Tracking every rollback, reversal, and overreach — and the path back to the America we know.
On January 10, 2020, President Trump signed Executive Order 13902, imposing additional sanctions on Iranian economic sectors. The order expanded existing Iran sanctions to target additional industries beyond those previously sanctioned. The confirmed direct impact includes restrictions on U.S. persons and entities conducting business with designated Iranian sectors, affecting American companies' ability to engage in trade with Iran.
On January 6, 2020, the Trump administration signed Presidential Determination 2020-2473, waiving restrictions on U.S. foreign assistance to Bolivia under Section 706 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003. The waiver eliminated a statutory restriction that had previously limited U.S. aid to Bolivia. This allowed the resumption or continuation of U.S. foreign assistance to Bolivia without the congressionally-mandated conditions that had been in place.
President Trump signed Proclamation 2020-00065 on December 31, 2019, designating January 2020 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. As a proclamation, it does not create new law or enforcement mechanisms but serves as an official designation to promote public awareness during the designated month.
Executive Order 13901 was signed on December 26, 2019, adjusting federal employee pay rates effective January 1, 2020. The order modified the annual pay adjustment for certain federal employees and modified locality pay adjustments for federal employees in different geographic areas. Federal employees received pay adjustments based on the formula established in the order rather than the adjustment that would have otherwise been implemented.
On December 26, 2019, President Trump signed Proclamation 9928 modifying trade preferences under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The proclamation adjusted which African countries and products qualified for preferential trade access to U.S. markets. The direct impact was changes to tariff treatment for specific imports from designated African nations, affecting both U.S. importers and African exporters dependent on preferential trade access.
On December 18, 2019, the Trump administration continued its declaration of a national emergency with respect to serious human rights abuse and corruption, originally issued in December 2017. The continuation extended the emergency declaration for an additional year, maintaining sanctions and restrictions on individuals and entities designated under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The direct effect was the continuation of asset freezes, travel bans, and financial restrictions on designated foreign nationals and organizations involved in human rights violations and corruption.
President Trump signed Executive Order 13900 on December 17, 2019, directing the closure of all executive departments and agencies of the federal government on December 24, 2019. The order specified that all federal offices would be closed on that date. The confirmed effect was that federal offices were closed on December 24, 2019, affecting federal employee work schedules and public access to federal services on that date.
President Trump signed Proclamation 2019-27525 on December 16, 2019, designating December 17, 2019, as Wright Brothers Day to commemorate the 116th anniversary of the first powered airplane flight. The proclamation directs Americans to observe the day and reflect on the Wright brothers' achievement in aviation. The proclamation has no direct regulatory or programmatic effect on Americans beyond ceremonial recognition.
President Trump signed Executive Order 13899 on December 11, 2019, directing federal agencies to enforce Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 against educational institutions that discriminate based on antisemitism. The order instructed the Department of Education and other agencies to consider the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's working definition of antisemitism when evaluating civil rights complaints. The confirmed effect was that educational institutions receiving federal funding faced potential loss of that funding if found to discriminate against Jewish students or staff based on antisemitic conduct.
President Trump signed Proclamation 9927 on November 27, 2019, designating November 28, 2019, as a National Day of Thanksgiving. The proclamation called on Americans to observe the day in thanksgiving to God. This is an annual ceremonial proclamation with no direct regulatory impact on Americans.