Tracking every rollback, reversal, and overreach — and the path back to the America we know.
On August 29, 2020, President Trump signed Memorandum 2020-19599 extending the use of National Guard units to respond to COVID-19 and facilitate economic recovery. The memorandum continued the deployment of National Guard personnel to support coronavirus response efforts, including testing, contact tracing, and health care support across states. This extended an existing authorization that had been in place since March 2020.
On May 25, 2020, President Trump signed an amendment to his May 24, 2020 proclamation that suspended entry of certain immigrants and nonimmigrants deemed to pose a risk of transmitting COVID-19. The amendment expanded restrictions on entry to the United States based on coronavirus transmission risk assessments. The proclamation affected visa processing and entry eligibility for categories of foreign nationals during the 2020 pandemic.
On May 24, 2020, President Trump signed Proclamation 10616 suspending entry to the United States for certain immigrants and nonimmigrants determined to pose a risk of transmitting COVID-19. The proclamation directed the Secretary of State and Secretary of Homeland Security to identify and restrict entry of specific foreign nationals based on coronavirus transmission risk assessments. The order affected foreign nationals seeking to enter the U.S. in immigrant and nonimmigrant categories deemed to present epidemiological risk during the pandemic.
President Trump signed Proclamation 2020-11539 on May 21, 2020, declaring a national day of mourning for Americans who died from COVID-19. The proclamation directed flags to be flown at half-staff and called for a moment of remembrance. The confirmed effect was a symbolic national acknowledgment of coronavirus deaths at that point in the pandemic.
On April 28, 2020, the Trump administration issued a memorandum directing continued federal support for governors' use of the National Guard to respond to COVID-19 and facilitate economic recovery. The memorandum authorized federal funding for National Guard deployments in states and territories for pandemic response activities. This directed federal dollars toward state-led National Guard mobilizations already underway or planned for coronavirus-related missions.
On April 13, 2020, President Trump signed a memorandum directing federal support for governors' deployment of the National Guard to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The memorandum authorized federal funding and coordination for National Guard units activated by state governors for pandemic response activities including testing, contact tracing, and support at medical facilities. The confirmed effect was to provide federal reimbursement for state National Guard deployments that governors had already authorized or were considering for coronavirus response efforts.
On April 7, 2020, President Trump signed a memorandum directing federal support for governors' deployment of the National Guard to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The memorandum authorized Department of Defense resources and coordination to assist state National Guard units in coronavirus mitigation efforts. The confirmed effect was to mobilize National Guard personnel across states for pandemic-related tasks including testing, hospital support, and logistics operations.
On March 28, 2020, the Trump administration issued a memorandum authorizing federal support for governors' deployment of National Guard units to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The memorandum directed federal agencies to provide logistical and financial assistance to state governors requesting National Guard support for coronavirus response activities. The confirmed direct impact was that National Guard personnel were deployed in multiple states for tasks including testing site operations, hospital support, and supply distribution.
On March 14, 2020, President Trump signed Proclamation 10597 suspending entry of certain immigrants and nonimmigrants deemed to pose a risk of transmitting COVID-19. The proclamation suspended issuance of immigrant visas and certain nonimmigrant visas for persons outside the United States. The order affected visa processing at U.S. consulates and entry at ports of entry, resulting in delays and rejections of visa applications and entry requests for affected categories.
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.