Tracking every rollback, reversal, and overreach — and the path back to the America we know.
President Trump signed Proclamation 9657 on April 28, 2017, designating May 2017 as National Foster Care Month. The proclamation directs federal recognition of foster care and children in the foster system. The direct impact on Americans is symbolic recognition; the proclamation itself does not create new programs, funding, or policy changes.
Executive Order 13793 was signed on April 27, 2017. The order directed the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish procedures for removing or reassigning VA employees for performance or misconduct issues and to strengthen whistleblower protections for VA employees reporting wrongdoing. The order resulted in VA implementing new disciplinary procedures and whistleblower safeguards for federal employees within the department.
President Trump signed Executive Order 13791 on April 26, 2017, directing the Department of Education to review federal education programs and regulations to identify those that exceed statutory authority or impose undue burdens on states and schools. The order required the Secretary of Education to report on provisions that could be eliminated or modified. Confirmed effects included subsequent rollbacks of Obama-era guidance on Title IX sexual assault investigations, bathroom access policies, and disciplinary practices, shifting enforcement responsibility to states and individual school districts.
Executive Order 13792 was signed on April 26, 2017, directing the Secretary of the Interior to review all national monument designations made since January 1, 1996, and report on their legality and appropriateness. The order resulted in the Interior Department recommending changes to multiple monument designations, leading to the subsequent reduction in size of Bears Ears National Monument (Utah) and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (Utah), which removed federal protections from approximately 2 million acres of public land.
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.
President Trump signed Executive Order 13788 on April 18, 2017, directing federal agencies to strengthen enforcement of domestic content and workforce requirements in federal contracting and procurement. The order requires agencies to review and modify acquisition regulations to maximize the use of goods and services produced in the United States and to prioritize hiring of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents for federal positions. Confirmed effects include increased scrutiny of federal contracts for foreign content and implementation of hiring preferences in federal employment.
On April 12, 2017, President Trump signed a memorandum delegating authority under the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act to executive branch officials. The memorandum transferred specific powers granted by Congress to the Secretary of Defense and other agency heads to execute provisions of the NDAA. The delegation allowed these officials to exercise statutory authorities without requiring direct presidential action on routine defense matters.
President Trump signed Proclamation 2017-05678 on April 7, 2017, designating April 14, 2017 as Pan American Day and the week of April 10-16, 2017 as Pan American Week. The proclamation calls for the observance of these dates to recognize the achievements and contributions of the countries of the Western Hemisphere. This is an annual proclamation with no direct regulatory impact on Americans.
President Trump signed Proclamation 2017-05780 on April 7, 2017, establishing an annual National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day. The proclamation designates a day to honor and recognize Americans who were prisoners of war. The proclamation does not create binding law but expresses official recognition of former prisoners of war.