Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• ICE confirmed forced medical treatment of detained hunger striker — A budget filing from ICE's Health Service Corps, surfaced by the Guardian, revealed that at least one detained hunger striker was subjected to force feeding, hydration, forced urinary catheterization, or involuntary blood draws. Homeland Security declined to specify which procedure was used. ACLU attorney Eunice Cho noted that authorizing court orders often function as rubber stamps because many detainees lack legal representation to challenge them.

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• Trump administration ends federal legal funding for unaccompanied immigrant children — The Trump administration severed ties with nearly 100 legal organizations providing immigration counsel and ended a federal contract providing legal representation to over 20,000 unaccompanied children, effective July 31, 2026. Federal officials refused to reimburse organizations for $65 million in completed work unless they violated client confidentiality by disclosing sensitive medical and immigration data. The cuts are forcing legal nonprofits into layoffs and closures, leaving children to face immigration court without attorneys. Experts warn children without counsel win relief less than 10% of the time and face expedited deportation proceedings.
• Legal representation contract for immigrant children expires; no-bid contract offered to Trump-connected firm — The Trump administration allowed a contract for legal representation of immigrant children to expire on July 31. The administration then offered a $150 million no-bid contract to a small Texas law firm with no experience in immigration law but with close ties to Trump. Following public outcry, the law firm declined the contract. The action left immigrant children without guaranteed legal representation during deportation proceedings.

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• Pima County reports 19 migrant deaths in Arizona desert during July 2026 — The Pima County medical examiner's office released data showing 19 migrant remains, including children, were recovered along the Arizona-Mexico border in July 2026. This represents the highest monthly death toll in that region since 2024 and brings the year-to-date total to 73 remains, 14 more than the same period in 2025. Experts attribute the deaths to US border policies that have closed legal asylum pathways and forced migrants into dangerous desert crossings. The true death toll is estimated to be significantly higher due to undiscovered remains.

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• Kansas Court of Appeals blocked mail ballot deadline restriction — The Kansas Court of Appeals refused to allow Secretary of State Scott Schwab to revive a law that would have discarded mail ballots arriving after Election Day. Kansas has counted ballots postmarked by Election Day and arriving within three days since 2017. This three-day cushion saved 2,110 ballots in 2024 and 32,000 in 2020, and the protection holds for the August 4 primary.

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• FBI requested voter's IP address as part of voter fraud investigation — Axios reported that Trump's FBI requested and received the IP address of an individual who registered online to vote in South Carolina as part of a new strategy by the administration to investigate alleged voter fraud. A former senior Justice Department official said it is both "not typical" and "not appropriate" for the FBI to conduct a "fishing expedition to see private voter data."

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• US Senate rejects war powers resolution limiting Trump's Iran war authority — The US Senate voted 49-50 on Thursday to reject a war powers resolution that would have required President Trump to withdraw US forces from Iran absent explicit congressional authorization. The vote occurred amid escalating military operations, including a fresh wave of US airstrikes on Wednesday in retaliation for an Iranian missile attack on a US base in Jordan. Only three Republicans (Collins, Murkowski, Paul) voted for the measure; one Democrat (Fetterman) voted against it. This marks the second failed attempt in two weeks to legislatively constrain Trump's war powers.

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• Trump demanded Senate cancel August recess for voting bill — Trump demanded the Senate cancel its August break to work on the SAVE America Act, a voting bill that has continued to fail in legislative efforts. The demand represents executive pressure on the legislative branch to prioritize a specific agenda item during a scheduled recess period.

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• Community rally against planned ICE detention facility in Japantown — Organizers and South Bay officials rallied Wednesday outside the historic Issei Memorial Building in opposition to a planned ICE detention facility near Gilroy. Susan Hayase of San Jose Nikkei Resisters drew parallels to Japanese American resistance during World War II internment. Santa Clara County had sued in June to block the facility, which would provide detention space for 150 people.

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• Epstein survivors delivered files to Senate Judiciary Committee — Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein launched the Donald J. Trump and Jeffrey Epstein Memorial Bookmobile on the National Mall and hand-delivered files to Senate Judiciary offices. The bookmobile carries all 3.5 million released files and will travel to communities through the midterms. The action occurred as the Senate was considering Trump's attorney general nominee Todd Blanche.

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• Lineage Logistics files warehouse rebuild permits amid ongoing cleanup crisis — One month after a major fire at a Lineage Logistics cold-storage warehouse in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, the company filed applications with the city's department of building and safety to rebuild the facility to its pre-fire condition. The move drew public criticism from LA Mayor Karen Bass, who called it "a slap in the face" to residents still suffering from persistent odors from 85 million pounds of spoiled food. The city has not yet approved or denied the permits. Cleanup remains incomplete despite company assurances.

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• Senate Judiciary Committee Halts AG Nomination Vote — The Senate Judiciary Committee has canceled the vote on Todd Blanche's nomination for Attorney General. This decision comes amid demands from Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis for Blanche to revise a settlement agreement between Trump and the IRS. The committee's halt poses a challenge to confirming Blanche before the Senate's August recess. Cornyn and Tillis insist on changes to provisions granting Trump IRS immunity and a slush fund, which they view as corrupt.

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• State Department displays mislabeled map of Africa at global health summit — The State Department displayed a map at a global health summit in Brazil with every African country mislabeled. The error represents a significant diplomatic embarrassment and raises questions about the competence and attention to detail of the State Department.
• State Department presented Africa map with all countries mislabeled at international AIDS conference in Brazil. — During a State Department presentation at the AIDS 2026 conference in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday, a map of Africa was displayed with every country mislabeled. Nigeria, where the U.S. has several hundred troops deployed, was shown as landlocked in the Sahara Desert. Mozambique was relocated to the Horn of Africa, and Ivory Coast was placed on the opposite side of the continent. The map contained an OpenAI watermark, indicating it was generated using AI tools. Attendees photographed and posted the errant map online, drawing international attention to the error during a global health conference.
• U.S. State Department Map Error at Global Conference — A U.S. government map of Africa, presented at a global conference in Brazil, mislabeled every country, causing a stir among attendees. The map, created with OpenAI tools, incorrectly placed several African countries, leading to embarrassment for the State Department. The error occurred during a presentation on new health agreements.

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• White House issues fact sheet on declassified intelligence regarding Chinese election interference — The White House Government Transparency Task Force issued a fact sheet on July 30, 2026, presenting declassified intelligence documents approved by the directors of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, NSA, CIA, and DHS. The fact sheet claims that China and proxies acquired voter registration data on as many as 220 million Americans, including non-public data, and cites declassified Intelligence Community definitions of election interference and potential malign uses of such data. The White House states it coordinated with intelligence agencies in preparing the President's July 16 speech on the matter.

Supporting reports

• White House issued presidential determination invoking Defense Production Act authority over recoverable critical minerals and materials — The White House issued a presidential memorandum on July 30, 2026, making a formal determination under Section 101 of the Defense Production Act of 1950 that recoverable critical minerals and materials (CMMs)—including black mass, rare-earth permanent magnets, swarf, and other waste containing critical minerals—are scarce and essential to national defense. The determination finds that U.S. reliance on foreign CMM imports poses supply-chain risks and directs the Secretary of Commerce to implement the determination through regulations, rules, and guidance under DPA authority.
• White House issued presidential permit authorizing Cameron County, Texas to own, operate, and maintain Brownsville and Matamoros Bridge — The White House issued a presidential memorandum granting Cameron County, Texas, a permit to own, operate, and maintain the Brownsville and Matamoros Bridge, a vehicular, pedestrian, and bicycle crossing at the U.S.–Mexico border in Brownsville. The permit is subject to federal inspection, compliance with applicable law, and presidential approval for any transfer or substantial modification. The President retains sole discretion to terminate, revoke, or amend the permit at any time.
• President invokes Defense Production Act to secure critical minerals supply chain — The President issued Presidential Determination No. 2026-19 on July 30, 2026, invoking Section 101 of the Defense Production Act of 1950 to address inadequate domestic supply of recoverable critical minerals and materials (CMMs). The determination finds that CMMs are scarce, essential to national defense, and that civilian market disruption would create appreciable hardship without intervention. The Secretary of Commerce is directed to implement the determination through regulations, rules, guidance, and procedures under delegated authority.
• White House issues fact sheet on Defense Production Act delegation for critical minerals export restrictions — The White House issued a fact sheet on July 30, 2026, announcing that President Trump signed a Presidential Determination delegating Defense Production Act authority to the Secretary of Commerce to institute export restrictions on recoverable critical minerals and materials (CMMs). The determination states that CMMs are essential to national defense and military production, and that the U.S. relies heavily on foreign imports of certain CMMs, creating supply chain vulnerabilities. The fact sheet frames the action as part of a broader effort to restore American industry and military readiness.
• President Trump issues safeguard proclamation imposing tariff-rate quota on quartz surface product imports for four years. — President Donald J. Trump signed Proclamation 11051 on July 31, 2026, imposing a four-year tariff-rate quota safeguard on imports of quartz surface products (QSP) following an affirmative determination by the U.S. International Trade Commission that increased imports caused serious injury to the domestic industry. The proclamation excludes imports from Canada, Mexico, Australia, CAFTA-DR countries, Colombia, Israel, Jordan, South Korea, Panama, Peru, Singapore, and CBERA beneficiaries, while applying the measure to other countries. The tariff-rate quota includes annual increases in within-quota quantities and reductions in duty rates over the four-year period, effective August 15, 2026.
• President Trump issued proclamation imposing tariff-rate quota safeguard on quartz surface products imports — President Trump signed a proclamation on July 31, 2026, imposing a four-year tariff-rate quota safeguard on imports of quartz surface products (QSP), following an affirmative determination by the U.S. International Trade Commission that increased imports caused serious injury to the domestic industry. The measure excludes imports from Canada, Mexico, Australia, CAFTA-DR countries, Colombia, Israel, Jordan, South Korea, Panama, Peru, Singapore, and Caribbean Basin Initiative beneficiaries, and applies to all other countries except developing countries below specified import thresholds. The Trade Representative is authorized to negotiate agreements, address circumvention, and modify the measure as needed.

Supporting reports

• Trump threatened to withdraw Blanche's nomination and resubmit it after Cornyn and Tillis leave office. — After the Blanche vote was canceled, Trump posted on Truth Social that he would "temporarily withdraw" Blanche's nomination if Cornyn and Tillis did not "do the right thing," with the intention to resubmit it after the two senators leave office. Trump attacked both senators, claiming his prior refusal to endorse them had "ended" their political careers. He praised Blanche as a potential "Greatest AG of All Time" and stated Blanche would "remain, in any event, as Acting." The post signaled Trump's intent to circumvent Senate opposition through procedural delay and attrition.
• Trump threatens to withdraw Todd Blanche's attorney general nomination — Trump threatened to withdraw his nomination of Todd Blanche as attorney general after Senators Cornyn and Tillis refused to confirm him without a written revocation of Trump's tax audit immunity and January 6th slush fund. The senators' conditional refusal to confirm created a standoff over Trump's demand to retain immunity protections and control of discretionary funds related to January 6th.
• Trump refuses to narrow tax immunity agreement despite Republican senators' written limits request — Donald Trump declined a request from Republican senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis to formally limit the scope of a controversial tax immunity agreement that grants him, his family, and related entities broad protection from IRS audits. The agreement, part of a settlement ending a lawsuit over unauthorized disclosure of Trump's tax records, includes a $1.8 billion slush fund. Trump's refusal to narrow the deal jeopardized confirmation of Todd Blanche as attorney general, though Blanche can continue serving as acting AG indefinitely under federal law.
• Trump reverses position on $1.8bn "anti-weaponization" fund and vows to revive it despite Senate opposition — Donald Trump, after initially declaring a controversial $1.8bn "anti-weaponization" fund "dead," reversed course and promised to revive it through legislation or executive action. The fund, part of a legal settlement with the DOJ over Trump's IRS lawsuit, is intended to compensate individuals Trump claims were wrongfully targeted by government. Senate Republicans John Cornyn and Thom Tillis are blocking Todd Blanche's attorney general nomination over the fund dispute, demanding written assurance the DOJ will not establish it. Trump threatened to withdraw Blanche's nomination, keep him as acting attorney general, and "push hard" for the fund anyway.
• Trump threatens to withdraw Blanche AG nomination temporarily, keep him as acting attorney general — Donald Trump announced he may "temporarily" withdraw Todd Blanche's nomination as attorney general to circumvent Republican senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, who are blocking confirmation over objections to a $1.8 billion political-weaponization compensation fund and tax immunity provisions. Trump stated he would keep Blanche as acting attorney general indefinitely under federal law until the two senators leave office in January 2027. The Senate Judiciary Committee canceled a scheduled confirmation vote on Thursday.

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• Mayor Rhodes-Conway orders removal of Corey Ruiz memorial encampment — On 29 July 2026, Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway ordered police to dismantle a community memorial and encampment at the intersection where Corey Ruiz was killed, citing resident complaints. During the removal, 16 people were arrested, 10 given citations, and others pepper-sprayed. Protesters took to the streets that night, resulting in six additional arrests. The independent police monitor nearly came to blows with officers during the operation.

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• Trump administration threatens to withhold federal funding from Smithsonian Institution — As part of a broader campaign against the Smithsonian Institution, the Trump administration has threatened to withhold federal funding from the institution, which operates 21 museums and the National Zoo. This threat follows Trump's March 2025 executive order "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History" and a comprehensive review of eight museums ordered by the administration. The administration has also released a list of exhibits it does not agree with.

Supporting reports

• Fauci invokes Fifth Amendment and refuses to testify at Senate Covid hearing — Dr. Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and declined to answer questions at a Senate committee hearing on Covid-19 origins called by Kentucky Senator Rand Paul. Fauci stated Paul's goal was to embarrass, intimidate, and land him "behind bars." Paul responded by threatening a contempt vote and removing one of Fauci's attorneys from the room. The hearing became contentious, with Republican senators demanding apologies and attacking Fauci's credibility while Democrats defended him as a victim of harassment.
• Rand Paul announces intent to pursue contempt of Congress vote against Fauci — Following Fauci's invocation of the Fifth Amendment during the Senate hearing, Senator Rand Paul told reporters he intends to call a vote for contempt of Congress the following week in the committee on homeland security and governmental affairs. Paul stated there would be "repercussions" for Fauci's refusal to testify. Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri joined in, asserting Fauci has no Fifth Amendment rights in this context and accused him of contempt for Congress and the American people.
• Rand Paul chairs Senate hearing on Covid origins; Fauci invokes Fifth Amendment and declines testimony — Dr. Anthony Fauci appeared before a Republican-led Senate committee hearing chaired by Senator Rand Paul, ostensibly to investigate Covid-19 origins. Fauci, citing his attorneys' advice and invoking the Fifth Amendment, declined to answer questions throughout the hearing. Paul had asserted that Fauci could bear responsibility for the pandemic due to NIH funding to the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Fauci characterized Paul's investigation as an "unhinged obsession." Paul indicated he intends to call a vote for contempt of Congress the following week.
• Republican senators attack Fauci's pandemic record and scientific credibility — Multiple Republican senators used the hearing to criticize Fauci on various grounds. Senator Ron Johnson accused Fauci of covering up unfavorable vaccine information, calling vaccines "experimental gene therapy." Senator Bernie Moreno demanded Fauci apologize for military vaccine mandates, pandemic business closures, and a mask-enforcement arrest, calling him a "total and complete disgrace." Senator Joni Ernst criticized use of aborted fetal tissue in research. Democratic Senator Gary Peters warned the hearing was scapegoating one official for a crisis involving hundreds of officials across administrations.
• Fauci invokes Fifth Amendment during Senate testimony — Dr. Anthony Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment right during a Senate hearing led by Senator Rand Paul, where he faced aggressive questioning regarding his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fauci stated that he believed the hearing was aimed at vindicating Paul's public claims for his imprisonment, and he refrained from answering questions over 100 times.
• Senator Rand Paul subpoenas Fauci to testify — Senator Rand Paul, now chair of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, subpoenaed Dr. Anthony Fauci to appear before the committee. Fauci's lawyers noted Paul's history of calling for Fauci's imprisonment, which influenced Fauci's decision to invoke his Fifth Amendment rights during the testimony.
• Republicans continue to target Fauci amid political tensions — Republicans, including Senator Rand Paul, have intensified their attacks on Dr. Anthony Fauci, accusing him of lying about the origins of COVID-19 and calling for his arrest. This campaign has been fueled by the release of Fauci's private diary, which Republicans have used to further their narrative against him, despite a lack of evidence of wrongdoing.

Supporting reports

• Trump amplified false petition narrative to national audience — On July 29, Washington Times reporter Kerry Picket asked Trump about the petition, stating that "a good number of 9-11 families have called on New York Mayor Zoran Mamdani to not attend a number of these memorial services." Trump responded that "anybody having to do with 9-11 right now on the victim side, and there are a lot of them. They're very unhappy with what's going on in New York, and they're very unhappy with the mayor." Trump's response was featured on CBS News' X account, which has 9.7 million followers, amplifying the false narrative to a national audience.

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• Vice President Vance delays board nominations to allow Trump to substitute conservative candidates — Vice President JD Vance, a member of the Smithsonian's Board of Regents, has delayed action on board nominations because President Trump hoped to substitute more ideologically aligned candidates. Three board vacancies currently exist, with three more opening in October. The board nominates its own members and sends names to Congress for approval. Trump and Congressional Republicans are focused on stacking the board with conservatives to gain control over museum leadership.

Supporting reports

• Court-appointed monitor finds California City ICE facility failed to comply with judge's healthcare order — A federal court-appointed monitor, Dr. Muthusamy Anandkumar, filed a report on July 28 finding that California's largest ICE detention facility at California City was out of compliance with all eight healthcare standards ordered by US Judge Maxine Chesney in February. The facility failed to provide adequate emergency care, timely medications, proper health screenings, and disability accommodations. The monitor concluded the facility "lacks a reliable system to consistently provide adequate health care, placing individuals at serious risk of both immediate and long-term harm."

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• DOJ dismisses charges against California union leader David Huerta — The U.S. Department of Justice filed a motion to dismiss charges against David Huerta, president of SEIU-USWW California, who was arrested while protesting an ICE immigration raid in Los Angeles in June 2025. Huerta was initially charged with conspiracy to impede an officer (a felony) but charges were downgraded to a misdemeanor of obstruction. The DOJ's motion seeks dismissal "with prejudice" by end of August, preventing refiling. The case had drawn widespread criticism, including from LA Mayor Karen Bass, for targeting a prominent labor leader exercising First Amendment rights.

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• ICE arrests immigrants at airports with expired visas, including spouses of U.S. citizens — The New York Times reported that ICE has started arresting immigrants at airports whose visas have expired, including spouses of U.S. citizens, despite many of them having active applications to stay in the country. Some individuals had done nothing wrong; their visas expired only because of government processing delays.

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• Apache Stronghold pursues religious freedom claims to preserve Oak Flat sacred site — Indigenous activists in Arizona, led by the Apache Stronghold and San Carlos Apache tribe member Wendsler Nosie, are using religious freedom law to fight the federal government's transfer of Oak Flat—a sacred mountain used for medicinal plant gathering and coming-of-age ceremonies—to a mining company for copper extraction. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to review a lower court ruling clearing the transfer in 2025. The Apache Stronghold continues pursuing multiple lawsuits to overturn the land transfer and halt mine construction.

Supporting reports

• Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget warns of federal debt spiral risk — The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget issued analysis illustrating the risk of a federal debt spiral in which higher interest rates force increased government spending on debt service, which depresses economic growth and reduces tax revenues, leading to even higher interest rates. The analysis highlights relentlessly rising federal interest payments as evidence the nation faces immediate danger of entering such a spiral. The committee identifies the primary remedies as higher taxes and spending cuts, and notes alternative levers including improved IRS funding to close the tax gap, raising retirement age, reducing Social Security benefits for high earners, reforming Medicare Advantage, and removing tax exemptions on employer-provided health insurance.