Tracking every rollback, reversal, and overreach — and the path back to the America we know.
On March 13, 2020, the Trump administration signed Memorandum 2020-05793 authorizing states to approve diagnostic tests for COVID-19 without prior federal clearance. The memorandum allowed state health departments to validate and deploy tests more rapidly than the standard FDA approval process. This expanded the number of available COVID-19 tests Americans could access during the early pandemic period.
President Trump signed Proclamation 2020-5794 on March 13, 2020, declaring a national emergency concerning the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. The proclamation invoked the National Emergencies Act and the Stafford Act, enabling the federal government to mobilize resources, waive certain regulations, and authorize emergency funding for pandemic response. The declaration activated emergency powers that allowed FEMA to coordinate disaster relief, permitted the Secretary of Health and Human Services to waive Medicare requirements, and authorized the use of the Defense Production Act to manufacture medical supplies.
On March 12, 2020, the Trump administration issued a notice continuing the national emergency with respect to Iran, originally declared in 1995 and renewed annually. The continuation extended the emergency declaration's legal authority, maintaining sanctions and restrictions on Iran-related transactions and activities. This action kept in place existing economic sanctions, travel restrictions, and asset freezes on Iran and Iranian entities affecting U.S. foreign policy and trade.
On March 11, 2020, President Trump signed Proclamation 10578 suspending the entry of foreign nationals who had been physically present in designated countries within 14 days prior to entry into the United States, citing COVID-19 transmission risk. The proclamation applied restrictions to travelers from Iran, Italy, South Korea, and certain regions of China. The order affected travel to the United States for foreign nationals from these areas, while U.S. citizens and permanent residents were generally permitted entry with health screening.
On March 11, 2020, President Trump signed Memorandum 2020-05580 directing the Food and Drug Administration to allow manufacturers to produce general use respirators (non-medical masks and coverings) without prior approval. The memorandum removed regulatory barriers to expand respirator availability during the COVID-19 pandemic. This enabled broader civilian access to respiratory protection equipment during the early pandemic response.
On March 6, 2020, the Trump administration issued Presidential Order 2020-05011 regarding the proposed acquisition of StayNTouch, Inc., a U.S. hospitality software company, by Beijing Shiji Information Technology Co., Ltd., a Chinese company. The order blocked or restricted the transaction based on national security concerns. The direct effect was to prevent the Chinese company from acquiring control of the American software platform used by hotels and hospitality businesses.
On March 5, 2020, the Trump administration continued the national emergency with respect to Venezuela through Notice 2020-04822. The continuation extended the emergency declaration originally issued in 2019, maintaining executive authorities to impose sanctions and restrictions related to Venezuelan officials and entities. The declaration remained in effect, allowing the administration to enforce economic sanctions against Venezuela without requiring Congressional approval.
On March 4, 2020, the Trump administration continued the national emergency declaration with respect to Zimbabwe through Notice 2020-04743. The continuation extends the existing emergency declaration that authorizes targeted sanctions and restrictions on Zimbabwean government officials and entities. The renewal maintains ongoing restrictions on trade, financial transactions, and travel related to designated Zimbabwe individuals and organizations.
On March 3, 2020, President Trump signed a memorandum delegating authority to re-establish the Presidential Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria. The council had previously been allowed to expire and this action restored its establishment and operational authority. The council advises the federal government on strategies and policies related to antibiotic resistance, which affects treatment options for bacterial infections in Americans.
President Trump signed Proclamation 10052 on February 29, 2020, suspending entry into the United States of foreign nationals who had been present in Iran during the 14 days before their attempted entry. The proclamation directed the Secretary of State and Department of Homeland Security to implement restrictions on visa issuance and entry for affected individuals. The direct effect was denial of entry or visa processing for travelers with recent presence in Iran based on COVID-19 transmission risk assessment.