Tracking every rollback, reversal, and overreach — and the path back to the America we know.
On April 1, 2019, President Trump signed Proclamation 2019-06953 designating April 2, 2019 as World Autism Awareness Day. The proclamation recognized autism awareness and called for national observance of the day. As a proclamation, it carries no regulatory force and does not create new policy, programs, or funding.
President Trump signed Proclamation 2019-06810 on March 29, 2019, designating April 2019 as Second Chance Month. The proclamation recognizes individuals with criminal records who have rehabilitated and reintegrated into society, and encourages employers, nonprofits, and government agencies to hire formerly incarcerated people. The proclamation has no direct regulatory effect but serves as official acknowledgment and encouragement for private and public sector hiring of individuals with criminal backgrounds.
On March 29, 2019, the Trump administration signed an order authorizing TransCanada Keystone Pipeline, L.P. to construct, connect, operate, and maintain pipeline facilities at the international boundary between the United States and Canada. The order granted the company permission to proceed with building the cross-border pipeline infrastructure. The pipeline began transporting crude oil from Canada through the U.S. in 2020, affecting oil supply chains and environmental conditions in states along the route, particularly in Nebraska, South Dakota, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Executive Order 13866 was signed on March 28, 2019, adjusting pay rates for certain federal employees and senior executive service positions. The order modified compensation schedules for federal workers in specific pay grades and executive classifications. The direct impact was changes to base salary and locality pay for affected federal employees beginning in the specified pay period following the order.
On March 28, 2019, the Trump administration issued a memorandum extending Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) status for Liberian nationals already in the United States through June 30, 2020. The extension allowed approximately 4,000 Liberians with DED status to remain in the country and maintain work authorization without deportation during the extension period. The action maintained temporary protected status for this population through the specified date.
President Trump signed a memorandum on March 27, 2019 (Document 2019-06441) directing the Department of the Treasury and the Federal Housing Finance Agency to develop a plan to reform housing finance and reduce government control of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The memorandum tasked agencies to propose legislation and actions to wind down the conservatorships of these government-sponsored enterprises. Confirmed direct impact: The directive initiated a formal review process, though subsequent legislative proposals did not advance to enactment during the Trump administration.
On March 26, 2019, the Trump administration issued a notice continuing the national emergency declaration with respect to significant malicious cyber-enabled activities, originally declared in 2015. The continuation extends the emergency powers and authorities related to responding to cyber threats against U.S. infrastructure and systems. The declaration allows the government to maintain emergency authorities for cyber incident response without requiring new Congressional approval.
On March 26, 2019, President Trump signed Executive Order 13865 directing the federal government to coordinate a national strategy for protecting infrastructure and military systems against electromagnetic pulses (EMPs). The order established a task force to assess vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure, communications, and energy systems, and to develop recommendations for improving resilience. The order does not directly eliminate existing protections but rather creates a coordinating framework among federal agencies for EMP preparedness.
President Trump signed Proclamation 9899 on March 25, 2019, recognizing the Golan Heights as part of the State of Israel. The proclamation reversed decades of U.S. policy that had treated the territory as occupied Syrian land under international law. The action has no direct domestic legal impact on Americans but signals a shift in U.S. foreign policy recognition and may affect U.S. relations with Syria, regional allies, and international diplomatic negotiations involving American citizens abroad.
President Trump signed Executive Order 13864 on March 21, 2019, directing federal agencies to condition federal research funding to colleges and universities on their adoption of free inquiry policies protecting viewpoint diversity. The order required institutions receiving federal funding to certify compliance with free speech protections or risk losing federal research grants. Confirmed effects include colleges reviewing speech codes and some revising conduct policies, though enforcement and funding consequences remained limited during implementation.