Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Starlink and Starshield services restricted in Ukraine — Ukraine's access to Starlink and Starshield satellite communication systems was abruptly restricted without warning or explanation. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy stated the restrictions came from the U.S. government. Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied U.S. involvement, claiming SpaceX was responsible, while SpaceX and the White House blamed each other. The timing coincided with Trump's pressure on Ukraine not to attack Russian refineries and preceded intensive Russian aerial attacks on Ukrainian territory. Starshield's speed limitations rendered it unable to detect Russian missiles traveling above approximately 100 miles per hour.
• Elon Musk ordered Starlink slowdown during Ukrainian bombardment — The Wall Street Journal reported that Elon Musk ordered a slowdown of Starlink service during one of the worst bombardments of the war in Ukraine. Ukrainian forces lost control of their drones when Starlink slowed during the attack, impairing their defensive capability at a critical moment.

Supporting reports

• Trump ordered military to cut off Starshield satellite communications to Ukraine — The Trump administration ordered the military to cut off Starshield satellite communications that were being used by Ukrainians defending their homes from Russian drones. This action was part of a broader shift in U.S. policy toward Russia and away from European allies.

Supporting reports

• Trump waives Russia sanctions legislation passed by Congress — President Trump signed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 last month after bipartisan congressional passage, but issued an executive order on Friday waiving the sanctions, restrictions, and duties on Russia that were due to take effect on October 18. The legislation targeted Russian officials, banks, and a shadow fleet of tankers, and directed Trump to impose up to 100% tariffs on top importers of Russian oil and gas. Trump's waiver comes amid his public criticism of Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and a separate agreement to purchase Russian diesel.
• Trump waived Russia sanctions days before implementation — President Trump issued an executive order waiving sanctions on Russia that Congress had passed with overwhelming bipartisan support (86–11 in the Senate). The action drew immediate criticism from lawmakers of both parties, who characterized it as capitulation to Putin and a betrayal of Ukraine. Trump's stated rationale centered on reducing U.S. gas prices ahead of midterm elections on November 3, citing a diesel import deal with Russia. The move represented an escalation in Trump's alignment with Putin and contradicted congressional intent to pressure Russia economically during its invasion of Ukraine.
• Trump cancelled congressionally mandated sanctions on Russia — The Trump administration cancelled congressionally mandated sanctions on Russia. This action was part of a broader pattern of pro-Russia policy shifts including urging Europe to purchase more Russian gas, ordering military cutoff of Starshield satellite communications to Ukraine, and discussing joint economic projects with Russia.
• Trump waived sanctions on Russia that Congress had enacted — Trump waived sanctions on Russia that Congress, led by the late Senator Lindsey Graham, had pushed for. The action removed economic penalties previously imposed on Russia, reportedly as part of Trump's broader alignment with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The waiver occurred amid Trump's simultaneous purchase of Russian diesel and his handling of Starlink connectivity over Ukraine during Russian military operations.
• Trump announced waiver of congressionally mandated Russia sanctions — Two days before congressionally mandated sanctions on Russia were set to take effect, Trump announced he would waive them. The sanctions had been enacted by Congress as a binding requirement, but Trump exercised executive authority to suspend their implementation, circumventing the legislative mandate.

Supporting reports

• Homeland Security Investigations launches coordinated voter fraud initiative — Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) began a coordinated voter fraud investigation across nine states, directing agents to investigate leads, conduct interviews, and develop cases for federal prosecutors. USCIS investigators are also assisting with election-related work, pulling the federal immigration system into election enforcement less than two months before the midterm elections.
• HSI launches nine-state voter-fraud investigation surge — Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the investigative arm of ICE, has launched a voter-fraud investigation surge across nine states. The operation is set to start approximately two months before Election Day (November 3, 2026) and is planned to continue into the period when early and mail voting will be underway. Investigators have been instructed to follow leads and help move cases to federal prosecutors. The operation is scheduled to wind down in mid-October.

Supporting reports

• DHS redirects immigration officers to examine voter registration data for noncitizens — The Department of Homeland Security redirected hundreds of USCIS fraud and national security officers from immigration case work to examine voter information for possible noncitizen registrations. DHS claimed that nearly 250,000 noncitizens may be registered across four states, but the agency has not publicly substantiated the figure. State election officials examining the data have questioned its reliability. Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt, a Republican, reported that federal officials acknowledged they lacked high confidence that thousands of Pennsylvania names DHS identified actually represented improperly registered noncitizens.

Supporting reports

• Navy transfers payroll funds to combat operations amid Iran war costs — The U.S. Navy, bearing the brunt of Trump's military operations against Iran, is transferring money from payroll to combat operations, creating personnel pay shortfalls that officials are covering by raiding other accounts. The issue was raised in a July Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, where Defense Secretary Hegseth blamed the Biden administration rather than address the spending mechanism. A conservative defense analyst speculated the shortages reflect a deliberate political decision to avoid appearing to damage military readiness over an increasingly unpopular war.

Supporting reports

• Pentagon threatens to defund 30 universities over foreign academic partnerships — The Pentagon issued a directive ordering 30 US universities, including Harvard, MIT, Johns Hopkins, Georgetown, and Cornell, to review and terminate foreign academic partnerships deemed national security risks within two weeks (by August 31, 2026). The order targets ties to Chinese institutions and claims to protect taxpayer-funded research from unauthorized technology transfers and intellectual-property theft. Universities failing to comply face loss of federal funding.

Supporting reports

• Complaint filed: Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security — Nashville, Columbus, El Paso, and Harris Counties filed a federal complaint challenging FEMA's Fiscal Year 2026 Homeland Security Grant Program conditions that withhold 20 percent of awards until recipients certify compliance with five "Election Administration Conditions," including hand-marked paper ballots, post-election manual audits, voter-to-ballot reconciliation, and citizenship verification via the SAVE database. Plaintiffs allege the conditions exceed FEMA's statutory authority, are arbitrary and capricious, violate separation of powers and the Spending Clause, and seek declaratory relief, vacatur, a stay, and preliminary and permanent injunctive relief.

Supporting reports

• Trump imposed tariffs under Section 301 of Trade Act of 1974 — When the 150-day deadline for Section 122 tariffs expired on Friday, July 25, 2026, Trump announced he was imposing tariffs under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which permits the president to impose tariffs on countries using forced labor. A senior administration official stated the tariffs address forced labor, a focus Trump has maintained for years. Law professor Barry Appleton noted that Section 301 allows permanent tariffs without congressional approval, suggesting the administration is seeking to bypass Congress entirely.
• Trump imposed tariffs under Section 122 of Trade Act of 1974 — After the Supreme Court invalidated the IEEPA-based tariffs, the Trump administration invoked Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows the president to impose tariffs in the case of an international financial emergency. These tariffs were limited to 150 days.
• Trump imposes new tariffs under emergency powers — President Trump announced the imposition of new tariffs on products from over 60 countries, claiming authority under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows tariffs in cases of forced labor. This follows a previous Supreme Court ruling that struck down earlier tariffs as unconstitutional. The administration's approach is seen as an attempt to bypass Congress's authority to raise revenue, which is constitutionally reserved for the legislative branch.
• Supreme Court struck down Trump tariffs as unconstitutional — The Supreme Court ruled that the tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act were unconstitutional. Following the ruling, Trump announced he would find alternative legal mechanisms to reimpose tariffs, stating "We have alternatives. Great alternatives."

Supporting reports

• House approves $73bn budget for Iran war without Senate Democratic input — House Republicans approved a budget plan allocating $73 billion for the ongoing war with Iran on July 23, 2026, using reconciliation procedures to circumvent the Democratic filibuster in the Senate. The authorization falls short of the Pentagon's original $350 billion request needed to reach the administration's $1.5 trillion overall defense spending target for fiscal 2027. The move reflects Republican efforts to fund military operations without requiring bipartisan Senate approval.
• House passes $1.15tn defense bill with partisan voting and embedded voting restrictions — The Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed a $1.15 trillion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by a 216-212 vote on July 23, 2026. The bill includes military pay raises, codifies renaming the Pentagon the "Department of War," and allocates funds for the ongoing war with Iran. Democrats largely opposed the measure, citing Trump's unilateral decision to attack Iran without congressional authorization, the inclusion of the Save America Act (banning mail-in ballots and imposing voter ID restrictions), and provisions deepening US-Israel defense cooperation. The bill now proceeds to the Senate.
• House passed National Defense Authorization Act with Section 219 — The House passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which includes Section 219, a controversial provision requiring the U.S. military to share sensitive technology with Israel. Six Democrats voted for the bill: Reps. Henry Cuellar (TX), Donald Davis (NC), Jared Golden (ME), Vicente Gonzalez (TX), Adam Gray (CA), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA). Seven Republicans voted against it: Reps. Josh Brecheen (OK), Tim Burchett (TN), Elijah Crane (AZ), Harriet Hageman (WY), Anna Paulina Luna (FL), Thomas Massie (KY), and Chip Roy (TX).
• Rep. Lauren Boebert missed NDAA vote citing Section 219 concerns — Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) told TMZ she missed the NDAA vote because she was waiting for a call from Secretary Hegseth and the vote was closed before she could participate. She stated she opposed Section 219 because her constituents do not want the military technology swap with Israel and said she was trying to avoid reporters due to recent Botox injections.
• Rep. Thomas Massie opposes NDAA Section 219 — Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) stated that Section 219 of the NDAA "tragically merges our military technology and supply chains with Israel's" and called it "a betrayal of our sovereignty," expressing hope the provision would fail in the Senate.
• House Republicans merge NDAA with voting restrictions (Save America Act) — House Republicans, bowing to pressure from rightwing lawmakers and Trump, merged the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) with the Save America Act, legislation that would ban mail-in ballots and impose new voter identification requirements at registration and ballot-casting. Democrats objected to the $1.15tn NDAA cost and halted advancement of the Senate version in protest of renewed Iran hostilities, complicating the defense budget's Senate passage.
• House Republicans pass $95bn Iran war spending and voting restrictions before summer recess — House Republicans, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, passed a $95bn budget blueprint for Iran war spending and a super-sized military budget (NDAA) merged with voting restrictions (the Save America Act) during their final week before summer recess. Four dissident Republicans joined Democrats to pass a symbolic war powers resolution mandating Trump withdraw troops from Iran. Senate Republican leader John Thune signaled he would place the budget on "hold" as leverage in funding negotiations, raising the likelihood the Iran spending question remains undecided until September.

Supporting reports

• House Republicans pass budget resolution authorizing $95bn reconciliation bill for Iran war, farm aid, and voting restrictions — The Republican-controlled House passed a 216-214 budget resolution on Wednesday authorizing a $95bn reconciliation bill. The measure allocates $73bn for military operations against Iran (responding to the Trump administration's $88bn supplemental request), $12bn for farm aid affected by the Iran conflict and tariffs, and $10bn for the House administration committee to attempt passage of the Save America Act, which would ban mail-in ballots nationwide and impose strict voter ID requirements. The reconciliation process allows passage with a simple Senate majority, bypassing the Democratic filibuster.
• House Dem Whip criticizes GOP budget as prioritizing Trump's war and voter suppression — House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark issued a statement criticizing the House GOP's latest partisan budget, stating it allocates $73 billion for Trump's war, $10 billion for voter suppression, and $0 to lower costs. Clark characterized the budget as a misallocation of priorities away from helping constituents.
• House GOP leaders schedule packed floor agenda including Iran war funding and defense policy — House GOP leaders scheduled a packed floor agenda for the week of July 20, with only four days remaining before summer recess. The schedule includes the annual defense policy package, a bill to fund the government beyond the midterms, a budget resolution to unlock the reconciliation process, and a GOP-led stock trading ban measure. The agenda includes a $95 billion fiscal blueprint that includes funds for Iran war and farm aid, along with a watered-down version of an elections bill.
• House Democrats criticized Secretary of Defense Hegseth's Senate testimony — Multiple House Democrats, including Jeffries, Raskin, and AOC, publicly criticized Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's testimony before the Senate. The criticism followed Hegseth's appearance before the Senate, where he faced questioning about his qualifications and positions.
• House voted on budget resolution for third GOP reconciliation package — The House of Representatives voted on a budget resolution on July 22, 2026, that sets up a third GOP reconciliation package. Reconciliation packages allow the majority party to pass legislation with a simple majority in the Senate, bypassing the normal 60-vote threshold.
• Rep. Ted Lieu criticized UN Ambassador Mike Waltz over wounded troop figures — Rep. Ted Lieu publicly criticized UN Ambassador Mike Waltz during a hearing, challenging the accuracy of figures Waltz provided regarding the number of wounded troops. Lieu's criticism focused on what he characterized as misrepresentation of casualty data.

Supporting reports

• DOJ Submits First-Ever Application to 'Zombie' Alien Terrorist Removal Court — Trump's Justice Department filed an application to the Alien Terrorist Removal Court, a decades-old tribunal established in 1996 but never previously used, seeking to expedite deportations of noncitizens deemed "alien terrorists." The court's procedures permit use of secret evidence that targets never see, raising constitutional concerns among legal scholars. The Secretary of State can unilaterally label someone an "alien terrorist" based on intent to engage in activities that "could endanger" U.S. welfare or security.

Supporting reports

• Trump Allies Discuss National Security Emergency Executive Order — In a podcast, Stephen Bannon suggested that the narrative of a communist threat could serve as a justification for Trump to declare a national security emergency executive order. This order would encompass the SAVE America act and could lead to significant changes in governance and civil liberties.

Supporting reports

• US military fires attack drones on Iranian naval base at Bandar Abbas — The US military conducted a strike on Iran's Bandar Abbas naval base using one-way attack surface drones on July 12, 2026, according to video released by US Central Command. The strike resulted in explosions at the facility. This action represents an escalation in the exchange of fire between the US and Iran that prompted Senate Democrats to block the NDAA.
• Trump ordered airstrikes on Iran — In response to Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, Trump ordered airstrikes against Iran. The strikes followed Iran's closure of the strait and attacks on commercial vessels near the Oman shoreline. Additional U.S. military strikes against Iran were launched on the night of July 12, 2026.
• US and Iranian forces exchanged heavy missile and drone assaults — US and Iranian forces conducted heavy exchanges of missiles and drone attacks over several days. Iran targeted US facilities across the Gulf and declared the Strait of Hormuz closed. Trump declared an end to a ceasefire but left the door open for negotiations. CENTCOM reported US forces struck 140 Iranian military targets on Saturday out of more than 300 during three nights of strikes to degrade Iran's ability to attack civilian mariners. Iran's Revolutionary Guards reported destroying a command center and drone hangars in Jordan, targeting a radar site in Kuwait, and attacking US aircraft carrier support platforms in Oman and a jet maintenance center in Qatar.
• Trump announced blockade of Iranian shipping and claimed U.S. will charge fees for Strait of Hormuz passage — At 10:16 a.m., Trump announced via social media that the U.S. is reinstating a blockade of Iranian ships and customers while keeping the Strait of Hormuz open to all other nations. Trump declared the U.S. will be "the Guardian of the Hormuz Strait" and will charge a 20% fee on all cargo shipped through the waterway to reimburse costs of providing security. This represents a resumption of hostilities against Iran following a June 17 memorandum of understanding that Trump now considers void.
• Trump Declares US Control Over Strait of Hormuz — Former President Donald Trump announced that the United States will take control of the Strait of Hormuz and impose a 20% cargo fee on vessels passing through. This declaration has significant implications for international trade and maritime law, potentially escalating tensions in the region and affecting global oil prices.
• Trump Reverses Strait of Hormuz Fee — President Donald Trump reversed his decision to impose a 20% "reimbursement fee" on the Strait of Hormuz less than a day after announcing it. The fee was intended to be levied on countries using the strategic waterway, but the quick reversal suggests significant backlash or reconsideration of the policy's implications.
• Trump administration announces blockade and cargo fee plan — The Trump administration announced a plan to reinstate a U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz for Iranian ships and impose a 20% fee on all cargo passing through. This announcement, made by Trump on Truth Social, has led to a spike in energy prices. The plan's effectiveness in reopening the strait or reducing energy costs remains unclear. The administration's approach has not resolved the ongoing disruption in maritime traffic, which has been severely affected since the conflict began.
• U.S. offers insurance for tankers in the Strait of Hormuz — The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation announced it would insure losses up to $40 billion for tankers willing to transit the Strait of Hormuz. Despite this offer, most shippers remain unwilling to risk passage due to the ongoing threat from Iran's military tactics. The insurance initiative has not succeeded in restoring normal maritime traffic through the strait, which remains severely disrupted.
• Trump walked back military takeover of Strait of Hormuz, replacing toll fee with investment deals — Trump announced he was reversing his previous day's declaration that the U.S. military would seize the Strait of Hormuz and impose a 20% toll on cargo vessels. He stated he had decided instead to pursue trade and investment deals with Gulf States, claiming these would be "massive" but beneficial to those nations. Trump cited conversations with Middle Eastern leaders as the reason for the reversal, acknowledging the original plan was impractical and faced universal international opposition.
• Trump announced Iran blockade and Strait of Hormuz control — On July 15, Trump announced he was reimposing a blockade on Iran and that the United States would become "THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT." Later the same day, he reversed course, claiming that Gulf allies had told him they would prefer to invest directly in the U.S. rather than pay tolls for strait passage.
• Trump announces blockade on Iran — President Trump announced the reimposition of a blockade on Iran, declaring the U.S. would act as the "guardian of the Hormuz Strait." This announcement follows a reversal of a previous proposal to charge Gulf allies for tolls, indicating a shift in U.S. foreign policy towards Iran.

Supporting reports

• Trump formally notified Congress of resumed strikes on Iran — Trump formally notified Congress that the U.S. has resumed strikes on Iran, claiming the Pentagon has another 60 days to conduct strikes before the timeline specified by the War Powers Act expires. This notification follows Trump's earlier claim that hostilities had ended on April 7 with a ceasefire declaration, despite continued military operations and the maintenance of a blockade on Iranian ports.
• Trump notifies Congress of resumed strikes on Iran — On July 13, 2026, President Trump formally notified Congress that the U.S. has resumed military strikes against Iran, claiming that the Pentagon has another 60 days to conduct operations before needing congressional approval under the War Powers Act. This notification follows a pattern of circumventing congressional authority regarding military engagements.

Supporting reports

• Trump notified Congress of second military engagement in Iran — On July 10, 2026, Trump notified Congress for a second time that the nation was engaging in military action in Iran. The administration maintains that this second notification constitutes a new military engagement and thus restarts the 60-day clock under the War Powers Act. Legal analysts state this interpretation has no basis in law, legislative history, or practice.

Supporting reports

• Trump cancels housing bill signing event — President Trump canceled a scheduled signing event for the housing bill, citing the need for Congress to pass the SAVE America Act first. This cancellation reflects his prioritization of voter eligibility legislation over housing reform, which could impact public perception and support for his administration.
• Trump threatens to withhold housing bill signature — President Trump announced he will not sign a bipartisan housing bill into law until Congress passes the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, which requires proof of citizenship to vote. This announcement came after the Senate and House passed the housing measure aimed at increasing housing supply and affordability.
• Trump withholds signature on bipartisan housing bill pending passage of voter ID legislation — After the Senate and House overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan housing affordability bill designed to increase housing supply and prevent private equity from purchasing single-family homes, Trump announced he would not sign it into law until Congress passes the SAVE Act, which requires proof of citizenship to vote and mandates states surrender voting rolls to the federal government. Trump cancelled a scheduled housing bill signing ceremony, declaring the voter ID measure a "National Emergency."
• Trump refuses to sign housing bill pending Senate passage of voting restrictions measure — President Trump refused to sign a major housing bill that had passed with bipartisan majorities in Congress, conditioning its approval on the Senate advancing the Save America Act, a voting restrictions measure. This represents a continuation of Trump's linkage of unrelated legislative priorities, previously connecting the housing bill's passage to renewal of a foreign surveillance law. The standoff has created a legislative logjam and prompted House Republican leadership to cancel scheduled votes.
• Trump canceled bipartisan housing bill signing hours before ceremony — Roughly an hour before Trump was scheduled to sign bipartisan housing legislation on Capitol Hill alongside Republican leaders, he canceled the signing via social media post, calling the bill "of minor importance" and demanding Congress pass the SAVE Act first. The presidential seal-emblazoned table sat waiting in Statuary Hall as some top Republicans were mid-speech or press conference touting the bill, unaware the president had canceled.
• White House Press Secretary contradicted housing bill signing announcement — White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted hours before Trump's refusal to sign the housing bill, announcing that "Trump will sign into law the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, one of the most significant pieces of housing affordability legislation in American history," touting it as a bipartisan achievement and "promise made, promise kept." Trump then canceled the signing.
• Interior Department transferred taxpayer funds to Freedom 250 events — The Department of Interior transferred taxpayer money to the National Park Foundation for use in Freedom 250 events, and the National Park Service funded the Fourth of July fireworks display. Michael Scherer of The Atlantic reported this fact-check in response to Alexis Wilkins' claim that the celebration was not taxpayer-funded.
• Trump's construction projects carry over $1 billion in taxpayer costs — A New York Times analysis revealed that Trump's 18 major construction projects undertaken during his second term—including an East Wing ballroom, Kennedy Center renovations, National Garden of American Heroes, Lafayette Park, Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, and others—carry a potential cost exceeding $1 billion, with significant taxpayer expense despite Trump's claims of private funding.
• Trump demanded Senate pass SAVE Act before signing legislation — Trump announced he would not sign any additional legislation until the Senate passed the SAVE Act (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act), designed to restrict voting before the 2026 election. This conditional demand effectively halted all legislative activity and prompted House MAGA members to vote against procedural measures, leading Speaker Johnson to adjourn the House.
• Trump refused to sign bipartisan housing bill into law — President Trump declined to sign a landmark bipartisan housing bill after a midday confrontation with senators. The refusal followed Trump's demand that the Senate pass the SAVE Act to restrict voting before the 2026 election. Trump announced he would not sign any additional legislation until this voting-restriction measure advanced, effectively halting legislative activity and prompting Speaker Johnson to adjourn the House.
• House Freedom Caucus voted against procedural measures — Members of the far-right Freedom Caucus voted against procedural measures necessary for the House to conduct business, citing Trump's refusal to sign legislation as justification. Their obstruction rendered the House unable to accomplish any legislative work, prompting Speaker Johnson to adjourn members on Thursday.
• Senate Republicans voted against war powers resolution — Senate Republicans voted to reject advancing a war powers resolution that the Senate had passed the day before. The vote occurred after Trump's refusal to sign the housing bill and his confrontation with senators, appearing as an attempt to mollify the president following their brief assertion of independence.
• Trump canceled housing bill signing to leverage proof-of-citizenship voting requirement — President Trump canceled his scheduled signing of the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act on Wednesday, June 25, stating he would not approve it until Congress passed his SAVE America Act, which includes a proof-of-citizenship voting requirement. The bill passed with overwhelming bipartisan support (85–5 in Senate, 358–32 in House). Under the ten-day pocket-veto rule, the bill becomes law without Trump's signature if Congress remains in session and he does not veto it; Speaker Johnson indicated Trump will ultimately sign.
• Rep. Luna refused to reopen House floor pending Senate return — Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) announced she would not vote to reopen the House floor until the Senate returned to Washington to act on the SAVE Act. Luna criticized Senate Majority Leader Thune for obtaining unanimous consent to adjourn, saying "Thune is running and hiding."
• Rep. Luna shut down House floor over SAVE Act demand — Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) shut down the House floor, preventing any legislation from being brought up, because the Senate had not acted on the SAVE Act. Luna froze the House despite the fact that shutting down the floor does not accomplish anything in the Senate. Speaker Mike Johnson was unable to pass a rule or bring any legislation to a vote.
• Sen. Murkowski criticized Trump's housing bill obstruction — Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) told CNN's Manu Raju that Trump's decision to hold up his own agenda by demanding action on the SAVE Act was "not helpful to him" and "not helpful to the country." She noted that "If you don't have the votes, sir, you don't have the votes" and said Trump's actions do not help chances of keeping the GOP majority, as people want Congress to focus on issues affecting them at home.
• Sen. Whitehouse warned of Republican dissension and Trump's destructive intent — Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) warned that Thune may be growing fed up with Trump and that dissension in the Republican Caucus may be growing. Whitehouse suggested that "The realization may be dawning that Trump prefers to take them all down with him than fail alone."
• Senate Majority Leader Thune adjourned Senate for 19 days — Senate Majority Leader John Thune obtained unanimous consent to adjourn the Senate for 19 days after Trump's last-minute cancellation of the housing bill signing. Thune declined to comment on Trump's reversal, saying "I guess I would say at this point I don't have any observations."

Supporting reports

• Trump calls for military deployment in Chicago amid weekend shootings — Following at least seven deaths and dozens injured in multiple Chicago shootings over the weekend of June 21–22, 2026, President Trump posted on Truth Social demanding that Illinois Governor JB Pritzker accept national guard deployment, claiming he could make Chicago "safe in ONE MONTH." Pritzker has repeatedly rejected Trump's proposal to federalize state guard units and previously sued to block deployment. A non-partisan study found national guard presence in DC had minimal effect on violent crime.

Supporting reports

• US Park Police arrested David Hearn for touching pool liner — David Hearn, a 67-year-old three-time Olympic canoeist, was arrested by US Park Police on a charge of destruction of government property after he touched a piece of the Reflecting Pool's liner that was already peeling and partially detached. Hearn stated he did not vandalize or remove anything, only touched the flapping material. The arrest occurred at the Lincoln Memorial.
• National Guard arrested Olympic athlete David Hearn at Reflecting Pool — David Hearn, a three-time Olympian, was arrested by National Guard troops at the Reflecting Pool after leaving the site. Hearn stated he was detained for five hours, photographed, fingerprinted, held incommunicado, and never read his rights. He said he did not believe he had done anything wrong when approached by the troops.
• Trump threatens ten-year prison sentences for pool damage without due process clarity — President Trump posted on Truth Social that anyone found to have harmed or attempted to harm the reflecting pool faces a ten-year prison sentence, which "will be fully enforced." Trump asserted that six people have been arrested for allegedly damaging the pool, though only one arrest was confirmed: David Hearn, a 67-year-old former Olympic canoe racer from Maryland, who claimed he was detained for five hours by national guard troops and park police merely for reaching into the pool to examine peeling coating.

Supporting reports

• White House considered invoking Insurrection Act against protest — According to Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller and Vice President J.D. Vance pushed the idea of invoking the Insurrection Act to put down protests by agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol. They did so even after federal agents had shot and killed Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota. Vance argued that using troops to suppress Americans in the streets would be painful short-term but would send a message that protesters would never again disrupt ICE operations. While the act was not invoked at the time, the reporters note it "would remain a loaded weapon in a West Wing eager to test the limits of presidential power."

Supporting reports

• Legal challenge filed against DHS border wall waivers in Big Bend sector — The Friends of the Ruidosa Church, river guide Billy Miller, and the Center for Biological Diversity updated an existing lawsuit on Thursday, June 12, 2026, challenging DHS border wall-related waivers of environmental laws in the Big Bend sector. The plaintiffs argue that the waivers violate due process and other constitutional rights, marking the first major legal challenge to the administration's authority to suspend environmental protections in a national park.

Supporting reports

• Department of Homeland Security issues waiver allowing border wall construction in Big Bend National Park — The Trump administration's Department of Homeland Security published a waiver in the Federal Register on June 11, 2026, that suspends enforcement of major environmental and historical preservation laws—including the National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, and Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act—to permit Customs and Border Protection to construct border security infrastructure in Big Bend National Park, Texas. The waiver authorizes construction of vehicle barriers, roads, surveillance systems, and potentially 30-foot steel bollard fencing across 17 miles of the park's river frontage and interior, despite the area accounting for less than 0.5% of unauthorized border crossings nationally.

Supporting reports

• Customs and Border Protection updates border wall plans for Big Bend National Park — Customs and Border Protection updated its interactive website map in February 2026 to indicate plans to erect a steel bollard wall along Big Bend National Park's river frontage, then subsequently revised the map to show only detection technology, and later updated it again to reflect plans for new roads and four separate 4-6 foot vehicle barriers. The shifting and opaque communications about infrastructure plans have generated sustained concern among park advocates, local business owners, and elected officials about the scope and environmental impact of eventual construction.

Supporting reports

• President Trump signs National Security Presidential Memorandum on AI in the National Security Enterprise — President Trump signed National Security Presidential Memorandum (NSPM-11) on June 5, 2026, directing the national security enterprise to accelerate AI adoption for military and intelligence use. The memorandum orders rapid deployment of advanced AI models from multiple vendors, establishment of high-security computing facilities, creation of an AI National Security Strategic Reserve, and updated guidance on weapon system autonomy. It rescinds the Biden Administration's NSM-25 and directs agencies to prevent unauthorized modification of AI systems warfighters depend on.
• White House issued National Security Presidential Memorandum/NSPM-11 on AI in national security enterprise — President Trump issued NSPM-11 directing accelerated adoption of artificial intelligence across U.S. national security and military operations. The memorandum establishes four policy pillars: adoption (eliminating barriers to rapid AI deployment), adaptation (leveraging commercial and open-source AI), assurance (ensuring AI systems are reliable and controllable), and accountability (preventing censorship, ideological bias, and unlawful surveillance). The order directs agencies to update procurement processes, develop AI governance policies, establish computing facilities, hire AI talent, and create training curricula within 90–120 days. It rescinds National Security Memorandum-25.

Supporting reports

• Congress repeatedly rejected or delayed War Powers measures since March — Congress has been repeatedly rejecting, blocking, or delaying War Powers measures since March regarding the Iran conflict. The White House declared on May 1 that hostilities had "terminated," but fighting has continued. The article notes that a ceasefire would be welcome, but that war narrated from press availabilities with Congress kept at the margins is not how war powers are supposed to function constitutionally.