Tracking every rollback, reversal, and overreach — and the path back to the America we know.
President Trump signed Memorandum 2018-24897 on October 29, 2018, delegating authority under Section 1244 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019. Section 1244 addresses the establishment of new federal positions and organizational structure within the Department of Defense. The memorandum transferred specified statutory authorities to designated officials within the executive branch.
On October 26, 2018, President Trump signed Memorandum 2018-23971 delegating authority under Section 1069 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019. This memorandum transferred specified powers granted by Congress to the Secretary of Defense and other executive officials. The direct impact on Americans includes changes to how certain defense-related decisions and authorities are exercised within the executive branch.
On October 25, 2018, the Trump administration issued a notice continuing the national emergency declaration with respect to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, originally declared in 2006. The continuation extended sanctions and restrictions related to conflict minerals and armed groups in the DRC. The direct impact on Americans includes restrictions on certain mineral imports from the DRC and potential effects on consumer electronics and jewelry containing those minerals.
President Trump signed Proclamation 10765 on October 23, 2018, designating October 24, 2018 as United Nations Day. The proclamation honors the founding of the United Nations and calls for observance of the day. This is an annual ceremonial proclamation with no direct regulatory impact on Americans.
On October 17, 2018, the Trump administration issued a notice continuing the national emergency declaration with respect to significant narcotics traffickers centered in Colombia. This continuation extends sanctions and enforcement authorities targeting drug trafficking organizations. The direct impact includes sustained application of financial sanctions, asset freezes, and trade restrictions affecting entities and individuals designated under the emergency declaration.
On October 16, 2018, the Trump administration signed Memorandum 2018-23050 delegating authority under Section 1604(b) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019. This memorandum transferred specified powers to designated executive branch officials. The confirmed direct impact involves the exercise of delegated defense-related authorities by executive officials under the McCain NDAA provisions.
On September 28, 2018, the Trump administration issued Presidential Determination 2018-23245 under the Child Soldiers Prevention Act of 2008. This determination exempted certain countries from restrictions that would otherwise limit U.S. military aid and arms sales due to their use of child soldiers. The determination directly affected the flow of military assistance to nations identified as using child soldiers in armed conflict.
Executive Order 13849 was signed on September 20, 2018, authorizing implementation of sanctions identified in the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). The order directed the Treasury Department and State Department to impose sanctions on individuals and entities designated under CAATSA authorities. The confirmed direct impact included financial restrictions on sanctioned Russian, Iranian, and North Korean entities and individuals, affecting American companies' ability to conduct business with these designated parties.
On September 19, 2018, the Trump administration issued a notice continuing the national emergency declaration with respect to persons who commit, threaten to commit, or support terrorism. The continuation extended authorities under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act related to terrorism designations and financial sanctions. The direct effect on Americans includes the ongoing ability of the executive branch to designate individuals and entities as terrorists and impose financial restrictions without Congressional approval for each designation.
On September 11, 2018, the Trump administration issued a presidential determination identifying countries designated as major drug transit or major illicit drug producing countries under the Foreign Assistance Act. This determination established eligibility criteria for U.S. foreign aid and narcotics-related assistance based on drug production and trafficking activity. The determination directly affected foreign aid allocations and counternarcotics funding to identified countries.