Tracking every rollback, reversal, and overreach — and the path back to the America we know.
On August 29, 2020, President Trump signed Memorandum 2020-19599 extending the use of National Guard units to respond to COVID-19 and facilitate economic recovery. The memorandum continued the deployment of National Guard personnel to support coronavirus response efforts, including testing, contact tracing, and health care support across states. This extended an existing authorization that had been in place since March 2020.
On August 7, 2020, the Trump administration issued Memorandum 2020-17784 extending the use of National Guard personnel to respond to COVID-19 and support economic recovery efforts. The memorandum authorized continued deployment of National Guard units to assist with pandemic response activities across states. The confirmed effect was the continuation of National Guard mobilization in support of state COVID-19 operations through the specified extension period.
On August 3, 2020, President Trump signed Memorandum 2020-17370 extending the use of National Guard personnel to respond to COVID-19 and support economic recovery efforts. The memorandum continued the deployment of National Guard units that had been activated under prior directives. The extension maintained National Guard assistance in states for pandemic response activities during the period specified.
On June 24, 2020, the Trump administration issued a Presidential Determination under Section 303 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, invoking authority to prioritize defense contracts related to COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing. The determination authorized the government to allocate materials and resources to vaccine production facilities. The confirmed effect was to establish priority rating authority for contracts supporting vaccine development and manufacturing capacity during the pandemic.
On June 2, 2020, the Trump administration issued a memorandum directing continued federal funding for governors' deployment of National Guard units to respond to COVID-19 and support economic recovery efforts. The memorandum authorized federal support for National Guard operations related to pandemic response and recovery activities. The direct impact was that states received federal funding to maintain National Guard deployments for COVID-19-related missions during the specified period.
President Trump signed Proclamation 2020-11539 on May 21, 2020, declaring a national day of mourning for Americans who died from COVID-19. The proclamation directed flags to be flown at half-staff and called for a moment of remembrance. The confirmed effect was a symbolic national acknowledgment of coronavirus deaths at that point in the pandemic.
On May 20, 2020, President Trump signed a memorandum directing continued federal support for governors' deployment of the National Guard to respond to COVID-19 and facilitate economic recovery efforts. The memorandum authorized federal funding to support state National Guard operations related to pandemic response and recovery activities. The direct effect was continuation of federal reimbursement to states for National Guard activation costs during the COVID-19 emergency.
On May 14, 2020, President Trump signed Executive Order 13922, delegating authority under the Defense Production Act to the Chief Executive Officer of the United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). The order authorized the DFC CEO to use Defense Production Act powers to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak. The confirmed effect was to expand the DFC's ability to mobilize financing and resources for COVID-19 response activities, including potential domestic production or procurement of medical supplies and equipment.
On May 8, 2020, President Trump signed a memorandum directing continued federal funding for governors' use of the National Guard to respond to COVID-19 and support economic recovery efforts. The memorandum authorized the Department of Defense to provide financial support for National Guard deployments related to pandemic response. This enabled states to utilize National Guard personnel for COVID-19-related tasks without depleting state budgets for those specific deployments.
On April 28, 2020, the Trump administration issued a memorandum directing continued federal support for governors' use of the National Guard to respond to COVID-19 and facilitate economic recovery. The memorandum authorized federal funding for National Guard deployments in states and territories for pandemic response activities. This directed federal dollars toward state-led National Guard mobilizations already underway or planned for coronavirus-related missions.