Tracking every rollback, reversal, and overreach — and the path back to the America we know.
On June 21, 2017, President Trump signed Memorandum 2017-13491 delegating authority to executive agencies under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017. The memorandum authorized agency heads to exercise specific powers granted by Congress in the appropriations legislation. The confirmed direct impact includes delegation of spending authority and administrative powers to executive officials across federal agencies.
On June 21, 2017, President Trump signed Executive Order 13802, which amended Executive Order 13597. The order revoked the requirement that federal contractors disclose violations of labor and employment laws as a condition of receiving federal contracts. The direct effect was to remove transparency requirements that had required contractors to report wage and hour violations, safety violations, and discrimination complaints to the Department of Labor before bidding on federal work.
On June 15, 2017, the Trump administration issued a Presidential Determination under Section 4533(a)(5) of the Defense Production Act of 1950, identifying strategic materials as essential to national defense. The determination authorized the federal government to prioritize and allocate supplies of these materials to support defense production. The direct impact was to grant the government authority to requisition or prioritize allocation of designated materials from domestic suppliers for military and defense purposes.
On June 13, 2017, the Trump administration issued a Presidential Determination under Section 4533(a)(5) of the Defense Production Act of 1950, invoking authority to prioritize contracts and allocate materials deemed necessary for national defense. This determination authorized the government to direct allocation of specified materials and resources to defense-related projects. The direct effect was to enable prioritization of defense contracts and supply chains without competitive bidding requirements for affected materials.
On May 23, 2017, the Trump administration signed a sequestration order pursuant to Section 251A of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act. The order authorized automatic spending cuts across federal agencies for fiscal year 2018. The sequestration reduced discretionary spending allocations to agencies including defense, education, health, and social services.
President Trump signed Executive Order 13796 on April 29, 2017, directing the U.S. Trade Representative to identify trade agreement violations and abuses by trading partners and report findings within 90 days. The order required the USTR to analyze whether any trade agreements were being violated in ways that harmed American workers and to recommend remedies including renegotiation or withdrawal from agreements.
Executive Order 13797 was signed on April 29, 2017, establishing the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy within the Executive Office of the President. The office was directed to develop and coordinate trade and manufacturing policy across federal agencies. The confirmed effect includes the creation of a new policy coordination office reporting to the President with authority over trade negotiations and domestic manufacturing initiatives.
President Trump signed Executive Order 13794 on April 28, 2017, establishing the American Technology Council to coordinate federal information technology policy and modernization efforts. The council was tasked with developing recommendations for modernizing federal IT infrastructure, improving cybersecurity, and reducing IT spending across executive agencies. The order created a framework for federal agencies to align technology initiatives under White House coordination.
President Trump signed Executive Order 13790 on April 25, 2017, directing the Department of Agriculture to review and modify regulations affecting agricultural operations and rural communities. The order required the USDA to identify rules that impose costs on farmers and rural businesses, with an aim toward reducing regulatory burden. Confirmed effects include initiation of regulatory reviews affecting farm operations, environmental compliance requirements, and rural development programs.
On April 21, 2017, President Trump signed Executive Order 13789 directing the Secretary of the Treasury to identify tax regulations that impose undue financial burdens on American businesses and taxpayers, and to recommend repeal or modification of such regulations. The order required a review of significant tax regulations issued after January 1, 2016, and mandated that for every new tax regulation issued, two existing tax regulations be identified for elimination. The confirmed direct effect was initiation of a formal regulatory review process by the Treasury Department that resulted in identification and proposal of specific tax regulations for repeal or revision.