Tracking presidential actions and other news.
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A proclamation establishes a Presidential Commission to develop proposals for a NASA-led United States Space Academy focused on technical education, leadership, discipline, and public service in the space sector. The commission is chaired by NASA’s administrator and includes senior officials from NASA, the White House, the Office of Management and Budget, national security agencies, and the Air Force, with a proposal due within 120 days.
National Substance Use Primary Prevention Month is proclaimed for August 2026. The proclamation encourages families, schools, communities, and religious organizations to focus on evidence-based education and prevention of substance use, particularly among young people, and highlights the 2026 National Drug Control Strategy’s emphasis on prevention. It also cites the HALT Fentanyl Act, which permanently classifies fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs, and the designation of nearly a dozen cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.
The order directs federal agencies to establish “Gold Standard” childhood vaccine recommendations based on categories identified in a Department of Health and Human Services scientific assessment, while preserving access to currently available vaccines. It emphasizes parental choice and informed consent and identifies immunizations recommended for all children, including vaccines against measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Haemophilus influenzae type B, and pneumococcal disease.
The order directs federal agencies to restore trust in the Smithsonian Institution by addressing findings from a Domestic Policy Council report that concluded Smithsonian leadership ideologically captured the National Museum of American History. The Secretary of the Interior, Director of OMB, GSA Administrator, and the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy are instructed to use all available authorities to correct issues, including installing temporary National Park Service signage around museum access points, directing visitors to alternative resources, and encouraging exhibit renovations consistent with the report’s findings.
The order directs federal agencies to develop and implement a comprehensive national response to stabilize college athletics by addressing pay-for-play, eligibility, transfer rules, and the financial arms race in football and basketball that is driving universities into large athletics-related debt, citing specific program debts of $535 million and $437 million for two major programs. It instructs agencies with relevant authority to coordinate rulemaking, enforcement, and use of federal contracting and grant conditions to protect opportunities for women’s and Olympic sports and to prevent diversion of university resources from educational and research missions.
The proclamation marks 2026 as a year of celebration and rededication in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of American freedom and independence. It encourages all Americans to honor the history and progress of the nation, reflect on its blessings, and recommit themselves to the values of liberty and justice. The year-long celebration is meant to honor the generations of individuals who have contributed to the development and success of the United States.
The order directs the Department of Education to issue guidance on how states can use federal funding to support K-12 scholarship programs and to prioritize school choice programs in the department's grants. It also mandates the Secretary of Education to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education, aiming to save billions of dollars and allow states to determine their own education policy. A new law, the One Big Beautiful Bill, creates a nationwide tax credit program for education and establishes a Trump Account for every American newborn, expanding the use of 529 accounts for elementary and high school education.
The proclamation designates December 15, 2025, as Bill of Rights Day. It encourages teachers, educators, and school administrators to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities. The proclamation commemorates the ratification of the Bill of Rights, the document that enshrines principles of freedom, human dignity, and due process in U.S. law.
The order directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to modernize the child welfare system within 180 days. This includes updating regulations, policies, and practices to improve the collection and publication of state-level child-welfare data, promoting modernization of state child-welfare information systems, expanding use of technological solutions, and publishing an annual scorecard to evaluate state-level achievement of key outcomes. The order also instructs the Secretary to establish a "Fostering the Future" initiative to create new opportunities for individuals in or transitioning out of the foster care system and to develop a plan to launch an online platform to help these individuals access resources and support.
The proclamation recognizes the period from September 15 to October 15, 2025, as National Hispanic Heritage Month, in accordance with Public Law 100-402. It calls on public officials, educators, librarians, and all Americans to observe this month with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs, honoring the contributions of Hispanic-American citizens.
The proclamation designates the week of September 17 through September 23, 2025, as Constitution Week. It calls on teachers, school administrators, and State and local leaders to educate America’s students about the rights and responsibilities of citizenship under the U.S. constitutional order. The proclamation also references previous executive orders aimed at preserving the value of American citizenship, protecting the American flag, and challenging "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion" programs in the Federal Government.
The order directs the Secretary of Education to improve the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) for better accessibility and efficiency. Additionally, the Secretary is instructed to expand reporting requirements to ensure transparency in higher education admissions, with a new system to be initiated in the 2025-2026 school year. The order also mandates increased accuracy checks and possible remedial action for institutions that fail to submit accurate and timely data.
The order directs federal agencies to revoke the existing President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition and reestablish it under a new title, which includes the reintroduction of the Presidential Fitness Test. The Secretary of Health and Human Services, with the support of the Secretary of Education, is instructed to administer the fitness test. The order also establishes a council consisting of up to 30 members appointed by the President to advise on the progress of the order's provisions and recommend actions to accelerate such progress.
The order directs federal agencies to address the challenges facing college sports in the United States. It highlights the critical role college sports play in providing scholarships and leadership opportunities to over 500,000 student-athletes, contributing to local economies, and shaping American culture. The order emphasizes the need for a national solution to protect non-revenue sports and maintain the educational and developmental benefits of collegiate athletics, in light of recent litigation that has significantly altered athlete compensation rules and threatened the viability of college sports.
The Trump administration acted to withhold $6.8 billion in education funding allocated by Congress to pay for teacher training, classroom materials, and after-school programs. The funds pay for programs aimed at supporting immigrant children and students learning English.
A federal judge ordered the release of Mahmoud Khalil, a student and activist at Columbia University. He was held in a Louisiana immigration detention center for three months after DHS agents arrested him, one of the first students targeted for deportation for their pro-Palestine protest actions on campus. He was the last of several noncitizen students picked up during the administration's crackdown last spring to be released.
The Trump II State Department said it is restarting the process for accepting student visa applications, but said it would require applicants to unlock their social media accounts for review. Consular reviewers will be looking for posts and messages deemed "hostile to the United States, its culture, government, institutions, and founding principles."
All 12 board members of the Fullbright program that promotes educational exchanges around the globe resigned because of what they said is political interference in the program's operations. Exiting board members point to the State Department's cancellation of 200 scholarships as an example of the administration's illegal, political interference. Those scholarships were rejected after State Department staff reviewed the scholars' research. In addition, the department is reviewing 1,200 scholars from other countries, even though they have already been approved.
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.
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 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.
The order directs federal agencies to enhance the integrity and transparency of scientific research, in response to concerns about the reproducibility and credibility of scientific findings. The directive emphasizes the need for rigorous, unbiased peer review and data transparency, and the use of the most reliable and impartial scientific evidence in federal decisions. It also calls for acknowledging scientific uncertainties and ensuring accurate communication of scientific data. [Editor's note: Despite the language about 'open science' in this order, it requires researchers to seek review from agency political appointees, among other anti-science requirements. More discussion here.]
A federal judge blocked the administration's efforts to take apart the Education Department. The judge ordered the administration to rehire the hundreds of department staff it had fired previously and blocked the administration plan to move the department's loan programs to the SBA. The judge ruled the administration does not have the authority to get rid of the department without Congress's approval.
The Trump Administration rescinded Harvard University's ability to enroll international students. Thousands of currently enrolled international students will need to transfer to other schools or return home. The Department of Homeland Security said that the university had created an unsafe environment by allowing "Anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators" to assault Jewish students. The university responded with a lawsuit the following day, and the judge granted the university "a temporary restraining order."
The proclamation designates May 2025 as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, in recognition of the contributions of these communities to the United States. It encourages all Americans to learn more about those of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander heritage and to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities. The Congress, by Public Law 102-450, as amended, has also designated the month of May each year as "Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month."
Hundreds of medical researchers at Harvard learned by email this week that their federal grants had been rescinded. The government has said it would pull $2.7 billion in federal funding from Harvard researchers. The university has sued the administration to reverse the cuts.
The proclamation designates May 2025 as National Foster Care Month, encouraging all Americans to support children and youth in foster care and recognize the contributions of foster parents and other caregivers. It highlights the Family First Prevention Services Act, which aims to keep families intact through evidence-based intervention methods, including mental health support, substance abuse treatment, parental skills training, housing assistance, and job training. The proclamation also notes the need for more individuals to become foster families.
The administration is starting to make good on its promise to cut funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The $23 million "Ready to Learn" grant has funded shows like Sesame Street and Reading Rainbow.