Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Arrest of 15 protesters at anti-ICE demonstration outside NYC federal immigration courthouse — Approximately 15 protesters were arrested for disorderly conduct on Friday outside 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan during a civil disobedience action organized by the grassroots movement 50501. Demonstrators accused ICE of operating a covert detention facility on the building's 10th floor, holding immigrants in overcrowded conditions without adequate amenities or legal access. Protesters demanded unrestricted access for elected officials, journalists, and faith leaders; police moved in within minutes of a sit-in blocking the street. The protest was one of several in New York City that week.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration sends patent-compliance letter to Harvard University — The Trump administration sent a letter to Harvard University notifying it of alleged failure to comply with the Bayh-Dole Act regarding patents worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Treasury Secretary Howard Lutnick's letter stated that non-compliance allows the federal government the option to assume ownership of the university's patents and set a September 5 deadline for Harvard's response.

Supporting reports

• Texas House files arrest warrants for Democratic representatives in Illinois — The Texas House of Representatives filed arrest warrants with an Illinois court seeking the civil arrest and return of Texas Democratic representatives who fled the state to prevent a quorum on redistricting legislation. The filing requests that Illinois law enforcement coordinate with the Texas Sergeant of Arms and Department of Public Safety to compel the representatives' return to Texas.

Supporting reports

• Trump removes IRS commissioner Billy Long and appoints Scott Bessent as acting commissioner — Donald Trump removed Billy Long as IRS commissioner after less than two months in the role (sworn in June 2025). Long's term was meant to run through November 2027. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent assumed the position of acting IRS commissioner. Long is reportedly being nominated for the Iceland ambassador post. The removal follows implementation of Trump tariffs and tax cuts, as well as job cuts from the "department of government efficiency."
• Trump fired IRS Commissioner Billy Long — President Trump dismissed IRS Commissioner Billy Long, a former Republican congressman and Trump ally, approximately two months after his Senate confirmation. Long will be nominated as Ambassador to Iceland. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will serve as acting commissioner pending a permanent replacement. Long had limited tax-policy background and previously supported legislation calling for the IRS's abolition.

Supporting reports

• DOJ issues subpoenas to New York attorney general Letitia James — The Department of Justice issued two subpoenas to New York Attorney General Letitia James. One subpoena relates to the civil fraud case James's office brought against Trump, which resulted in a $500 million judgment against the president. The second concerns James's investigation into the National Rifle Association. NBC News reported the government's cases focus on whether James deprived Trump and the NRA of legal rights in civil lawsuits. James's lawyer characterized the action as political retaliation and weaponization of the DOJ.

Supporting reports

• Ed Martin appointed special counsel to investigate Letitia James — Ed Martin, whose nomination for DC U.S. Attorney was withdrawn due to lack of Senate confirmation prospects, was appointed as special counsel to lead a criminal investigation of New York Attorney General Letitia James for allegedly depriving Trump and NRA President Wayne LaPierre of civil rights in separate prosecutions, and to investigate Senator Adam Schiff for alleged mortgage fraud.
• Federal prosecutors investigate New York Attorney General Letitia James — Federal prosecutors opened an investigation into the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James, focusing on whether her civil suits against Trump, his businesses, and the National Rifle Association constituted deprivation of legal rights under color of law. James's office responded that any weaponization of the justice system should concern all Americans and reaffirmed confidence in its litigation.

Supporting reports

• Democracy Forward Foundation sued DOJ and FBI for Epstein files FOIA response — Democracy Forward Foundation filed suit in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on Friday, August 8, against the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation, seeking to compel release of Epstein investigation files and all administration communications regarding those files and President Trump's inclusion in them, as required under the Freedom of Information Act. The organization had submitted FOIA requests on July 28 requesting expedited processing but received no response. Judge Tanya Chutkan was assigned to the case.
• Democracy Forward sues DOJ and FBI for Epstein records under FOIA — The advocacy group Democracy Forward filed a federal lawsuit in Washington DC on Friday seeking records from the Department of Justice and FBI detailing their handling of the sex-trafficking investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. The group submitted FOIA requests in late July for communications about Epstein documents and any correspondence between Epstein and Trump, which have not been fulfilled. The DOJ has previously stated it would not release additional documents from the case, citing criminal investigation protections.

Supporting reports

• Trump orders seven-day federal law enforcement crackdown in Washington DC — President Trump ordered federal law enforcement officers to conduct a seven-day sweeping operation in Washington DC streets, citing violent crime. The mobilization began Thursday night and involves US Park Police, ICE, ATF, US Marshals, Capitol Police, and Metro Transit Police working alongside local authorities under Trump's March executive order "Making DC Safe and Beautiful Task Force." The operation targets "high traffic tourist areas" and may be extended beyond seven days. The announcement followed an attempted carjacking involving a Trump administration figure and Trump's social media threat to "federalize" the city if local authorities failed to address crime.

Supporting reports

• Trump secretly signed directive authorizing military force against Latin American drug cartels — On August 8, 2025, President Trump secretly signed a directive authorizing the use of military force against Latin American drug cartels that he had designated as foreign terrorist organizations in February 2025. The designation of cartels as foreign terrorist organizations is typically reserved for groups using violence for political ends, such as al-Qaeda. Following the secret signing, the U.S. began moving military personnel toward Mexico and Venezuela. Military law experts have stated that the terrorist designation does not legally authorize the use of force and that military action in Mexico without consent would violate international law and the UN Charter.

Supporting reports

• Trump executive order instructs states to criminalize homelessness and involuntary institutionalization — Donald Trump issued an executive order directing states and municipalities to crack down on unhoused people, public substance use, camping, loitering, and mental health crises in public spaces, with vague language permitting involuntary institutionalization in "long-term institutional settings." The order eliminates housing-first policies, requires sharing of health data with law enforcement, defunds harm-reduction programs, and threatens to restrict federal funding to jurisdictions that do not comply. Experts warn the broad language could criminalize millions and strip due-process protections.

Supporting reports

• Federal judge halted construction of detention center in Everglades — Federal Judge Kathleen Williams ordered a halt to construction of a detention facility known as "Alligator Alcatraz" located in the environmentally sensitive Everglades. The judge ruled that while the facility may continue operating and holding detainees for ICE, no additional filling, paving, or infrastructure work may proceed for at least 14 days. Environmental organizations and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida filed suit arguing the project violates federal environmental laws and threatens protected wildlife and restoration efforts.
• Federal judge halts construction at immigration detention facility in Florida Everglades — US District Judge Kathleen Williams issued a verbal ruling on Thursday, later reinforced by written restraining order, halting construction work at the immigration detention facility known as "Alligator Alcatraz" in Ochopee, Florida. The Trump administration facility, intended to hold 3,000 immigrants awaiting deportation, was ordered to cease adding paving, infrastructure, or ground filling for two weeks while attorneys argue whether the project violates environmental laws. ICE may continue operating the camp and holding detainees pending resolution of lawsuits claiming the project threatens fragile Everglades wetlands and protected species.

Supporting reports

• Vice President Vance pressures Indiana lawmakers to redistrict — Vice President J.D. Vance traveled to the Indiana Statehouse with White House officials to pressure state lawmakers to redistrict the state. The move reflects administration strategy to manipulate electoral maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Republicans in Texas, Indiana, Florida, and Ohio are pursuing similar redistricting efforts. Protesters at the Statehouse greeted Vance with boos upon learning of his presence.
• JD Vance meets with Indiana Republicans to redraw congressional map — Vice President JD Vance met with Indiana's Republican governor Mike Braun and state legislative leaders to encourage redrawing the state's congressional map to favor Republicans ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Republicans already control seven of Indiana's nine congressional seats and have complete control of state government. Braun would need to call a special session to redraw the map. This is part of a broader GOP push to reconfigure district lines in multiple states.

Supporting reports

• FBI forces out special agent Walter Giardina who worked on Trump and Navarro cases — The FBI, under director Kash Patel and deputy Dan Bongino, forced out special agent Walter Giardina, who had worked on cases involving Donald Trump and Peter Navarro, a top trade adviser to the president who was convicted of contempt of Congress. The ouster was part of a broader pattern of removals of senior FBI officials and agents under Patel's leadership.
• FBI pressures agent Michael Feinberg to resign or accept demotion over friendship with Peter Strzok — Special agent Michael Feinberg was told to resign or accept a demotion amid scrutiny from FBI leadership regarding his friendship with Peter Strzok, a lead agent on the FBI's Trump-Russia investigation who was fired by the Justice Department in 2018 after exchanging negative text messages about Trump with FBI lawyer Lisa Page.
• FBI subjects agents to polygraph exams under Patel leadership — Under FBI director Kash Patel and deputy Dan Bongino, numerous senior FBI officials and agents have been subjected to polygraph exams as part of aggressive personnel actions. Former officials report these moves have roiled the workforce and contributed to widespread angst among agents. Multiple senior agents in charge of field offices have been told to retire, resign, or accept reassignment.
• FBI DC field office head Steve Jensen terminated without stated cause — Steve Jensen, head of the FBI's Washington Field Office, announced in a farewell letter that his employment with the FBI will be terminated effective the next day. Jensen stated he received no explanation for the termination and pledged to meet the challenge with professionalism, integrity, and dignity. He urged colleagues to continue protecting the American people and upholding the Constitution.
• FBI forced out acting director Brian Driscoll and agent Walter Giardina — The New York Times reported that the FBI is forcing out at least two agents under Kash Patel's leadership, including Brian Driscoll, the former acting head of the bureau, and Walter Giardina, who was involved in Trump investigations. Driscoll sent a message to colleagues stating he was informed his employment would end the next day with no cause articulated. Driscoll had previously refused to carry out the Trump administration's plans for mass firing of January 6 agents.
• Trump administration ousts FBI official Brian Driscoll for resisting demands to name January 6 investigators — The Trump administration forced out Brian Driscoll, a senior FBI official who briefly served as acting director, after he resisted demands from the Justice Department for names of agents who investigated the January 6 Capitol riot. Driscoll and then-deputy director Rob Kissane had resisted the request, leading Justice Department official Emil Bove to accuse them of "insubordination." The FBI ultimately provided employee numbers rather than names. Driscoll's final day was Friday, August 8, 2025.

Supporting reports

• Trump directs Commerce Department to conduct new census excluding undocumented immigrants — President Trump posted on social media instructing the Department of Commerce to begin work on a new census based on 2024 election data and explicitly excluding undocumented immigrants from the count. Trump lacks constitutional authority to change the decennial census timing or to exclude any persons from enumeration; the Constitution mandates a census every ten years and requires apportionment based on "the whole number of persons in each State." The announcement signals administration awareness that their policies are unpopular and that they anticipate losing House control in 2026 without systemic manipulation.
• Trump instructed Department of Commerce to conduct new census excluding undocumented immigrants — President Trump issued an instruction to the Department of Commerce to begin work on a new census based on 2024 election data and excluding people in the country illegally from the count. The action would affect federal funding allocation, House apportionment, and electoral vote distribution among states. Constitutional and legal experts note that the Constitution requires the census to count "whole persons," courts previously blocked Trump's citizenship question in his first term, and mid-decade census authority is limited by statute to funding purposes only in years ending in 5. The feasibility and legality of Trump's directive remain uncertain.

Supporting reports

• Border Patrol conducts unmarked-truck raid at LA Home Depot despite court order restricting discriminatory enforcement — US Border Patrol agents in an unmarked Penske rental truck conducted a raid outside a Home Depot in Los Angeles's Westlake neighborhood on August 6, arresting 16 people described as undocumented immigrants. Officers posed as day laborers offering work, then emerged from the truck to detain individuals. The operation occurred despite a federal court order and appellate affirmation prohibiting stops based on race, ethnicity, language, appearance, or location. Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino publicly promoted the raid as "Operation Trojan Horse," and Trump-appointed US Attorney Bill Essayli also publicized it on social media.

Supporting reports

• Former corrections officer reports inhumane conditions at Everglades detention facility — A former corrections officer for a private contractor working at the detention center in the Florida Everglades, dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz," reported that detainees have no sunlight, no clocks, no knowledge of the time of day, no access to showers (showering only every four days or less frequently), and backed-up bathrooms due to overcrowding. Florida is running the facility in expectation of federal reimbursement. Immigration advocate Aaron Reichlin-Melnick noted that unlike the federal government, Florida "can be sued for civil rights violations and punished with monetary damages."

Supporting reports

• ICE expands detention capacity in Indiana through state prison partnership — US Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced a partnership with Indiana's Department of Corrections to house 1,000 immigration detainees at Miami Correctional Center, a maximum-security prison north of Indianapolis. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem named the facility the "Speedway Slammer" and claimed it would hold "the worst of the worst" undocumented immigrants. The expansion is part of Trump administration efforts to rapidly increase immigration detention capacity following a $170 billion appropriation to ICE. Governor Mike Braun endorsed the partnership as part of a "comprehensive approach to combating illegal immigration."

Supporting reports

• Trump administration ends temporary immigration protections for Haitian nationals — The Trump administration moved to end temporary immigration protections for Haitian nationals, despite an ongoing security crisis in Haiti. The action has created fear among the Haitian population in Florida, with many afraid to access food assistance and other services due to deportation threats. The policy disproportionately affects vulnerable populations already facing economic hardship.

Supporting reports

• Stanford Daily sued Secretary of State Rubio and DHS Secretary Noem — Stanford University's student newspaper, the Stanford Daily, sued Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem over their targeting of pro-Palestinian international students, alleging that "writers present on student visas are declining assignments related to the conflict in the Middle East, worried that even reporting on the conflict will endanger their lawful immigration status."

Supporting reports

• Trump administration unilaterally cancels federal union contracts after appeals court overrules injunction — The Trump administration, following a federal appeals court decision overruling an injunction, unilaterally terminated collective bargaining agreements for approximately 400,000 federal workers across the Department of Veterans Affairs, Environmental Protection Agency, and Department of Agriculture. An executive order issued in March had sought to cancel all collective bargaining agreements for most federal employees, citing national security concerns. Union leaders warn this represents an unprecedented attack on labor rights and a test case for dismantling unions nationwide.

Supporting reports

• Trump threatens India with tariffs and penalties over Russian oil purchases — Trump threatened India with unspecified penalties and a 25% tariff if the country did not cease importing Russian crude oil. Indian officials, including PM Modi's government and foreign policy spokesman Randhir Jaiswal, defied the threat, stating that India would continue purchasing cheap oil from Russia and that bilateral relationships should not be shaped by American pressure. Indian officials noted that long-term oil contracts cannot be terminated overnight and that India's partnership with Russia is "steady and time-tested." The defiance reflected growing frustration with increasingly volatile American policymaking.
• Trump claimed Republicans "entitled" to five more Texas seats and suggested running for third term — On CNBC, Trump claimed that Republicans are "entitled" to five more seats in Texas as part of the state's mid-decade congressional redistricting effort. Additionally, he said he would "like to run" for a third term, which would be unconstitutional, but said he "probably" wouldn't. Trump also went on a racist rant, suggesting that undocumented immigrants are "naturally" good at farm labor.
• Trump threatens substantial tariff increase on India — Trump stated that he settled on a 25% tariff on India but indicated he plans to raise it "very substantially over the next 24 hours." The threatened increase follows Trump's criticism of India for purchasing Russian oil.
• Trump imposes 25% tariff on Indian imports citing Russian oil transshipment — President Trump signed Executive Order 14329 on August 6, 2025, imposing a 25 percent ad valorem duty on all articles imported from India, effective 21 days after signing. The order invokes the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the national emergency declared in prior executive orders regarding Russian Federation threats. Trump determined that India is directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil and that additional tariffs are necessary to address the ongoing national security threat. The tariff applies to goods entered for consumption after September 27, 2025, with limited exceptions for goods already in transit.
• Trump administration issues tariff on India for purchasing Russian oil — The White House issued a fact sheet announcing that President Trump signed an executive order imposing a 25% tariff on imports from India, effective August 27, 2025, in response to India's importation of Russian Federation oil. The order directs the Secretary of Commerce, in coordination with State, Treasury, and other officials, to identify other countries importing Russian oil and recommend further tariff actions. The administration frames the measure as addressing a national emergency stemming from Russian actions in Ukraine.
• Trump signed Executive Order 14329 imposing 25% tariffs on Indian imports in response to Russian oil purchases — President Trump signed Executive Order 14329 on August 6, 2025, imposing an additional 25 percent ad valorem duty on all articles imported from India, effective 21 days after the order's date. The order states that India is "directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil" and characterizes this as part of an ongoing national emergency threat to U.S. national security and foreign policy. The tariff applies to goods entered for consumption after September 26, 2025, with limited exceptions for goods already in transit. The order delegates authority to the Secretary of State and other officials to identify other countries importing Russian oil and recommend similar tariffs.
• Trump imposes 25% tariff on Indian imports citing Russian oil concerns — President Trump issued an executive order on August 6, 2025, imposing a 25% ad valorem duty on all articles imported from India, citing India's direct or indirect importation of Russian Federation oil as a threat to U.S. national security and foreign policy. The tariff became effective 21 days after the order's date, with limited exceptions for goods already in transit. The order invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the National Emergencies Act to justify the action.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration suspends $584 million in federal funding to UCLA over civil rights allegations — On August 6, the Trump administration suspended $584 million in federal funding to the University of California, Los Angeles, alleging civil rights violations related to antisemitism and affirmative action. The administration accused UCLA of "acting with deliberate indifference in creating a hostile educational environment for Jewish and Israeli students." The UC system's president indicated willingness to engage in talks with the administration over the allegations.
• UCLA chancellor announced $584 million in frozen federal funds — UCLA's chancellor announced that the amount of federal funds frozen by the Trump administration is roughly $584 million, saying in a statement that, "if these funds remain suspended, it will be devastating for UCLA and for Americans across the nation."
• UCLA receives $6 million settlement demand and $300 million funding freeze despite prior concessions — UCLA agreed to pay $6 million to settle a lawsuit by Jewish students and a professor over its handling of pro-Palestinian protests. However, the Trump administration subsequently froze more than $300 million of the university's federal funding, citing "antisemitism and bias," despite UCLA's prior adoption of restrictive protest policies and centralized faculty hiring. The administration's continued targeting occurred despite UCLA's anticipatory compliance.

Supporting reports

• Administration officials scheduled Epstein strategy meeting at Vice President's residence — Top administration officials, including Vice President J.D. Vance, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and FBI Director Kash Patel, were scheduled to meet at the Vice President's residence to coordinate the administration's Epstein strategy. Notably, President Trump was not included in the meeting. After news of the meeting leaked, a source told Reuters the meeting had been canceled.
• Administration officials coordinate Epstein strategy without Trump — Top administration officials, including Vice President J.D. Vance and Attorney General Pam Bondi, met to coordinate the administration's strategy regarding the Epstein case, notably without President Trump present.
• White House meets to discuss Epstein-Trump relationship response — After initially denying plans for a meeting, White House officials met late on August 7 to discuss responses to questions about the relationship between convicted sex abuser Jeffrey Epstein and President Trump. Attendees included Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel. The White House has been attempting to suppress public inquiry into the Epstein-Trump connection with limited success.
• White House meeting held to coordinate Epstein files strategy — Top Trump administration officials, including Vice President JD Vance, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and FBI Director Kash Patel, met at the White House on Wednesday night to discuss strategy regarding the handling of Epstein-related documents and the administration's response to public pressure for full disclosure. The meeting was moved from Vance's official residence to the White House. Officials were weighing whether to release recorded audio from a DOJ interview with Ghislaine Maxwell and whether Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche should hold a press conference about his interviews with Maxwell.

Supporting reports

• Library of Congress Constitution website missing Article I sections — Reporters discovered that the online United States Constitution maintained by the Library of Congress was missing parts of Article I, which lays out the rights and duties of Congress. Missing sections included Congress's control over the District of Columbia, Congress's power to make laws, the promise that habeas corpus would not be suspended, the requirement that Congress appropriate all government spending, the prohibition on presidential acceptance of foreign gifts, and the specification that only Congress can levy tariffs. Officials attributed the deletions to "a coding error," and the missing sections were restored by the end of the day.
• Sections of US Constitution temporarily removed from government website — Sections of the US Constitution were temporarily removed from the Constitution Annotated website, which is maintained by the federal government. The missing sections included provisions like habeas corpus, which ensures the right for people to challenge their detention in court, and another that prohibits foreign emoluments for government officials. On Twitter, the Library of Congress blamed the removals on a "coding error," and the sections returned to the website later in the day.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration scaled back criticism of human rights violations — The Washington Post reported that the Trump administration is dramatically scaling back its criticism of human rights violations by El Salvador, Israel, and Russia, according to leaked drafts of the State Department's delayed annual human rights reports. The drafts, which are significantly shorter than the ones issued by the Biden administration in 2024, removed any references to LGBTQ+ individuals or crimes committed against them, and softened the descriptions of government abuses by the three countries. The El Salvador section brazenly claims that the country had "no credible reports of significant human rights abuses" in 2024, despite organizations like Amnesty International sounding the alarm on hundreds of cases of torture, forced disappearances, and deaths in state custody.
• State Department removes human rights criticisms from annual report — According to leaked drafts of the State Department's annual human rights report, the Trump administration has removed or substantially reduced criticisms of El Salvador, Israel, and Russia for documented human rights abuses. El Salvador's report, which previously detailed government-sanctioned killings, torture, and harsh prison conditions, now states there are "no credible reports of significant human rights abuses." Israel's report was reduced from over 100 pages to 25 pages. The State Department also declared support for El Salvador's elimination of presidential term limits, enabling President Nayib Bukele to hold office indefinitely.