Tracking every rollback, reversal, and overreach — and the path back to the America we know.
The Trump administration deployed thousands of additional sailors and Marines to the Middle East to enforce a maritime blockade against Iran. The deployment represents an escalation of military presence in the region as part of the administration's Iran containment strategy. Americans may face increased regional tensions and potential impacts on global oil markets and military costs.
On February 20, 2025, the Trump administration issued a notice continuing the national emergency declaration with respect to Cuba and the emergency authority relating to regulation of vessel anchorage and movement. This continuation extends existing emergency powers that allow the government to regulate the movement of vessels in U.S. waters related to Cuba. The direct impact on Americans includes continued restrictions on maritime access and potential vessel regulations affecting travel and commerce to and from Cuba.
On February 9, 2025, President Trump signed Proclamation 2025-02637 declaring the Gulf of Mexico shall be referred to as the 'Gulf of America.' The proclamation is a naming declaration with no direct operational impact on federal agencies, regulations, or resource management. The confirmed effect is that official U.S. government communications and documents will use this new designation, though international maritime law, treaties, and most global usage remain unchanged.
On February 25, 2020, the Trump administration issued a notice continuing the declared national emergency with respect to Cuba and related emergency authority over vessel anchorage and movement. The declaration, originally issued in 1996, was renewed to maintain existing restrictions on Cuban trade, travel, and maritime activity. The continuation kept in place longstanding embargo regulations and vessel movement restrictions affecting Americans' ability to travel to Cuba and conduct certain commercial activities with Cuban entities.
On November 19, 2019, President Trump signed Memorandum 2019-25618 directing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to conduct comprehensive ocean mapping of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone and Alaska's shoreline and nearshore areas. The memorandum established a requirement for federal agencies to prioritize and coordinate ocean mapping efforts to improve maritime navigation, coastal management, and resource assessment. The confirmed effect is that NOAA and participating federal agencies have undertaken systematic bathymetric and topographic surveys of specified ocean and coastal regions.
Executive Order 13860 was signed on March 4, 2019, directing federal agencies to establish programs supporting the transition of active duty service members and military veterans into merchant marine careers. The order requires the Departments of Defense, Transportation, and Veterans Affairs to coordinate efforts to identify eligible service members, provide training opportunities, and remove barriers to merchant marine employment. The confirmed direct impact includes expanded career pathways for separating service members and veterans seeking civilian maritime employment.
On February 19, 2019, the Trump administration issued a notice continuing the national emergency declaration with respect to Cuba and authorizing regulation of vessel anchorage and movement. The notice extended the existing emergency powers first declared in 1962, maintaining authority to control maritime activities related to Cuba. The continuation allows the executive branch to regulate U.S. vessel operations toward Cuba under emergency powers.
On February 22, 2018, President Trump signed Proclamation 2018-3962 continuing the national emergency declaration regarding Cuba and authorizing regulation of vessel anchorage and movement in U.S. waters. The proclamation extends restrictions on maritime traffic related to Cuba that had been in place under previous administrations. The action maintains existing vessel regulations and embargo-related controls affecting U.S. shipping and trade operations involving Cuba.