Tracking every rollback, reversal, and overreach — and the path back to the America we know.
On July 29, 2020, the Trump administration issued a notice continuing the national emergency with respect to Lebanon, originally declared in 1976. The continuation extends the emergency declaration, which authorizes the President to exercise powers under the National Emergencies Act. The declaration affects U.S. government authority regarding financial transactions, asset freezing, and sanctions related to Lebanon.
On July 29, 2020, the Trump administration authorized the Kansas City Southern Railway Company to construct, connect, operate, and maintain railway bridge facilities at the international boundary between the United States and Mexico. The authorization permits the company to build and maintain cross-border rail infrastructure at a specified location on the US-Mexico border. The direct effect allows increased rail transport capacity between the two countries at this crossing point.
On July 29, 2020, the Trump administration signed an authorization allowing TransCanada Keystone Pipeline, L.P. to operate and maintain existing pipeline facilities at the international boundary between the United States and Canada. The action permits continued operation of pipeline infrastructure at the US-Canada border crossing. The direct effect was to enable ongoing crude oil transport across the US-Canada border through existing Keystone Pipeline facilities.
President Trump signed Proclamation 10029 on July 24, 2020, establishing the Korean War Veterans Armistice Day to be observed annually on July 27. The proclamation designates a day for Americans to honor Korean War veterans and those who died in the conflict. The proclamation creates an annual observance but does not establish a federal holiday.
On July 24, 2020, President Trump signed Executive Order 13937, directing the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a Most Favored Nation (MFN) model for Medicare drug pricing. The order required Medicare to pay no more for drugs than the lowest price paid in other developed nations. The rule was implemented in November 2020 but was blocked by federal courts before taking effect, and was subsequently rescinded by the Biden administration in 2021.
On July 24, 2020, President Trump signed Executive Order 13938 directing the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a program permitting the importation of FDA-approved drugs from Canada and other countries at lower prices. The order instructed HHS to create a Safe Importation Action Plan within 30 days. As of early 2021, HHS had not implemented a functional importation program, though the administration issued guidance on the policy direction.
Executive Order 13939 was signed on July 24, 2020, directing the Department of Health and Human Services to issue a safe harbor rule removing anti-kickback protections for rebates in drug pricing negotiations. The order aimed to increase price transparency by allowing pharmaceutical manufacturers, pharmacy benefit managers, and health plans to negotiate rebates directly. The confirmed effect was that HHS issued a proposed rule in January 2021 to modify anti-kickback statute safe harbors, though implementation faced legal challenges and the rule's real-world impact on patient drug prices remained subject to ongoing litigation.
On July 24, 2020, President Trump signed Executive Order 13947 directing federal agencies to take steps to lower drug prices and increase price transparency. The order instructed the Department of Health and Human Services to allow states to import prescription drugs from Canada, permit Medicare to negotiate drug prices directly, and require drug manufacturers to disclose prices in direct-to-consumer advertising. Implementation faced legal challenges and delays; some provisions did not take effect during the Trump administration.
On July 23, 2020, the Trump administration issued a notice continuing the national emergency with respect to Mali, originally declared in 2017. The continuation extended the emergency declaration, which authorizes the executive branch to take emergency actions related to the situation in Mali without standard congressional appropriations procedures. The direct impact on Americans includes potential deployment of military resources and authorization for emergency spending related to Mali operations without requiring separate congressional approval.
On July 22, 2020, the Trump administration continued the national emergency declaration with respect to transnational criminal organizations, originally declared in 2011. The continuation extended the emergency powers and authorities related to addressing transnational criminal organizations. The confirmed effect was the continuation of emergency-related authorities that federal agencies use in their operations against designated transnational criminal organizations.