Tracking presidential actions and other news.
The president has authorized an additional 2,000 National Guard members to Los Angeles, bringing the total to 4,000. Meanwhile, 700 Marines are expected to begin arriving Tuesday. California governor Gavin Newsom said of the deployments "this isn’t about public safety. It’s about stroking a dangerous President’s ego." The governor and California Attorney General Rob Bonta have sued Trump over the deployments.
The order directs the Secretary of Defense, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of Homeland Security to enhance security for the execution of federal immigration laws and protection of federal property. It calls for the temporary deployment of at least 2,000 National Guard personnel for a duration of 60 days or at the discretion of the Secretary of Defense. It also allows for the deployment of additional regular Armed Forces personnel as deemed necessary by the Secretary of Defense. [Editor's note: Lawfare provides a close reading of the directive, specifically what authority the National Guard will have (it may provide protection of federal agents and property, but cannot perform law enforcement) and the law and constitutional interpretation the order leans on.]
The order directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Administrators of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to take action to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicaid. This includes ensuring that Medicaid payment rates are not higher than Medicare rates. The directive comes following a reported rise in State Directed Payments, which quadrupled over the last four years, reaching $110 billion in 2024.
The order directs federal agencies to update regulations and standards to facilitate supersonic flight over land. Specifically, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is instructed to repeal the prohibition on overland supersonic flight and establish an interim noise-based certification standard within 180 days. The FAA is also directed to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to establish a standard for supersonic aircraft noise certification within 18 months. The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) is tasked with coordinating supersonic research and development, and the Secretary of Transportation is directed to engage international organizations to align global supersonic regulatory approaches.
The proclamation declares June 2025 as National Ocean Month, urging Americans to reflect on the value and importance of oceans. It highlights the administration's commitment to restoring maritime dominance, including offshore critical mineral exploration and production, and the opening of the Pacific Remote Islands National Monument to commercial fishing. The proclamation also emphasizes efforts to boost domestic seafood production and exports, and to end trade practices detrimental to American fishermen.
The order directs federal agencies to enhance the security of American airspace from potential threats posed by unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), or drones. A Federal Task Force, led by the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, is established to review and propose solutions to UAS threats. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is instructed to establish a process for restricting drone flights over fixed site facilities and to make national security assessments in coordination with relevant agencies. The Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security are directed to ensure enforcement of laws against drone operators endangering public safety or violating airspace restrictions.
The order directs federal agencies to amend previous executive orders concerning the nation's cybersecurity. The Secretary of Commerce, through the Director of NIST, is instructed to establish a consortium with industry to develop secure software practices by August 1, 2025, update security and privacy controls for information systems by September 2, 2025, and develop a preliminary update to the Secure Software Development Framework by December 1, 2025. The order also addresses the security of internet traffic and the potential threat of quantum computing to public-key cryptography.
The order directs federal agencies to expedite the integration of drones, or Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), into the National Airspace System, scale up domestic production, and promote the export of American-made drone technologies. The Secretary of Transportation, through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), is tasked with issuing rules and guidelines for routine Beyond Visual Line of Sight operations, implementing artificial intelligence tools to expedite UAS waiver applications, and publishing an updated roadmap for UAS integration. The aim is to strengthen the domestic drone sector and reduce reliance on foreign sources.
The order directs federal agencies to address perceived security risks at Harvard University, specifically relating to foreign students' misconduct and the university's alleged non-compliance with federal law. It highlights that Harvard has reportedly refused to provide information requested by the Department of Homeland Security about foreign students' illegal activities. The order also mentions that Harvard has received significant funding from foreign sources, including over $150 million from China in the past decade, and has been involved in activities that could potentially aid China's military modernization.
The order directs federal agencies, specifically the Secretary of State in coordination with the Attorney General, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Director of National Intelligence, to identify countries with deficient vetting and screening information. This may result in a full or partial suspension on the admission of nationals from those countries, in accordance with section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The order also imposes certain restrictions and limitations on the entry into the United States by foreign nationals identified in sections 2 and 3 of the proclamation. [Editor's note: The order restricts the entry of people from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. It partially restricts the entry of people from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.]
The order directs the Counsel to the President and the Attorney General to investigate allegations concerning the use of an autopen for signing executive actions during President Biden's term. The investigation will focus on whether there was a deliberate attempt to hide Biden's alleged cognitive decline and unconstitutionally exercise Presidential authority. It will also scrutinize the circumstances surrounding the execution of numerous executive actions, including the use of the autopen for policy documents, executive orders, and clemency grants.
The National Weather Service said it would hire about 100 new employees to "fill positions at field offices where there is the greatest operational need." Earlier this year the NWS let go almost 600 employees during cuts ordered by the Trump administration.
The Trump administration sent a $9.4 billion budget rescissions request to Congress. Rescissions ask lawmakers to 'take-back' money it has allocated but that the administration can't or won't spend. The request would cancel $1.1 billion in public broadcast through 2027. The request also includes cuts to foreign policy and other program cuts identified by DOGE.
The Trump White House said it had rescinded a Biden-era policy that required hospitals to provide emergency abortions to women whose health was threatened, including in states that have banned abortion. While the policy memo is rescinded, the administration's statement said hospitals are still required to provide emergency care.
The order directs federal agencies to increase the tariff rate for imports of steel and derivative steel articles, as well as aluminum and derivative aluminum articles, from 25 percent to 50 percent. This increase is effective as of 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on June 4, 2025. The stated aim is to adjust the imports of these articles so that they do not threaten to impair the national security. [Editor's note: Steel and aluminum (or "aluminium") from the U.K. have a rate of 25%.]
The Trump administration announced it would end federal protections for millions of acres of Alaska wilderness, opening it up to oil drilling and mining. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said president Biden had exceeded his authority when his administration banned mining and drilling in the area last year. The site is known as the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska and was created during the early 1900s to provide a petroleum reserve for the Navy.
President Trump is withdrawing the nomination of Jared Isaacman, a billionaire associate of DOGE leader Elon Musk, to head-up NASA. No reason for step was offered in the president's announcement, save for a cryptic comment about Isaacman's "prior associations."
This week the Office of Personnel Management released a memo describing its new "Merit-Based Hiring Plan," which instructs federal agencies in the administration's updated hiring processes. Key changes include ending DEI in the hiring process, easing academic degree requirements and replacing with "skills-based" assessments, re-focusing recruitment targets to include trade schools, affinity groups, homeschoolers and more, and requiring applicants for higher-level positions (GS-5 and above) to write essays demonstrating their commitment to carrying out executive orders and supporting presidential policy perspectives. Find more context on the evolution of the current merit-based federal hiring system, and the significance of the changes described in the memo in this analysis from Adam Bonica, Stanford University associate professor of political science.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the government will "aggressively" revoke visas from Chinese students in the U.S. and enhance scrutiny for future applicants. Earlier this week the administration said it was pausing interviews for new student visas worldwide as it considered a new policy of evaluating student applicant social media accounts.
The Trump administration has ended a $258 million program searching for an H.I.V. vaccine. The program conducts research that lays the groundwork for future clinical testing. National Institutes of Health officials said the agency would refocus on currently effective treatments. Earlier, the administration had cut funding for international H.I.V. mitigation and separately, nixed funding for vaccine research carried out by Moderna.
The order directs federal agencies to reduce direct spending budgetary resources for fiscal year 2026 in each non-exempt budget account by the amount calculated by the Office of Management and Budget in its report to Congress dated May 30, 2025. All sequestrations are to be made in strict accordance with the requirements of section 251A of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as well as the specifications of the Office of Management and Budget's report.
The Supreme Court used the 'shadow docket' to rule that the administration has the authority to remove immigrant 'parole' status, en masse, rather than one-by-one. Parole status allows an immigrant to live, and potentially work, in the U.S. for up to two years. Orders passed down via the shadow docket don't get the full briefing and arguments treatment. Use of the shadow docket has become more frequent (and controversial).
Energy Secretary Chris Wright said his department would cancel $3.7 billion in grants funding 24 projects aimed at developing decarbonization or carbon sequestration technology. Wright's statement included the usual administration boilerplate that accompanies cuts like these: "The Trump administration is doing our due diligence to ensure we are utilizing taxpayer dollars to strengthen our national security, bolster affordable, reliable energy sources and advance projects that generate the highest possible return on investment." These program cancellations are part of a broader audit of 179 climate programs worth $15 billion.
The president announced on his social media platform that he was doubling the tariffs on steel and aluminum from 25% to 50%. The announcement followed remarks he had made earlier at an event celebrating the linkup of Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel (the details of which are still forthcoming). The new rates are slated to go into effect, Wednesday, June 4. [Editor's note: We refrain from marking every little thing the president says, holding until said things become official things. However, tariff announcements are noteworthy events because of their effects on markets, and the possibility that they are enabling grift for the president's coterie.]
A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of International Trade struck down the president's tariffs on dozens of countries saying his claims of national emergencies exceeded his authority. The court's ruling also says the government may have to pay back tariff dues already collected. The Justice Department appealed.
The Trump II administration has paused all international student visa applications while it considers tighter review of applicant social media activity. If the plan is approved, visa applications could be delayed, which may affect the finances of colleges that rely on tuition paid by international students.
The Trump administration intends to cancel the federal government's last few contracts with Harvard, totaling $100 million. The draft directive, seen by the NY Times, also advises government agencies to seek substitute vendors for the future.
On Wednesday the president pardoned or commuted the sentences of a couple dozen convicted criminals. Recipients of the get out of jail free cards included former gang leaders, an ex-Congressman convicted of tax evasion, reality TV stars guilty of defrauding banks and evading taxes, and a former governor of Connecticut. Many of the pardoned are vocal Trump supporters. Before this week's pardon-palooza, Ed Martin, the administration's chief pardons official, said on social media, "No MAGA left behind."
President Trump nominated Emil Bove, a top Justice Department official, to sit on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania). Previously Bove represented Trump as his private attorney in several cases during the Biden era.