Tracking every rollback, reversal, and overreach — and the path back to the America we know.
Trump administration issued a memorandum waiving statutory requirements under Section 303 of the Defense Production Act of 1950. The waiver allows the government to bypass certain legal requirements in invoking defense production authorities. The action expands executive power to mobilize industrial capacity without standard congressional or statutory constraints.
The Trump administration extended a waiver of Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act, allowing continued U.S. assistance to the government of Azerbaijan. This determination permits foreign aid and military support to Azerbaijan despite Congressional restrictions. The action maintains U.S. strategic engagement in the South Caucasus region.
Trump administration issued a memorandum invoking Section 303 of the Defense Production Act to waive statutory requirements for munitions and minerals production. The action prioritizes domestic manufacturing and defense industrial base expansion. This could accelerate mining operations and weapons production while potentially reducing environmental and labor protections.
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.
On October 18, 2019, the Trump administration issued a Presidential Determination and Certification under the Child Soldiers Prevention Act of 2008 (Document 2019-24195). The determination exercised the President's authority to waive restrictions on military assistance to countries identified as having child soldiers in their armed forces. The waiver allowed continued or resumed military aid to designated countries despite their non-compliance with child soldier elimination requirements.
On June 26, 2019, the Trump administration signed Memorandum 2019-14194 permitting graduates of military service academies and Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) programs to pursue professional sports careers. The memorandum modified existing restrictions on service academy graduates seeking to participate in professional athletics. The direct effect allows affected graduates to pursue professional sports opportunities without forfeiting their military commissions or requiring service obligation waivers previously required.
On November 29, 2018, President Trump signed Presidential Determination 2018-27696, assessing foreign governments' efforts to combat human trafficking. The determination identifies countries not meeting minimum standards for eliminating trafficking and can affect U.S. foreign aid eligibility. Countries identified may face restrictions on non-humanitarian, non-trade-related foreign assistance unless granted a waiver.
President Trump signed Executive Order 13828 on April 10, 2018, directing federal agencies to review welfare and public benefit programs and propose changes to strengthen work requirements and time limits. The order required the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Secretary of Agriculture, and Secretary of Commerce to recommend modifications to SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, and housing assistance programs within 90 days. Implementation effects included subsequent state waivers expanding work requirements for SNAP and Medicaid, resulting in reduced benefits access for certain populations.
On September 30, 2017, the Trump administration issued Presidential Determination 2017-23145 under the Child Soldiers Prevention Act of 2008. This determination waived restrictions on military aid to countries identified as using child soldiers, allowing continued U.S. military assistance to nations that would otherwise be prohibited. The waiver directly affected military funding and diplomatic relations with countries on the child soldiers list.
On May 31, 2017, President Trump signed Determination 2017-13115, which suspended the limitations imposed by the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995. The act had previously required the State Department to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, but included a presidential waiver allowing suspension on national security grounds. Trump's determination invoked this waiver, suspending the requirement to relocate the embassy. The suspension remained in effect until December 2017, when Trump reversed course and announced the embassy would move to Jerusalem.