Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Trump administration uses nonprofit to conceal ballroom renovation donations — The Washington Post reported that the Trump administration has concealed the sources of donations for a $330 million ballroom renovation project by channeling funds through a nonprofit organization into a White House account directly controlled by the president. The Post obtained a list of 57 donors committed to giving $100,000 or more. The vast majority of funds came from companies and wealthy individuals with federal interests, including Nvidia and Apple ($25 million each), Microsoft, Palantir, and Lockheed Martin ($10 million each). Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's son Brandon contributed stock worth $2.5 million; U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands Joseph Popolo Jr. and his wife gave $1 million. Trump, who claimed he would help pay for the project, does not appear on the donor list.

Supporting reports

• Justice Department Office of Professional Responsibility gutted; 1,666 misconduct complaints filed in 2025 — The Justice Department's Office of Professional Responsibility received 1,666 misconduct complaints in 2025, the highest number since 2005. Simultaneously, OPR staffing fell from 29 to 16 employees, and its director was fired with no replacement named. The inspector general's office lost 99 employees since the end of the Biden administration. Judge Kathleen Williams recently accused senior officials including acting Attorney General Todd Blanche of reaching a settlement in Trump's suit against the IRS, and a pattern of errors has recurred in the first Comey prosecution.

Supporting reports

• Trump Administration Drops Reflecting Pool Vandalism Case — The U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, has decided to drop the case concerning vandalism at the Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C. This decision has been met with criticism from former President Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who both expressed their disagreement with the decision, citing evidence of vandalism. The case involved damage to the Reflecting Pool and surrounding areas, which Trump and Burgum believe was caused by vandals.
• Trump Considers Firing DC US Attorney Jeanine Pirro — Former President Trump is reportedly considering firing DC US Attorney Jeanine Pirro after she dropped charges related to vandalism at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Trump expressed his dissatisfaction with Pirro's decision, claiming it was a mistake and that the incident was indeed vandalism. The DOJ concluded that the issues stemmed from a flawed renovation rather than vandalism, which has led to Trump's frustration and potential action against Pirro.
• Trump publicly attacks US Attorney Pirro over dropped reflecting pool vandalism charges — Donald Trump accused interim US Attorney for DC Jeanine Pirro of "folding like an umbrella" after she dropped vandalism charges against former Olympic canoeist David Hearn in connection with damage to the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool. Trump, who nominated Pirro to the post in 2025, expressed disappointment and suggested she "choked" under judicial pressure. Reports indicate Trump is considering removing Pirro from her position. The DOJ had dismissed the case after discovering the pool damage resulted from contractor installation flaws, not vandalism.
• Trump publicly rebukes US Attorney Jeanine Pirro over reflecting pool vandalism case dismissal — President Trump criticized US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro after she filed a motion to dismiss vandalism charges against a former Olympian and three others connected to damage at the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool. Pirro's office argued in a 20-page court filing that the damage resulted from a "botched" renovation, not vandalism. Trump told NBC News on Thursday that Pirro "made a terrible mistake" and called her decision "stupid," though he declined to commit to replacing her. The charges against David Hearn, a 67-year-old former Olympic canoeist, were dismissed by the Justice Department.

Supporting reports

• ICE ended policy requiring reporting of deaths within 30 days of release — ICE quietly ended the policy requiring it to report deaths of people who die within 30 days of release from custody. Under the new policy, individuals detained, neglected, and released in crisis will not appear in the public record, and deaths will continue but remain invisible to oversight and the public.
• Deaths continue in ICE custody — The article reports that on average one person in ICE detention dies every single week, and references ongoing deaths in ICE custody.

Supporting reports

• ICE abandoned policy requiring reporting of detainee deaths within 30 days of release — Immigration and Customs Enforcement abandoned a policy established under the Biden administration in 2021 that required ICE to report to Congress and investigate deaths of detainees who died within 30 days of their release. The policy was designed to prevent ICE from circumventing accountability by releasing severely ill individuals who subsequently died. At least 18 people incarcerated in ICE detention facilities died in the first five months of 2026, and at least 30 died in 2025, the highest number in 20 years.

Supporting reports

• House Republicans blocked Trump's $1 billion White House ballroom security project — GOP lawmakers are bucking Trump by shelving plans to spend $1 billion to secure a new White House ballroom facility and other areas of the presidential compound. The "Trump battleships" proposal is facing skepticism at the House Armed Services Committee as lawmakers prepare to mark up the FY2027 defense authorization bill.
• Senate Republicans remove $1bn White House ballroom security funding from reconciliation bill — Senate Republicans formally dropped a $1 billion allocation for security improvements at Donald Trump's proposed White House ballroom from the Secure America Act reconciliation bill on Wednesday. The funding had been included in broader legislation authorizing $70 billion for immigration enforcement agencies through Trump's term. The Senate parliamentarian determined the ballroom money violated budget reconciliation rules, and Democratic opposition threatened to complicate passage. Republicans removed the provision and advanced the revised bill on a 53-46 party-line vote, preserving the $70 billion immigration enforcement funding.

Supporting reports

• House Republicans moved to kill Trump's $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund — House Republicans are in the process of killing Trump's $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund, a direct rebuke to the president. Senate Majority Leader John Thune confirmed that the weaponization fund is "off the table" after speaking with the acting Attorney General. However, Acting AG Todd Blanche refused to put the commitment in writing when asked by Rep. Grace Meng, stating only "We're not moving forward with the fund. Period" but declining to commit to writing.

Supporting reports

• Acting Attorney General Blanche announces Justice Department will not move forward with anti-weaponization fund — Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told a House Appropriations subcommittee that the Justice Department would not move forward with its proposed anti-weaponization fund, a roughly $1.8 billion pool that grew out of the settlement of the president's lawsuit against the IRS. Critics in both parties had described it as a slush fund to compensate Trump allies, potentially including January 6 defendants. The reversal followed weeks of bipartisan backlash that had stalled unrelated immigration funding.
• Acting attorney general announces scrapping of $1.8bn Trump 'anti-weaponization' fund while maintaining IRS audit immunity agreement — Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche testified before the House Appropriations Committee that the Trump administration is abandoning a proposed $1.8bn secretive fund designed to compensate Trump's allies for alleged government "weaponization." However, Blanche confirmed the administration will maintain a separate agreement granting immunity from IRS audits to Trump, his family, and related entities. The fund had faced legal challenges, including a federal judge's block on implementation and a Florida judge's decision to reopen the underlying lawsuit.
• Acting attorney general tells lawmakers administration will not move forward with anti-weaponization fund — Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told lawmakers on June 2 that the administration was "not moving forward with the fund, period," appearing to signal an end to the nearly $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund proposal. However, Trump continued to advocate for the fund during a subsequent NBC News interview on June 8, contradicting the official statement.
• Senator Thom Tillis called for codifying end to Trump's "weaponization fund" — Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) told Fox News that the Trump administration's "right hand and left hand" need to coordinate regarding the "weaponization fund"—a slush fund to pay criminals. Tillis noted that he heard the newly proposed Attorney General say the fund is "dead," and stated that if it is truly dead, Congress should "codify that and be done with it," suggesting uncertainty about whether the administration has genuinely ended the program.
• House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries stated intent to claw back weaponization fund — House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries told Meidas that he does not believe Trump's claim that the "weaponization fund"—a slush fund to pay criminals—is dead. Jeffries stated that Congress must act to "bury it into the ground and ensure it can never rise again" and indicated that Democrats are "prepared to claw back anything that has been done in January" related to the fund.
• Rep. Jamie Raskin introduces BLANCHE Act to block Trump's IRS immunity deal — Rep. Jamie Raskin introduced the BLANCHE Act (Block Lawless Agreements and Nullify Corrupt Handouts and Emoluments Act) to block Trump's IRS audit immunity deal and prevent presidents from ever entering into sweetheart settlements with their own administration. The act is named after Acting AG Todd Blanche, who championed the corrupt deal that handed Trump a $1.776 billion slush fund in exchange for immunity from IRS audit. The legislation would also require independent courts to review any presidential "super pardon" or immunity arrangement.
• DOJ halts progress on Trump's "anti-weaponization fund" — Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche informed a House committee that the Department of Justice is not advancing President Trump's proposed $1.776 billion "anti-weaponization fund." Despite media reports suggesting the fund is "dead," Blanche's comments indicate that the fund has not been officially scrapped. President Trump continues to support the initiative. The fund was intended to address perceived weaponization of government agencies, but its status remains uncertain following the DOJ's decision not to move forward.

Supporting reports

• Federal judge dismisses charges against Chicago protest defendants due to prosecutorial misconduct — U.S. District Judge April Perry dismissed charges against six people, including a Democratic congressional candidate, who were indicted for interfering with a federal agent and conspiring to interfere with a federal agent at a protest at a detention facility. Judge Perry discovered that prosecutors had conducted ex parte communications with individual grand jurors, removed jurors who refused to indict, overstated evidence strength, and then redacted transcripts to hide these actions. Perry stated she had never witnessed such prosecutorial behavior in hundreds of grand jury transcripts.

Supporting reports

• Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard sent criminal referral to DOJ targeting Inspector General Michael Atkinson — Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard sent a second criminal referral to the Department of Justice targeting Michael Atkinson, the intelligence community inspector general who found the 2019 Ukraine whistleblower complaint "credible" and "urgent" and initiated the process of sharing it with congressional intelligence committees, which led to Trump's first impeachment. The referral is intended to criminalize the inspector general's lawful performance of his oversight duties.
• Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard sent criminal referrals to DOJ targeting 2019 Ukraine whistleblower — Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard sent a criminal referral to the Department of Justice targeting the former government official who was the whistleblower in the July 2019 phone call in which Trump pressured Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden in exchange for congressionally appropriated defense funds. The whistleblower had reported to the intelligence community inspector general that Trump was using his office to solicit foreign interference in the 2020 election. The referral is viewed as an attempt to criminalize whistleblowing and chill future complaints.
• DNI Gabbard issues criminal referrals against whistleblower and former IG — Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard issued criminal referrals to the Justice Department against a whistleblower whose complaint contributed to Trump's first impeachment and former Inspector General Michael Atkinson, who handled the complaint. The specific crimes alleged in the referrals were not disclosed.

Supporting reports

• DHS Inspector General launched investigation into contract solicitation and handling involving Kristi Noem and Corey Lewandowski — The DHS Inspector General launched a sprawling investigation into how contracts have been solicited and handled, including the involvement of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and her de facto chief of staff Corey Lewandowski. Inspector General Joseph Cuffari previously announced an audit into DHS grants and contracts awarded "by any means other than full and open competition during fiscal year 2025." Cuffari had complained to Congress in March 2026 that DHS leadership had been obstructing some of his work. Investigators ordered dozens of DHS officials to preserve records as part of the new probe.

Supporting reports

• DHS reduced Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties staff from 147 to under 40 — According to The Guardian's review of court records, the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) was reduced from 147 full-time employees to fewer than 40. The office received nearly 6,000 complaints between late March and December 12, 2025, but approximately only 183 of those complaints were directly investigated. DHS described the oversight offices as "internal adversaries that slow down operations" when justifying the cuts. The office is responsible for investigating complaints of abuse and misconduct within immigration detention facilities and other DHS operations.
• DHS reduced Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman from 118 to 5 staff — According to The Guardian's review of court records, the DHS Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman was reduced from 118 staff members to five. This office was created by Congress to provide internal reviews and investigate complaints related to immigration enforcement and detention conditions. The office was responsible for investigating abuse allegations in immigration detention facilities, including cases involving children and pregnant women. One former employee described how detainees learned to recognize help by looking for the hummingbird logo on tablets carried by caseworkers from this office.
• DHS oversight offices drastically reduced — Court records revealed that key Department of Homeland Security oversight offices designed to investigate abuse and protect civil rights were drastically reduced. These offices serve as internal watchdogs for DHS enforcement and civil-rights compliance.

Supporting reports

• Kristi Noem testified before Senate Judiciary Committee — Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday regarding her department's handling of detentions, deportations, and other matters. During the hearing, lawmakers of both parties questioned her on the lawlessness and corruption in the department, including her labeling of individuals shot by federal agents as engaged in "domestic terrorism," her handling of FEMA disaster relief, and her refusal to back away from the administration's characterization of Trump opponents as engaged in "criminal and terroristic conspiracies."
• Sen. Tillis calls for DHS Secretary Noem's resignation — Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) formally called for DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's resignation during the hearing, citing a pattern of poor leadership decisions, detention of American citizens, obstruction of inspector general investigations, and slow response to disaster relief in North Carolina. Tillis submitted a letter from the Office of Inspector General documenting ten instances of being misled and prevented from pursuing investigations, and announced he would place holds on nominations and deny quorum in committee markups until receiving written responses to his questions within two weeks.
• Senate hearing on DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's leadership and conduct — The Senate Homeland Security Committee held a hearing on DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's tenure, during which multiple senators criticized her management, including allegations of misuse of taxpayer funds, improper detention of U.S. citizens, conflicts of interest involving contracts awarded to associates, and failure to cooperate with inspectors general. Sen. Tillis detailed a $220 million ad campaign featuring Noem and questioned her judgment; Sen. Whitehouse asked about luxury aircraft purchases; Sen. Welch raised concerns about no-bid contracts to her former spokeswoman's husband; and Sen. Blumenthal questioned whether an agent involved in a shooting remained on duty.
• Sen. Blumenthal questions whether agent in shooting remains on duty — During the Senate hearing, Sen. Richard Blumenthal asked DHS Secretary Noem whether the agent who shot Ms. Martinez remained on the job carrying a gun. Noem stated she did not know the details and said she would get back to him. Blumenthal expressed concern that Americans would find it "absolutely terrifying" if the agent remained on duty.
• Sen. Welch questions DHS Secretary Noem on arrest quotas — During the Senate hearing, Sen. Chris Coons asked DHS Secretary Noem whether DHS operates with arrest quotas. Noem denied the practice, claiming only "targeted enforcement." Coons countered by citing a statement from Stephen Miller on Fox News the prior year stating, "We're setting a minimum of 3,000 arrests for ICE every day," directly contradicting Noem's testimony.
• DHS Secretary Noem questioned on $220 million ad campaign — During the Senate hearing, Sen. Adam Schiff questioned DHS Secretary Noem about a $220 million taxpayer-funded advertising campaign featuring her prominently. Schiff noted the contract went to a company that did not exist two weeks before receiving it, and that $143 million went to a subcontractor Noem had worked with extensively as South Dakota governor. Noem claimed she had nothing to do with the contract award, though she acknowledged Trump had approved the campaign.
• Sen. Kennedy questions DHS ad spending and Noem's name recognition — Sen. John Kennedy questioned DHS Secretary Noem about the $220 million ad campaign, noting it was a quarter-billion in taxpayer money while the administration was cutting budgets elsewhere. Kennedy stated the campaign was effective for Noem's personal name recognition and put the president in an awkward position, suggesting OMB Director Russ Vought would not have approved such spending.
• DHS Secretary Noem questioned on no-bid contract to former spokeswoman's husband — During the Senate hearing, Sen. Peter Welch questioned DHS Secretary Noem about a $143 million no-bid DHS contract awarded to Yoho, the husband of her former chief spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin. Noem confirmed the relationship and the contract award. Welch also asked Noem to inquire whether Corey Lewandowski, identified as a "special government adviser," received any compensation from these contracts.

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. This move reverses a long-standing nonpartisan civil service established in 1883.
• Trump administration removed job protections for approximately 50,000 federal workers — The Trump administration moved to remove job protections for approximately 50,000 federal workers by creating a new employment category called "Schedule Policy/Career," shifting whistleblower handling away from the independent Office of Special Counsel toward internal agency processes. The Office of Personnel Management framed the change as "accountability," but the rule raises questions about whether professional government can remain professional if continued employment depends more directly on alignment with leadership than on neutral expertise.
• Federal employment protections eliminated for 50,000 workers — The Trump administration finalized rules removing job protections for up to 50,000 federal workers by shifting them into a new "Schedule Policy/Career" employment category. The change redirects whistleblower complaints away from independent oversight mechanisms toward internal agency processes, reducing external accountability for federal employees.

Supporting reports

• Federal judge summons ICE acting head Todd Lyons to court for alleged defiance of court orders — Minnesota's top federal judge summoned Todd Lyons, the acting head of ICE, to appear in court on Friday for allegedly defying court orders. The judge stated "The court's patience is at an end," signaling potential contempt of court proceedings against the ICE leader for failing to comply with judicial directives.
• Minnesota federal judge summons ICE acting director for contempt over defiance of court orders — Chief US District Judge Patrick Schiltz issued a three-page order summoning acting ICE director Todd Lyons to appear before him on Friday, warning of potential contempt charges. Schiltz accused the Trump administration of deliberately delaying or ignoring judicial directives across Minnesota's federal courts during "Operation Metro Surge," an aggressive immigration enforcement campaign. The judge cited a specific case in which he had ordered a man released on January 15 who remained in custody as of Monday night, and noted that detained immigrants had been sent to Texas or released far from home without means to return, causing "significant hardship."
• Multiple Minnesota federal judges weigh legal challenges to Operation Metro Surge immigration enforcement — Several Minnesota federal judges are considering broader legal challenges that could significantly restrict federal immigration enforcement in the state or halt Operation Metro Surge entirely. US District Judge Michael Davis accused the administration of attempting to "defy court orders" and "deny noncitizens their due process rights." Judge Kate Menendez ordered government lawyers to respond by Wednesday evening to claims the operation was designed to punish Minnesota for its sanctuary policies. Another federal judge is weighing whether the deployment of 3,000 immigration agents constitutes an unconstitutional occupation, a case that gained momentum following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal officers.
• Federal judge orders ICE director to appear in court and threatens contempt — Minnesota's chief federal judge, U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz (appointed by President Bush), ordered the head of ICE, Todd Lyons, to appear in his courtroom on Friday and threatened to hold him in contempt for repeated defiance of judges' orders in the state. Judge Schiltz stated "The court's patience is at an end." The order came in response to the Trump administration's massive immigration enforcement action in the Twin Cities, which has flooded courts with emergency lawsuits. Schiltz noted that the administration has been slow-walking or outright defying directives of many Minnesota judges, including at least one of his own orders for release that was not complied with.
• Federal judge orders ICE director to appear in court for contempt of court — Judge Patrick J. Schiltz of the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota ordered Todd Lyons, the acting director of ICE, to appear in court on Friday to explain why he was not in contempt of court after ICE officials apparently ignored Schiltz's order to permit a detainee to have a bond hearing or be released. On Tuesday, the government released the detainee. On Wednesday, Schiltz canceled the Friday hearing but identified "96 court orders that ICE has violated in 74 cases" and warned that he would haul Lyons or other government officials into court if they continued ignoring court rulings.
• Minnesota federal judge issues scathing order documenting 96 ICE court order violations — Minnesota's Chief Federal Judge Schiltz issued an order that included an appendix identifying 96 court orders that ICE has violated in 74 cases. The judge stated: "This list should give pause to anyone—no matter his or her political beliefs—who cares about the rule of law. ICE has likely violated more court orders in Jan 2026 than some federal agencies have violated in their entire existence."

Supporting reports

• DOJ fired federal prosecutor who declined to prosecute Comey — MS NOW reported that the Justice Department fired a federal prosecutor who served as first assistant to the now-disqualified U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan after he declined to lead the prosecution of former FBI Director James Comey.
• Six DOJ Civil Rights Division leaders resigned in protest — At least six leaders of the criminal section of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division resigned in protest after the DOJ decided not to investigate the ICE officer who shot and killed Renee Good in Minneapolis, a process that usually takes place after any fatal shooting by a law enforcement officer.
• Federal leadership responded to ICE killings with defensive messaging and threats toward critics — After Renee Good was killed by ICE, federal leadership responded with defensive messaging, threats toward critics, and rhetoric framing accountability as an attack on law enforcement. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem appeared publicly behind messaging stating "One of ours, all of yours," signaling protection from consequences rather than transparency or restraint.
• DOJ Civil Rights Division officials resigned after being ordered not to investigate ICE agent's killing of Renee Nicole Good — Four high-ranking officials in the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division resigned in protest after the Trump DOJ instructed them to investigate the victim, Renee Nicole Good, rather than the ICE agent who shot and killed her. The resignations follow a February wave of departures from the DOJ's Public Integrity Section, where prosecutors refused orders to dismiss a bribery case against New York Mayor Eric Adams. The departures reflect broader institutional collapse within the DOJ, with thousands of career officials resigning or fired.
• Four leaders of DOJ Civil Rights Division criminal section resigned over ICE shooting decision — At least four leaders of the criminal section of the Civil Rights Division at DOJ resigned to protest the decision by Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon not to investigate the fatal ICE shooting of Renee Good. The departures included the chief of the section, principal deputy chief, deputy chief, and acting deputy chief. This represents the most significant mass resignation at DOJ since February 2025, when five leaders of the Public Integrity Section resigned rather than comply with orders to dismiss the bribery case against former New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
• Department of Justice declined to investigate shooting as civil rights violation — The Department of Justice declined to investigate the fatal shooting of Renee Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross as a civil rights attack. Instead, the DOJ classified the incident as an assault on a federal officer and initiated an investigation into Good's ties to local activists rather than examining the shooting itself. This prosecutorial decision prompted the resignation of at least six career prosecutors from the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division.
• DOJ declines civil-rights investigation into Minneapolis ICE shooting — The Trump administration's Department of Justice leadership declined to open a civil-rights investigation into a Minneapolis ICE shooting incident, stating there was "no basis" for review while the FBI continues its investigation. In response, four senior supervisors in DOJ's Civil Rights Division resigned in protest, citing their exclusion from the case and objecting to the refusal to initiate civil-rights oversight. The resignations signal internal resistance to narrowing accountability mechanisms.
• Federal prosecutors resign from DOJ civil rights division over blocked investigation into ICE shooting — Six lawyers from the US attorney's office in Minnesota and four leaders of the DOJ civil rights division resigned in protest after the department, under assistant attorney general Harmeet Dhillon, declined to investigate the January 7 fatal shooting of unarmed civilian Renee Nicole Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated there was "no basis for a criminal civil rights investigation" without elaboration. The resignations reflect broader purging of the civil rights division, which has lost roughly 70% of its staff since Trump's second term began.
• Federal prosecutors resign in protest over DOJ decision not to investigate killing of Renee Nicole Good — Several federal prosecutors resigned in protest after the Department of Justice declined to conduct a civil rights investigation into the killing of Minneapolis resident Renee Nicole Good by a federal immigration agent. The killing sparked widespread protests and prompted state and local legal challenges to the federal immigration enforcement operation. The Trump administration has defended the agent's actions as self-defense, a characterization disputed by local officials and video evidence.
• Four senior DOJ Civil Rights Division supervisors resign over case exclusion — Four senior supervisors in the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division resigned after being told they would be sidelined from the Minnesota ICE shooting investigation. The resignations were framed as protest against both their exclusion from the case and the broader refusal to open civil-rights oversight into the use-of-force incident. The departures represent internal institutional resistance to the narrowing of accountability mechanisms.
• Six career prosecutors resigned from DOJ Civil Rights Division — At least six career prosecutors from the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division resigned in protest over the DOJ's decision not to investigate the fatal shooting of Renee Good as a civil rights violation and instead to investigate Good's ties to local activists.
• DOJ declines to open civil-rights investigation into Minneapolis ICE shooting — The Department of Justice announced it found "no basis" to open a civil-rights investigation into the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis. The decision was made by DOJ leadership and signaled that civil-rights review would be granted only at the administration's discretion. The refusal to investigate followed the fatal incident and preceded the resignation of four senior DOJ Civil Rights Division supervisors.
• DOJ Civil Rights Division head Harmeet Dhillon declines to open investigation into ICE agent's fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good — Harmeet Dhillon, head of the DOJ's Civil Rights Division, instructed federal prosecutors in the division's criminal section that she would not open an investigation into whether the ICE agent who shot and killed Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis violated federal law. The Civil Rights Division's criminal section normally handles investigations into law enforcement misconduct, but no probe was announced publicly or pursued internally.
• DOJ senior officials pressure federal prosecutors to investigate Renee Nicole Good's widow for criminality; six prosecutors resign — Senior DOJ officials pressed federal prosecutors to investigate Becca Good, widow of Renee Nicole Good, for possible criminality before the shooting. Six federal prosecutors in Minnesota and Washington, D.C.—including some who worked on fraud-related investigations—resigned in response to the pressure to pursue Good's family rather than investigate the ICE agent's conduct. The prosecutors' resignations were prompted by the DOJ's attempt to weaponize the fatal shooting and redirect the FBI's probe toward Good's family and their connections to local activist groups.
• DOJ civil rights division and federal prosecutors resign over handling of ICE shooting — At least four senior leaders of the DOJ Civil Rights Division and six federal prosecutors in Minnesota resigned in response to how the Trump administration handled the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE officer in Minneapolis. The resignations signal institutional breakdown and loss of confidence in federal accountability mechanisms.

Supporting reports

• 32 people die in ICE custody in 2025, deadliest year in two decades — A total of 32 people died in immigration custody in 2025, marking ICE's deadliest year in more than two decades. This occurred during the same period when the DHS watchdog offices were dismantled (March 2025) and understaffed (March–August 2025), leaving minimal independent oversight of detention conditions. The CRCL reviewed approximately 10 death reports but investigated only one, according to court filings.
• September 2025 ICE detention conditions deteriorate — Between September 2025 and early 2026, multiple reports documented inhumane conditions in ICE detention facilities. A Guardian investigation revealed that U.S. immigration officials had been detaining people in small, secretive holding facilities for days or weeks in violation of federal policy. By the end of 2025, 32 people had died in ICE custody. The reports triggered widespread outrage over the treatment of immigrants.

Supporting reports

• Federal Housing Finance Agency officials fired for investigating director — The Wall Street Journal reported on November 11 that officials fired from the Federal Housing Finance Agency had been investigating its director, Bill Pulte, to determine whether he improperly obtained the mortgage records of Democratic officials like New York Attorney General Letitia James.

Supporting reports

• Fannie Mae confidant of Bill Pulte disclosed confidential mortgage pricing data to competitor — A confidant of Bill Pulte, Trump's top housing regulator, provided confidential mortgage pricing data from Fannie Mae to Freddie Mac, a principal competitor, alarming senior Fannie Mae officials who warned it could expose the company to claims of collusion to fix mortgage rates. Lauren Smith, Fannie Mae's head of marketing, acted on Pulte's behalf in disclosing the data. Senior Fannie Mae officials who questioned the conduct were forced out of their jobs late last month, along with internal ethics watchdogs investigating Pulte and his allies.

Supporting reports

• Trump fires BLS director; inflation data quality declines — Trump fired the Bureau of Labor Statistics director after the agency reported inflation numbers the president disliked. Subsequently, the quality of CPI inflation data has declined significantly. In September, 40% of CPI items were estimated, up from 36% in August and a historical average of 10%. When price data is unavailable, the BLS fills gaps with estimated values from other categories or regions. The percentage of estimated data has quadrupled over seven months, making CPI numbers less accurate and less reflective of real consumer costs.
• Trump’s Economic Advisor Admits Data Reliability Issues — Trump’s top economic advisor publicly stated that the administration may never produce reliable inflation or employment data again due to the hollowing out of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This admission highlights the administration's failure to conduct critical surveys and suggests an attempt to fabricate economic data.

Supporting reports

• Trump fired all six members of Commission of Fine Arts — The Washington Post reported that Trump fired all six members of the Commission of Fine Arts, an independent federal agency that was expected to review some of the president's construction projects, including the new White House ballroom.
• Trump fires all six members of Commission of Fine Arts — President Trump dismissed all six members of the Commission of Fine Arts, an independent federal agency established in 1910 tasked with reviewing designs for memorials and government buildings. The dismissals occurred on Tuesday, 29 October 2025, via email termination notices. A White House official stated the administration plans to appoint new members "more aligned with President Trump's America First Policies." The commission had authority to review Trump's controversial White House ballroom renovation and planned "Arc de Trump" monument.

Supporting reports

• Trump fired National Capital Planning Commission board members and installed loyalists — Trump fired board members of the National Capital Planning Commission and replaced them with his own loyalists, giving Republicans control of the little-known body that has outsized influence over the White House complex. The NCPC raised no public objections to his plans to remodel the White House, allowing Trump to proceed with his ballroom construction project by circumventing normal zoning, permitting, and regulatory structures that govern most real-estate projects in the country.

Supporting reports

• Illinois establishes Accountability Commission to document federal agent misconduct — Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker established the Illinois Accountability Commission to compile evidence of harassment, intimidation, brutalization, and detention of American citizens and legal residents by federal agents. Pritzker stated that federal agency supervisors and inspectors general would normally enforce accountability, but Trump has fired 17 inspectors general and installed cronies at the Department of Justice while MAGA Congress members refuse to conduct oversight. The commission will create an official public record of abuses and rights violations for potential future prosecution.

Supporting reports

• Former Inspector General Mark Greenblatt reported firing of Export-Import Bank Inspector General — Former Inspector General Mark Greenblatt confirmed that Trump has fired another Inspector General, this time at the Export-Import Bank. Greenblatt characterized the dismissal as "deeply alarming," stating it weakens independent oversight and erodes a vital safeguard for taxpayers.
• Trump fired Export-Import Bank Inspector General without notifying Congress — Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) stated that President Trump fired the Export-Import Bank Inspector General without informing Congress, violating federal law. Grassley noted that the law requires the President to specifically inform Congress about Inspector General firings and stated that "unless the courts say otherwise, that's still the law."

Supporting reports

• Trump attempts to remove Federal Reserve governor and other non-appointed officials — Trump is attempting to remove dozens of personnel he did not appoint, including a Federal Reserve governor, a top official at the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, prosecutors who investigated him, and leaders across the government including the National Archivist.
• Trump installs second deputy at FBI after souring on first — The White House installed a second deputy at the FBI after becoming dissatisfied with the first, continuing a pattern of rapid personnel changes across agencies.
• Trump pressures Treasury secretary to fire agency's second-in-command — Trump pushed his Treasury secretary to fire the agency's second-in-command, demonstrating continued pressure on cabinet officials to remove personnel who may not align with administration priorities.
• Trump removes acting FEMA administrator over disagreement on agency's continued existence — The White House removed the acting FEMA administrator after he stated the agency should continue to exist, contradicting others in the administration.
• Trump removes IRS director after two months over Treasury Department clash — Trump replaced the head of the IRS less than two months into the job because appointee Billy Long clashed with officials at the Treasury Department. This removal is part of a broader pattern of Trump firing appointees and career officials across multiple agencies.
• Trump removes two DOJ antitrust officials over alleged deal-making with lobbyists — Two top DOJ antitrust officials were removed from their roles after clashing with senior officials at the agency. They accused their colleagues of cutting deals with favored lobbyists. One of the removed officials has publicly questioned the integrity of other DOJ officials.
• Department of Justice launched criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook — The Department of Justice launched a criminal investigation into Lisa Cook, a governor of the U.S. Federal Reserve, for allegedly committing mortgage fraud by claiming two separate properties as her primary residence. Pro Publica reported that three Trump Cabinet members—Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin—have engaged in the same conduct but face no investigation.
• Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired CDC director Susan Monarez — Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired newly confirmed CDC Director Susan Monarez after she refused to preapprove recommendations from a vaccine advisory panel that Kennedy had stacked with anti-vaccine advocates. This action followed Kennedy's earlier purges of thousands of CDC advisors and staffers who did not share his opposition to vaccines.
• Trump fires Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook — President Trump removed Lisa Cook from her position as a Federal Reserve governor. This action raised concerns about central bank independence, as it represents part of a broader pattern of Trump's attacks on the Federal Reserve's autonomy. Trump's nominee to replace Cook stated he would respect Fed independence, but the removal itself signals potential politicization of monetary policy.