Tracking every rollback, reversal, and overreach — and the path back to the America we know.
The Trump administration faced a lawsuit from the American Library Association challenging cuts to library funding that were made without congressional approval. The administration reached a settlement ending the legal dispute over the unauthorized funding reductions. This settlement protects federal library funding and affirms that budgetary cuts require congressional authorization.
President Trump signed Executive Order 13945 on August 8, 2020, directing federal agencies to provide assistance to renters and homeowners affected by COVID-19 disruptions. The order sought to prevent evictions and foreclosures by directing the Secretary of the Treasury to consider providing financial assistance and directing agencies to explore measures including eviction and foreclosure moratoriums. The order's confirmed effects included directing consideration of rental assistance programs, though actual distribution of funds and implementation timelines were dependent on subsequent agency action and Congressional appropriations.
Executive Order 13940 was signed on August 3, 2020. The order directed federal agencies to prioritize hiring American workers and to modify federal contracting procedures to align with domestic workforce interests. The confirmed direct effect included revised hiring guidelines for federal positions and changes to contracting evaluation criteria at federal agencies during the remainder of the 2020 fiscal year.
On July 24, 2020, President Trump signed Executive Order 13937, directing the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a Most Favored Nation (MFN) model for Medicare drug pricing. The order required Medicare to pay no more for drugs than the lowest price paid in other developed nations. The rule was implemented in November 2020 but was blocked by federal courts before taking effect, and was subsequently rescinded by the Biden administration in 2021.
Executive Order 13933 was signed on June 26, 2020, directing federal agencies to enforce existing laws against the destruction of federal monuments and statues, and directing the Department of Justice to prosecute vandalism of public property. The order established that agencies must protect monuments on federal property and directed law enforcement to address property damage during protests. The confirmed direct impact included increased federal prosecution of individuals who damaged or removed statues and monuments, particularly during 2020 civil unrest.
President Trump signed Executive Order 13928 on June 11, 2020, blocking property and financial transactions of International Criminal Court officials and their family members. The order authorized the Treasury Department to impose sanctions on ICC personnel investigating or prosecuting U.S. citizens or allies. The confirmed direct impact includes freezing of U.S.-based assets of designated ICC officials and prohibiting American entities from conducting financial transactions with them.
On May 29, 2020, President Trump signed Proclamation 10052 suspending the entry of certain Chinese nationals as nonimmigrants under F-1 and J-1 visa categories. The proclamation prohibited entry of Chinese graduate students and researchers with ties to China's military or certain government institutions. The suspension affected Chinese citizens who had participated in or been funded by China's civil-military fusion programs.
On April 22, 2020, President Trump signed Proclamation 10052 suspending the entry of immigrants classified as presenting a risk to the U.S. labor market during economic recovery from the COVID-19 outbreak. The proclamation suspended issuance of immigrant visas and certain diversity visas, citing concerns about job availability for U.S. citizens during the pandemic. The suspension affected visa processing at consulates worldwide and delayed or prevented admission of foreign nationals seeking permanent residence, with confirmed impacts on visa application backlogs and delayed family reunification.
Executive Order 13901 was signed on December 26, 2019, adjusting federal employee pay rates effective January 1, 2020. The order modified the annual pay adjustment for certain federal employees and modified locality pay adjustments for federal employees in different geographic areas. Federal employees received pay adjustments based on the formula established in the order rather than the adjustment that would have otherwise been implemented.
President Trump signed Executive Order 13891 on October 9, 2019, establishing new requirements for federal agencies issuing guidance documents. The order requires agencies to treat guidance documents as non-binding, distinguish them clearly from rules, and submit them to Office of Management and Budget review. The order affects how federal agencies communicate regulatory expectations to the public and regulated entities, changing the process by which guidance is issued but not eliminating existing guidance documents.