Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• OMB proposes rule placing federal research grants under political appointee control — On May 29, 2026, OMB Director Russ Vought proposed a rule that would place all federal research and discretionary grants under the control of political appointees rather than scientific experts. The rule would prohibit grants that "promote anti-American values" and require awards to "demonstrably advance the president's policy priorities." Stand Up for Science estimates nearly half of approximately 10,000 NIH-funded clinical trials could be discontinued, including over 1,000 cancer trials, pediatric studies, and trials addressing veterans' health, suicide, heart disease, and diabetes. The public comment period closes July 13, 2026.
• Trump administration proposed merit-based federal research grant system be replaced with political appointee approval — On May 29, 2026, the Trump administration proposed dramatic changes to federal research grant awards. Rather than continuing the merit-based system established through rigorous peer review, grants would be awarded based on approval by political appointees. The Office of Management and Budget, directed by Christian nationalist Russell Vought, would control grant allocation. The proposal limits foreign collaboration and allows the OMB to revoke grants deemed to fail "program goals, Federal agency priorities, or the national interest."
• Russell Vought proposes political control over research grants — Russell Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget and co-author of Project 2025, proposed on May 28 that political appointees in his office should have final say over research grants, including those for the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and other governmental science agencies. The proposal aims to root out what it characterizes as a "woke" policy agenda and would also require approval by political appointees for international research collaboration.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration begins new round of federal employee layoffs during shutdown — The Trump administration began a new round of federal employee layoffs to pressure Democrats to end the government shutdown. Trump told reporters they were laying off "people that the Democrats want." Legal analysts stated such layoffs are illegal. Labor unions sued preemptively to prevent the layoffs after Office of Management and Budget director Russell Vought threatened to use the shutdown to slash more of the government.
• White House orders layoffs of 4,000+ federal workers during shutdown — On October 10, 2025 (the 10th day of the shutdown), Russ Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget, carried out threatened layoffs of more than 4,000 federal workers across multiple agencies. The budget office stated the funding situation was "fluid and rapidly evolving." Democrats condemned the action as deliberate harm to workers who "protect our country, inspect our food, respond when disasters strike." Legal challenges are expected.

Supporting reports

• White House OMB argues furloughed federal workers not entitled to back pay under GEFTA — The White House Office of Management and Budget issued a draft memo arguing that the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act (GEFTA) of 2019 does not automatically guarantee back pay to furloughed federal workers during the ongoing government shutdown. OMB General Counsel Mark Paoletta stated that Congress must include express appropriations language for back pay in legislation ending the shutdown. The OMB previously removed references to GEFTA from shutdown guidance. An estimated 750,000 federal workers have been furloughed as of the shutdown's seventh day.
• White House OMB memo argues federal workers not entitled to back pay — On Tuesday, the White House Office of Management and Budget released a memo contending that federal workers are not entitled to back pay during the shutdown, contradicting a 2019 law that mandates such compensation. House Speaker Mike Johnson subsequently stated at a press conference that he believes federal employees should receive back pay, citing statutory law. The memo represents an attempt to reduce pressure on Republicans to end the shutdown quickly.
• White House threatens federal workforce layoffs during shutdown — White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that if the shutdown continued, the Trump administration would lay off federal employees, despite federal law entitling them to back pay. She also warned that a food assistance program for low-income mothers and children would exhaust its funding. Director of OMB Russ Vought had already cancelled funding for energy and transportation projects in Democratic-governed states.
• Administration announces continuation of illegal cuts during government shutdown — On October 1, 2025, as the government shutdown began, Office of Management and Budget director Russell Vought announced plans to use the shutdown to implement $26 billion in cuts to infrastructure and climate projects in Democratic-led states, as well as to lay off federal employees instead of furloughing them. This action is part of a broader strategy to impose significant cuts to government programs.
• OMB floats denial of back pay guarantee for furloughed federal workers — The Office of Management and Budget issued a memo suggesting that federal workers furloughed during a government shutdown are not guaranteed back pay when the shutdown ends, departing from the administration's own guidance issued the previous month. This reverses the 2019 law that President Trump himself signed to guarantee such pay. Administration officials told media outlets the memo is intended to give Republicans leverage in shutdown negotiations with Democrats. OMB director Russell Vought had previously threatened mass firings if Democrats refused the Republican continuing resolution.
• Trump suggested not all furloughed employees deserve back pay — Speaking to reporters alongside Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Trump suggested that not all furloughed federal employees should receive back pay following the government shutdown. He noted, "It depends on who we're talking about," and added, "We're going to take care of our people. There are some people that really don't deserve to be taken care of, and we'll take care of them in a different way."
• OMB revised guidance removing back pay guarantee — Government Executive reported that the Office of Management and Budget quietly revised a guidance document last week to remove references to a law passed during Trump's first term, guaranteeing all federal workers back pay following a government shutdown.
• Trump signals furloughed federal workers may not receive back pay — During a White House event, President Trump stated that some furloughed federal workers may not receive customary back pay when the government reopens, saying "there are some people that don't deserve to be taken care of" and that back pay "depends on who we're talking about." This breaks with historical precedent and creates uncertainty for unpaid workers already under financial strain.

Supporting reports

• DHS Secretary Kristi Noem called for firing of FEMA employees who "don't like us" — Kristi Noem, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, recently called for the firing of FEMA employees who "don't like us." This statement reflects efforts to politicize the agency and remove personnel based on loyalty rather than performance or merit, as part of broader efforts to tighten control over FEMA.

Supporting reports

• USAID Funding Cuts by Musk's Department of Government Efficiency — Elon Musk, through his "department of government efficiency" (Doge), has implemented significant funding cuts to the US Agency for International Development (USAID). These cuts have led to the expiration of life-saving food and medicines in warehouses and could potentially cause a resurgence of diseases such as measles, HIV, and polio. The initiative has also resulted in the termination of more than 5,600 USAID workers and the cancellation of grants to a hospital in Mozambique, which was working to prevent HIV transmission from mothers to babies.
• Federal Spending Increases by $166 Billion — The Congressional Budget Office reported that federal government spending from January to April 2025 increased by $166 billion compared to the same period last year, totaling $2.4 trillion. This increase contradicts previous claims by Elon Musk that DOGE cuts would significantly reduce government spending.

Supporting reports

• Trump Expands Elon Musk's 'Department of Government Efficiency' — On February 26, 2025, President Trump signed an order expanding the power of Elon Musk's "department of government efficiency," calling for a transformation in federal spending on contracts, grants, and loans with a centralized payment system.
• Trump Modernizes Payment System at US Treasury — On March 25, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order to modernize the payment system at the US Treasury. The order calls for accepting electronic payments to reduce fraud and abuse.
• Trump Orders Review of FEMA — On January 27, 2025, President Trump ordered a review of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), suggesting political bias in the agency's disaster response. A review council will report to Trump within 180 days.

Supporting reports

• White House extends federal hiring freeze through July 15, 2025 — The White House issued a presidential memorandum extending a freeze on hiring of federal civilian employees through July 15, 2025. The freeze, initially directed January 20, 2025, prohibits filling vacant positions or creating new positions except in military, immigration enforcement, national security, public safety, Social Security, Medicare, veterans' benefits, and Executive Office of the President roles. The memorandum permits agency heads to reallocate existing personnel and allows exemptions granted by the Office of Personnel Management.
• White House issues fact sheet on extension of federal hiring freeze — The White House issued a fact sheet announcing that President Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum extending the federal hiring freeze for an additional three months, through July 15, 2025. The freeze, originally implemented January 20, 2025, prohibits filling vacant federal civilian positions or creating new ones, with exemptions for immigration enforcement, national security, and public safety. The fact sheet states that after the freeze expires, agencies will be permitted to hire one employee for every four who depart. The document frames the extension as promoting fiscal responsibility and government efficiency.

Supporting reports

• HHS mass layoffs eliminate public health programs across CDC, FDA, and related agencies — HHS Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr implemented layoffs affecting approximately 10,000 employees (one-quarter of the 82,000-person workforce) on April 1–2, 2025. The cuts eliminated entire divisions and programs including the CDC's infertility expertise branch, the Division of Environmental Health Science and Practice (responsible for climate health, lead poisoning, asthma, air quality), the FDA's tobacco policy division, the FDA's media affairs and drug communications teams, and the Administration for Community Living's disability and elderly services. The Mine Safety and Health Administration also sustained cuts affecting coal miner respiratory protection programs. Layoffs occurred with minimal public notice and left Congress uninformed.
• Department of Health and Human Services conducted mass layoffs affecting CDC, NIH, and FDA — The Department of Health and Human Services executed mass layoffs that gutted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on April 1, 2025. The layoffs significantly reduced capacity at three critical federal health agencies.
• HHS fires thousands of employees across FDA, CDC, and NIH — On April 1, HHS fired thousands of employees, including 3,500 staffers at the Food and Drug Administration, 2,400 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and 1,200 from the National Institutes of Health. Former FDA Commissioner Robert Califf stated that the FDA "as we've known it is finished." The cuts included all employees responsible for handling Freedom of Information Act requests at the CDC and two-thirds of records request staff at the FDA.
• Trump administration implements mass layoffs at Health and Human Services, targeting 8,000–10,000 employees — The Trump administration, led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., began laying off thousands of HHS employees on April 1, 2025. Workers across the country were summoned to federal buildings and informed of termination via badge-scan systems. The cuts target 8,000–10,000 positions across multiple agencies, including 3,500 at the FDA, 2,400 at the CDC, 1,200 at the NIH, and 300 at CMS. The restructuring aims to reduce HHS staffing from 82,000 to 62,000 positions, eliminating nearly a quarter of the workforce. Positions in human resources, procurement, finance, IT, and "high cost regions" are prioritized for elimination.
• RFK Jr acknowledges 20% of HHS job cuts were errors; reinstatement process underway — Robert F Kennedy Jr, US health secretary, admitted that approximately 2,000 of the 10,000 jobs cut from the Department of Health and Human Services this week were terminated in error and will be reinstated. The cuts, orchestrated by Elon Musk's "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE), were intended to target administrative roles but mistakenly eliminated research positions, including CDC programs monitoring lead exposure in children and FDA tobacco policy divisions. Kennedy stated reinstatement was always part of the plan, though specifics on which staff and functions will be restored remain unclear.
• HHS reinstates roughly 20% of fired employees — Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told reporters on April 3 that roughly 20% of the 10,000 jobs cut from the HHS were being reinstated, claiming the firings were made in error. The reinstatement of a portion of fired employees suggests the initial cuts were not fully justified.
• Department of Health and Human Services slashed CDC jobs and programs. — On Tuesday (April 1), the Department of Health and Human Services slashed jobs and programs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The cuts occurred even as measles continues to spread across the country and two Louisiana infants have died of whooping cough. The timing and scope of the cuts undermined the CDC's capacity to respond to ongoing public health threats.
• Termination of Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System team — In April 2025, the entire team behind the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), a critical tool for understanding maternal and child health outcomes, was eliminated. The loss of this team has rendered the system non-functional despite the registry remaining nominally in place, disrupting maternal and child health monitoring at state and local levels.
• NIH layoffs of senior researchers in neurological disease research — Senator Dick Durbin detailed to HHS Secretary Kennedy that on April 1, ten laboratory heads at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes—all PhDs and senior investigators—received layoff notices. Science magazine reported 25 of 320 physician researchers at NIH's Internal Clinical Center are leaving, patient numbers in the hospital have been reduced by 30%, and three grants involving ALS and dementia work at Northwestern University in Illinois have been paused. An ALS researcher at Harvard also had his grant cut. When Durbin asked Kennedy about these cuts, Kennedy claimed he had no knowledge of them until Durbin informed him.
• CDC officials overseeing bird flu response fired — On 1 April 2025, several CDC officials overseeing the bird flu (H5N1) response were fired. Following their dismissal, testing of people exposed to sick animals dropped dramatically from approximately 830 people tested by late February to only about 50 people tested afterward, with no positive cases announced. This reduction in surveillance coincided with a broader erosion of pandemic preparedness infrastructure.

Supporting reports

• DOGE fired 11,000 IRS workers with 20,000 total terminations expected — DOGE has already terminated 11,000 IRS employees, with the total number of terminations expected to reach 20,000. The Washington Post reported that Treasury Department and IRS officials predict the agency will collect $500 billion less in tax revenue this year due to the staff cuts—a 10% loss of the $5.1 trillion collected in 2024. The IRS has dropped investigations of high-value corporations and taxpayers, and two agency commissioners have resigned since Trump took office. IRS head of compliance Heather Maloy stepped down effective Friday.
• IRS filing compliance declined 1.7% amid staff cuts and tax evasion chatter — The IRS reported a 1.7% decline in tax returns filed this year compared to the same point in the 2024 filing season. The agency has detected an uptick in online chatter from individuals declaring their intention not to pay taxes, wagering that auditors will not examine their accounts due to insufficient IRS staff. The decline in compliance and rise in tax evasion discussions correlate with the mass termination of IRS employees and reduced enforcement capacity.

Supporting reports

• White House plans mass layoffs at IRS and Veterans Affairs — The Trump administration, through Elon Musk's "department of government efficiency" (Doge), is planning significant layoffs at the IRS and Veterans Affairs (VA). The IRS may see up to half of its 90,000 employees laid off, while the VA plans to cut up to 83,000 workers by the end of 2025. These cuts aim to reduce the workforce to 2019 levels, despite increased demand for services following the 2022 Pact Act. The layoffs are part of a broader strategy to reduce federal agency sizes, which has faced legal challenges and criticism for undermining essential services.

Supporting reports

• Major restructuring announced at the Social Security Administration — The Trump administration announced a major "organizational restructuring" of the Social Security Administration, which may lead to significant staffing cuts. Reports suggest that up to half of the agency's 57,000 employees could be let go.
• Major restructuring announced at Social Security Administration — The Trump administration announced a major "organizational restructuring" of the Social Security Administration, which may lead to significant staffing cuts at an agency already operating at a low capacity.

Supporting reports

• Trump announces cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency — President Trump announced plans to cut 65% of the budget for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which could significantly reduce its capacity to protect environmental health and safety.

Supporting reports

• Pentagon announces layoffs of 5,400 civilian workers — The Pentagon announced plans to lay off 5,400 civilian workers, marking the start of a broader reduction of 5-8% of its civilian workforce. This move aligns with Donald Trump's political goals to institute massive government cuts. The layoffs will begin next week, targeting probationary employees who have been on the job for less than a year. The Department of Defense will also implement a hiring freeze to reassess personnel needs. This decision is part of a larger strategy to produce efficiencies and refocus on the president's priorities.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration fires thousands of federal workers — The Trump administration has fired thousands of federal workers from agencies responsible for managing public lands, including the US Forest Service and the Department of the Interior. This action has left significant operational gaps, particularly affecting wildfire response and conservation efforts. The firings targeted employees in probationary status, many of whom had dedicated years to public service. The move has sparked concerns about the agencies' ability to manage extreme weather events and has led to fears of increased privatization of public lands. Unions and labor advocates are preparing legal challenges, and legislators are urging the administration to reverse the firings.

Supporting reports

• USDA mistakenly fired bird flu officials — The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) accidentally terminated several employees working on the H5N1 avian influenza outbreak. The USDA had previously announced plans to optimize its workforce by cutting staff, a move supported by Elon Musk's unofficial agency, the "department of government efficiency." The USDA is now attempting to rehire the affected employees to rectify the situation. This incident is part of broader federal workforce reductions, including significant job losses at the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration.

Supporting reports

• US Forest Service and National Park Service to fire thousands of workers — The US Forest Service and National Park Service are set to terminate approximately 4,400 employees as part of a federal spending cut initiative under the Trump administration. The layoffs will affect recent hires still in their probationary period, excluding firefighters, law enforcement, and certain meteorologists. This move is part of a broader effort to reduce federal bureaucracy and spending, impacting sites like the Appalachian Trail and Yellowstone. Critics warn of negative consequences for park maintenance and visitor experience due to reduced staffing levels.

Supporting reports

• DOJ fires USDA lab staff amid bird flu outbreak — The Department of Justice fired 25% of the staff in a central program office of the USDA's National Animal Health Laboratory Network, which coordinates responses to animal disease outbreaks like the H5N1 bird flu. The firings are expected to slow testing and response efforts, impacting public health and safety.

Supporting reports

• Mass termination of probationary federal workers across multiple agencies — The Trump administration, through Elon Musk's "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE), terminated approximately 24,000 probationary federal workers across agencies including the US Forest Service, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Health and Human Services on February 14, 2025. Workers were given minimal notice (some two hours) to return equipment. Subsequent legal challenges resulted in court-ordered reinstatements, though implementation has been inconsistent, leaving workers in administrative limbo with uncertain benefits and job status.

Supporting reports

• Dept of Veterans Affairs fires 1,000 employees — The Department of Veterans Affairs announced the firing of 1,000 employees, claiming it would save $98 million annually. This decision is part of a larger trend of federal workforce reductions, raising concerns about the impact on veteran services and support.

Supporting reports

• Dept of Energy fires 300 National Nuclear Security Administration employees — The Department of Energy fired 300 employees from the National Nuclear Security Administration, which oversees nuclear weapons. This action is part of a broader reduction affecting 275,000 federal workers, raising concerns about the impact on national security and nuclear safety.

Supporting reports

• Executive Order Ending Procurement and Use of Paper Straws — President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Order 14208, directing federal agencies to cease procurement and use of paper straws. The order mandates the development of a national strategy to eliminate policies disfavoring plastic straws and addresses contract policies with entities banning plastic straws. This action revokes a previous order promoting federal sustainability.
• Executive Order to Eliminate the Federal Executive Institute — President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Order 14207 to eliminate the Federal Executive Institute, a program providing leadership training to federal employees. The order directs the Office of Personnel Management to take necessary steps to dismantle the institute, revoking prior documents establishing it. The action aims to refocus government efforts on serving taxpayers and reducing bureaucratic influence.
• Trump issues executive order ending paper straw procurement — President Donald Trump issued an executive order on February 10, 2025, directing federal agencies to cease the procurement and use of paper straws. The order mandates the elimination of policies that disfavor plastic straws and requires the development of a national strategy to end the use of paper straws within 45 days. This strategy will address contract policies with entities that ban or penalize plastic straw use and utilize all available tools to implement the policy nationwide. The order aims to reverse previous policies promoting paper straws as part of environmental sustainability efforts.
• Trump issues executive order to eliminate the Federal Executive Institute — President Donald Trump issued an executive order on February 10, 2025, to eliminate the Federal Executive Institute, a government program established over 50 years ago to provide leadership training to federal employees. The order directs the Director of the Office of Personnel Management to take necessary steps to dismantle the institute, citing the need to refocus government efforts on serving taxpayers and reducing the influence of the federal bureaucracy. The order also revokes prior documents establishing the institute, including a 1968 Presidential Memorandum and provisions of Executive Order 11348.
• White House issues fact sheet on elimination of Federal Executive Institute — The White House issued a fact sheet on February 10, 2025, announcing that President Trump signed an executive order to eliminate the Federal Executive Institute. The order directs the Office of Personnel Management to terminate the institute and revoke related documents. The fact sheet characterizes the institute as a wasteful 50-year-old program created during the Johnson administration for bureaucratic leadership training, and notes it operates a resort property in Charlottesville, Virginia formerly used as a luxury hotel.
• White House signed executive order eliminating the Federal Executive Institute — The White House issued an executive order directing the Director of the Office of Personnel Management to eliminate the Federal Executive Institute, a federal leadership training program established in 1968. The order characterizes the institute as a program that has enlarged the "Washington, D.C., managerial class" and states it should be eliminated to refocus government on serving taxpayers and the Constitution rather than the federal bureaucracy. The order revokes prior presidential memoranda and executive orders establishing the institute.

Supporting reports

• Presidential Memorandum on Hiring Freeze — President issued a memorandum ordering a freeze on hiring Federal civilian employees across the executive branch, effective January 20, 2025. The freeze excludes military personnel and positions related to immigration enforcement, national security, or public safety. The Office of Management and Budget, in consultation with other agencies, is tasked with developing a plan to reduce the workforce through efficiency improvements and attrition within 90 days. The memorandum remains in effect for the IRS until further notice.
• White House issued memorandum freezing federal civilian hiring — The White House issued a presidential memorandum on January 20, 2025, imposing a freeze on hiring of federal civilian employees across the executive branch, effective immediately. The freeze prohibits filling vacant positions as of noon on January 20, 2025, and creating new positions, with exceptions for military personnel, immigration enforcement, national security, public safety roles, and Social Security, Medicare, and Veterans benefits. The Director of OMB, in consultation with OPM and the USDS, must submit a workforce reduction plan within 90 days; upon issuance, the freeze expires government-wide except for the IRS, where it remains until the Treasury Secretary determines lifting it serves the national interest.