Tracking every rollback, reversal, and overreach — and the path back to the America we know.
On October 5, 2018, President Trump signed Proclamation 2018-22232 designating October 6, 2018, as German-American Day. The proclamation honors German-American contributions to U.S. history and culture. This is an annual ceremonial proclamation with no direct regulatory or policy impact on Americans.
President Trump signed Executive Order 13848 on September 12, 2018, establishing a framework for imposing sanctions on foreign entities determined to have interfered in United States elections. The order directs the Director of National Intelligence to assess whether foreign interference occurred and authorizes the President to impose economic and other sanctions on identified foreign governments or persons. The order remains in effect and provides the legal mechanism through which the administration can levy sanctions related to election interference.
President Trump signed Proclamation 2018-20089 on September 10, 2018, designating September 11 as Patriot Day. The proclamation directs flags to be flown at half-staff and calls for a moment of silence in remembrance of those killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks. The proclamation has no direct regulatory impact on Americans but establishes an annual observance.
President Trump signed Proclamation 2018-20012 on September 7, 2018, designating national days of prayer and remembrance. The proclamation calls for Americans to observe designated days through prayer and remembrance activities. The proclamation has no direct operational impact on federal programs or American legal rights.
On July 10, 2018, President Trump signed Executive Order 13842, which established an exception to federal competitive examining rules for certain positions within the United States Marshals Service at the Department of Justice. The order allows the Marshals Service to appoint individuals to specified positions without following standard competitive civil service procedures. This changes the hiring process for affected positions within the federal law enforcement agency.
President Trump signed Executive Order 13843 on July 10, 2018, removing Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) from the competitive civil service system. The order allows agencies to hire and fire ALJs without the hiring protections and merit-based requirements previously mandated by the competitive service. This change directly affects ALJs' job security and hiring processes across federal agencies, including those at the Social Security Administration, Department of Labor, and other regulatory bodies.
President Trump signed Proclamation 2018-14744 on July 3, 2018, honoring the victims of a shooting at the Capital Gazette newspaper office in Annapolis, Maryland on June 28, 2018. The proclamation is a ceremonial declaration expressing condolences and directing flags to be flown at half-staff. Proclamations of this type have no direct operational impact on federal policy or American citizens' rights or services.
President Trump signed Proclamation 2018-06963 on June 8, 2018, designating June 14, 2018 as Flag Day and the week of June 10-16, 2018 as National Flag Week. The proclamation calls for Americans to display the U.S. flag and reflect on the flag's significance. This is an annual ceremonial proclamation with no direct regulatory impact on Americans.
President Trump signed Proclamation 10909 on May 25, 2018, designating Memorial Day 2018 as a day of prayer for peace. The proclamation called for Americans to observe a moment of silence at 3 p.m. local time and encouraged citizens to pray for peace. The proclamation has no direct operational effect on federal programs, benefits, or regulations, and functions as a ceremonial declaration.
On May 25, 2018, President Trump signed Executive Order 13839, which modified federal employee removal procedures and reduced due process protections in the civil service system. The order shortened the notice period for adverse actions against federal employees from 30 days to 7 days, reduced the period for performance-based removals from 120 days to 30 days, and limited appeal rights. The direct effect was expedited removal of federal employees in covered positions without prior full due process review.