Trump Action Archive

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• Trump administration sued federal judges in Maryland over deportation order — On June 24, the Trump administration sued every federal judge in Maryland, challenging an order blocking them from immediately deporting any immigrant in the state who is challenging their removal through a habeas petition. The administration is arguing that the pause violates a Supreme Court ruling.
• Department of Justice files complaint against U.S. District Court of Maryland over automatic immigration injunctions — The Department of Justice announced filing a complaint against the U.S. District Court of Maryland, challenging a "Standing Order" that automatically issues injunctions against federal immigration enforcement actions. The court's order requires automatic injunctions for habeas petitions filed by detained aliens in Maryland. DOJ argues the order violates procedural requirements, congressional intent, and Supreme Court precedent. Attorney General Pamela Bondi characterized the order as judicial overreach undermining executive authority and the democratic process.
• Trump DOJ sues Maryland federal judiciary over deportation stay order — The Trump Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the entire bench of Maryland federal judges, challenging an order issued by Chief Judge George Russell that bars deportation of undocumented immigrants for at least one day after they file legal challenges to their detention. The DOJ characterized the judicial order as "unlawful" and an improper use of equitable powers. The lawsuit specifically names Judge Paula Xinis, who is overseeing a high-profile case involving Salvadoran national Kilmar Ábrego García and considering sanctions against government officials for refusing to facilitate his release.

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• US Court of Appeals orders Trump administration to return wrongfully deported man to US — The US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ordered the Trump administration to return Jordin Melgar-Salmeron to the United States after he was deported to El Salvador on May 7, less than 30 minutes after the court had expressly barred his removal. The court also required the government to provide a declaration of his current whereabouts and custodial status within one week, and to explain compliance steps. The ruling was designed to address a pattern of apparent government defiance of judicial orders.
• Case update — Melgar-Salmeron v. Bondi (2d Cir.) 23-7792 — The Second Circuit ruled that the government must facilitate the Petitioner's return from El Salvador as soon as possible. The court explained that the Government acknowledged that they had transferred the Petitioner, an alleged MS-13 member, to El Slavador on May 7, 2025 in defiance of a court order and despite assurances given to the court due to a “a confluence of administrative errors" in the Government's words. The court also directed the administration to report back within one week on Melgar-Salmeron's current location and status and plans about his return.
• Federal appeals court ordered return of deported man — On June 24, a federal appeals court ruled that the Trump administration must seek the return of another man deported to El Salvador in violation of a court order "as soon as possible."
• Daniel Lozano-Camargo deported in violation of settlement agreement — Daniel Lozano-Camargo, a 20-year-old Venezuelan, was deported along with approximately 240 other men from Venezuela to El Salvador's Cecot facility after US authorities declared them members of Tren de Aragua. A Maryland court later ruled that he had been improperly removed in violation of an earlier settlement forbidding his removal while his immigration case was pending.
• Guatemalan immigrant deported to Mexico in violation of asylum protections — A Guatemalan immigrant identified only as "OCG" was deported to Mexico despite claiming to have been raped and kidnapped in that country. The deportation appears to violate protections against returning individuals to places where they face persecution or danger.

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• Judge blocks Trump administration from withholding $5 billion in EV charger infrastructure funds to 14 states — U.S. District Judge Tana Lin granted a partial injunction blocking the Trump administration from withholding $5 billion in electric vehicle charger infrastructure funds previously awarded to 14 states under the Biden-era National EV Infrastructure (NEVI) program. In February 2025, the Trump Department of Transportation had ordered states to suspend spending and rescinded NEVI guidance. The Government Accountability Office found this violated federal law in May. Judge Lin ruled the states' lawsuit would likely succeed and the injunction takes effect July 1 unless appealed.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — State of Washington v. Dept. of Transport et al (W.D. Wash.) 2:25-cv-00848 — Judge Tana Lin granted Plaintiffs' motion for preliminary injunction as to 14 Plaintiff states, finding they had established a likelihood of success on the merits as to their APA and separation of powers claims. However, the court denied the motion in part, holding that the District of Columbia, Minnesota, and Vermont had not shown irreparable harm beyond the allegations in their complaint. As to the 14 Plaintiff states that were granted injunctive relief, the court enjoined Defendants from suspending or revoking Plaintiffs' previously approved State Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment Plans-annual submissions detailing how each state will use its funding-and from withholding NEVI Formula Program funds.

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• RFK Jr testifies before House health subcommittee on vaccine policies and healthcare fraud — Robert F Kennedy Jr, US health secretary, faced hours of contentious questioning before the House health subcommittee on vaccine policy reversals, budget cuts, and accusations of lying to senators during confirmation. Kennedy attacked Democratic congressman Frank Pallone over pharmaceutical contributions, then was forced to retract the remarks. He denied promising Senator Bill Cassidy he would not fire the CDC's vaccine advisory committee, which he had disbanded two weeks prior. Kennedy also appeared unfamiliar with a DOJ investigation into UnitedHealthcare for Medicare Advantage fraud.
• RFK Jr announces smartwatch mandate vision for healthcare — Robert F Kennedy Jr unveiled a plan to promote smartwatches and fitness trackers as alternatives to medications, with a goal of every American citizen wearing a wearable device within four years. The scheme would be backed by "one of the biggest advertising campaigns in HHS history" to promote wearables as cost-saving alternatives to expensive medications.

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• Trump administration postpones congressional briefings on Iran strikes without explanation — The Trump administration postponed classified congressional briefings scheduled for Tuesday regarding the recent strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, providing little explanation for the delay. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the postponement as "outrageous, evasive, and derelict," demanding answers on strike results, conflict scope, long-term strategy, and risks to Americans. Democrats have alleged the strikes violated the War Powers Act, which requires presidential consultation with Congress before military action.
• Trump cancelled classified House briefing on Iran strikes without explanation — Rep. Pat Ryan (D-NY) announced that Trump cancelled a scheduled classified House briefing on the Iran strikes with no explanation. Ryan stated that Trump's team could not substantiate claims that nuclear facilities were "completely and totally obliterated" and that the administration lacked clarity on the status of 900 pounds of highly enriched uranium. Ryan also noted that briefers had conflicting conclusions about the operation's success and Iran's proximity to nuclear breakout.

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• Trump cancelled classified House briefing on Iran strikes without explanation — Rep. Pat Ryan (D-NY) announced that Trump cancelled a scheduled classified House briefing on the Iran strikes with no explanation. Ryan stated that Trump's team could not substantiate claims that nuclear facilities were "completely and totally obliterated" and that the administration lacked clarity on the status of 900 pounds of highly enriched uranium. Ryan also noted that briefers had conflicting conclusions about the operation's success and Iran's proximity to nuclear breakout.

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• Federal judge temporarily blocked Trump's executive order on federal employee bargaining rights — On June 24, a federal judge temporarily blocked Trump's March executive order terminating the collective bargaining rights for over one million federal employees.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — American Federation Of Government Employees, AFL-CIO v. Trump (N.D. Cal.) 3:25-cv-03070 — Judge James Donato granted Plaintiffs a preliminary injunction , which enjoined the Agency Defendants and the Agency Head Defendants from implementing the EO against Plaintiffs and their members.

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• Preliminary injunction ruling — American Federation Of Government Employees, AFL-CIO v. Trump (N.D. Cal.) 3:25-cv-03070 — Judge James Donato granted Plaintiffs a preliminary injunction , which enjoined the Agency Defendants and the Agency Head Defendants from implementing the EO against Plaintiffs and their members.
• Appeal filed — American Federation Of Government Employees, AFL-CIO v. Trump (N.D. Cal.) 3:25-cv-03070 — Defendants appealed Judge Donato's preliminary injunction order to the Ninth Circuit (Case No. 25-4014 ).

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• Defense Intelligence Agency assessed Iran nuclear strikes ineffective — The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), the intelligence arm of the Pentagon, conducted early assessments of damage caused by U.S. military strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities. The DIA concluded that the strikes did not destroy the main parts of Iran's nuclear program and probably set it back by only a few months. The White House called the DIA assessment "flat out wrong." CNN and later the New York Times confirmed the DIA's reporting.
• U.S. intelligence assessment concluded Iran's nuclear program largely intact after strikes — Three sources told CNN that according to an early Defense Intelligence Agency assessment, U.S. military strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities did not destroy the core components of Iran's nuclear program and likely only set it back a few months. The assessment concluded that underground facilities, centrifuges, and highly enriched uranium were largely intact, contradicting Trump's public claims of complete destruction.
• White House dismisses Pentagon intelligence assessment on Iran nuclear strikes — The Defense Intelligence Agency, the Pentagon's intelligence arm, produced a classified report concluding that the recent strikes on Iranian nuclear sites did not destroy two of the targeted facilities and probably only set back Iran's nuclear program by a few months. The report found key nuclear components including centrifuges could be restarted within months and that much of Iran's enriched uranium stockpile was moved before the strikes to other secret sites. The White House dismissed the report as "flat-out wrong."
• CNN reported Iran nuclear program not destroyed by US strikes — On June 24, CNN, citing an early US intelligence assessment, reported that the core components of Iran's nuclear program were not destroyed by the US military strikes, despite Trump's claims that it was "obliterated." The report concluded that the strikes likely only set the program back by just a few months. White House Press Secretary called the report "flat-out wrong … but was still leaked to CNN by an anonymous, low-level loser in the intelligence community." CNN responded, saying the network "stands by our thorough reporting," and added that the White House "has acknowledged the existence of the assessment."

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• Trump posted video mocking Iran bombing — Trump's social media feed posted a video at 7:15 p.m. that recalled Senator John McCain's 2007 call to "bomb, bomb, bomb Iran" set to the Beach Boys' "Barbara Ann." Trump's version was longer and included visual imagery of planes dropping bombs, with lyrics such as "went to a mosque, gonna throw some rocks" and "gonna turn Iran into a parking lot."

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• DHS posts propaganda poster encouraging citizens to report undocumented immigrants — The Department of Homeland Security posted an image on X (formerly Twitter) modeled after World War II propaganda posters, depicting Uncle Sam and urging citizens to "Help your country locate and arrest illegal aliens" with a DHS phone number. The poster weaponizes propaganda and encourages mass surveillance and denunciation.

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• Trump baselessly claimed CNN and New York Times coordinated against him — On June 24, Trump baselessly claimed on Truth Social that CNN and the New York Times "TEAMED UP IN AN ATTEMPT TO DEMEAN ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL MILITARY STRIKES IN HISTORY," and continued to say Iran's nuclear sites were "COMPLETELY DESTROYED!"

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• Homeland Security Secretary Noem threatened to revoke Harvard's international student program — On June 23, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem penned an op-ed in the Washington Post stating she remains "prepared to revoke Harvard University's Student and Exchange Visitor Program [SEVP] certification," which would prohibit the school from enrolling international students. Noem claimed Harvard has not complied with "lawful oversight duties," has "fostered antisemitic extremism," and "used taxpayer money to collaborate with an American adversary." She also attacked the federal judge who blocked the administration's earlier attempt to revoke the certification.

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• Ninth person died in ICE custody in 2025 — Johnny Noviello, 49, died in ICE custody, becoming the ninth person to die in ICE custody since the beginning of 2025 and the fourth to die in a Florida facility. Daily Beast columnist Julia Davis reported the death.
• ICE detention deaths surge to 13 in fiscal 2025, tracking toward deadliest year on record — Two additional deaths in ICE custody—a 75-year-old Cuban man and a 49-year-old Canadian (Johnny Noviello, found unresponsive June 23 in Miami)—bring the 2025 fiscal-year total to 13 deaths, compared to 12 for all of fiscal 2024. Advocates attribute the spike to deteriorating conditions as ICE detains over 56,000 people (140% of stated capacity) while pursuing aggressive deportation targets. At current pace, 2025 could see 26+ deaths. The Canadian government has requested information from US authorities regarding Noviello's death.

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• Trump's media company announced $400 million share buyback — On June 23, Trump's media company, which oversees Truth Social, announced it would buy back $400 million worth of its shares, a move the Washington Post reported is "typically used to boost a company's stock value."

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• US Supreme Court stays judicial order blocking third-country deportations — The US Supreme Court's conservative majority issued an unsigned order on Monday pausing a federal judge's ruling that required immigrants facing deportation to third countries to receive notice and a meaningful opportunity to contest removal. The stay allows the Trump administration to resume deporting migrants to nations they are not citizens of, including conflict-ridden places like South Sudan. The decision overturned a May ruling by Boston-based Judge Brian Murphy, who had blocked the deportation of eight men to South Sudan after finding the administration violated due process rights.
• U.S. Supreme Court granted Trump administration authority to deport migrants to third countries — On June 23, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court granted the Trump administration's request to deport migrants to countries other than their country of origin, including nations plagued by violence, without additional legal process beyond an initial removal hearing and without regard to conditions migrants may face in those countries. The court majority did not explain its reasoning. Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson, Elena Kagan, and Sonia Sotomayor dissented sharply. Legal analyst Steve Vladeck noted the ruling expands prior decisions that had already cleared the way for treating up to one million migrants as removable.
• Case update — D.V.D. v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security (D. Mass.) 1:25-cv-10676 — The Supreme Court stopped a lower court's order which has prevented the administration from removing immigrants to third countries without an opportunity to present their claims of potential torture first. The Supreme Court's order is now in place while the litigation proceeds. Justices Sotomayor, Kagan, and Jackson dissented.
• Supreme Court Grants Stay in Department of Homeland Security v. D.V.D. — The Supreme Court granted the Department of Homeland Security's emergency application for a stay in the case of Department of Homeland Security, Applicants v. D.V.D., et al. This decision allows the federal government to proceed with its actions that were previously blocked by a lower court order. The case involved immigration enforcement actions challenged by the respondents, and the stay permits the continuation of these actions pending further litigation. Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented from the decision.
• Supreme Court allowed Trump administration to deport migrants to third countries — On June 23, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to allow the Trump administration to move forward with sending migrants to countries other than their own, temporarily overturning a lower court ruling that prevented the deportations until migrants could challenge them in court. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin posted on Twitter, "Fire up the deportation planes."

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• Judge Breyer rules Trump's federalization of California National Guard unlawful — U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer ruled in mid-June 2025 that Trump's order to federalize California National Guard troops without the governor's permission was unlawful and set a "dangerous precedent for future domestic military activity." The ruling temporarily blocked the federalization order, reasserting state sovereignty and constitutional limits on executive military deployment authority.
• Trump federalizes California National Guard and deploys Marines to suppress Los Angeles protests — Trump issued an order federalizing thousands of California National Guard troops and deploying Marines to Los Angeles to suppress largely peaceful protests against immigration enforcement. California sued, and U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer ruled in mid-June that Trump unlawfully federalized the guard without the governor's permission, setting a "dangerous precedent for future domestic military activity." A three-judge appeals panel (two Trump appointees) ruled on June 19 that the federalization order could remain in place; California appealed on June 20.

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• Appeals court reverses district judge ruling on military deployment — An appeals panel reversed a district court ruling that had found President Trump exceeded his authority in deploying national guard and marines to Los Angeles and had ordered the return of control of the state national guard to California. The reversal allowed the military deployment to continue, undermining the initial judicial check on executive power and leaving the deployment in place indefinitely.

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• Preliminary injunction ruling — President and Fellows of Harvard College v. Department of Homeland Security (D. Mass.) 1:25-cv-11472 — Judge Burroughs issued an order halting the administration's proclamation to suspend entry for any international students studying at Harvard. Judge Burroughs had issued a preliminary injunction on June 20 to similar effect, but provided reasoning for her injunction this time. In the order, she wrote, “the government's misplaced efforts to control a reputable academic institution and squelch diverse viewpoints seemingly because they are, in some instances, opposed to this Administration's own views,” threatened core constitutional rights, which she notes “must be safeguarded.”
• Federal judge blocked Trump administration's attempt to prohibit Harvard from enrolling international students — On June 23, a federal judge blocked another attempt by the Trump administration to prohibit Harvard University from enrolling international students, ruling that officials' "misplaced efforts to control a reputable academic institution" are a threat to freedom of speech.
• Appeal filed — President and Fellows of Harvard College v. Department of Homeland Security (D. Mass.) 1:25-cv-11472 — Defendants appealed Judge Burroughs' June, 23 preliminary injunction order to the First Circuit (Case No. 25-1627 ).

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• Federal judge chastised Trump administration for Voice of America non-compliance — On June 23, a federal judge chastised the Trump administration for failing to comply with a preliminary injunction related to mass firings of Voice of America employees. The judge required the administration to provide information about its compliance with statutory obligations for running the news organization and the US Agency for Global Media, asking "What would be the point of Voice of America if there is no voice?" and questioning whether a contempt trial should be launched.

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• Federal judge released MS-13 defendant from custody pending trial — A Tennessee federal judge released defendant Kilmar Abrego Garcia from custody pending trial, a ruling that infuriated AG Pam Bondi and Stephen Miller. The judge denied the DOJ's request for criminal detention, stating: "The govt's evidence that Abrego is a member of MS-13 consists of general statements, all double hearsay, from two cooperating witnesses. Those statements are, however, directly inconsistent with statements by the first cooperator."
• Federal judge ordered release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia on bail — On June 25, a federal judge ordered the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia on bail while he awaits trial on criminal charges, but acknowledged that he would likely be taken into ICE custody upon his release and could face a possible second deportation.

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• Federal judge Hellerstein rejects Trump's invocation of Alien Enemies Act — On an unspecified date in June 2025, New York federal judge Alvin Hellerstein ruled that Venezuelan refugee migration and gang infiltration do not constitute an "invasion" or "predatory incursion" under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. The ruling rejected Trump's legal justification for mass deportations without due process, finding no statutory basis for the administration's interpretation of the 1798 law.

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• Liberty Justice Center files lawsuit challenging tariff emergency on behalf of small businesses — The Liberty Justice Center filed a lawsuit at the U.S. Court of International Trade on behalf of several small businesses challenging Trump's tariff emergency declaration. The lawsuit, involving law professor Ilya Somin, contested the administration's invocation of emergency powers to impose sweeping tariffs without congressional authorization or genuine crisis justification.
• Two courts reject Trump's tariff emergency declaration — Two federal courts rejected Trump's April 2025 claim that foreign trade practices constituted a national emergency justifying unilateral tariff imposition. An appeals court subsequently issued a temporary stay of the more expansive ruling, allowing the tariff regime to remain partially in effect pending further litigation.
• Fifteen Democratic state attorneys general sue to halt Trump's energy emergency declaration — In June 2025, fifteen Democratic state attorneys general filed a lawsuit against Trump to halt his national "energy emergency" declaration from January 2025. The states argued the declaration was unlawful, designed to bypass normal environmental permitting procedures for hundreds of oil and gas projects, and would cause enormous damage to historic and natural resources while undermining drinking water standards.
• Stephen Miller attacks court ruling on tariffs as "judicial coup" — Following a court of international trade ruling against the Trump administration's tariff emergency in late May 2025, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller attacked the ruling on social media as a "judicial coup." A day later, Miller escalated rhetoric, claiming "we are living under a judicial tyranny," despite two of the three judges being Republican appointees, including one Trump had appointed.

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• Justice Department filed intervention complaint challenging Washington State's Senate Bill 5375 as violating religious freedom — The Department of Justice announced it filed a complaint in intervention in federal court challenging Washington State's Senate Bill 5375, which the department alleges violates the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment by requiring Catholic priests to violate the confidentiality seal of Confession and subjecting them to criminal consequences. The motion to intervene is pending before the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington in the case Etienne v. Ferguson.

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• White House Press Secretary Leavitt claimed Iranian nuclear sites were completely obliterated — White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on ABC that the administration is confident that Iran's nuclear sites were "completely and totally obliterated" and that Iran no longer has the capability to build nuclear weapons and threaten the world. The bulletin notes that every military and nuclear expert, including Trump's own Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Dan Caine, said it is impossible to know what was destroyed at this early stage.