Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Judge halts DOGE's access to Treasury systems — U.S. District Judge Engelmayer issued an emergency order halting DOGE's attempts to access U.S. Treasury systems, temporarily preventing "special government employees" from accessing these systems. The court also ordered the destruction of any downloaded material from the Treasury Department's records. A hearing is set for February 14 to resolve the matter, with Judge Jeannette Vargas now permanently assigned to the case. The ruling has sparked calls for the judge's impeachment from Elon Musk and JD Vance, who have suggested ignoring the court order.

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• Trump fires Archivist of the United States — President Trump fired Colleen Shogan, the Archivist of the United States, who led the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). This action follows NARA's efforts to retrieve classified documents from Mar-a-Lago.

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• FBI submits list of January 6 investigators to DOJ — The FBI has complied with a demand from the US Department of Justice to provide a list of agents involved in the investigations related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. The list, which excludes names, includes details of 5,000 to 6,000 agents such as employee numbers, job titles, and roles. This submission follows a weeklong standoff and raises concerns among FBI employees about potential retaliation from the Trump administration. The acting FBI director, Brian Driscoll, expressed concerns about the safety of personnel if the list becomes public.

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• Government workers sue Trump and Rubio over USAid cuts — The American Federation of Government Employees and the American Foreign Service Association filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, including President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The lawsuit, filed in Washington, DC federal court, seeks to block what it claims are unconstitutional actions that have dismantled the US Agency for International Development (USAid), causing a global humanitarian crisis. The suit highlights Trump's order pausing all US foreign aid and subsequent state department orders halting USAid projects, leading to significant layoffs and program shutdowns.
• Temporary restraining order ruling — American Federation of Government Employees v. Trump (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00352 — Judge Carl J. Nichols issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) preventing USAID from placing employees on administrative leave or evacuating them. He rejected Plaintiffs' request for a restraining order on the funding freeze on the ground that Plaintiffs (USAID employees) could not show sufficient harm to themselves.

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• FEC Chair refuses to leave position — Ellen Weintraub, Chair of the Federal Election Commission, is refusing to leave her position despite being fired by President Trump. Weintraub, who was appointed to a six-year term in 2022, argues that there is a legal process for replacing FEC commissioners, which has not been followed. Her refusal comes amid ongoing investigations into the President's campaign activities.

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• Supreme Court considers reviving nondelegation doctrine — The U.S. Supreme Court is considering reviving the nondelegation doctrine, which could significantly limit federal agencies' power to create regulations. This doctrine argues that Congress cannot delegate its legislative powers to agencies, potentially invalidating many existing regulations. The case in question, FCC v Consumers’ Research, challenges the FCC's authority to impose fees for broadband services. If the court revives the doctrine, it could lead to widespread challenges against various regulatory protections, shifting significant power from Congress to the judiciary.

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• DoJ sues Chicago and Illinois over sanctuary laws — The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) filed a lawsuit against the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago, accusing them of obstructing the Trump administration's immigration enforcement policies. The lawsuit seeks a court order to nullify sanctuary laws that the federal government claims interfere with federal immigration law enforcement. The complaint was filed in a federal court in Chicago, following a national emergency declaration by Donald Trump on his inauguration day. The DoJ aims to prevent these jurisdictions from receiving federal grants if they continue to impede immigration enforcement.

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• North Carolina judge rules racial bias in death row sentencing — A North Carolina superior court judge, Wayland J Sermons Jr, ruled that racial bias influenced the jury selection in the 2009 death row sentencing of Hasson Bacote. Bacote, a Black man, had his sentence commuted to life in prison last December. The ruling highlighted that Black jurors were struck at three times the rate of white jurors. This decision, based on the Racial Justice Act, could impact North Carolina's death penalty laws, as the state has a significant number of individuals on death row.

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• Federal judge blocks enforcement of Trump's birthright citizenship order — A federal judge in Seattle, appointed by Reagan, issued an injunction against the enforcement of Trump's executive order denying birthright citizenship. Judge Coughenour criticized the president's disregard for the rule of law, emphasizing its importance in his courtroom. This ruling temporarily halts the implementation of the executive order, pending further legal proceedings.
• Judge blocks Trump’s executive order on birthright citizenship — U.S. District Judge John Coughenour blocked Trump’s executive order that sought to alter birthright citizenship, declaring it "clearly unconstitutional." This ruling reinforces the rule of law and the constitutional protections afforded to citizens.
• U.S. District Judge blocks Trump's executive order on birthright citizenship — U.S. District Judge John Coughenour blocked Trump's executive order altering birthright citizenship, declaring it "clearly unconstitutional." The judge criticized the administration's disregard for the rule of law in pursuit of policy goals.

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• Federal judge blocks federal employee buyout plan — A federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration and DOGE/Musk from implementing a federal employee buyout plan. Judge George O'Toole Jr. set a hearing to consider further blocking the offer, which unions argue is unlawful and harmful to federal operations. The plan's legality and impact on civil service stability are under scrutiny.
• Trump administration restricts DOGE access to Treasury systems — Following a lawsuit by government employee unions, the Trump administration filed a proposed order to temporarily restrict DOGE officials' access to sensitive Treasury payment systems. The order allows two DOGE employees to read data without further access. This move likely preempted a judicial restraining order, and its acceptance by the judge or plaintiffs remains uncertain.
• Judge temporarily blocks Trump’s buyout deadline for federal employees — A federal judge, George O’Toole, temporarily blocked the Trump administration's deadline for federal employees to decide on a buyout offer. The deadline, initially set for February 6, 2025, was extended to allow time for legal briefs before a hearing. The buyout offer involved severance pay and benefits for those leaving their jobs, with new reforms for those staying. The judge's decision provides time for further legal examination without indicating the final ruling outcome.
• Case update — American Federation of Gov’t Employees, AFL-CIO v. Ezell (D. Mass.) 1:25-cv-10276 — Judge George O'Toole issued an order to pause the program and extend the deadline until Monday when a hearing is scheduled.

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• Gwynne Wilcox sues Trump and NLRB chair over dismissal — Gwynne Wilcox, a former member of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), has filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump and Marvin Kaplan, the NLRB chair, following her dismissal. Wilcox claims her removal was politically motivated and violated the National Labor Relations Act. Her lawsuit seeks an injunction for her reinstatement, arguing that her termination undermines the NLRB's independence and leaves the board unable to function due to a lack of quorum. The White House justified the dismissal by labeling Wilcox and others as "far-left appointees."

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• DOJ dismantles foreign bribery unit — Attorney General Pam Bondi has dismantled the Department of Justice's foreign bribery unit, which was responsible for investigating and monitoring foreign interference in U.S. elections. The unit is now limited to investigating cases involving drugs or trafficking under Bondi's new directive. This move has raised concerns about the DOJ's ability to address foreign interference in American affairs.
• DOJ eliminates Kleptocracy Initiative — The Department of Justice, under Attorney General Pam Bondi, has eliminated the Kleptocracy Initiative, which was responsible for seizing assets from Russian oligarchs under sanctions. The initiative had recovered billions in stolen assets since 2010. The funds from these seizures are reportedly being redirected to fund new detention facilities in Guantanamo Bay and Texas.
• DOJ scales back enforcement of Foreign Agents Registration Act — Following the disbanding of the Foreign Influence Task Force, the Justice Department under Bondi announced a scaling back of enforcement of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), which requires individuals receiving foreign government funds to disclose their connections. This change could facilitate foreign influence in U.S. politics.
• Trump disbands FBI’s Foreign Influence Task Force — On February 6, 2025, Pam Bondi, newly appointed attorney general, disbanded the FBI’s Foreign Influence Task Force, which was established to combat foreign interference in U.S. politics. This decision reduces the government's capacity to address foreign threats to democracy.
• Trump administration scales back enforcement of white-collar crimes — Under Attorney General Pam Bondi, the Justice Department is scaling back enforcement of white-collar crimes, including bribery of foreign officials and money laundering, while prioritizing human smuggling and drug cartels. This shift invites foreign interference in American affairs.

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• Federal Judge Halts Funding Freeze — A federal judge halted a funding freeze imposed by the Trump administration, suggesting it was a blatant violation of the Constitution. This ruling comes in response to the administration's attempts to change government priorities through illegal impoundment.
• Temporary restraining order ruling — National Council of Nonprofits v. Office of Management and Budget (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00239 — Judge Alikhan issued a temporary restraining order blocking the OMB from implementing its funding freeze, finding that the Plaintiffs are likely to succeed in their claim that the directive was arbitrary and capricious under the APA, and that the post-complaint rescission of the memorandum was “disingenuous” and still causing irreparable injury. The order directed the OMB to release the frozen funds, notify agencies of this TRO, and file a status report on compliance by Feb. 7, 2025.
• Federal court blocks Trump administration's funding freeze — Judge Loren L. AliKhan of the Federal District Court for the District of Columbia blocked the Trump administration's attempt to freeze trillions of dollars in grants and loans, stating that such actions violate the 1974 law that restricts impounding funds.

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• Federal judge halts Trump's birthright citizenship order — A federal judge, Deborah Boardman, issued a temporary injunction against Donald Trump's executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to undocumented immigrants. This decision follows a similar ruling by another judge in Washington state. The order, which interprets the 14th Amendment in a way that no court has previously endorsed, has faced lawsuits from 22 states and various advocacy groups. The injunction prevents the order from taking effect while legal challenges proceed.
• Case update — Casa v. Donald Trump (D. Md.) 8:25-cv-00201 — Judge Deborah Boardman issued an opinion granting Plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary nationwide injunction blocking implementation of the birthright citizenship Executive Order.

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• US judge blocks transfer of trans women to men's prisons — A US district judge, Royce Lamberth, issued a temporary restraining order blocking the transfer of transgender women from women's to men's prisons, halting an executive order by Donald Trump. The order, which also barred access to hormone therapy, was challenged by three incarcerated trans women. The judge ruled that the order discriminates against transgender people and violates their constitutional rights. The ruling applies to 16 trans women currently housed in women's facilities, maintaining their housing and medical care as it was before January 20.
• Temporary restraining order ruling — Doe v. McHenry (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00286 — Judge Royce Lamberth issued a temporary restraining order and enjoined the government blocking it from transferring the plaintiffs or from discontinuing the plaintiffs' medical care.

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• FBI agents sue DOJ over retaliation fears — Two groups of unnamed FBI agents have filed lawsuits against the Department of Justice (DOJ) to prevent it from collecting information on agents involved in investigations related to the January 6 Capitol riot and Donald Trump's mishandling of classified documents. The lawsuits argue that the DOJ's actions could lead to retaliatory firings, violating civil service protections. The lawsuits were filed after Emil Bove, the acting deputy attorney general, ordered the FBI to compile a list of agents involved in these cases for personnel review.
• Case update — Federal Bureau of Investigation Agents Association; John Does 1-4; Jane Does 1-3 v. Department of Justice (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00328 — Judge Cobb ordered consolidation of this case and John and Jane Does 1-9 v. Department of Justice.
• Case update — John and Jane Does 1-9 v. Department of Justice (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00325 — Judge Jia Cobb ordered consolidation of this case and Federal Bureau of Investigation Agents Association v. Department of Justice .
• Preliminary injunction ruling — Federal Bureau of Investigation Agents Association; John Does 1-4; Jane Does 1-3 v. Department of Justice (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00328 — Judge Cobb issued a temporary restraining order , which had been mutually proposed by the parties. The TRO prohibits the government from publicly releasing any list before the court rules on whether to grant a preliminary injunction. The briefings for a preliminary injunction will be filed by March 21, 2025.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — John and Jane Does 1-9 v. Department of Justice (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00325 — Judge Jia Cobb issued a temporary restraining order , which had been mutually proposed by the parties. The TRO prohibits the government from publicly releasing any list before the court rules on whether to grant a preliminary injunction. The briefings for a preliminary injunction will be filed by March 21, 2025.

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• Federal employee unions file lawsuit against Trump administration — Three federal employee unions have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, alleging that Elon Musk's "department of government efficiency" (Doge) was granted unprecedented access to sensitive government records. The lawsuit claims that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent violated federal privacy laws by allowing Musk's team full access to the Bureau of the Fiscal Service's confidential payment systems. The unions argue that this access puts millions of Americans' personal data at risk. The lawsuit was filed in federal court on Monday.
• Case update — Alliance for Retired Americans v. Scott Bessent et al (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00313 — The parties in the suit mutually proposed an order that Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly adopted. It limits access to Treasury Department payment records and systems to two (Musk-affiliated) Special Government Employees in the Department (“read-only” access), other employees who need to access the record to perform their duties, or individuals who are already entitled to access the records under statute.

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• Higher education groups file lawsuit against Trump administration — Higher education groups, including the American Association of University Professors and the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration. The lawsuit challenges executive orders that eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) positions in government and threaten to suspend funding to institutions with DEI policies. Filed in the US district court in Maryland, the suit claims these orders violate the US Constitution, exceed executive authority, and threaten academic freedom and access to higher education.

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• US Senate confirms Chris Wright as energy secretary — The US Senate confirmed Chris Wright, CEO of Liberty Energy, as the energy secretary under Donald Trump's administration with a vote of 59-38. Wright, known for his controversial views on climate change, will oversee the Department of Energy, which manages a $50 billion budget, including the maintenance of the US nuclear weapons stockpile. Wright has been criticized for downplaying the effects of climate change, particularly in relation to wildfires in California. He will replace Jennifer Granholm, who supported renewable energy sources.
• US Senate confirms Pam Bondi as attorney general — The US Senate confirmed Pam Bondi as the attorney general with a 54-46 vote, largely along party lines. Bondi, a staunch ally of President Trump, will lead the Justice Department during Trump's second term. Her confirmation comes amid significant personnel changes within the department, including the firing of prosecutors involved in cases against Trump. Bondi has pledged to maintain the department's independence, but her ability to resist political pressure from the White House is under scrutiny. The department faces challenges with morale and concerns about becoming an extension of the White House.
• Confirmation of Pam Bondi as attorney general — The Senate confirmed Pam Bondi as attorney general, despite opposition from civil rights groups due to her history of anti-LGBTQ and anti-immigrant stances. The confirmation vote was largely along party lines, with one Democratic senator crossing over to support her.
• Senate finance committee advances RFK Jr's HHS nomination — The Senate finance committee voted to advance Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination as the Secretary of Health and Human Services. The vote was along party lines, with 14 Republicans supporting and 13 Democrats opposing. This advancement sets the stage for a full Senate vote. Kennedy's nomination has been controversial due to his past comments on vaccines and healthcare policies. Despite initial concerns, Republican Senator Bill Cassidy supported the nomination after receiving commitments from the administration. The full Senate vote is expected soon, with Kennedy likely to be confirmed given the Republican majority.
• US Senate confirms Russell Vought to lead OMB — The US Senate confirmed Russell Vought as the director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) with a 53-47 vote along party lines. Vought, a key figure in Project 2025, faced strong opposition from Democrats who fear he will work with Donald Trump to dismantle the federal government. Despite an all-night debate by Democrats, Vought's confirmation proceeded, raising concerns about potential overreach in federal funding decisions and the consolidation of executive power.
• Senate confirms Russell Vought as OMB director — Senate Republicans confirmed Russell Vought as the director of the Office of Management and Budget on February 6, 2025. Vought is known for his right-wing views and has been associated with Project 2025, which aims to reshape government functions.

Supporting reports

• Senate Democrats protest against Russell Vought's nomination — Senate Democrats held an all-night protest against Russell Vought, Trump's nominee to lead the White House budget office, due to his role in Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump's second term. Despite their efforts, Vought was confirmed along party lines. The protest was part of a broader Democratic strategy to oppose Trump's agenda, which includes a now-rescinded order freezing federal loans and grants. Activists were pleased with the Democrats' increased resolve to challenge the administration's actions.
• Senate urged to block Russell Vought's OMB appointment — There is a concerted effort to pressure the Senate to block the appointment of Russell Vought as Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Vought, associated with Project 2025, is accused of planning to staff the government with loyalists and undermine agencies by withholding congressionally-allocated resources. His refusal to testify that he would prioritize the Constitution over Trump's demands has intensified opposition. The Senate is expected to vote on his confirmation soon, and public campaigns are urging Senators to reject his nomination.
• Senate filibuster against Russell Vought — Democratic senators, led by Chuck Schumer, initiated a filibuster to block the confirmation of Russell Vought as the director of the Office of Management and Budget. The senators expressed concerns that Vought's proposals would threaten critical federal funding for programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.
• Legislation introduced to counter Musk's actions — Senator Chuck Schumer and Representative Hakeem Jeffries announced the introduction of legislation aimed at stopping Elon Musk's actions regarding the Treasury's payment systems. The proposed legislation, titled "Stop the Steal," seeks to protect Americans from potential abuses stemming from Musk's control over government financial operations.
• Senate to vote on Russell Vought's confirmation — The Senate is scheduled to vote on the confirmation of Russell Vought as the head of the Office of Management and Budget. Vought is criticized for his role in the Project 2025 agenda, which opponents argue could lead to policies detrimental to working families and democratic governance.
• Judge Griffin's Attempt to Overturn Supreme Court Election — Judge Griffin is reportedly attempting to overturn the results of a Supreme Court election in North Carolina by seeking to discard 65,000 votes. This action has been characterized as an outrageous power grab by the NC Supreme Court. The situation has prompted a campaign by Common Cause NC to raise awareness and ensure that affected voters are informed. The campaign highlights the importance of public vigilance and participation in safeguarding electoral integrity.
• Judge Griffins attempts to alter NC Supreme Court election — Judge Griffins is reportedly attempting to alter the outcome of the North Carolina Supreme Court election by targeting 60,000 votes, potentially affecting the election of Justice Alison Riggs. This action has prompted calls for public engagement and court attendance to ensure the integrity of the election process.
• Protests against government actions held nationwide — Nationwide protests have been held in response to recent government actions, including the seizure of the US Treasury and the potential confirmation of Russell Vought. These protests are described as peaceful expressions of First Amendment rights, with significant public participation.

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• Democratic state attorneys general filed lawsuits challenging Trump administration actions — In February 2024, before Trump took office, 23 Democratic state attorneys general began preparing legal challenges by studying his campaign statements and Project 2025. Once Trump assumed office in 2025, they coordinated to file lawsuits against what they characterized as unconstitutional and illegal administration actions. As of May 23, 2025, at least 177 court rulings had at least temporarily paused some of the administration's initiatives, including cases involving unlawful federal employee firings, frozen federal funding, denial of birthright citizenship, civil rights revocation for transgender Americans, environmental policy revocation, and use of federal power to punish individuals or organizations.

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• West Virginia expands non-medical vaccine exemptions — West Virginia's senate passed a bill in February 2025 to expand non-medical exemptions to vaccine requirements. This legislative action reduces vaccination rates by allowing parents to opt out of school vaccine mandates for non-medical reasons.

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• Florida House passes bill to override Supreme Court obscenity standard in school book challenges — The Florida House passed HB 1539, legislation that would prohibit school districts from considering a book's "potential literary, artistic, political, or scientific value" when evaluating removal challenges. The bill would allow books to be removed based solely on "obscene" content, directly contradicting the 1973 Supreme Court Miller test, which requires consideration of serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value as part of the obscenity determination. School districts failing to comply could lose state funding. The bill was sponsored by Representative Doug Bankson (R) and ultimately languished in the Senate Education Committee.

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• Trial court rejected Griffin's ballot challenges in February 2025 — In February 2025, a North Carolina trial court rejected Jefferson Griffin's legal challenges against 60,000 ballots that he claimed were invalid due to missing driver's license or Social Security numbers on voter registration forms and alleged ineligibility of military and overseas voters. The trial court's rejection of Griffin's case was consistent with the State Board of Elections' earlier rejection of the same claims, but Griffin appealed the ruling to the Court of Appeals, which subsequently ruled in his favor.
• Judge Griffin's Attempt to Overturn Supreme Court Election — Judge Griffin is reportedly attempting to overturn the results of a Supreme Court election in North Carolina by seeking to discard 65,000 votes. This action has been characterized as an outrageous power grab by the NC Supreme Court. The situation has prompted a campaign by Common Cause NC to raise awareness and ensure that affected voters are informed. The campaign highlights the importance of public vigilance and participation in safeguarding electoral integrity.
• Judge Griffins attempts to alter NC Supreme Court election — Judge Griffins is reportedly attempting to alter the outcome of the North Carolina Supreme Court election by targeting 60,000 votes, potentially affecting the election of Justice Alison Riggs. This action has prompted calls for public engagement and court attendance to ensure the integrity of the election process.

Supporting reports

• Oklahoma State Board of Education approves social studies standards incorporating election denial claims — The Oklahoma State Board of Education approved revised social studies standards in February 2025 that direct high school teachers to present discredited 2020 election conspiracy theories—including claims about ballot-counting halts, mail-in voting risks, and "bellwether county" anomalies—as legitimate topics for student debate. The standards, championed by State Superintendent Ryan Walters and developed with input from far-right figures including Kevin Roberts (Heritage Foundation) and Dennis Prager (PragerU), will take effect in fall 2025. Teachers report concern about pressure to teach election falsehoods despite overwhelming judicial and DOJ refutation.
• Oklahoma Superintendent Walters approves social studies curriculum including 2020 election fraud claims — Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters approved a new social studies curriculum for the 2025-26 school year that requires high school students to "analyze" debunked claims about the 2020 election, including allegations of ballot-counting halts, mail-in voting fraud, and "batch dumps." The curriculum presents these claims as legitimate concerns without labeling them as conspiracy theories. The State Board of Education approved the standards in February after Walters provided them to board members only 4 p.m. the day before a 9:30 a.m. meeting, preventing adequate review of the 400-page document. Multiple board members later stated they did not realize the standards differed from earlier versions and called Walters' tactics a "breach of trust."
• Walters withheld curriculum changes from State Board members until day before vote — Ryan Walters did not send the new social studies standards with his additions to State Board of Education members until 4 p.m. the day before the board's 9:30 a.m. meeting, preventing adequate review of the approximately 400-page document. The email "subtly indicate[d]" updates had been made but provided no specifics. During the meeting, Walters did not mention specific changes. When board member Chris VanDenhende later requested documents noting the changes, Walters called the request "irrelevant." Board member Ryan Deatherage asked to delay the vote, but Walters pressured the board to vote that day, citing a legislative time crunch that did not exist—the board had until April to approve the standards.