Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Trump administration awards $1 billion, 15-year contract to Geo Group for Delaney Hall ICE detention — The Trump administration in February awarded a $1 billion, 15-year contract to private prison company Geo Group to operate the Delaney Hall ICE detention facility in New Jersey. The facility, recently reopened, has a capacity of 1,000 detainees and is part of the administration's expansion of detention infrastructure to support mass deportation operations. The contract was awarded despite ongoing legal challenges to the facility's operation and a 2021 New Jersey state law barring immigration detention.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration denies Reuters reporters access to cabinet meeting — The Trump administration denied reporters from Reuters news agency access to a cabinet meeting in February 2025. This represents another instance of restricting major news organizations' ability to cover government proceedings.
• Trump administration ejects HuffPost reporter from White House press pool — In February 2025, the Trump administration ejected a HuffPost reporter from the White House press pool, which is a rotating group of reporters allowed close access to the president and key administration officials. This action restricts a news organization's ability to cover the administration.

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• White House press secretary announces end of WHCA role in managing press pool — White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced in February 2025 that the Trump administration would no longer recognize the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) in managing the White House press pool. Instead, the "White House press team" would control access to the White House. WHCA President Eugene Daniels responded that the change "tears at the independence of a free press in the United States" and suggested the government would choose which journalists cover the president.

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• Department of Education threatens to revoke school funding for teaching about systemic racism — In February 2025, the Department of Education sent a letter threatening to halt federal funding to any school that teaches students about "systemic and structural racism." The letter argues that these lessons "teach students that certain racial groups bear unique moral burdens that others do not." The American Civil Liberties Union sued the Department, arguing that the letter violated free speech. In April, multiple federal judges froze the order.

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• Trump takes control of Kennedy Center and bans drag shows — Trump took control of the Kennedy Center in February and announced he would stop the performing arts center from hosting drag shows. This action prompted Free DC and allied groups to organize a drag show nearby in response, asserting the right to cultural expression against federal censorship.
• Trump attends Les Misérables at Kennedy Center after seizing control of the institution — President Trump attended a production of Les Misérables at the Kennedy Center on June 12, 2025, his first production there since taking control of the institution in February. He had previously pushed out the center's former chair, fired its longtime president, and pledged to overhaul the institution, which he criticized as "too woke." Trump was greeted with mixed cheers and boos. Ticket sales have fallen since his takeover and some performers have cancelled shows. The president's appearance was intended to boost fundraising, with donors reportedly raising over $10 million.
• Trump takes control of Kennedy Center, fires board chair and appoints himself — In February 2025, Trump took control of the Kennedy Center by firing board chair David Rubenstein and appointing himself to preside over the institution. Following the shake-up, ticket sales for the Kennedy Center's three largest performance spaces fell to their lowest levels in years, indicating significant disruption to the cultural institution's operations and public engagement.

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• Judge halts DOGE's access to Treasury systems — U.S. District Judge Engelmayer issued an emergency order halting DOGE's attempts to access U.S. Treasury systems, temporarily preventing "special government employees" from accessing these systems. The court also ordered the destruction of any downloaded material from the Treasury Department's records. A hearing is set for February 14 to resolve the matter, with Judge Jeannette Vargas now permanently assigned to the case. The ruling has sparked calls for the judge's impeachment from Elon Musk and JD Vance, who have suggested ignoring the court order.

Supporting reports

• Trump fires Archivist of the United States — President Trump fired Colleen Shogan, the Archivist of the United States, who led the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). This action follows NARA's efforts to retrieve classified documents from Mar-a-Lago.

Supporting reports

• FBI submits list of January 6 investigators to DOJ — The FBI has complied with a demand from the US Department of Justice to provide a list of agents involved in the investigations related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. The list, which excludes names, includes details of 5,000 to 6,000 agents such as employee numbers, job titles, and roles. This submission follows a weeklong standoff and raises concerns among FBI employees about potential retaliation from the Trump administration. The acting FBI director, Brian Driscoll, expressed concerns about the safety of personnel if the list becomes public.

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• Trump administration instructed Department of Education to end investigations into book bans — The Trump administration directed the Department of Education to cease investigations into book bans, labeling them a "hoax." This move comes amid a surge in book bans across the United States, particularly targeting discussions of race, LGBTQ+ issues, and diversity in public schools. The directive reflects a broader conservative backlash against certain educational materials and has been criticized for undermining free expression and educational diversity.

Supporting reports

• Executive Order: Addressing Egregious Actions of The Republic of South Africa — President Donald Trump issued an executive order on February 7, 2025, to address actions by the Republic of South Africa. The order responds to South Africa's Expropriation Act 13 of 2024, which allows the seizure of Afrikaners' agricultural property without compensation. The order halts U.S. aid to South Africa and promotes the resettlement of Afrikaner refugees facing racial discrimination. It also directs U.S. agencies to prioritize humanitarian relief for these refugees. The order reflects U.S. disapproval of South Africa's policies and its international alignments that oppose U.S. interests.
• Executive Order on South Africa sanctions — President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Order 14204, halting U.S. aid to South Africa due to its Expropriation Act 13 of 2024, which allows seizure of Afrikaners' property without compensation. The order also promotes resettlement of Afrikaner refugees in the U.S. and directs agencies to prioritize humanitarian relief for victims of racial discrimination in South Africa.
• US suspends aid to South Africa after Trump order — The US State Department has paused most foreign assistance to South Africa following an executive order by Donald Trump. Executive Order 14204, issued on February 7, 2025, claims that white South Africans are being unjustly discriminated against. The order mandates the suspension of aid disbursements, with few exceptions, such as the Pepfar HIV/AIDS program. Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed the directive, delegating authority to Pete Marocco to decide on the continuation of specific aid programs. This move has heightened tensions between the US and South Africa.
• White House issued executive order halting U.S. aid to South Africa and prioritizing Afrikaner refugee resettlement — The White House issued an executive order on February 7, 2025, directing all federal agencies to halt foreign aid and assistance to South Africa, citing the country's Expropriation Act 13 of 2024 (which permits seizure of agricultural property without compensation), alleged racial discrimination against Afrikaners, and South Africa's foreign policy positions toward Israel and Iran. The order directs the Secretary of State and Secretary of Homeland Security to prioritize admission and resettlement of Afrikaners through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.
• White House issues fact sheet on executive order addressing South Africa — The White House published a fact sheet on February 7, 2025, describing an executive order signed by President Trump to address what it characterizes as human rights violations in South Africa. The fact sheet states the order directs the U.S. to halt aid to South Africa, establish a plan to resettle "disfavored minorities" as refugees, and hold the country accountable. The document frames South Africa's land expropriation act and treatment of "ethnic minority descendants of settler groups" as discriminatory, and criticizes South Africa's positions on Israel and Iran.

Supporting reports

• Jared Kushner's business ties with Saudi Arabia — Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law, has raised $2 billion from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund for his private equity company, Affinity Partners. This funding was secured despite initial recommendations to reject his bid due to the company's inexperience and high fees. The financial relationship raises concerns about potential foreign influence, especially as Kushner has no formal role in Trump's second administration but maintains significant business ties with Middle Eastern countries.

Supporting reports

• Government workers sue Trump and Rubio over USAid cuts — The American Federation of Government Employees and the American Foreign Service Association filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, including President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The lawsuit, filed in Washington, DC federal court, seeks to block what it claims are unconstitutional actions that have dismantled the US Agency for International Development (USAid), causing a global humanitarian crisis. The suit highlights Trump's order pausing all US foreign aid and subsequent state department orders halting USAid projects, leading to significant layoffs and program shutdowns.
• Temporary restraining order ruling — American Federation of Government Employees v. Trump (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00352 — Judge Carl J. Nichols issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) preventing USAID from placing employees on administrative leave or evacuating them. He rejected Plaintiffs' request for a restraining order on the funding freeze on the ground that Plaintiffs (USAID employees) could not show sufficient harm to themselves.

Supporting reports

• FEC Chair refuses to leave position — Ellen Weintraub, Chair of the Federal Election Commission, is refusing to leave her position despite being fired by President Trump. Weintraub, who was appointed to a six-year term in 2022, argues that there is a legal process for replacing FEC commissioners, which has not been followed. Her refusal comes amid ongoing investigations into the President's campaign activities.

Supporting reports

• Supreme Court considers reviving nondelegation doctrine — The U.S. Supreme Court is considering reviving the nondelegation doctrine, which could significantly limit federal agencies' power to create regulations. This doctrine argues that Congress cannot delegate its legislative powers to agencies, potentially invalidating many existing regulations. The case in question, FCC v Consumers’ Research, challenges the FCC's authority to impose fees for broadband services. If the court revives the doctrine, it could lead to widespread challenges against various regulatory protections, shifting significant power from Congress to the judiciary.

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• DoJ sues Chicago and Illinois over sanctuary laws — The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) filed a lawsuit against the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago, accusing them of obstructing the Trump administration's immigration enforcement policies. The lawsuit seeks a court order to nullify sanctuary laws that the federal government claims interfere with federal immigration law enforcement. The complaint was filed in a federal court in Chicago, following a national emergency declaration by Donald Trump on his inauguration day. The DoJ aims to prevent these jurisdictions from receiving federal grants if they continue to impede immigration enforcement.

Supporting reports

• North Carolina judge rules racial bias in death row sentencing — A North Carolina superior court judge, Wayland J Sermons Jr, ruled that racial bias influenced the jury selection in the 2009 death row sentencing of Hasson Bacote. Bacote, a Black man, had his sentence commuted to life in prison last December. The ruling highlighted that Black jurors were struck at three times the rate of white jurors. This decision, based on the Racial Justice Act, could impact North Carolina's death penalty laws, as the state has a significant number of individuals on death row.

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• ICE updated timestamps on old press releases — Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has updated timestamps on old press releases, making them appear more recent in Google searches. This action has caused outdated enforcement actions to surface as current events, creating a misleading impression of ongoing mass deportations. The press releases, some dating back over a decade, were marked with a new timestamp of January 24, 2025. This manipulation of search results has led to confusion and fear among immigrant communities, as well as misinformation about ICE's current activities.

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• Trump calls for CBS to cancel '60 Minutes' — President Trump called for CBS to cancel '60 Minutes' and suggested the network should lose its broadcasting license. This statement reflects the administration's antagonism towards media outlets critical of its policies.
• Trump calls for CBS News to be terminated — On February 6, 2025, Trump claimed that CBS News "defrauded the public" regarding an edited interview with Kamala Harris, calling for the network to be "immediately terminated." This statement reflects an attack on press freedom, as it seeks to punish a media outlet for its editorial choices.

Supporting reports

• White House issued memorandum directing executive agencies to review and align NGO funding with administration priorities — The White House issued a memorandum on February 6, 2025, directing heads of executive departments and agencies to review all funding provided to nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and to align future funding decisions with "the interests of the United States" and "the goals and priorities" of the administration as expressed in executive actions. The memorandum states that the U.S. Government has provided "significant taxpayer dollars" to NGOs "many of which are engaged in actions that actively undermine the security, prosperity, and safety of the American people" and asserts it is administration policy to "stop funding NGOs that undermine the national interest."

Supporting reports

• Trump signs executive order barring transgender participants from women's sports — In February 2025, President Trump signed an executive order that bars transgender participants from competing in women's sports. The order is part of a broader federal crackdown on transgender rights and participation. The State Department has separately instructed officials to deny visas to transgender athletes attempting to enter the U.S. for competitions, with instructions to impose permanent visa bans on those deemed to misrepresent their birth sex.
• Executive Order on Women's Sports Participation — President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Order 14201, mandating that federal funds be rescinded from educational programs allowing male participation in women's sports. The order aims to protect female athletes' opportunities under Title IX, emphasizing safety and fairness. It directs the Secretary of Education and other agencies to enforce compliance and adjust policies accordingly.
• Trump signs executive order banning trans athletes from women’s sports — On February 5, 2025, Donald 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 Title IX rules to prohibit transgender girls and women from competing in female sports categories. It mandates immediate enforcement and threatens to cut off federal funding for schools that allow trans women or girls to compete in female-designated sports. The order is expected to face legal challenges and has been criticized by advocacy groups for its impact on trans rights.
• Trump issues executive order on women's sports — President Donald Trump issued an executive order on February 5, 2025, titled "Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports." The order directs federal agencies to ensure that educational institutions receiving federal funds do not allow men to compete in women's sports, citing Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972. The order mandates the rescission of funds from programs that fail to comply and calls for the enforcement of policies that preserve female athletic opportunities. It also involves international efforts to promote sex-based categories in sports.
• White House issues fact sheet promoting executive order on women's sports eligibility — The White House published a fact sheet on February 5, 2025, promoting an executive order signed by President Trump that day. The order directs the Department of Justice to enforce a nationwide vacatur of the Biden administration's Title IX rewrite, requires schools and athletic associations to deny participation in women's sports to transgender athletes, directs the Secretary of State to demand changes to International Olympic Committee policies, and instructs the Department of Homeland Security to review visa policies. The fact sheet characterizes the prior administration's policies as a "war on women" and includes testimonials from female athletes.
• White House signed executive order on women's sports eligibility — President Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to enforce Title IX to restrict athletic competition in women's sports categories to biological females. The order directs the Secretary of Education to rescind federal funding from educational programs allowing transgender athletes to compete in women's sports, instructs the Department of Justice to enforce the policy, and tasks the State Department with promoting sex-based eligibility standards internationally and at the Olympic level. The order also directs review of immigration policies to prevent males seeking to participate in women's sports from entering the United States.
• Trump bans trans women in sports — President Trump signed an executive order banning trans women and girls from competing in female sports. This order discriminates against trans athletes and limits their participation in sports.

Supporting reports

• West Point disbands student-led clubs following DEI order — The US military academy at West Point has dissolved 12 student-led cultural and professional clubs in response to executive orders from the Trump administration targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs across federal institutions. A memorandum signed by DC Chad Foster instructed the immediate shutdown of clubs such as the Society of Women Engineers, the Latin Cultural Club, and Spectrum, an LGBTQ+ support group. The directive requires these organizations to remove all public-facing content and cease all activities. This move has sparked criticism from alumni and advocates for diversity in military education.

Supporting reports

• Trump halts DOJ civil rights investigations and police reform agreements — Donald Trump stopped all Department of Justice civil rights investigations and police reform agreements, including those in Louisville, Kentucky, and Minneapolis, Minnesota, which were established following the killings of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. This move halts efforts to address systemic issues in policing and civil rights violations, raising concerns about accountability and justice.

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• Texas representative files impeachment articles against Trump — Texas Representative Al Green announced he is filing articles of impeachment against former President Donald Trump. Green's action is in response to Trump's proposal to "take over Gaza," which Green described as a "dastardly deed" amounting to ethnic cleansing. This move is part of a broader Democratic resistance to Trump's policies during his second term. Green's impeachment effort is unlikely to gain significant traction, as other Democratic leaders have indicated that impeachment is not an immediate focus.

Supporting reports

• Federal judge blocks enforcement of Trump's birthright citizenship order — A federal judge in Seattle, appointed by Reagan, issued an injunction against the enforcement of Trump's executive order denying birthright citizenship. Judge Coughenour criticized the president's disregard for the rule of law, emphasizing its importance in his courtroom. This ruling temporarily halts the implementation of the executive order, pending further legal proceedings.
• Judge blocks Trump’s executive order on birthright citizenship — U.S. District Judge John Coughenour blocked Trump’s executive order that sought to alter birthright citizenship, declaring it "clearly unconstitutional." This ruling reinforces the rule of law and the constitutional protections afforded to citizens.
• U.S. District Judge blocks Trump's executive order on birthright citizenship — U.S. District Judge John Coughenour blocked Trump's executive order altering birthright citizenship, declaring it "clearly unconstitutional." The judge criticized the administration's disregard for the rule of law in pursuit of policy goals.

Supporting reports

• Federal judge blocks federal employee buyout plan — A federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration and DOGE/Musk from implementing a federal employee buyout plan. Judge George O'Toole Jr. set a hearing to consider further blocking the offer, which unions argue is unlawful and harmful to federal operations. The plan's legality and impact on civil service stability are under scrutiny.
• Trump administration restricts DOGE access to Treasury systems — Following a lawsuit by government employee unions, the Trump administration filed a proposed order to temporarily restrict DOGE officials' access to sensitive Treasury payment systems. The order allows two DOGE employees to read data without further access. This move likely preempted a judicial restraining order, and its acceptance by the judge or plaintiffs remains uncertain.
• Judge temporarily blocks Trump’s buyout deadline for federal employees — A federal judge, George O’Toole, temporarily blocked the Trump administration's deadline for federal employees to decide on a buyout offer. The deadline, initially set for February 6, 2025, was extended to allow time for legal briefs before a hearing. The buyout offer involved severance pay and benefits for those leaving their jobs, with new reforms for those staying. The judge's decision provides time for further legal examination without indicating the final ruling outcome.
• Case update — American Federation of Gov’t Employees, AFL-CIO v. Ezell (D. Mass.) 1:25-cv-10276 — Judge George O'Toole issued an order to pause the program and extend the deadline until Monday when a hearing is scheduled.