Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Federal appeals court rules most of Trump tariffs illegal under IEEPA — The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington DC ruled 7-4 on Friday that President Trump overstepped his constitutional authority by imposing most of his tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The court found the tariffs "unbounded in scope, amount and duration" and that IEEPA does not explicitly grant tariff-imposition power. The ruling does not take effect until 14 October, allowing time for appeal to the Supreme Court. Trump immediately disputed the decision on social media, claiming the tariffs remain in effect and accusing the court of political bias.
• Federal appeals court struck down Trump's emergency tariffs as illegal — A federal appeals court, by a 7–4 majority, upheld a May decision by a three-judge panel at the U.S. Court of International Trade striking down President Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs as illegal. The court ruled that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) has "meaningful limits" and that "an unlimited delegation of tariff authority would be unconstitutional." The court stated "Congress manifestly is not permitted to abdicate or to transfer to other the essential legislative functions with which it is thus vested." The decision concluded Congress did not give the President "wide-ranging authority to impose" sweeping tariffs, noting such authorization would mean "Congress had bestowed on a federal agency the taxing power," a "sharp break with our traditions." The decision will not take effect until October 14 to allow the administration to appeal to the Supreme Court.

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• Missouri governor calls special legislative session to redraw congressional districts — Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe announced a special legislative session to redraw the state's congressional districts, following pressure from Donald Trump to reshape boundaries to favor Republicans. The move aims to help the GOP gain an additional House seat in the 2026 midterms. Kehoe's announcement came hours after Texas Governor Greg Abbott ratified a similar map designed to gain five Republican seats. Trump publicly celebrated the announcement and urged Missouri lawmakers to pass a "new, much fairer" map. The session will also address initiative petition reform to restrict citizen-led ballot measures.

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• Texas Governor Abbott signs new redistricting bill favoring Republicans — Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed into law on Friday a new redistricting bill designed to create five additional Republican House seats, as declared by President Trump. The new map faces multiple lawsuits, including one alleging racial discrimination in the drawn districts. The action is part of a broader national arms race in mid-decade redistricting aimed at locking in partisan advantage ahead of the 2026 midterms.
• Texas governor signs redistricting bill favoring Republicans, reducing Democratic House seats — Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a redistricting bill on Friday that redraws the state's congressional map to heavily favor Republicans, creating as many as five additional Republican districts. The Texas House approved the map 88-52 on party lines, and the state Senate approved it early Saturday. The new map will reduce Democratic-majority districts in Houston, Austin, and Dallas-Fort Worth, shifting Republican-favored districts from 25 of 38 to 30 of 38. The bill followed Trump's request for new maps and prompted weeks-long Democratic walkouts.

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• Trump signed Executive Order 14343 excluding additional federal agencies from labor-management relations protections. — President Trump signed Executive Order 14343 on August 28, 2025, further amending Executive Order 12171 to exclude additional federal agencies and subdivisions from Chapter 71 of title 5, United States Code (the Federal Labor-Management Relations Statute). The order determines that the Bureau of Reclamation hydropower units, International Trade Administration, Patent and Trademark Office, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration subdivisions (National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service and National Weather Service), National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and United States Agency for Global Media have primary national security functions and cannot be subject to federal labor-management relations requirements. The order also extended the deadline for Defense and Veterans Affairs exclusion orders issued under Executive Order 14251.
• Trump issues executive order expanding exclusions from federal labor-management relations protections — President Trump issued Executive Order "Further Exclusions From the Federal Labor-Management Relations Program" on August 28, 2025, amending Executive Order 12171 to exclude additional federal agencies and subdivisions from Chapter 71 labor protections. The order designates units in the Bureau of Reclamation (hydropower facilities), the International Trade Administration, Patent and Trademark Office, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration subdivisions, NASA, and the U.S. Agency for Global Media as having primary national security functions, thereby removing collective bargaining rights protections. The order also extends a deadline for Defense and Veterans Affairs secretaries to issue related orders by 15 days.
• Trump signed executive order excluding additional federal agencies from labor-management relations protections — President Trump signed an executive order on August 28, 2025, further amending Executive Order 12171 to exclude additional federal agencies and subdivisions from Chapter 71 of title 5, United States Code (the Federal Labor-Management Relations Statute). The order designates units in the Bureau of Reclamation managing hydropower facilities, subdivisions of the Department of Commerce (International Trade Administration, Patent and Trademark Office, and specified NOAA divisions), NASA, and the United States Agency for Global Media as having primary national security functions and therefore exempt from federal labor-management relations requirements. The order also extends a deadline for Defense and Veterans Affairs orders under a prior March 2025 exclusion order.
• White House issues fact sheet on executive order exempting national security agencies from federal collective bargaining — The White House published a fact sheet on August 28, 2025, describing an executive order signed by President Trump that exempts six federal agencies with national security missions from collective bargaining requirements under the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978. The agencies named are: Bureau of Reclamation (hydropower facilities), NASA, NOAA (National Weather Service and NESDIS), Patent and Trademark Office, and U.S. Agency for Global Media. The fact sheet states the order aims to enable these agencies to implement policies swiftly without delays caused by union bargaining procedures.

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• Presidential memorandum directing Attorney General to investigate federal grant funds allegedly used for illegal lobbying and partisan political activity — On August 28, 2025, the President issued a memorandum directing the Attorney General, in consultation with executive department and agency heads, to investigate whether federal grant funds are being used to illegally support lobbying activities in violation of 31 U.S.C. § 1352 and other federal law. The Attorney General is instructed to take appropriate enforcement action and report progress within 180 days. The memorandum characterizes such spending as wasteful, abusive, and potentially fraudulent use of taxpayer money.
• White House issues fact sheet on presidential memorandum directing investigation of federal grant funds allegedly diverted to political lobbying — The White House published a fact sheet on August 28, 2025, announcing that President Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum directing the Attorney General to investigate whether federal grant funds are being illegally used to support lobbying activities and to report findings within 180 days. The fact sheet characterizes specific NIH and NSF grants as having "highly political overtones" and asserts that taxpayer funds must not be diverted to political or lobbying activity.
• White House issues memorandum directing Attorney General to investigate federal grant funds for illegal lobbying and partisan political activity — The White House issued a presidential memorandum on August 28, 2025, directing the Attorney General to investigate whether federal grant funds are being used to support illegal lobbying activities or partisan political causes in violation of federal law (31 U.S.C. 1352). The memorandum states that "taxpayer funds are being spent on grants with highly political overtones" and characterizes such use as "wasteful, abusive, and potentially fraudulent." The Attorney General is directed to consult with executive departments and agencies and report progress within 180 days.

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• Fulton County Superior Court orders $10,000 daily fine for election board non-compliance with Republican appointments — Fulton County commissioners in Georgia face a $10,000-per-day fine after Superior Court Judge David Emerson found them in civil contempt for refusing to appoint two Republican nominees to the county election board. The county charter mandates appointment of two Republicans and two Democrats nominated by their respective party chairs. Democratic commissioners rejected the Republican nominees—Jason Frazier, a prolific voter-registration challenger, and Julie Adams, an election-denier affiliated with Cleta Mitchell's activist network—citing concerns about election integrity. The court ruled the appointment language "mandatory" and rejected the commissioners' argument that they were preserving appellate rights.

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• Federal judge dismisses Trump administration lawsuit against Maryland judges over deportation orders — US District Judge Thomas Cullen (Virginia Western District, Trump-nominated) dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Trump administration against all 15 judges of Maryland's federal district court. The administration had challenged an order by Maryland's chief judge temporarily barring deportations for two business days if immigrants filed detention challenges. Cullen ruled the judges were "absolutely immune" from such suits and that the administration should have appealed through proper legal channels instead. Cullen also criticized the administration's public attacks on federal judges nationwide as "unprecedented and unfortunate."

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• Grand jury declines to indict Sean Charles Dunn in sandwich-throwing case — A federal grand jury refused to approve an indictment against Sean Charles Dunn, 37, a former DOJ paralegal accused of throwing a sandwich at a Customs and Border Protection officer during a protest against Trump's deployment of armed troops in Washington DC on August 13. The incident occurred as Dunn confronted the officer, called him and colleagues "fascists," and shouted "I don't want you in my city" before throwing the sandwich and fleeing. The grand jury's refusal to indict signals public objection to the troop deployment and represents a rare rebuke of federal prosecutors.
• Protester not indicted for throwing sandwich at federal troops in DC — A protester who threw a sandwich at federal troops occupying Washington DC was not indicted. The author notes this outcome as "enormously cheering," suggesting it represents a legal or prosecutorial decision not to pursue charges against the individual for the minor act of protest.

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• Louisiana asks Supreme Court to overturn Voting Rights Act provision — Louisiana asked the Supreme Court to overturn a key provision of the Voting Rights Act and prohibit the use of race in redistricting.

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• Transportation Secretary announced federal takeover of Union Station — On August 27, 2025, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that the Trump administration will take over Union Station in Washington, D.C., from which Amtrak and the city's commuter rail lines operate. Duffy characterized the takeover as part of Trump's "beautification" program. Amtrak had taken control of the station in July 2024, and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law had provided $22 billion to Amtrak for modernization. The administration had cut a $120 million federal grant to Amtrak in April. The takeover will place the administration in charge of key transportation lines into and out of the capital and create a federal presence in an area where veterans have been protesting.
• DHS limits international student and visitor stays — The Department of Homeland Security said it plans to introduce a proposed rule to limit the length of time international students, visitors on cultural exchange programs, and members of the media on visas can stay in the US by requiring them to be regularly assessed by the department.
• Trump administration plans Union Station takeover — Trump's Transportation Department said it's planning to take over the management of and revitalize DC's Union Station, which the agency already owns but is currently run by Amtrak. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told Reuters, "We are going to make investments to make sure this station isn't dirty and we don't have homelessness in Union Station."
• Transportation Secretary announced takeover of Union Station — On August 27, 2025, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that the Trump administration would take control of Union Station in Washington, D.C., as part of a "beautification" program. This move follows Amtrak's control of the station in July 2024 and is seen as a way to increase federal presence in the area.
• Trump administration announced takeover of Union Station — On August 27, 2025, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that the Trump administration would take control of Union Station in Washington, D.C., as part of a "beautification" program. This move follows Amtrak's control of the station in July 2024 and is seen as a way to increase federal presence in the city.

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• League of United Latin American Citizens files suit against Texas redistricting — The League of United Latin American Citizens, representing 13 Texas voters, filed suit challenging the redrawn congressional maps within hours of the redistricting bill's passage. The filing alleges the map "eviscerates minorities' opportunity to elect their candidates of choice in four key areas of the state." This represents a second major legal challenge to the redistricting effort alongside the NAACP lawsuit.
• NAACP files lawsuit challenging Texas congressional redistricting as racial gerrymander — The NAACP, joined by the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, sued Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Secretary of State Jane Nelson, challenging redrawn congressional maps as a racial gerrymander that strips Black voters of political power. The lawsuit seeks a preliminary injunction and argues the maps violate the U.S. Constitution and Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Texas Republicans passed the redistricting on Saturday, expected to increase Republican representation by five seats, while the state's population is 40% white but white voters control over 73% of congressional seats.

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• Complaint filed — Woodmere Art Museum v. Trump (E.D. Pa.) — The Woodmere Art Museum in Pennsylvania filed a federal complaint challenging the Trump administration's termination of a $750,000 federal grant awarded in 2024 under the Save America's Treasures Historic Preservation Fund. The museum alleges the grant termination, following the announced dismantling of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), violates the Administrative Procedure Act as arbitrary and capricious, the Appropriations Clause, the Take Care Clause, and principles of separation of powers.

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• Republican-led House Oversight Committee subpoenas Epstein estate documents — Congressman James Comer, Republican chair of the House Oversight Committee, signed and issued a subpoena to the estate of Jeffrey Epstein (registered in the US Virgin Islands) demanding production of documents including Epstein's birthday book, will, prosecutor agreements, contacts "Black Book," non-disclosure agreements, and financial records. The committee stated it is reviewing possible mismanagement of the federal investigation into Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, circumstances of Epstein's death, sex-trafficking operations, and potential ethics violations by elected officials.
• House Oversight Committee announces Acosta interview — The House Oversight Committee announced that Trump's former Labor Secretary Alex Acosta, who in 2008 was the top prosecutor responsible for Epstein's non-prosecution agreement, would appear voluntarily for an interview investigating the Epstein case. The committee also subpoenaed Epstein's estate for documents.

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• Representative Biggs introduced bill to extend D.C. police takeover — Representative Andy Biggs (R-AZ) introduced legislation on Friday to extend Trump's takeover of Washington, D.C., police from the statutory 30-day limit to approximately six months and to establish that extended duration as the default for all future emergency takeovers under the Home Rule Act.

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• August 2025 state court ruling strikes down 2021 Utah congressional maps and reinstates Proposition 4 — On August 25, 2025, third district judge Dianna Gibson ruled that Utah lawmakers had unconstitutionally overridden Proposition 4, the 2018 voter-approved initiative that created an independent redistricting commission. Gibson sided with the League of Women Voters of Utah and Mormon Women for Ethical Government, striking down the state's 2021 congressional maps and reinstating Proposition 4 as binding law. The ruling allowed independent bodies to redraw districts.
• Utah judge orders congressional map redraw — A judge in Utah ruled that the state must redraw its congressional maps that carved up the Democratic stronghold of Salt Lake City before the 2026 midterms, using an independent commission. The move could make one of the state's four congressional districts competitive for Democrats. Trump later called the ruling "absolutely Unconstitutional" and questioned how the state could "end up with so many Radical Left Judges," despite the judge being appointed by a Republican governor in 2018.
• Utah district court orders redraw of congressional map for 2026 elections — District court judge Dianna Gibson ruled Monday that Utah's 2021 congressional map is unlawful because the Republican-controlled legislature circumvented a voter-approved independent redistricting commission. The legislature had repealed the 2018 ballot initiative creating the commission, replaced it with an advisory board, and ignored the commission's proposals in 2021. Gibson ordered lawmakers to adopt a compliant map by September 24, 2025. The new boundaries could create a competitive Democratic district in Salt Lake City.
• Utah judge struck down Republican-drawn congressional maps — Utah District Judge Dianna Gibson struck down the state's Republican-drawn congressional maps and ordered the Legislature to redraw boundaries before the 2026 midterm elections. Judge Gibson ruled that the 2021 redistricting plan violated a 2018 ballot initiative that established an independent commission to curb partisan influence. The current map splits Salt Lake City, Utah's Democratic stronghold, across all four congressional districts, diluting its influence and ensuring Republican control of all four seats. The Legislature has until September 24 to adopt new maps.
• Federal appeals court blocks Pennsylvania mail-in ballot law — A federal appeals court ruled that a law to toss out mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania if they arrive in envelopes with a missing or wrong date violates the Constitution, noting that "only in the exceedingly rare circumstance does it contribute to the prosecution of voter fraud."

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• Judge Brann ruled Alina Habba's appointment unlawful — U.S. District Judge Matthew Brann ruled that Alina Habba was not lawfully holding the position of U.S. attorney for New Jersey. Habba had been appointed acting U.S. attorney by Trump but was not confirmed by the Senate. After her 120-day interim period expired, a judicial panel appointed her assistant, Desiree Leigh Grace, to the position. Attorney General Pam Bondi then fired Grace, and Trump reappointed Habba, prompting Brann's ruling that the reappointment violated law.
• Grassley announces Habba nomination withdrawal — On Twitter, Senator Grassley said the nomination of Trump's former lawyer, Alina Habba, to serve as the US attorney for New Jersey was withdrawn on July 24, following a federal judge's ruling that Habba didn't have the legal authority to be the state's acting US attorney.

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• Governor Pritzker declared Trump's Chicago military deployment unconstitutional and illegal — Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker held a press conference at the Chicago waterfront flanked by community leaders and declared Trump's planned military deployment to Chicago "unprecedented and unwarranted," "illegal," "unconstitutional," and "un-American." Pritzker characterized the action as a political power grab targeting a Democratic city and state, not a genuine public safety measure.
• Pritzker announced Illinois will pursue legal action against Trump administration — Governor Pritzker announced that the state of Illinois will challenge the Trump administration's military deployment plan in court and will deploy "every lever" at its disposal to protect Illinois residents and their constitutional rights, including potential legal action against federal officials involved in the deployment scheme.
• Illinois Governor Pritzker rejected federal military deployment — Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker stated that the state had received no requests from the federal government for assistance and had made no requests for federal intervention. He declared there was no emergency warranting federalization of the Illinois National Guard, deployment of National Guard from other states, or active-duty military within state borders. Pritzker accused Trump of attempting to manufacture a crisis and abuse his power.
• Pentagon planned National Guard deployment to Chicago — The Washington Post reported that the Pentagon has been planning for weeks a military deployment of National Guard members and possibly active-duty troops to Chicago. The president lacks authority to deploy National Guard troops without a governor's request, but Trump has justified deployments by claiming soldiers protect federal buildings and personnel—a rationale potentially applicable to any location where Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents operate.

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• Ábrego files lawsuit challenging deportation to Uganda and detention conditions — Kilmar Ábrego García's legal team filed a new lawsuit on Monday morning challenging both his potential deportation to Uganda and his current confinement. The lawsuit seeks an order prohibiting removal from the United States unless and until Ábrego receives full due process. The filing also raises concerns about government coercion, specifically the use of Costa Rica as an incentive and Uganda as a threat to pressure a guilty plea.
• Federal judge blocks Abrego Garcia deportation — A federal judge temporarily blocked Kilmar Abrego Garcia from being deported after he was taken into ICE custody following an immigration check-in. His lawyers filed a habeas corpus petition and motion to reassert his asylum claim. The judge later blocked the Trump administration from deporting Abrego Garcia until at least early October.
• Judge halts Trump administration deportation of Kilmar Ábrego García pending evidentiary hearing — Kilmar Ábrego García, a 30-year-old Maryland resident previously wrongly deported to El Salvador by the Trump administration, was detained by ICE on Monday after reporting to a Baltimore field office. U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis issued a temporary restraining order halting his deportation to Uganda pending a Friday evidentiary hearing. The judge expressed concern that the government may be weaponizing the immigration system by threatening Uganda deportation to coerce a guilty plea to human smuggling charges.
• Federal judge blocks Trump administration from re-deporting Kilmar Ábrego García — US District Judge Paula Xinis issued a ruling on Wednesday blocking the Trump administration from deporting Kilmar Ábrego García until at least early October. Xinis scheduled an evidentiary hearing for 6 October and stated she intends to have Trump administration officials testify about government efforts to re-deport Ábrego. The ruling came after Ábrego's legal team filed a lawsuit Monday challenging his detention and planned deportation to Uganda, arguing the government was retaliating against him for challenging his prior wrongful deportation to El Salvador in March 2025.
• U.S. District Judge Xinis barred government from deporting Abrego Garcia — U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis, whose earlier order to return Abrego Garcia to the U.S. the government had ignored for months, issued a temporary bar on the administration from deporting Abrego Garcia. She required a Department of Justice lawyer to confirm understanding that the government was "absolutely forbidden" from removing Abrego Garcia from the continental United States.
• Trump administration announces plan to deport Ábrego to Uganda — Over the weekend preceding Monday 25 August, the Trump administration announced new plans to deport Kilmar Ábrego García to Uganda. This announcement came after Ábrego had been returned to the US in June following his wrongful March deportation to El Salvador. Ábrego's legal team characterized the announcement as retaliation for his challenging the prior deportation and exercising constitutional rights.

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• Federal judge orders Kari Lake to answer questions — A federal judge ordered senior adviser to the US Agency for Global Media Kari Lake to answer questions under oath about her efforts to effectively dismantle Voice of America (VOA), giving her "one final opportunity, short of a contempt trial, to provide such explanation" after failing to comply with orders seeking information about whether the Trump administration violated an April ruling to restore VOA programming.
• Federal judge ordered Kari Lake to submit to questioning on Voice of America — U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth ordered Trump administration official Kari Lake to submit to questioning under oath regarding her efforts to dismantle Voice of America despite Congressional mandates that it be maintained. Judge Lamberth stated Lake was "verging on contempt of court" for failing to comply with repeated orders to make information available about her intentions for Voice of America and its federal parent, the U.S. Agency for Global Media. Lake and two aides were ordered to testify by September 15 and provide detailed information previously withheld about Voice of America. Lake responded by claiming district court judges are overstepping their authority.
• Federal judge blocks removal of VOA director and orders compliance demonstration — US District Judge Royce Lamberth ruled that Kari Lake cannot remove Michael Abramowitz as VOA director without approval from the International Broadcasting Advisory Board, finding such removal would be "plainly contrary to law." Lamberth also ruled separately that the Trump administration had failed to demonstrate compliance with his prior orders to restore VOA operations, giving the administration "one final opportunity, short of a contempt trial" and ordering Lake to sit for deposition by 15 September.

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• Trump signs Executive Order 14339 establishing specialized federal law enforcement and National Guard units for District of Columbia crime emergency response. — President Trump signed Executive Order 14339 on August 25, 2025, directing federal agencies to deploy additional resources to address crime in Washington, D.C. The order mandates hiring of U.S. Park Police and federal prosecutors, establishes an online recruitment portal for law enforcement applicants, creates specialized federal and D.C. National Guard units for public safety enforcement, directs HUD to investigate housing authority compliance with safety requirements, and instructs the Attorney General to review and recommend changes to Metropolitan Police Department General Orders. The order references prior emergency declarations and authorizes potential deployment of state National Guard units nationwide.
• Trump executive order on National Guard civil disturbance response — On August 25, President Trump signed an executive order directing the secretary of defense to ensure that each state's Army National Guard and Air National Guard are resourced, trained, organized, and available to assist federal, state, and local law enforcement in quelling civil disturbances and ensuring public safety and order. The order also mandates establishment of a standing National Guard quick reaction force resourced, trained, and available for rapid nationwide deployment.
• Trump issued executive order directing federal law enforcement expansion and National Guard mobilization in Washington, D.C. — President Trump signed an executive order on August 25, 2025, directing the National Park Service to hire additional U.S. Park Police, the U.S. Attorney for D.C. to hire prosecutors focused on violent and property crimes, and the Department of Defense to create and train a specialized National Guard unit in D.C. dedicated to public safety. The order also directs the Secretary of Defense to ensure all state National Guard units are resourced and available for rapid deployment to assist law enforcement in quelling civil disturbances nationwide, and instructs HUD to investigate housing authority non-compliance with safety requirements.
• Trump signed Executive Order 14339 directing federal law enforcement expansion and National Guard mobilization in Washington, D.C. — President Trump signed Executive Order 14339 on August 25, 2025, directing the National Park Service to hire additional U.S. Park Police, the U.S. Attorney for D.C. to hire prosecutors focused on violent crime, and the Department of Defense to create and train a specialized D.C. National Guard unit under Title 32 activation. The order also directs the Secretary of Defense to ensure all state National Guard units are resourced and available for rapid nationwide deployment to quell civil disturbances, establishes a standing National Guard quick reaction force, and instructs HUD to investigate housing authority compliance with crime-prevention requirements. The order references a prior crime emergency declaration (Executive Order 14333 of August 11, 2025).
• Trump expands law enforcement takeover in DC — Trump signed a fourth executive order expanding his takeover of law enforcement in DC, directing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to "ensure the availability of a standing National Guard quick reaction force that shall be resourced, trained, and available for rapid nationwide deployment."
• Trump signs executive order priming National Guard for rapid mobilization — President Trump signed an executive order on an unspecified date that primes the National Guard "for rapid mobilization" across the country. The order follows Trump's deployment of the National Guard to Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., and signals potential deployment to Chicago. Trump justified the moves by claiming he has authority to act when he believes the country is in danger, stating "I have the right to do anything I want to do. I'm the President of the United States of America."

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• Texas legislature approves partisan redistricting plan to secure Republican House seats — On August 23, 2025, the Texas legislature approved a partisan redistricting plan that would secure up to five additional U.S. House seats for Republicans, engineered at Trump's behest. The plan directly prompted California Governor Newsom's counter-redistricting initiative and represents a coordinated federal-state effort to manipulate congressional representation for partisan advantage.
• Texas Senate approves redrawn congressional map heavily favoring Republicans — The Texas Senate gave final approval to a redrawn congressional map that would shift Republican advantage from 25 of 38 districts to 30 of 38, eliminating Democratic-held districts in Austin, Houston, and Dallas-Fort Worth. The map was approved on a party-line vote after Democrats attempted a filibuster that Republicans blocked procedurally. Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, is expected to sign it into law. Democrats have vowed to challenge it in court, alleging violations of the Voting Rights Act by diluting voters' influence based on race.

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• DOJ investigates former intelligence officials — The Department of Justice launched investigations into former FBI Director James Comey and former CIA Director John Brennan, alleging they made false statements to Congress regarding Russian interference in the 2016 election. This move is part of a broader effort to undermine the credibility of intelligence agencies that have scrutinized Trump's actions.
• Attorney General Bondi launched criminal investigations into political opponents — Trump loyalist Attorney General Pam Bondi initiated criminal investigations into Senator Adam Schiff, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. The investigations were based on allegations of mortgage fraud made by William Pulte, head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. All three targets have denied the allegations. The investigations follow a pattern of targeting Trump's political opponents and critics.
• DOJ launched investigations into Comey and Brennan — The Department of Justice launched investigations of former FBI Director James Comey and former CIA Director John Brennan, alleging they made false statements to Congress regarding the investigation into Russian operatives' attempts to assist Trump's 2016 campaign. The investigations represent a continuation of Trump's focus on the Russia investigation.