Tracking every rollback, reversal, and overreach — and the path back to the America we know.
On November 1, 2019, President Trump issued a Presidential Determination setting the refugee admission ceiling for fiscal year 2020 at 18,000 individuals. This reduced the number of refugees the United States would admit from the previous fiscal year's 30,000. The determination directly limited the number of refugees who could enter the United States during that fiscal year.
President Trump signed Proclamation 2019-24275 on October 31, 2019, designating November 2019 as National Adoption Month. The proclamation calls attention to adoption as a means of providing children with families and encourages Americans to support adoption. The proclamation has no direct regulatory effect on Americans but serves as an official recognition and advocacy statement from the executive office.
President Trump signed Proclamation 2019-24277 on October 31, 2019, establishing November 2019 as National American History and Founders Month. The proclamation designates the month for celebrating American history and the nation's founders. The proclamation has no direct regulatory impact on Americans' daily lives or access to services.
President Trump signed Executive Order 13897 on October 31, 2019, revoking Executive Order 13495, which had required federal contractors to disclose contributions to labor unions and political organizations. The revocation eliminated disclosure requirements that contractors had been obligated to follow when bidding on federal contracts. The direct effect was to remove transparency mandates previously applied to federal contractors' political and union spending.
On October 31, 2019, the Trump administration issued a notice continuing the national emergency declaration with respect to Sudan, originally declared under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The continuation extended restrictions and sanctions related to Sudan that had been in place. The direct effect maintained existing economic sanctions and travel restrictions affecting U.S. persons' ability to conduct business with Sudan and limited financial transactions.
President Trump signed Executive Order 13896 on October 28, 2019, establishing a Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice. The commission was directed to study and make recommendations on federal, state, and local law enforcement practices, including use of force policies, officer training, and criminal justice procedures. The commission issued a final report in December 2020 with recommendations to Congress and federal agencies regarding policing practices and criminal justice administration.
On October 25, 2019, 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 (Document 2019-24425). This determination addresses compensation and benefits calculations for Department of Defense personnel stationed or deployed overseas. The specific real-world impact on Americans includes potential adjustments to how military pay, allowances, and related benefits are calculated for service members and their families stationed abroad.
President Trump signed Proclamation 2019-24008 on October 25, 2019, modifying duty-free treatment for certain countries under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program. The proclamation removed or suspended GSP benefits for specific countries, increasing tariffs on designated imports from those nations. The direct effect was higher import duties on goods from affected countries, increasing costs for American importers and potentially affecting consumer prices for affected products.
On October 22, 2019, the Trump administration issued a notice continuing the national emergency with respect to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, originally declared in 2006. The continuation extends sanctions and restrictions related to the DRC conflict. The direct impact on Americans includes potential restrictions on certain imports from the DRC and limitations on U.S. business activities in the region.
Executive Order 13895 was signed on October 22, 2019, establishing the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST). The order created a council to advise the President on science, technology, and innovation policy. The council convenes leading scientists, engineers, and innovators to provide recommendations on federal science and technology initiatives affecting Americans.