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Category 5
Attack target 43
The Civil Service 134Public Service 63Rule of Law 45The Justice Department 33Workers 33Public Health 27Separation of Powers 25Immigrants & Refugees 24Science 20Truth 20The Intelligence Community 13Diplomacy 12The Courts 12The Information Environment 12Minorities 11The Environment 11LGBTQ People 9Low-Income Americans 9The Presidency 9Congress 8Inspectors General & Watchdogs 6Education 5The Economy 5Global Democracy 4The Military 4The Sick & Vulnerable 4Whistleblowers 4Disabled People 3The Press 3Transparency 3Veterans 3Elections 2Peaceful Transfer of Power 2Women 2Children 1Climate Cooperation 1Dissent & Protest 1Law Enforcement 1Peace 1Privacy 1Public Norms & Decency 1The Constitution 1Trade 1
Tier 1 carried by a primary record
Corroborated 2+ independent news desks
Every result is verified and democracy-related.
Open an event to see its evidence. Attack and trait tags link to their definitions
Feb 7, 2026 The Office of Personnel Management issued a final rule removing civil service protections from about 50,000 federal employees Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The rule increased presidential control over the federal workforce and weakened merit-based independence and whistleblower safeguards inside agencies.
Primary sourceA record that carries the claim alone
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump administration strips civil service protections — The Office of Personnel Management issued a final rule to remove civil service protections from approximately 50,000 federal employees, allowing the administration to replace nonpartisan civil servants with loyalists.
- Trump administration moves to alter federal workforce protections — The Trump administration is implementing a new employment category that could remove job protections for approximately 50,000 federal workers.
- Federal Employment Protections Eliminated
Attacks
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 56 – 2026-02-07–2026-02-13
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Feb 5, 2026 The Trump administration moved to ease the firing of about 50,000 federal workers through an OPM rule Corroborated Power and Authority
The rule expanded presidential control over the civil service and weakened independent protections that help keep federal administration nonpartisan.
Independently corroborated by4 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump administration issues rule to ease firing of federal workers — The Trump administration has issued a new rule through the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) that aims to strip job protections from 50,000 federal employees, allowing the president to hire and fire these employees
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 55 – 2026-01-31–2026-02-06
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Jan 30, 2026 Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was redirected to investigate 2020 election fraud claims Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The reassignment suggested executive use of intelligence resources for a politically charged election narrative rather than ordinary security work.
Primary sourceA record that carries the claim alone
Supporting reports
- Gabbard Redirected to Investigate Election Fraud Claims — Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has reportedly been reassigned from national security intelligence to investigate claims regarding election fraud related to the 2020 presidential election.
Attacks
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 54 – 2026-01-24–2026-01-30
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Jan 28, 2026 The EPA cut staff and reduced enforcement actions against polluters Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The downsizing weakened the executive branch's capacity to enforce environmental law and protect public health.
Independently corroborated by2 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- EPA Reduces Workforce and Enforcement Actions — The EPA has reduced its workforce by a quarter through firings and early retirements, with entire divisions, such as the scientific arm, slated for closure.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 54 – 2026-01-24–2026-01-30
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Jan 21, 2026 Former USAID foreign service employees filed suit over mass terminations they said were politically motivated Tier 1 · Primary Institutions and Governance
The case challenged alleged partisan purges in the civil service and tested legal protections for nonpolitical public employment.
Primary sourceA record that carries the claim alone
Supporting reports
- Smith v. United States Agency for International Development (D.D.C.) 1:26-cv-00183 — Case filed — Case filed In March 2025, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) terminated en masse the services of foreign service limited (FSL) employees, a special class of employees hired into critical
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 53 – 2026-01-17–2026-01-23
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Jan 20, 2026 President Trump dismissed 17 inspectors general Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The firings weakened internal oversight across the executive branch and reduced independent checks on presidential and agency conduct.
Independently corroborated by2 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump dismisses 17 independent inspectors general — President Trump rapidly dismissed 17 independent inspectors general despite legal objections.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 53 – 2026-01-17–2026-01-23
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Jan 19, 2026 Brandon Wright filed suit against DHS over his firing after criticizing Kristi Noem Tier 1 · Primary Institutions and Governance
The case challenged alleged retaliation against a federal employee and raised questions about speech rights and civil-service review.
Primary sourceA record that carries the claim alone
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Wright v. Noem (D.D.C.) 1:26-cv-00144 — Case filed — Case filed On January 19, 2026 Brandon Wright, a former civil servant and employee of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) filed suit against the DHS and an unknown woman, defendant Doe, alleging that his
- Fired DHS worker sues agency over termination after criticizing Kristi Noem — Brandon Wright, a former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employee, has filed a federal lawsuit against the DHS, claiming his termination violated his First Amendment rights.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 53 – 2026-01-17–2026-01-23
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Jan 17, 2026 The Trump administration deployed thousands of federal immigration agents to Minnesota Tier 1 · Primary Civil Rights and Dissent
The surge expanded coercive federal presence in one state, affecting bodily security, due process, and daily life for immigrant communities.
Independently corroborated by3 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump Administration Mobilizes Federal Agents in Minnesota — The Trump administration has deployed 3,000 federal agents to Minnesota, significantly outnumbering the local police force.
- Trump administration sends 3,000 immigration and border patrol officers to Minnesota — The Trump administration has deployed 3,000 immigration and border patrol officers to Minnesota, amid protests against the government's deportation policies.
- DHS Deploys 2,000 Federal Agents to Minneapolis for ICE Operations — Earlier this month, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) deployed 2,000 federal agents to Minneapolis as part of the Trump administration's largest operation targeting immigrants.
Attacks
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 53 – 2026-01-17–2026-01-23
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Jan 12, 2026 Federal prosecutors and DOJ civil-rights officials resigned over the refusal to investigate the Renee Good shooting as a civil-rights case Tier 1 · Primary Civil Rights and Dissent
The resignations signaled an internal breakdown in federal civil-rights enforcement around a high-profile use-of-force case.
Independently corroborated by2 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Mass Resignation in DOJ's Civil Rights Division — At least four leaders of the DOJ's Civil Rights Division resigned after the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, Harmeet Dhillon, decided not to investigate the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE officer.
- Resignation of Minnesota Federal Prosecutors — Six federal prosecutors in Minnesota resigned over the Department of Justice's (DOJ) decision to investigate the widow of a woman killed by an ICE agent, while refusing to investigate the shooting itself.
- Federal prosecutors resign over lack of investigation into ICE shooting — Six federal prosecutors from the US attorney’s office in Minnesota and four leaders from the Department of Justice's civil rights division resigned in protest over the decision not to investigate the fatal shooting of
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 52 – 2026-01-10–2026-01-16
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Jan 3, 2026 Attorney General Pam Bondi fired DOJ senior ethics attorney Joseph Tirrell Corroborated Institutions and Governance
Removing a senior ethics official without explanation weakened internal safeguards meant to keep law enforcement administration impartial and accountable.
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Firing of DoJ Senior Ethics Attorney Joseph Tirrell — Joseph Tirrell, the Department of Justice's senior ethics attorney, was fired without explanation, as communicated via an email from Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 51 – 2026-01-03–2026-01-09
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Dec 31, 2025 ICE announced a $100 million recruitment campaign for new agents Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The campaign aimed to rapidly expand deportation capacity, deepening the federal government's coercive reach in immigration enforcement.
Independently corroborated by3 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- ICE plans $100m media blitz for recruitment — The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has announced a $100 million, yearlong media campaign aimed at recruiting new agents.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 50 – 2025-12-27–2026-01-02
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Dec 26, 2025 President Trump celebrated the elimination of hundreds of thousands of federal jobs Tier 1 · Primary Economic Structure
The reduction weakened state capacity to deliver public services and shifted economic costs onto workers and communities.
Independently corroborated by4 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump Administration Reduces Federal Employment — President Trump has celebrated the reduction of federal employment, boasting that hundreds of thousands of civil service jobs have been eliminated.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 49 – 2025-12-20–2025-12-26
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Dec 16, 2025 The Trump administration restricted top performance ratings for federal workers across agencies Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The directive weakened merit-based civil service protections and created a tool for political control, demotion, and future purges.
Independently corroborated by3 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump Administration Restricts Federal Worker Performance Ratings — The Trump administration is restricting the number of federal workers who can receive top ratings in their annual performance reviews, a move experts warn is illegal and could facilitate the firing of federal employees.
- Trump Administration Restricts Federal Employee Performance Ratings — The Trump administration has directed federal agencies to limit the number of employees receiving top performance ratings, regardless of actual performance.
- Federal Employee Performance Rating Restrictions — The Trump administration instructed federal managers in several agencies, including Commerce, Justice, and Energy, to limit top performance ratings to 1-5% of staff, regardless of actual performance.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 48 – 2025-12-13–2025-12-19
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Dec 9, 2025 The Supreme Court heard arguments on whether President Trump could fire an FTC commissioner Tier 1 · Primary Institutions and Governance
The case tested whether independent agencies could remain insulated from direct presidential control, a core question of institutional design.
Primary sourceA record that carries the claim alone
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Trump's FTC Firing — The U.S.
- Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Presidential Power — The Supreme Court heard arguments regarding the extent of presidential power over independent agencies, with Solicitor General John Sauer asserting that the president must have the authority to remove officials to
- Trump Fires FTC Commissioner — President Trump fired Rebecca Slaughter, the last remaining Democratic member of the Federal Trade Commission, claiming her continued service was inconsistent with his administration's priorities.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 47 – 2025-12-06–2025-12-12
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Nov 30, 2025 A national alliance of FBI agents and analysts prepared a report for Congress criticizing Kash Patel's leadership of the FBI Tier 1 · Primary Institutions and Governance
The report fed legislative oversight of a major law-enforcement agency, raising questions about competence, fear, and politicization inside the bureau.
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- FBI Director Kash Patel Criticized — A report by senior FBI agents criticizes FBI Director Kash Patel for his lack of experience and focus on social media rather than professional duties.
- Leaked Report Criticizes FBI Director Kash Patel's Leadership — A leaked 115-page report, compiled by a national alliance of retired and active-duty FBI special agents and analysts, criticizes FBI Director Kash Patel's leadership.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 46 – 2025-11-29–2025-12-05
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Nov 30, 2025 The Trump administration carried out a broad retaliation campaign against perceived enemies Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The campaign suggested executive power was being used to punish critics and reshape federal action around loyalty rather than neutral public administration.
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump Administration's Retaliation Campaign — A Reuters report reveals that the Trump administration has targeted at least 470 individuals and organizations for retribution since taking office.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 46 – 2025-11-29–2025-12-05
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Nov 24, 2025 The Justice Department's voting section backed Texas's redistricting plan while challenging California's and operated with sharply reduced staff Corroborated Civil Rights and Dissent
The shift suggested partisan use of voting-rights enforcement rather than neutral protection of fair representation.
Independently corroborated by2 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- DOJ's Shift in Voting Rights Enforcement — The DOJ's voting section has seen a reduction in staff from about 30 lawyers to less than half, with its mission now closely aligned with Trump's election agenda.
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 45 – 2025-11-22–2025-11-28
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Nov 20, 2025 Transgender communities and allies observed Transgender Day of Remembrance amid reports of federal rollback of transgender protections Tier 1 · Primary Civil Rights and Dissent
The observances linked memorialization with advocacy against policies that reduced recognition, services, and safety for transgender people.
Independently corroborated by1 independent news desk
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Transgender Day of Remembrance Highlights Systematic Erasure — On Transgender Day of Remembrance, it was reported that at least 58 transgender individuals died in 2025, with 27 murdered and 21 by suicide.
- Transgender Day of Remembrance Observed Globally — On November 20, 2025, Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR) is observed globally, with over 120 cities holding events to honor transgender individuals who have lost their lives to violence and suicide.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 44 – 2025-11-15–2025-11-21
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Nov 19, 2025 An FBI employee sued over his firing for displaying a Pride flag at work Corroborated Civil Rights and Dissent
The lawsuit framed the firing as viewpoint discrimination and raised free-speech and equal-treatment concerns inside a federal agency.
Independently corroborated by2 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- FBI employee files lawsuit for wrongful termination over Pride flag display — David Maltinsky, a 16-year veteran of the FBI, has filed a lawsuit against the FBI, its director Kash Patel, the justice department, and Attorney General Pam Bondi, alleging wrongful termination for displaying a Pride
- FBI worker files lawsuit for wrongful termination over Pride flag display
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 44 – 2025-11-15–2025-11-21
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Nov 19, 2025 The State Department proposed removing 38 universities from a research program over their DEI policies Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The proposal used federal funding leverage to pressure universities over internal policy choices, testing academic independence and executive control over public resources.
Independently corroborated by2 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- State Department proposes cutting 38 universities from research program over DEI policies
Attacks
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 44 – 2025-11-15–2025-11-21
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Nov 9, 2025 President Trump ordered air traffic controllers back to work and threatened penalties for noncompliance Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The order used executive pressure against unpaid federal workers and tested labor protections in a critical public safety system during the shutdown.
Independently corroborated by4 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump criticized for handling of Air Traffic Controllers — Trump demanded that all Air Traffic Controllers return to work immediately, threatening penalties for those who do not comply.
- Trump threatens air traffic controllers during government shutdown — Donald Trump threatened air traffic controllers who refuse to work without pay during the government shutdown, stating they would face significant penalties and promising bonuses to those he deemed loyal.
- Trump Orders Air Traffic Controllers Back to Work — President Trump ordered all air traffic controllers to return to work despite the government shutdown, threatening pay cuts for noncompliance.
Attacks
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 43 – 2025-11-08–2025-11-14
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Nov 6, 2025 A coalition of unions sued the administration over loyalty tests in federal job applications Corroborated Institutions and Governance
The suit challenged efforts to reshape the civil service around political allegiance rather than neutral merit rules.
Independently corroborated by2 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Unions Sue Over Federal Loyalty Tests — A coalition of unions sued the Trump administration over loyalty tests in federal job applications, arguing they create an unconstitutional system of political patronage.
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 42 – 2025-11-01–2025-11-07
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Nov 5, 2025 The administration sent notices saying furloughed federal workers would not be paid after the shutdown despite existing law Tier 1 · Primary Civil Rights and Dissent
The notices threatened workers' legal protections and used administrative power to deepen pressure during the shutdown.
Primary sourceA record that carries the claim alone
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Administration sends notices to federal employees about pay during shutdown — The Trump administration sent notices to federal employees indicating that furloughed staff would not be paid when the government shutdown ends, despite a 2019 law guaranteeing their pay.
- Federal government shutdown continues as Trump administration faces criticism — The U.S.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 42 – 2025-11-01–2025-11-07
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Oct 31, 2025 The Trump administration carried out major CDC layoffs during the shutdown, including entire offices. Corroborated Power and Authority
The cuts used executive control over staffing to weaken a core public-health institution and reduce its legal and oversight capacity.
Independently corroborated by3 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- CDC layoffs during government shutdown — During the US government shutdown, a major reduction in force (RIF) at the CDC resulted in the termination of a quarter of its workforce, including entire departments such as the ethics office and the institutional
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 41 – 2025-10-25–2025-10-31
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Oct 31, 2025 The Trump administration restructured State Department offices to support harder-line immigration controls and an office of remigration. Corroborated Power and Authority
The reorganization bent diplomatic and refugee institutions toward ideological immigration control and weakened neutral civil-service functions.
Independently corroborated by2 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- State Department Restructured to Support Anti-Immigration Policies — The Trump administration has restructured the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration to include an "office of remigration," aligning with its anti-immigration stance.
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 41 – 2025-10-25–2025-10-31
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