Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Trump ends federal benefits for undocumented immigrants — Trump signed an executive order aimed at ending federal benefits for people in the country illegally. The order did not make clear which benefits will be targeted but stated it will do away with all "taxpayer-funded benefits for illegal aliens." The action is part of broader efforts on immigration to fulfill Trump's promise to remove millions of people from the country.

Supporting reports

• Trump authorizes ICC sanctions — Trump signed an order authorizing economic sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), accusing the body of "improperly targeting" the United States and its allies, such as Israel. Trump has been a vocal critic of the ICC and said the court had "abused its power" in issuing warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes. The order grants Trump broad powers to impose asset freezes and travel bans against ICC staff and their family members if the US determines they are involved in efforts to investigate or prosecute citizens of the US and certain allies.

Supporting reports

• Dissolution of 287(g) program advisory board — In late January 2025, the Trump administration dissolved the internal DHS advisory board tasked with reviewing new 287(g) applications. The board had included the CRCL office, which investigated local agencies applying to the program for civil rights concerns such as racial profiling and lack of due process. The dissolution removed a key institutional check on new agreements at a time when the program was expanding rapidly.

Supporting reports

• Trump Media announces crypto expansion — The Trump Media and Technology Group, which operates Trump's social media platform Truth Social, announced the launch of a financial technology brand called "Truth.Fi". The company plans to invest up to $250 million in cryptocurrencies and "crypto securities", expanding its business into the financial technology sector. This move follows the controversial launch of Trump's meme coin, which has faced backlash from both ethics experts and some of Trump's supporters.

Supporting reports

• Meta settles lawsuit with Trump — Meta agreed to pay $25 million to settle a lawsuit brought by Trump after the company suspended him due to his involvement in the January 6 Capitol riot. The settlement was reportedly demanded by Trump as a condition for future cooperation.

Supporting reports

• Billy Long's campaign debt paid off by donors with tax issues pending before IRS — Billy Long, Trump's nominee to run the IRS, had his 2022 campaign debt paid off by donors who have current tax issues pending before the IRS. Long had loaned $130,000 to his unsuccessful 2022 Senate campaign and was personally liable for over $100,000 of that debt. Shortly after Trump announced Long as his IRS nominee, Long's dormant campaign committee raised $137,000 in under three weeks in January 2025. Two-thirds of the donations were at the maximum allowed amount of $2,900, and one-third came from donors in the tax consultant industry or people with tax-related legal issues. Long used the funds to reimburse himself for his campaign loan.

Supporting reports

• Federal judge issues temporary injunction against Trump memo — A federal judge issued a temporary injunction against the Trump administration's memo to freeze federal financial assistance, preventing the memo from taking effect as scheduled. The injunction was granted following a lawsuit filed by a group of non-profits challenging the legality of the memo. The legal dispute may escalate to the Supreme Court. The injunction temporarily halts the freeze, which could have impacted billions of dollars in federal spending, including programs like the National School Lunch Program and Meals on Wheels.
• Court issues injunction against Trump Administration — U.S. District Court Judge Jack McConnell issued an injunction against the Trump Administration, preventing it from impounding federal funds intended for states. The court found that the Executive's pause in disbursement of federal funding would cause irreparable harm to states' ability to provide vital services. The injunction ensures that federal financial assistance to states remains uninterrupted.

Supporting reports

• Executive Order on Deregulation Issued — President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Order 14192 on January 31, 2025, mandating that for each new federal regulation, at least ten existing regulations must be repealed. This order aims to reduce regulatory burdens and promote economic growth by ensuring that the total incremental cost of new regulations is less than zero. The Office of Management and Budget is tasked with overseeing the implementation and providing guidance to federal agencies.
• Trump issues executive order on deregulation — President Donald Trump issued an executive order titled "Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation" on January 31, 2025. The order mandates that for every new regulation proposed, at least ten existing regulations must be identified for elimination. This initiative aims to reduce the regulatory burden on businesses and individuals, promoting economic growth and national security. The order also sets a regulatory cap for fiscal year 2025, requiring that the total incremental cost of new regulations be significantly less than zero. The Office of Management and Budget is tasked with overseeing the implementation of these directives.
• White House issued executive order establishing 10-for-1 regulatory offset requirement — The White House published an executive order titled "Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation" directing federal agencies to identify and eliminate at least 10 existing regulations for each new regulation proposed or finalized. For fiscal year 2025, the order requires that the total incremental cost of all new regulations be "significantly less than zero." The Director of the Office of Management and Budget is charged with implementation, guidance, and enforcement. The order revokes OMB Circular A-4 (2023) and reinstates the 2003 version, and reinstates a 2018 Treasury-OMB memorandum on tax regulation review.
• White House issues fact sheet on 10-to-1 deregulation executive order — The White House published a fact sheet on January 31, 2025, announcing that President Trump signed an executive order requiring federal agencies to repeal at least 10 existing regulations for each new regulation issued. The order directs the Office of Management and Budget to standardize measurement of regulatory costs and requires that for fiscal year 2025, the total incremental cost of all new regulations be significantly less than zero. The fact sheet claims the Biden Administration imposed $1.7 trillion in regulatory costs and asserts that Trump's first term achieved a 5.5-to-1 repeal ratio.

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• Presidential memorandum limits lame-duck CBAs — President issued a memorandum limiting collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) made in the 30 days before a new administration. These CBAs, which attempt to bind the new President to previous policies, are deemed inconsistent with democratic governance. The memorandum directs agency heads to disapprove such agreements unless they cover law enforcement officers. The memorandum was signed on January 31, 2025, and published in the Federal Register.
• White House issued memorandum restricting lame-duck collective bargaining agreements — The White House issued a presidential memorandum directing executive departments and agencies to prohibit collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) executed in the 30 days prior to a change in presidential administrations. The memorandum states that such agreements "purport to bind a new President to his predecessor's policies" and directs agency heads to disapprove any CBA that creates new contractual obligations, makes substantive changes to existing agreements, or extends their duration. The order cites the Department of Education's January 17, 2025 CBA regarding remote work as an example of agreements the administration views as constraining.

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• FBI launches sweeping staff cuts — The FBI initiated a significant round of staff cuts as part of the Trump administration's efforts to overhaul the agency. At least five top FBI officials in major US cities, including Miami, Philadelphia, Washington, New Orleans, and Las Vegas, were ordered to resign or face termination. This move is part of a broader purge targeting career law enforcement officials, particularly those involved in investigations related to the January 6 Capitol attack and other Trump-related cases. The FBI Agents Association criticized the firings, warning of weakened national security capabilities.

Supporting reports

• Access granted to Treasury Department systems — Reports indicate that Marko Elez, a 25-year-old engineer with previous ties to Elon Musk's companies, has gained direct access to Treasury Department systems that manage significant government payments. This access allows him to potentially alter critical financial operations, raising concerns about the security and integrity of government payment systems. The implications of such access could affect various federal programs, including veterans' benefits and Social Security.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration deletes DEI mentions from IRS handbook — The Trump administration has ordered the deletion of terms related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) from federal documents, including the Internal Revenue Service's procedural handbook. This action is part of a broader effort to eliminate DEI programs across the government. The removal of these terms has led to the erasure of unrelated federal pages that mentioned "inequity" and "inclusion" in contexts not directly related to DEI initiatives. The administration has also set up a tip line for reporting DEI-related activities, which has been misused by internet users.

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• National Black History Month, 2025 Proclamation — President Donald J. Trump issued a proclamation recognizing February 2025 as National Black History Month. The proclamation honors the contributions of black Americans to the nation's history and calls for observance with appropriate programs and activities. The proclamation highlights the achievements of notable black American figures and expresses gratitude for their impact on American society.

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• Trump bans transgender athletes from women's sports — Trump signed an executive order banning transgender athletes from participating in women's sports. The order directs federal agencies, including the Department of Justice, to interpret federal Title IX rules as the prohibition of trans girls and women from participating in any female sports categories. Trump stated "With this executive order, the war on women's sports is over." The order is the latest in a slew of Trump actions aimed at rolling back the rights of trans people, including orders defining sex as "only male or female" and banning gender transitions for people under the age of 19.

Supporting reports

• Trump issues executive order affecting trans people in federal prisons — On his first day in office, Donald Trump issued an executive order titled "defending women from gender ideology extremism," which impacts transgender individuals in federal prisons. The order mandates that trans women be transferred to men's prisons and lose access to gender-affirming medical treatments. It also calls for a rollback of anti-discrimination protections and directs the attorney general and homeland security secretary to ensure males are not detained in women's prisons. Reports indicate a swift crackdown on trans people in federal prisons, with trans women being placed in isolation and facing imminent transfers.

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• Trump makes English official language of US — Trump signed an order making English the official language of the United States. The order states "Establishing English as the official language will not only streamline communication but also reinforce shared national values, and create a more cohesive and efficient society." The order allows government agencies and organizations that receive federal funding to choose whether to continue offering documents and services in languages other than English.

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• Trump signs order requiring truck drivers to speak English — Trump signed an executive order requiring commercial truck drivers to read and speak English. The order states drivers must be able to read and understand traffic signs and communicate with traffic safety, border patrol, agricultural checkpoints, and cargo weight-limit station officers. This follows Trump's March order making English the official language of the United States.

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• Trump signs order on anti-Christian bias — Trump signed an executive order attempting to eliminate "anti-Christian bias" in the US government. The president announced the formation of a taskforce, led by Attorney General Pam Bondi, to end all forms of "anti-Christian targeting and discrimination" in the government. Trump stated Bondi would work to "fully prosecute anti-Christian violence and vandalism in our society and to move heaven and earth to defend the rights of Christians and religious believers nationwide." Critics argue the taskforce would "misuse religious freedom to justify bigotry, discrimination and the subversion of our civil rights laws."

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• Texas governor issues directive on email signatures — Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a directive on January 30, 2025, mandating state agencies to remove gender pronouns from official work communications, including email signatures. This directive followed a federal executive order signed by Donald Trump on January 20, 2025, titled "Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government." The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) interpreted Abbott's directive and implemented rules requiring employees to comply, leading to the firing of Frank Zamora, a state employee who refused to remove pronouns from his email signature.

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• Trump signs four orders revitalizing coal industry — Trump signed four executive orders aimed at reviving the coal industry. Using emergency authority, the orders allow some older coal-fired power plants scheduled for retirement to keep producing electricity, justified as needed to meet increased energy demands from datacenters, artificial intelligence, and electric cars. The administration claims the order "slashes unnecessary regulations that targeted the beautiful, clean coal."
• Trump expands tree cutting on public lands — Trump ordered an expansion in tree-cutting across 280 million acres (113 million hectares) of national forests and other public lands. The order calls for reversing "heavy-handed federal policies" and increasing "domestic timber production to protect our national and economic security." The order evades rules to protect endangered species and raises the prospect of chainsaws razing some of the most ecologically important trees in the US.
• Trump signs order boosting deep-sea mining industry — Trump signed an executive order aimed at boosting the deep-sea mining industry as part of efforts to offset China's control of the critical minerals industry. The order seeks to increase US production of nickel, copper, and other critical minerals used across the economy, extracted from the ocean floor.

Supporting reports

• Trump orders creation of sovereign wealth fund — Trump ordered the US Treasury and Commerce Department to create a sovereign wealth fund. Such a fund, which requires congressional approval, would act as an investment fund for the country, operating outside the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department. Trump offered few details about the fund, including where the cash would come from. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters the government would "stand this thing up within the next 12 months." Trump stated "We have tremendous potential. I think in a short period of time, we'd have one of the biggest funds." Trump also said the fund could be used to facilitate the purchase of TikTok.
• Trump creates strategic bitcoin reserve — Trump signed an executive order to establish a strategic bitcoin reserve. The reserve "will be capitalized with bitcoin owned by the federal government that was forfeited as part of criminal or civil asset forfeiture proceedings," according to Trump's crypto czar David Sacks. Creating the reserve was one of several crypto-related promises Trump made during the 2024 election campaign.

Supporting reports

• DeepSeek releases advanced AI models — A Chinese company, DeepSeek, has released a series of large language models (LLMs) that rival those produced by American companies like OpenAI and Anthropic, but at a lower cost. This development has sparked significant discussion about the implications for the AI race between the U.S. and China. The release of these models is seen as a significant event in the AI industry, highlighting the competitive advancements in AI technology by Chinese companies.
• Nvidia stock affected by DeepSeek's AI models — Following the release of DeepSeek's AI models, Nvidia's stock experienced a decline. This is due to the perception that DeepSeek's models, which require fewer GPUs for training, might reduce the demand for Nvidia's chips. However, the stock remains significantly higher than it was a year ago, indicating that the long-term impact on Nvidia's valuation is uncertain.
• Discussion on U.S.-China AI competition — The release of DeepSeek's AI models has intensified discussions about the AI competition between the U.S. and China. Some commentators have exaggerated the implications, suggesting that U.S. AI is at risk. However, the open-source nature of DeepSeek's models suggests that national advantages in AI may be limited.
• Export controls on AI technology — The article discusses the effectiveness of export controls on AI technology, noting that while they can be effective, China may use the hype around DeepSeek to push for the cancellation of these controls. This reflects the geopolitical maneuvering around AI advancements and technology transfer.

Supporting reports

• Trump makes independent regulators answerable to White House — Trump signed an executive order making independent regulatory agencies – such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – accountable to the White House. Agencies will have to report new policy priorities to the executive branch for approval, which will also have a say over their budgets. The White House states the order ensures "all federal agencies are accountable to the American people, as required by the constitution." Critics argue the move clashes with mainstream interpretations of the Constitution.

Supporting reports

• Treasury official resigns over Musk's demands — David Lebryk, a senior Treasury Department official, resigned following Elon Musk's demands for access to sensitive payment systems. Lebryk, a non-political civil servant, had refused Musk's repeated requests for access. His resignation raises concerns about the integrity and independence of federal financial systems.
• Access granted to Treasury Department systems — Reports indicate that Marko Elez, a 25-year-old engineer with previous ties to Elon Musk's companies, has gained direct access to Treasury Department systems that manage significant government payments. This access allows him to potentially alter critical financial operations, raising concerns about the security and integrity of government payment systems. The implications of such access could affect various federal programs, including veterans' benefits and Social Security.

Supporting reports

• Senate Democrats boycott vote on Vought's nomination — Senate Democrats boycotted a vote to advance Russell Vought's nomination to lead the Office of Management and Budget, citing his unfitness for office. Despite their absence, Republican members of the Senate budget committee proceeded with the vote, resulting in an 11-0 decision to move Vought's confirmation to the full Senate. Democrats criticized Vought's role in a recent federal grant funding freeze, which was ordered and then rescinded within days, potentially affecting programs like Head Start and Meals on Wheels.