Tracking every rollback, reversal, and overreach — and the path back to the America we know.
Executive Order 13866 was signed on March 28, 2019, adjusting pay rates for certain federal employees and senior executive service positions. The order modified compensation schedules for federal workers in specific pay grades and executive classifications. The direct impact was changes to base salary and locality pay for affected federal employees beginning in the specified pay period following the order.
On March 28, 2019, the Trump administration issued a memorandum extending Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) status for Liberian nationals already in the United States through June 30, 2020. The extension allowed approximately 4,000 Liberians with DED status to remain in the country and maintain work authorization without deportation during the extension period. The action maintained temporary protected status for this population through the specified date.
President Trump signed a memorandum on March 27, 2019 (Document 2019-06441) directing the Department of the Treasury and the Federal Housing Finance Agency to develop a plan to reform housing finance and reduce government control of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The memorandum tasked agencies to propose legislation and actions to wind down the conservatorships of these government-sponsored enterprises. Confirmed direct impact: The directive initiated a formal review process, though subsequent legislative proposals did not advance to enactment during the Trump administration.
On March 26, 2019, the Trump administration issued a notice continuing the national emergency declaration with respect to significant malicious cyber-enabled activities, originally declared in 2015. The continuation extends the emergency powers and authorities related to responding to cyber threats against U.S. infrastructure and systems. The declaration allows the government to maintain emergency authorities for cyber incident response without requiring new Congressional approval.
On March 26, 2019, President Trump signed Executive Order 13865 directing the federal government to coordinate a national strategy for protecting infrastructure and military systems against electromagnetic pulses (EMPs). The order established a task force to assess vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure, communications, and energy systems, and to develop recommendations for improving resilience. The order does not directly eliminate existing protections but rather creates a coordinating framework among federal agencies for EMP preparedness.
President Trump signed Proclamation 9899 on March 25, 2019, recognizing the Golan Heights as part of the State of Israel. The proclamation reversed decades of U.S. policy that had treated the territory as occupied Syrian land under international law. The action has no direct domestic legal impact on Americans but signals a shift in U.S. foreign policy recognition and may affect U.S. relations with Syria, regional allies, and international diplomatic negotiations involving American citizens abroad.
President Trump signed Executive Order 13864 on March 21, 2019, directing federal agencies to condition federal research funding to colleges and universities on their adoption of free inquiry policies protecting viewpoint diversity. The order required institutions receiving federal funding to certify compliance with free speech protections or risk losing federal research grants. Confirmed effects include colleges reviewing speech codes and some revising conduct policies, though enforcement and funding consequences remained limited during implementation.
Trump suspended the Jones Act, a 1920 maritime law requiring goods between U.S. ports be carried on American-flagged vessels, to reduce oil shipping costs during the Iran conflict. The 60-day waiver, issued March 18, made it easier to transport oil domestically and Trump sought to extend it. This lowered shipping costs for consumers but reduced demand for American shipping vessels.
On March 18, 2019, the Trump administration issued a sequestration order pursuant to Section 251A of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, triggering automatic spending cuts across federal agencies. The order required reduction of discretionary spending in fiscal year 2020 to meet deficit reduction targets mandated by the law. The sequestration resulted in across-the-board cuts to federal programs including defense, Medicare, and other discretionary spending categories.
Executive Order 13863 was signed on March 15, 2019, to address what the administration designated as a national emergency related to significant transnational criminal organizations. The order expanded executive authority to impose sanctions, restrict financial transactions, and coordinate federal enforcement actions against designated criminal organizations and their members. The order enabled the Treasury Department to freeze assets and block transactions involving designated individuals and entities, with direct effects on financial accounts and international wire transfers involving persons identified under the order's criteria.