judge ordered SNAP benefits funding from emergency reserve — U.S. District Judge John McConnell of the District of Rhode Island ordered the Trump administration to fund SNAP benefit payments using the $4.65 billion emergency reserve Congress had set aside. McConnell suggested the administration could make full November payments by also tapping the Child Nutrition Program and other funds, but left discretion to the administration.
• Federal judge orders administration to restore SNAP benefits — On November 6, 2025, U.S. District Court Judge John McConnell in the District of Rhode Island found that the Trump administration had violated his prior court order by withholding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The judge accused the administration of withholding benefits "for political reasons" and cited Trump's social media post stating SNAP would be funded only after the shutdown ends as evidence of "intent to defy the court order." McConnell ordered full SNAP payments to states by November 7 for distribution to beneficiaries.
• Judge McConnell found administration ignored court order and mandated full SNAP benefit distribution — After the Trump administration failed to comply with his initial order to distribute at least partial SNAP benefits, Judge John McConnell found the administration in violation and issued a new order requiring the Trump administration to distribute the full amount of SNAP benefits for November to the states for distribution by the end of Friday (November 7, 2025).
• Trump administration appeals SNAP benefits ruling — On November 6, 2025, immediately after Judge John McConnell's order to restore SNAP benefits, the Trump administration filed an appeal of the ruling.

Supporting reports

• EPA eliminates research and development office and begins mass layoffs — The Environmental Protection Agency announced Friday the elimination of its Office of Research and Development (ORD) and a reduction of more than 3,700 employees (nearly 23% of total staff), bringing EPA staffing from January levels to 12,448. The ORD, which has provided scientific underpinnings for EPA's environmental and health protection mission, will be replaced by a new office of applied science. The agency projects savings of nearly $750 million. Union leaders and Democratic lawmakers warned the cuts will devastate public health and eliminate hundreds of scientist positions.

Supporting reports

• US Supreme Court affirms health secretary's direct oversight of preventive services taskforce — The US Supreme Court ruled in Kennedy v Braidwood Management that the preventive services taskforce—an expert panel convened under the Affordable Care Act—operates under direct oversight of the health secretary. The 6-vote majority opinion, written by Justice Brett Kavanaugh, held that presidential and Senate accountability provides sufficient constitutional safeguard. The decision comes hours after RFK Jr's handpicked vaccine advisory panel (ACIP) recommended against thimerosal-containing vaccines, contradicting scientific consensus. Health law experts warn the ruling enables politicization of medical recommendations affecting insurance coverage for treatments ranging from statins to HIV prevention drugs.
• US Supreme Court upholds Affordable Care Act preventive services provision while affirming health secretary's removal and override powers — The US Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in Kennedy v Braidwood Management, Inc that the Affordable Care Act's requirement for private insurers to cover preventive health services without cost is constitutional. The decision affirmed the constitutionality of the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), a 16-member expert panel determining which evidence-based preventive services must be covered. However, the court also held that the health secretary may remove task force members at will and review their recommendations before implementation. The ruling centered on whether PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV) coverage violated religious beliefs, with plaintiffs represented by the architect of Texas's abortion bounty-hunter law.

Supporting reports

• Supreme Court Allows Challenge to California's Emission Limits — The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of fossil fuel companies and 17 Republican-led states, allowing them to challenge California's waiver to set stricter car emission standards than federal limits. The 7-2 decision overturns a lower court ruling that dismissed the lawsuit due to lack of standing. This waiver, periodically granted since 1967, has enabled California to lead in reducing vehicle pollution. The ruling does not immediately end California's standards but opens the door for legal challenges against them.
• Supreme Court releases opinion in Diamond Alternative Energy, LLC v. EPA (24-7) — The Supreme Court released an official slip opinion in Diamond Alternative Energy, LLC v. EPA. Docket number(s): 24-7.

Supporting reports

• Became Law: A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the rule submitted by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency — Congress enacted a joint resolution disapproving a rule from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency regarding the review of applications under the Bank Merger Act, impacting regulatory oversight of bank mergers.
• Became Law: Joint Resolution Disapproving EPA Rule on Air Quality Standards — Congress enacted a joint resolution disapproving an EPA rule regarding the reclassification of major sources under the Clean Air Act, impacting environmental regulatory standards.

Supporting reports

• Supreme Court releases opinion in Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County (23-975) — The Supreme Court released an official slip opinion in Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County. Docket number(s): 23-975.
• US Supreme Court Ruling on Utah Railway Project — On May 29, 2025, the US Supreme Court issued an 8-0 ruling in favor of a multibillion-dollar oil railway expansion project in Utah, overturning a lower court's decision that had halted the project. The ruling limits the scope of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), a key environmental law, by endorsing a narrower interpretation of environmental impact assessments. This decision is seen as a victory for the fossil fuel industry, allowing for faster expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure. The project, known as the Uinta Basin Railway, aims to transport crude oil from Utah to refineries on the Gulf Coast.

Supporting reports

• Became Law: Providing for congressional disapproval of energy conservation standards — Congress enacted a resolution disapproving the energy conservation standards for commercial refrigeration set by the Department of Energy, effectively nullifying the rule. This action reflects legislative oversight over energy regulations.
• Became Law: Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Energy relating to "Energy Conservation Program for Appliance Standards: Certification Requirements, Labeling Requirements, and Enforcement Provisions for Certain Consumer Products and Commercial Equipment" — Congress enacted a resolution disapproving a Department of Energy rule on appliance standards, impacting energy conservation regulations. This law reflects legislative oversight over executive agency rules.
• Became Law: A joint resolution disapproving the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to "Defining Larger Participants of a Market for General-Use Digital Consumer Payment Applications" — The joint resolution disapproving the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection's rule was enacted, nullifying the definition of larger participants in the digital payment market. This action impacts regulatory oversight of digital consumer payment applications.
• Became Law: A joint resolution disapproving the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to "Overdraft Lending: Very Large Financial Institutions" — The joint resolution disapproving the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection's rule on overdraft lending was enacted, nullifying the regulation affecting large financial institutions.
• Became Law: Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Energy relating to "Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Gas-fired Instantaneous Water Heaters" — Congress enacted a resolution disapproving the Department of Energy's energy conservation standards for gas-fired water heaters, impacting energy efficiency regulations.
• Became Law: Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Energy relating to "Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Walk-In Coolers and Walk-In Freezers" — The resolution disapproving the Department of Energy's energy conservation standards for walk-in coolers and freezers was enacted into law, nullifying the previous standards.

Supporting reports

• FTC commissioners file lawsuit challenging Trump terminations — Democratic FTC commissioners Rebecca Kelly Slaughter and Alvaro Bedoya filed a lawsuit on March 28, 2025, challenging their terminations by President Trump announced the previous week. They argue the removals violated the FTC Act, which permits removal only for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance, and violated the First and Fifth Amendments. The complaint seeks a court declaration that the terminations are unlawful and that the commissioners be reinstated to serve their remaining terms. Trump's removal notice cited only inconsistency with administration priorities, not statutory grounds.
• FTC commissioners Bedoya and Slaughter fired by Trump administration — Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, Democratic commissioners at the Federal Trade Commission, were terminated by the Trump administration. Bedoya, who had led cases against Amazon and other major tech firms, characterized the firings as illegal removals shielded by law only for "insufficiency, neglect of duty or malfeasance." Both commissioners have sued the administration. Bedoya warned of "quid pro quo" dealmaking between the administration and billionaire allies, citing Amazon's $1 million inaugural donation and reported payments to the Trump family, alongside the nomination of an Amazon safety executive to lead OSHA.

Supporting reports

• Executive Order on Deregulation Issued — President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Order 14192 on January 31, 2025, mandating that for each new federal regulation, at least ten existing regulations must be repealed. This order aims to reduce regulatory burdens and promote economic growth by ensuring that the total incremental cost of new regulations is less than zero. The Office of Management and Budget is tasked with overseeing the implementation and providing guidance to federal agencies.
• Trump issues executive order on deregulation — President Donald Trump issued an executive order titled "Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation" on January 31, 2025. The order mandates that for every new regulation proposed, at least ten existing regulations must be identified for elimination. This initiative aims to reduce the regulatory burden on businesses and individuals, promoting economic growth and national security. The order also sets a regulatory cap for fiscal year 2025, requiring that the total incremental cost of new regulations be significantly less than zero. The Office of Management and Budget is tasked with overseeing the implementation of these directives.
• White House issued executive order establishing 10-for-1 regulatory offset requirement — The White House published an executive order titled "Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation" directing federal agencies to identify and eliminate at least 10 existing regulations for each new regulation proposed or finalized. For fiscal year 2025, the order requires that the total incremental cost of all new regulations be "significantly less than zero." The Director of the Office of Management and Budget is charged with implementation, guidance, and enforcement. The order revokes OMB Circular A-4 (2023) and reinstates the 2003 version, and reinstates a 2018 Treasury-OMB memorandum on tax regulation review.
• White House issues fact sheet on 10-to-1 deregulation executive order — The White House published a fact sheet on January 31, 2025, announcing that President Trump signed an executive order requiring federal agencies to repeal at least 10 existing regulations for each new regulation issued. The order directs the Office of Management and Budget to standardize measurement of regulatory costs and requires that for fiscal year 2025, the total incremental cost of all new regulations be significantly less than zero. The fact sheet claims the Biden Administration imposed $1.7 trillion in regulatory costs and asserts that Trump's first term achieved a 5.5-to-1 repeal ratio.

Supporting reports

• Trump makes independent regulators answerable to White House — Trump signed an executive order making independent regulatory agencies – such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – accountable to the White House. Agencies will have to report new policy priorities to the executive branch for approval, which will also have a say over their budgets. The White House states the order ensures "all federal agencies are accountable to the American people, as required by the constitution." Critics argue the move clashes with mainstream interpretations of the Constitution.