Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Became Law: Great Lakes Fishery Research Reauthorization Act — Congress enacted Public Law 119-67, reauthorizing federal research programs for Great Lakes fishery management and conservation. The legislation extends funding and authority for scientific studies supporting sustainable fish populations and ecosystem health in the Great Lakes region, enabling continued federal-state coordination on fishery policy and research initiatives.
• Became Law: MAPWaters Act of 2025 — The MAPWaters Act of 2025 was signed into law on December 26, 2025, becoming Public Law 119-62. The bill addresses water management and protection policies. Congress enacted this measure through the standard legislative process, reflecting bicameral agreement on the statute's terms and objectives.
• Became Law: Save Our Seas 2.0 Amendments Act — The Save Our Seas 2.0 Amendments Act became Public Law 119-65 on December 26, 2025. The legislation amends existing marine conservation and ocean protection statutes. The enactment reflects congressional action on ocean policy and environmental stewardship, establishing or modifying federal marine resource management frameworks.

Supporting reports

• Nvidia permitted to resume advanced chip sales to China under revenue-sharing arrangement — Weeks after Jensen Huang of Nvidia donated to the proposed White House ballroom, the administration permitted Nvidia to resume advanced chip sales to China under an arrangement requiring the company to remit 25% of sales revenue to the U.S. government.

Supporting reports

• EPA Reissues Land-Ban Exemption for Republic Industrial and Energy Solutions Hazardous Waste Injection Wells — The Environmental Protection Agency issued a final decision reissuing an exemption from hazardous waste land disposal restrictions to Republic Industrial and Energy Solutions, LLC (RIES) of Romulus, Michigan. The exemption permits continued underground injection of designated hazardous wastes into two Class I injection wells (#1-12 and #2-12) for a 20-year period ending January 31, 2043. EPA determined that hydrogeological and geochemical conditions at the site ensure no migration of hazardous constituents into underground sources of drinking water for at least 10,000 years. The decision is subject to strict operational conditions including injection rate limits, waste type restrictions, and annual monitoring and reporting requirements.
• FCC Establishes Procedures for Auction 113 of Advanced Wireless Services Licenses — The Federal Communications Commission adopted final procedures for Auction 113, which will offer 200 Advanced Wireless Services (AWS-3) licenses in the 1695-1710 MHz, 1755-1780 MHz, and 2155-2180 MHz bands. The auction uses a clock-1 ascending format with simultaneous bidding on all licenses. Key deadlines include short-form application filing by February 11, 2026, upfront payments by April 8, 2026, and bidding start on June 2, 2026. Minimum opening bids range from $0.01 to $0.05 per MHz-pop depending on population density, with a $1,000 minimum per license. The auction will generate revenue for the Commission's Supply Chain Reimbursement Program to reimburse providers for removing foreign equipment.
• FDA issues final guidance on formal dispute resolution and administrative hearings for Section 505G drug orders — The Food and Drug Administration announced final guidance for industry on formal dispute resolution (FDR) and administrative hearing procedures for resolving scientific and medical disputes between the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research and drug sponsors regarding final administrative orders under Section 505G of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The guidance finalizes a draft issued June 23, 2023, and incorporates clarifications limiting recommendations to FDR under specified statutory provisions and removing language suggesting parallel regulatory pathways during FDR proceedings.
• FDA submits postmarket surveillance medical device information collection to OMB for review — The Food and Drug Administration submitted a proposed information collection regarding postmarket surveillance of medical devices (21 CFR Part 822) to the Office of Management and Budget for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The collection supports FDA's authority to require manufacturers to conduct postmarket surveillance of devices meeting statutory criteria. FDA estimates total annual reporting burden at 4,968 hours and recordkeeping burden at 105 hours. Public comment period closes January 21, 2026.
• GSA seeks OMB approval to reinstate Ombudsman Inquiry/Request Instrument information collection — The General Services Administration's Office of the Procurement Ombudsman submitted a notice requesting OMB review and approval to reinstate an information collection requirement (OMB Control No. 3090-0315) for an online intake instrument that collects vendor inquiries regarding GSA acquisition programs. The collection involves approximately 118 annual respondents, each spending 0.25 hours, totaling 29.5 annual burden hours. Public comment period closes February 23, 2026.

Supporting reports

• Education Department announced wage garnishment of defaulted student loan borrowers — The Trump administration announced that it will begin garnishing wages of student loan borrowers in default starting in early January 2025. Beginning the week of January 7, the Education Department expects approximately 1,000 defaulted borrowers to receive notices of administrative wage garnishment, with the number increasing thereafter. The government can seize up to 15% of a borrower's after-tax income. More than 5 million borrowers are currently in default, with projections that the total could reach approximately 10 million.

Supporting reports

• FCC schedules meetings of four informal working groups for 2027 World Radiocommunication Conference Advisory Committee — The Federal Communications Commission published notice that four informal working groups (IWG-1 through IWG-4) of the 2027 World Radiocommunication Conference Advisory Committee have scheduled public meetings in January and February 2026. The groups address maritime/aeronautical/radar services, mobile/fixed services, fixed-satellite services, and mobile satellite/space science services. All meetings are open to the public and will be held virtually via Microsoft Teams.
• FCC Seeks Public Comment on Information Collection for Telephone Network Terminal Equipment Compliance — The Federal Communications Commission published a notice requesting public comments on an information collection under the Paperwork Reduction Act. The collection (OMB Control Number 3060-0056) pertains to Part 68 regulations governing connection of terminal equipment to the telephone network. The FCC seeks feedback on whether the collection is necessary, burden estimates, and ways to minimize compliance costs for respondents, particularly small businesses. Comments are due by February 20, 2026. The collection affects approximately 41,403 respondents with an estimated annual burden of 12,869 hours and $508,250 in costs.
• FCC seeks public comment on information collection regarding telecommunications carrier litigation accounting — The Federal Communications Commission published a notice requesting public comments on an extension of an existing information collection (OMB Control Number 3060-0791) concerning Section 32.7300 accounting rules for telecommunications carriers. The collection requires carriers to account for adverse federal antitrust judgments, post-judgment charges, and litigation settlement costs, with presumptions regarding recovery of avoided litigation expenses. The comment period closes February 20, 2026. This is a routine Paperwork Reduction Act compliance notice with no substantive changes to existing reporting requirements.
• FCC Seeks Public Comments on Cable Rate-Appeal Information Collection — The Federal Communications Commission published a notice requesting public comments on an information collection under the Paperwork Reduction Act. The collection pertains to Section 76.944, which governs appeals of franchising authority decisions on cable basic service tier rates and equipment. The FCC invites comments on necessity, burden estimates, and ways to minimize compliance costs. Written comments are due by February 20, 2026. The collection affects approximately 32 respondents annually with an estimated total burden of 816 hours.
• FCC renews World Radiocommunication Conference Advisory Committee charter — The Federal Communications Commission announced its intent to renew the charter of the World Radiocommunication Conference Advisory Committee for a two-year period effective January 31, 2026, pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The Committee advises the FCC on proposals for International Telecommunication Union World Radiocommunication Conferences, will meet approximately four times annually in Washington, DC and/or virtually, and operates under full public transparency and accessibility requirements.
• Federal Communications Commission issues notice requesting public comments on two information collections under Paperwork Reduction Act review — The FCC published a notice inviting public comment on two information collections: (1) Part 64 Pay Telephone Reclassification (OMB 3060-0823), affecting 400 respondents with estimated annual burden of 44,700 hours; and (2) Pole Attachment Access and Dispute Resolution Requirements (OMB 3060-1151), affecting 1,359 respondents with estimated annual burden of 146,264 hours. The second collection reflects revisions adopted in FCC 25-38 (July 25, 2025) implementing section 224 of the Communications Act. Written comments are due by February 20, 2026.
• FCC Establishes Procedures for Auction 113 of Advanced Wireless Services Licenses — The Federal Communications Commission adopted final procedures for Auction 113, which will offer 200 Advanced Wireless Services (AWS-3) licenses in the 1695-1710 MHz, 1755-1780 MHz, and 2155-2180 MHz bands. The auction uses a clock-1 ascending format with simultaneous bidding on all licenses. Key deadlines include short-form application filing by February 11, 2026, upfront payments by April 8, 2026, and bidding start on June 2, 2026. Minimum opening bids range from $0.01 to $0.05 per MHz-pop depending on population density, with a $1,000 minimum per license. The auction will generate revenue for the Commission's Supply Chain Reimbursement Program to reimburse providers for removing foreign equipment.

Supporting reports

• Jim Beam suspends whiskey production due to Trump trade war — Jim Beam, one of the world's largest American whiskey producers, announced it is pausing production at its Happy Hollow facility in Clermont, Kentucky, from January 1 through 2026. The suspension follows curtailed exports to major trading partners; Canada has boycotted American spirits in retaliation for Trump's trade war, with U.S. whiskey sales to Canada down more than 60 percent. Other Kentucky bourbon producers including Jack Daniel's announced earlier layoffs or production pauses. As of 2024, Jim Beam employed nearly 1,500 Kentucky workers.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration to garnish wages of student loan defaulters — The Washington Post reported that the Trump administration will start garnishing the wages of people in default on their student loans early next year for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. The resumption of wage garnishment will affect millions of borrowers struggling with debt.
• Education Department announced wage garnishment of defaulted student loan borrowers — The Trump administration announced that it will begin garnishing wages of student loan borrowers in default starting in early January 2025. Beginning the week of January 7, the Education Department expects approximately 1,000 defaulted borrowers to receive notices of administrative wage garnishment, with the number increasing thereafter. The government can seize up to 15% of a borrower's after-tax income. More than 5 million borrowers are currently in default, with projections that the total could reach approximately 10 million.

Supporting reports

• ProPublica reports Deputy AG Blanche held crypto investments while ending investigations — ProPublica reported that Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche held more than $150,000 in crypto investments when he issued a memo one month into his tenure to end investigations into crypto companies, dealers, and exchanges initiated during the Biden administration. A former White House ethics lawyer called the situation "an obvious conflict of interest."

Supporting reports

• Paramount Skydance owner Larry Ellison personally guaranteed $40 billion in financing for Warner Bros. Discovery takeover — Billionaire Larry Ellison, father of David Ellison (owner of Paramount Skydance), personally guaranteed that he would stand behind more than $40 billion in financing required for Paramount Skydance's attempted hostile takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, which owns CNN. This development follows Paramount Skydance's acquisition of Bari Weiss's opinion website Free Press for $150 million in October, after which Weiss became editor-in-chief of CBS News.

Supporting reports

• OSHA announces preliminary finding to grant Nemko North America, Inc. expansion of NRTL recognition for three test standards — The Occupational Safety and Health Administration published notice that Nemko North America, Inc. (NNA) applied for expansion of its Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) recognition to include three additional test standards: UL 1310 (Class 2 Power Units), UL 1778 (Uninterruptible Power Supply Equipment), and UL 60730-1 (Automatic Electrical Controls—Part 1: General Requirements). OSHA's preliminary finding is that NNA has met the requirements under 29 CFR 1910.7 for the expansion. Public comment is open until January 15, 2026, after which the Assistant Secretary of Labor will make a final decision.
• OSHA assumes occupational safety and health regulatory authority over four privatized parcels at East Tennessee Technology Park, Oak Ridge, Tennessee — The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a notice formalizing an addendum to the 1992 Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Energy. OSHA confirmed that Tennessee OSHA (TOSHA) assumes regulatory authority over occupational safety and health at four transferred land parcels (approximately 710.81 acres total) at the East Tennessee Technology Park in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, following privatization and transfer to private and local entities. The transfer was confirmed after DOE provided assurances that radiation exposure risks remain below regulatory thresholds and that worker protections are maintained.
• OSHA expands UL LLC's recognition as Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory; adds UL 3300 robot safety standard to NRTL Program's List — The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a final notice expanding UL LLC's scope of recognition as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL). The expansion authorizes UL to test and certify products under UL 3300, a new standard covering Service, Communication, Information, Education and Entertainment Robots (SCIEE Robots). OSHA also added UL 3300 to the NRTL Program's List of Appropriate Test Standards. The expansion becomes effective December 31, 2025. No public comments were received during the comment period. UL must continue meeting all existing recognition requirements and notify OSHA of any changes in ownership, facilities, key personnel, or major operational changes.
• OSHA extends OMB approval of information collection requirements for rigging equipment standard — The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published a notice requesting public comments on its proposal to extend Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of information collection requirements under the Standard on Rigging Equipment for Material Handling (29 CFR 1926.251). The extension maintains the current burden estimate of 49,160 hours across 115,829 respondents and 263,953 responses. OSHA solicits comments on necessity, accuracy of burden estimates, information quality, and ways to minimize employer compliance burden. Comments are due by March 2, 2026.
• FDA issues final guidance on formal dispute resolution and administrative hearings for Section 505G drug orders — The Food and Drug Administration announced final guidance for industry on formal dispute resolution (FDR) and administrative hearing procedures for resolving scientific and medical disputes between the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research and drug sponsors regarding final administrative orders under Section 505G of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The guidance finalizes a draft issued June 23, 2023, and incorporates clarifications limiting recommendations to FDR under specified statutory provisions and removing language suggesting parallel regulatory pathways during FDR proceedings.
• FDA submits postmarket surveillance medical device information collection to OMB for review — The Food and Drug Administration submitted a proposed information collection regarding postmarket surveillance of medical devices (21 CFR Part 822) to the Office of Management and Budget for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The collection supports FDA's authority to require manufacturers to conduct postmarket surveillance of devices meeting statutory criteria. FDA estimates total annual reporting burden at 4,968 hours and recordkeeping burden at 105 hours. Public comment period closes January 21, 2026.

Supporting reports

• Mass power outages disrupt San Francisco; Waymo suspends robotaxi service — A widespread power failure on December 20 affected approximately 130,000 PG&E customers across San Francisco, causing traffic signals to fail citywide. Waymo robotaxis became immobilized at intersections, blocking traffic and creating hazardous conditions. Waymo suspended its driverless ride-hailing service in the San Francisco Bay Area in response. Mayor Daniel Lurie urged residents to avoid roads and dispatched police to major intersections. The outage exposed infrastructure vulnerabilities affecting autonomous vehicle operations.

Supporting reports

• Mitt Romney published op-ed calling for higher taxes on the wealthy — Former senator Mitt Romney published an op-ed in the New York Times acknowledging that the political ideology of the past forty-five years has failed. He called for addressing economic inequalities in the United States by placing higher taxes on the rich, a reversal of the Reagan-era economic ideology he had previously embraced.