Civicslog

The order directs federal agencies and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) Board of Directors to cease federal funding for National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). The CPB board is instructed to cancel existing direct and indirect funding to the maximum extent allowed by law and decline to provide future funding. Additionally, all executive departments and agencies are instructed to identify and terminate any direct or indirect funding of NPR and PBS.

The proclamation designates May 1, 2025, as Loyalty Day and Law Day, U.S.A. It calls on all Americans to reflect on the importance of the rule of law and display the American flag in support of this national observance. Government officials are urged to display the flag on all government buildings and grounds on this day.

The proclamation designates May 1, 2025, as a National Day of Prayer, encouraging all Americans to observe this day in their houses of worship, communities, workplaces, schools, and homes. Task Forces have been established to combat anti-religious bias and eliminate anti-religious policies, practices, and conduct in executive departments and agencies. Additionally, a White House Faith Office has been created to strengthen families and protect religious freedom.

The order designates May 3 through May 4, 2025, as National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend. It instructs that the flag of the United States be flown at half-staff at all Federal office buildings in honor of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service on Sunday, May 4, 2025. The directive aims to honor volunteer and professional firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty over the past year.

The EPA will transfer 130 scientists from its independent research group to chemical review and approval labs. The scientists had been working on health and environmental research.

The Trump II administration wants to shrink the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument by half-a-million square miles and open it to commercial fishing. California, meanwhile, is looking to extend the 16% of state-protected shoreline by another 2%.

The order directs federal agencies to establish the Religious Liberty Commission. This Commission, composed of up to 14 appointed members and ex officio members including the Attorney General, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, is tasked with producing a comprehensive report on the foundations of religious liberty in America, its impact on society, current threats to it, strategies to preserve and enhance protections for future generations, and programs to increase awareness of and celebrate America’s peaceful religious pluralism. The Commission will also examine specific areas such as First Amendment rights, attacks on houses of worship, and parents’ authority over their children's education.

Chris Krebs, a former Trump I cybersecurity official, is now under investigation by federal authorities. Krebs had criticized the president for his comments on election security following the 2020 election. Earlier this week Krebs was informed he’d lost his Global Entry privileges. Later, DHS confirmed this was due to the investigation.

Nature reports that NSF staffers have been told to stop all new funding activities. They’ve also been told to screen applications to confirm research aligns with Trump II administration priorities.

The proclamation designates April 29, 2025, as a day to commemorate the 418th anniversary of the first landing and the raising of the Cape Henry Cross by the Jamestown settlers in Virginia. It encourages the nation to remember and honor the historical event and the settlers' dedication to their faith and their new homeland.

The order directs federal agencies to adjust the application of certain tariffs on imported goods. It aims to avoid the cumulative effect of overlapping tariffs that apply to the same article, which can exceed what is necessary to achieve intended policy goals. The order outlines the procedure for determining which of multiple tariffs shall apply when an article is subject to more than one tariff. The agencies involved will ensure that tariffs from certain proclamations and executive orders do not "stack" on top of each other.

The order directs the Secretary of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative to monitor and adjust imports of automobiles and automobile parts into the United States, due to the perceived threat to national security. The order includes the imposition of a tariff system to regulate these imports. The Secretary is also instructed to establish processes to identify and impose tariffs on additional automobile parts, and to continue monitoring imports in relation to national security.

The order directs federal agencies to enforce English proficiency requirements for commercial vehicle operators. The Secretary of Transportation, through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), is instructed to rescind a 2016 guidance document and issue new guidance to ensure compliance with English language proficiency requirements. The FMCSA is also directed to review non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses for irregularities and improve verification of driving credentials. Additionally, the Secretary of Transportation is tasked with identifying actions to improve the working conditions of truck drivers.

The order directs federal agencies to identify and take action against jurisdictions that obstruct the enforcement of federal immigration laws, often referred to as "sanctuary" jurisdictions. The Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security are instructed to publish a list of these jurisdictions, notify them of their noncompliance, and pursue legal remedies to bring them into compliance. Additionally, the order mandates the suspension or termination of federal funds to these jurisdictions, as well as the development of mechanisms to verify eligibility for federal public benefits in these areas. It also requires action against local laws favoring aliens over American citizens.

The order directs federal agencies to provide resources and support to state and local law enforcement. The Attorney General is instructed to establish a mechanism to provide legal resources to law enforcement officers who face expenses and liabilities for actions taken in their official duties. The Attorney General and other relevant agency heads are also directed to maximize the use of federal resources to provide best practices, expand training, increase pay and benefits, and strengthen legal protections for law enforcement officers. Additionally, the Attorney General and the Secretary of Defense are instructed to increase the provision of military and national security assets to assist local law enforcement. The Attorney General is also tasked with pursuing legal remedies against state and local officials who obstruct law enforcement or engage in discrimination under the guise of diversity initiatives.

Trump II administration has let go hundreds of climate scientists who volunteered to produce the nation’s next climate assessment, which is supposed to be completed in 2028. No reason was given for the dismissals.

The new head of the Justice Department’s civil rights division has redirected efforts toward combating “woke” and investigating “anti-Christian bias.” In response, dozens of attorneys have left the department.

The proclamation recognizes April 26, 2025 as World Intellectual Property Day. It emphasizes the importance of safeguarding American intellectual property and innovation, and encourages citizens to celebrate the achievements of creators and inventors. The proclamation also mentions past actions to protect intellectual property, including the establishment of the Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, the use of tariffs to secure stronger intellectual property protections in trade deals, and an executive order aimed at removing barriers to American leadership in artificial intelligence.

The memo directs the Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, to investigate allegations of unlawful use of online fundraising platforms for making "straw" or "dummy" contributions or foreign contributions to political candidates and committees. The Attorney General is also directed to report back on the investigation's results within 180 days. The order is in response to concerns about potential evasion of federal source and amount limitations on political contributions and potential misuse of these platforms by foreign nationals. [Editor: The Memo specifically identifies ActBlue, the Democratic-party leaning online fundraiser.]

The order directs federal agencies to enhance the use of probationary and trial periods for new hires. Agencies must affirmatively determine that the continued employment of individuals serving these periods would benefit the Federal service before finalizing their appointments. The directive also issues a new Civil Service Rule XI, replacing subpart H of part 315 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, and repeals Civil Service Rule 2.4. This change aims to prevent probationary employees from becoming tenured Federal employees without agency approval.

The order directs federal agencies to accelerate the development of seabed mineral resources and secure supply chains for defense, infrastructure, and energy sectors. The Secretary of Commerce is instructed to expedite the process for issuing seabed mineral exploration licenses and commercial recovery permits, and to provide a report identifying private sector opportunities for seabed mineral resource exploration and processing. The Secretary of the Interior is directed to establish an expedited process for reviewing and approving permits for seabed mineral prospecting.

A Biden Administration regulation to tighten inspections at poultry plants is withdrawn by the USDA. The rule would have required chicken producers to limit levels of salmonella bacteria in their products.

The State Department has eliminated the office that oversees international climate talks. The Office of Global Change is being shuttered as part of the Trump II administration’s effort to end U.S. participation in international climate negotiations and planning efforts.

The order directs federal agencies to advance artificial intelligence (AI) education for American youth. It establishes a White House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence Education, chaired by the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and includes members from various departments such as Agriculture, Labor, Energy, Education, and the National Science Foundation. The Task Force is responsible for implementing AI education policy and coordinating federal efforts related to AI education. Additionally, the order instructs the Task Force to create a Presidential Artificial Intelligence Challenge to promote student and educator achievements in AI.

The proclamation calls for the observance of the Days of Remembrance of Victims of the Holocaust from April 20 through April 27, 2025. It encourages the public to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust and Nazi persecution through study, prayers, and remembering the lessons of this atrocity to prevent its repetition. It also instructs the Federal Government to use all available and appropriate legal tools to combat anti-Semitic harassment in schools and on college campuses.

The order directs federal agencies to commemorate National Park Week from April 19 through April 27, 2025. The week's events will start with a commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord at Minute Man National Historical Park in Massachusetts. The order also encourages all Americans to learn more about the natural and historical heritage of the national parks.

The proclamation designates April 20 through April 26, 2025, as National Volunteer Week. It encourages all Americans to participate in volunteer service projects across the country and to make service a regular part of their lives.

The order directs federal agencies to prepare Americans for high-paying skilled trade jobs of the future. The Secretaries of Labor, Commerce, and Education are instructed to review all Federal workforce development programs and submit a strategy to optimize these programs, with a focus on in-demand skills of emerging industries. Additionally, these agencies are tasked with expanding Registered Apprenticeships and improving transparency on the performance outcomes of workforce development programs. They are given 90 days to report on strategies to help American workers and 120 days to plan for expanding apprenticeships.

The order directs federal agencies to reform the system of higher education accreditation. The Secretary of Education is instructed to hold accountable accreditors who fail to meet recognition criteria or violate federal law, including those who require institutions to engage in unlawful discrimination under the guise of "diversity, equity, and inclusion" initiatives. The Attorney General and the Secretary of Education are also directed to investigate and take action against unlawful discrimination by American law schools, potentially impacting their status as accrediting agencies under federal law.

The order directs federal agencies to revise school discipline policies. The Secretary of Education, in collaboration with the Attorney General, is instructed to issue new guidance to local and state educational agencies on school discipline and obligations to avoid racial discrimination under Title VI. Furthermore, the Secretary of Defense is directed to issue a revised school discipline code for children of military-service families. The Secretary of Education, along with the Attorney General, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Secretary of Homeland Security, is also tasked to submit a report on the status of "discriminatory-equity-ideology-based" school discipline and behavior modification techniques in American public education.