Tracking every rollback, reversal, and overreach — and the path back to the America we know.
On May 23, 2017, the Trump administration signed a sequestration order pursuant to Section 251A of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act. The order authorized automatic spending cuts across federal agencies for fiscal year 2018. The sequestration reduced discretionary spending allocations to agencies including defense, education, health, and social services.
President Trump signed Proclamation 10848 on May 19, 2017, designating the week of May 22-26, 2017 as World Trade Week. The proclamation recognizes the importance of international trade and calls for increased awareness of trade's role in the U.S. economy. As a proclamation, it carries no binding regulatory power and serves as a formal declaration without direct operational impact on Americans.
President Trump signed Proclamation 10850 on May 19, 2017, designating May 20, 2017 as Armed Forces Day. The proclamation calls for Americans to observe the day by honoring and recognizing the military service members of the United States Armed Forces. This is an annual ceremonial proclamation with no direct operational or policy impact on Americans.
On May 17, 2017, President Trump signed a Presidential Determination pursuant to Section 1245(d)(4)(B) and (C) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, authorizing the use of funds for Afghan security forces. This determination allows the Department of Defense to allocate specified funding to support and train Afghan military and police forces. The direct effect is the allocation of congressionally appropriated defense funds to Afghan security operations without requiring additional congressional approval for this specific expenditure.
The Trump administration eased sanctions on Venezuela's state-run financial system to boost the country's economy. Venezuela's government-run bank and financial institutions can now legally use U.S. currency, directly receive oil sales revenue, and reenter the U.S.-controlled global financial system. This action aims to stabilize Venezuela's damaged economy amid public worker protests.
On May 16, 2017, President Trump signed a notice continuing the national emergency with respect to the stabilization of Iraq, originally declared in 2003. The continuation extends the emergency declaration, which authorizes the government to maintain certain powers related to Iraq operations. This action allows the administration to continue invoking emergency authorities for Iraq-related activities without requiring new congressional approval.
President Trump signed Proclamation 2017-10313 on May 15, 2017, designating May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week of May 14-20 as Police Week. The proclamation honors fallen law enforcement officers and calls for observance of these commemorative dates. It has no direct regulatory impact on Americans but establishes official federal recognition of these observances.
President Trump signed Proclamation 2017-10159 on May 12, 2017, designating a day to honor military spouses. The proclamation declares recognition of military spouses' contributions and sacrifices. As a proclamation, it establishes an official observance day but carries no binding regulatory or budgetary requirements.
President Trump signed Executive Order 13800 on May 11, 2017, directing federal agencies to strengthen cybersecurity protections for federal networks and critical infrastructure systems. The order required agencies to implement new cybersecurity standards, report vulnerabilities, and coordinate defense efforts across government and critical sectors including energy, communications, and financial systems. The order established ongoing federal cybersecurity requirements affecting how agencies protect data systems and infrastructure that Americans depend on for essential services.
President Trump signed Executive Order 13799 on May 11, 2017, establishing the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity. The commission was directed to examine voting processes, voter registration, election administration, and election security across states. The commission issued a final report in July 2018 finding no evidence of widespread voter fraud, but the commission itself was dissolved in January 2018 after legal challenges from civil rights organizations and states that challenged its authority to access voter data.