Tracking every rollback, reversal, and overreach — and the path back to the America we know.
On January 23, 2018, President Trump signed Proclamation 2018-1604 imposing a safeguard tariff on large residential washing machines. The tariff applied a 20% rate on the first 1.2 million units imported annually and 50% on units exceeding that threshold, lasting four years. American consumers and appliance retailers faced increased prices on imported washers, while domestic manufacturers received protection from foreign competition.
On January 23, 2018, the Trump administration issued a Presidential Determination under Section 4533(a)(5) of the Defense Production Act of 1950 (Document 2018-1552). This determination invoked the DPA to expedite domestic production of materials and equipment deemed essential to national defense and energy infrastructure. The confirmed direct effect was authorization for federal agencies to prioritize contracts and allocate resources for specified domestic energy and defense-related manufacturing without standard competitive bidding processes.
Executive Order 13822 was signed on January 9, 2018, directing federal agencies to improve transition services for military personnel leaving active duty. The order established requirements for pre-separation counseling, job training coordination, and interagency collaboration to support veterans' transition to civilian employment. The confirmed effect includes expanded access to transition assistance programs and employment resources for separating service members.
President Trump signed Executive Order 13821 on January 8, 2018, directing federal agencies to streamline and expedite the process for locating broadband facilities on federal lands and rights-of-way in rural America. The order reduced administrative timelines and requirements for broadband infrastructure deployment on federal property. The confirmed effect was faster permitting for telecommunications companies to install broadband infrastructure in rural areas with federal land involvement.
On January 8, 2018, the Trump administration signed a memorandum directing the Department of the Interior to permit broadband tower facilities on federal properties it manages. The memorandum streamlines approval processes for telecommunications infrastructure on Interior lands. The confirmed effect allows broadband and wireless providers to install tower facilities on federal property, expanding rural broadband access in areas managed by Interior.
President Trump signed Executive Order 13819 on December 22, 2017, adjusting federal employee pay rates effective January 2018. The order implemented a 1.4% across-the-board pay increase for most federal employees and adjusted locality pay percentages for different geographic areas. The order directly affected approximately 2.1 million federal civilian employees and retirees receiving cost-of-living adjustments.
President Trump signed Executive Order 13817 on December 20, 2017, directing the federal government to develop a strategy to ensure secure and reliable domestic supplies of critical minerals essential to national security and economic competitiveness. The order required the Department of the Interior and other agencies to identify critical minerals, assess supply vulnerabilities, and reduce reliance on foreign sources through expedited permitting and domestic production initiatives. The confirmed direct impact includes streamlined environmental review processes for mining projects and increased federal focus on domestic mineral extraction.
On December 8, 2017, President Trump signed Memorandum 2017-27037 delaying the Small Business Administration's submission of a report required under the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015. The memorandum postponed the deadline for delivering this congressionally-mandated report on trade enforcement activities and small business impacts. The delay extended the timeline for Congress and the public to receive official documentation on SBA trade enforcement efforts.
On December 8, 2017, President Trump signed Executive Order 13816, which revised the official seal of the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). The order modified the design and specifications of the seal used by the federal agency that regulates and supervises credit unions. The direct impact on Americans using credit unions is administrative; the seal change affected official documents, correspondence, and agency branding but did not alter NCUA's regulatory functions or member protections.
On October 20, 2017, President Trump signed Executive Order 13814, amending Executive Order 13223 regarding the national defense industrial base. The amendment modified provisions related to defense production Act authorities and industrial preparedness. The direct impact includes changes to how the federal government can access industrial capacity and resources during national emergencies.