Tracking every rollback, reversal, and overreach — and the path back to the America we know.
President Trump signed Proclamation 2018-01234 on January 16, 2018, designating January 16, 2018, as Religious Freedom Day. The proclamation reaffirmed the administration's commitment to protecting religious liberty and called for Americans to reflect on religious freedom. The proclamation itself is ceremonial and does not establish new legal restrictions or protections; it serves as a statement of presidential position on religious freedom.
Executive Order 13822 was signed on January 9, 2018, directing federal agencies to improve transition services for military personnel leaving active duty. The order established requirements for pre-separation counseling, job training coordination, and interagency collaboration to support veterans' transition to civilian employment. The confirmed effect includes expanded access to transition assistance programs and employment resources for separating service members.
President Trump signed Executive Order 13821 on January 8, 2018, directing federal agencies to streamline and expedite the process for locating broadband facilities on federal lands and rights-of-way in rural America. The order reduced administrative timelines and requirements for broadband infrastructure deployment on federal property. The confirmed effect was faster permitting for telecommunications companies to install broadband infrastructure in rural areas with federal land involvement.
On January 8, 2018, the Trump administration signed a memorandum directing the Department of the Interior to permit broadband tower facilities on federal properties it manages. The memorandum streamlines approval processes for telecommunications infrastructure on Interior lands. The confirmed effect allows broadband and wireless providers to install tower facilities on federal property, expanding rural broadband access in areas managed by Interior.
On January 3, 2018, President Trump signed Executive Order 13820, which dissolved the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity that had been established in May 2017. The commission, chaired by Vice President Mike Pence and Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, was terminated before completing its stated mission to investigate voter fraud and election security. The commission had operated for approximately 8 months and had requested voter data from all 50 states; the order ended its operations and authority.
President Trump signed Proclamation 2018-00099 on December 29, 2017, designating January 2018 as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. The proclamation calls for awareness and recognition of efforts to combat human trafficking and modern slavery in the United States. The proclamation itself does not create new law or direct policy changes, but directs federal agencies and the public to recognize and commemorate anti-trafficking efforts during the designated month.
On December 22, 2017, President Trump signed Proclamation 9735 to modify trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The proclamation adjusted certain trade preferences and eligibility criteria under AGOA. The confirmed direct impact included changes to tariff treatment and trade access for eligible African nations and affected imports into the United States.
President Trump signed Executive Order 13819 on December 22, 2017, adjusting federal employee pay rates effective January 2018. The order implemented a 1.4% across-the-board pay increase for most federal employees and adjusted locality pay percentages for different geographic areas. The order directly affected approximately 2.1 million federal civilian employees and retirees receiving cost-of-living adjustments.
President Trump signed Executive Order 13817 on December 20, 2017, directing the federal government to develop a strategy to ensure secure and reliable domestic supplies of critical minerals essential to national security and economic competitiveness. The order required the Department of the Interior and other agencies to identify critical minerals, assess supply vulnerabilities, and reduce reliance on foreign sources through expedited permitting and domestic production initiatives. The confirmed direct impact includes streamlined environmental review processes for mining projects and increased federal focus on domestic mineral extraction.
President Trump signed Executive Order 13818 on December 20, 2017, authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to block the property and assets of persons involved in serious human rights abuse or corruption. The order established a sanctions regime allowing the U.S. government to designate foreign individuals and entities for asset freezes and transaction prohibitions. Americans are prohibited from conducting financial transactions with designated individuals and entities, and financial institutions must comply with blocking orders.