Tracking every rollback, reversal, and overreach — and the path back to the America we know.
President Trump signed Proclamation 2019-12233 on June 1, 2019, declaring a day of mourning for the 12 victims killed in the May 31, 2019 shooting at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center. The proclamation directed flags to be flown at half-staff and called for a moment of remembrance. This was a ceremonial action with no direct operational impact on Americans.
President Trump signed Proclamation 2019-9977 on May 31, 2019, designating June 2019 as Great Outdoors Month. The proclamation encourages Americans to enjoy and appreciate outdoor recreation and natural spaces. The proclamation has no regulatory effect and does not restrict or mandate actions by Americans or federal agencies.
On May 31, 2019, President Trump signed Proclamation 2019-9986 modifying the list of countries eligible for preferential trade benefits under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program established by the Trade Act of 1974. The proclamation removed certain countries from the beneficiary list, ending their eligibility for duty-free trade access to U.S. markets. This directly affected import tariffs on goods from affected countries, increasing costs for American importers and potentially raising prices on consumer goods sourced from those nations.
President Trump signed Proclamation 2019-11413 on May 24, 2019, designating May 27, 2019 (Memorial Day) as a day of prayer for peace. The proclamation called for Americans to observe a moment of silence and prayer. This is a ceremonial proclamation with no regulatory or policy changes affecting Americans' legal rights or obligations.
On May 24, 2019, President Trump signed a memorandum delegating certain functions under the Hizballah International Financing Prevention Act of 2015 to the Secretary of the Treasury and other executive officials. The memorandum transferred authority for implementing and enforcing provisions of the act related to financial sanctions and designations. The direct effect was to place operational control of these sanctions enforcement mechanisms within the Treasury Department and specified federal agencies.
On May 24, 2019, President Trump signed a memorandum revising the 2017 Unified Command Plan, which reorganizes U.S. military command structure and geographic responsibilities. The revision realigned combatant command areas and operational authorities across the Department of Defense. The confirmed direct impact includes changes to military command jurisdiction over specific geographic regions and the operational chains of command for U.S. armed forces deployed globally.
On May 24, 2019, the Trump administration signed a memorandum delegating functions and authorities under the Nicaragua Human Rights and Anticorruption Act of 2018 to the Secretary of State. The memorandum transferred presidential powers to implement and enforce sanctions related to Nicaragua's human rights record and corruption to the State Department. This action streamlined the administrative process for imposing sanctions on Nicaraguan officials and entities.
On May 24, 2019, President Trump signed Memorandum 2019-12696 delegating functions and authorities under the Sanctioning the Use of Civilians as Defenseless Shields Act. The memorandum transfers specified implementation powers to designated executive branch officials. The direct impact on Americans includes changes to how sanctions related to the use of civilians as shields are administered and enforced by the executive branch.
On May 23, 2019, President Trump signed a memorandum directing federal agencies to cooperate with Attorney General William Barr's review of intelligence activities related to the 2016 presidential campaigns. The memorandum instructed agencies to provide documents and information to support the review without established classification restrictions. The direct effect was to grant the Attorney General broad authority to access classified intelligence materials and require agency compliance with his investigation into origins of the Russia probe.
On May 20, 2019, the Trump administration issued a notice continuing the national emergency declaration with respect to the stabilization of Iraq, originally declared in 2003. The continuation extends emergency powers related to Iraq operations without expiration. The direct impact on Americans includes continued authorization for military deployment and emergency spending related to Iraq operations without requirement for new Congressional approval.