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Trait: Transparency laws are weakened or unenforced ×
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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
Apr 2, 2025 Mike Waltz and his team used at least 20 Signal group chats for sensitive national-security work Tier 1 · Primary Information, Memory and Manipulation
The practice raised concerns about records preservation, transparency, and secure handling of official communications.
Independently corroborated by3 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Mike Waltz's team used Signal for national security work — Mike Waltz, the national security adviser under Donald Trump, and his team reportedly set up at least 20 Signal group chats to coordinate sensitive national security work.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 11 – 2025-03-29–2025-04-04
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Apr 1, 2025 The National Security Council used personal Gmail accounts for government business Tier 1 · Primary Institutions and Governance
Using personal accounts for official work weakened record-keeping safeguards and complicated oversight of executive decision-making.
Primary sourceA record that carries the claim alone
Supporting reports
- Trump Administration Reportedly Skirts Presidential Records Laws — A report by John Hudson of the Washington Post revealed that members of Donald Trump's National Security Council, including national security advisor Michael Waltz, have been using personal Gmail accounts for
Attacks
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 11 – 2025-03-29–2025-04-04
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Apr 1, 2025 The Department of Health and Human Services fired thousands of employees including staff who handled FOIA requests Tier 1 · Primary Information, Memory and Manipulation
Cutting FOIA staff threatened the public's ability to obtain government records and weakened transparency in a major department.
Independently corroborated by3 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- HHS Fires Thousands of Employees, Including FOIA Staff — The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has fired thousands of employees, including those responsible for handling Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 11 – 2025-03-29–2025-04-04
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Mar 31, 2025 The Social Security Administration sent a message denying reports of field-office closures after moving to terminate some leases Tier 1 · Primary Information, Memory and Manipulation
The communication created confusion about access to public services and undermined trust in official information from a key agency.
Independently corroborated by3 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- SSA Misleads Public on Field Office Closures — The Social Security Administration (SSA) sent an email on March 27, 2025, claiming that reports of field office closures were false, despite having previously moved to terminate leases for multiple offices, including
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 11 – 2025-03-29–2025-04-04
wk11_IM_008