Tracking presidential actions and other news.
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3/2/2025:Trump II Eases Unconventional Warfare Engagement Rules. Biden era policy required White House approval for certain drone, commando strikes.
Invocation of the Alien Enemies Act Regarding the Invasion of the United States by Tren de Aragua. A proclamation directs the apprehension, detention, and removal of Venezuelan nationals aged 14 or older who are Tren de Aragua members and lack lawful U.S. residency.
The order directs Federal agencies to work closely with local officials to make the District of Columbia safe, beautiful, and prosperous. A Task Force, named the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force, is established, including representatives from the Department of the Interior, Department of Transportation, Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the United States Attorney’s Offices for the District of Columbia, District of Maryland, and Eastern District of Virginia. The Task Force will focus on crime prevention, preservation of monuments, promoting beautification, and sharing resources and information with local officials.
Acting IRS Commissioner Melanie Krause is resigning over an agreement share immigrants's sensitive tax data with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ICE would use the data to indentify and deport undocumented people living in the United States. The agreement was signed Monday by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Several IRS officials have resigned or been fired over access to sensitive financial and personal data since the president's inauguration.
A Biden Administration regulation to tighten inspections at poultry plants is withdrawn by the USDA.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 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 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.
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 order directs federal agencies to increase oversight and security of biological research, especially gain-of-function research. The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), in coordination with other agencies, is instructed to end federal funding of such research in countries where there is insufficient oversight. The OSTP is also tasked with revising or replacing the 2024 policies for oversight of dual use research and nucleic acid synthesis screening within 120 and 90 days, respectively.
The proclamation designates May 4 through May 10, 2025, as National Hurricane Preparedness Week. It encourages citizens, particularly those in hurricane-prone areas, to prepare for potential disasters by creating evacuation plans and gathering essential supplies. Additionally, it highlights the signing of an executive order that gives state and local authorities a larger role in resilience, preparedness, and rapid-response efforts for hurricanes.
The order proclaims May 2025 as National Mental Health Awareness Month, urging all Americans to support those suffering from mental illnesses and raise awareness through appropriate programs and activities. It also tasks the Make America Healthy Again Commission with addressing the country's health crisis, providing transparency and open-source data, conducting research, improving access to nutritious food, and expanding treatment options. The order further emphasizes commitment to ensuring veterans have access to mental health care and suicide prevention resources.
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.
This proclamation commemorates the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe, known as Victory Day. The text pays tribute to the American Armed Forces and the sacrifices made during the war. It also declares May 8, 2025, as a day in celebration of Victory Day for World War II.
The order directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish a National Center for Warrior Independence on the West Los Angeles VA Campus to provide care, benefits, and services to homeless veterans. It also instructs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to coordinate with other departments to redirect funds intended for other services towards this center. Additionally, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development is instructed to use vouchers to support homeless veterans. The order also calls for increased accountability and service excellence within the Department of Veterans Affairs. The goal is to restore the capacity to house up to 6,000 homeless veterans at the National Center for Warrior Independence by January 1, 2028.
The proclamation designates May 15, 2025, as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week of May 11-17, 2025, as Police Week. It calls for the honoring of law enforcement officers and remembers those who have lost their lives in the line of duty. The proclamation also requests Congress to codify an Executive Order mandating the death penalty for the murder of a police officer and to pass a crime bill with enhanced protections for police officers. Furthermore, it urges officials to direct that the flag be flown at half-staff on Peace Officers Memorial Day.
The DOJ announced a plan to drop civil rights lawsuits against police departments in Minneapolis and Louisville, Kentucky. The assistant attorney general for civil rights said the Justice Department would stop the underlying investigations and would not seek consent decrees against the departments.
The proclamation celebrates the 101st anniversary of the United States Border Patrol. It highlights a National Emergency declaration at the southern border, which granted the Department of Defense additional authority to support the Federal Government response to a crisis. The order also designates certain transnational organizations as foreign terrorist groups, resumes border wall construction, reinstates the Remain in Mexico policy, ends asylum for illegal border crossers, deploys soldiers to protect borders, and implements a large deportation operation. Within the first 100 days, daily border encounters reportedly dropped 95 percent, and migrant crossings reportedly declined by 99.99 percent.
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 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.
A federal court ruled that the Trump administration acted illegally when it "federalized" the California National Guard last week to provide security for federal property and personnel in Los Angeles where protests erupted over the Department of Homeland Security's aggressive immigration-enforcement actions. Soon thereafter a three judge panel of the Ninth Circuit stayed the lower court's ruling, pending a hearing on June 17. The National Guard remains federalized and under Trump's control.
The order directs federal agencies to streamline and improve wildfire prevention and response measures. The Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture are instructed to consolidate their wildland fire programs for efficiency and effectiveness, and to work with other secretaries to strengthen local land management, develop incentives for responsible wildfire prevention, and create a technology roadmap to enhance firefighting capabilities. The Environmental Protection Agency, the Secretary of Energy, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission are also directed to consider modifying policies and initiating rulemaking to reduce wildfire risks and promote the use of woody biomass and forest products to reduce fuel loads.
On Tuesday the Trump administration federalized another 2,000 California National Guard troops. They join 4,000 National Guards and 700 Marines in supporting DHS deportation roundups in Los Angeles. The move comes a few hours after a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit heard arguments in the California Governor's lawsuit against the Trump administration's federalization of the National Guard.
The order directs federal agencies to halt the filling of vacant civilian positions and the creation of new ones through October 15, 2025, except as otherwise specified or required by law. This directive applies to all executive departments and agencies, with exceptions for military personnel, positions related to immigration enforcement, national security, public safety, and the Executive Office of the President. The hiring process should align with the Merit Hiring Plan issued by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) on May 29, 2025. The OPM Director may grant exemptions where necessary, and agencies are prohibited from contracting outside the federal government to circumvent this policy.
The order directs federal agencies to address homelessness and related issues in the United States. The Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, is to take steps to encourage civil commitment of individuals with mental illness who pose risks to themselves or the public and are living on the streets. The Attorney General, along with the Secretaries of Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and Transportation, are to prioritize discretionary grants to states and municipalities that enforce prohibitions on drug use, urban camping, and loitering, and that address individuals with mental illness or substance use disorder. The order also directs resources towards assessing homeless individuals arrested for federal crimes, and ensuring detainees with serious mental illness are not released due to lack of forensic bed capacity
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 establish a task force in preparation for the 2028 Summer Olympics. This task force will be responsible for coordinating federal planning and response related to security, transportation, and entry/exit processes for the Games. The task force will include members such as the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Defense, the Attorney General, and others. The Department of Homeland Security will provide administrative support and funding for the task force. The task force will exist until December 31, 2028, unless extended.
The order directs federal agencies to address rising crime rates in the District of Columbia. It instructs the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia to serve federal purposes, including maintaining law and order, protecting federal property, and ensuring the orderly functioning of the federal government. The Attorney General is delegated the authority to direct the Mayor in these matters. The order cites a 2024 homicide rate of 27.54 per 100,000 residents and a vehicle theft rate of 842.4 thefts per 100,000 residents in the District of Columbia.
The order directs the Secretary of Defense to mobilize the District of Columbia National Guard to address the high rate of violent crime in Washington, D.C. The Secretary is also instructed to coordinate with state governors and authorize additional National Guard members for active service as needed. The mobilization and active service will continue until it is determined that law and order have been restored in the District of Columbia.
The order directs federal agencies to take additional measures to address crime in the District of Columbia. The Director of the National Park Service is instructed to hire more United States Park Police members, while the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia is to hire more prosecutors for violent and property crimes. The D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force is to establish an online portal for Americans with relevant backgrounds to apply to federal law enforcement entities. The Secretary of Defense is directed to create a specialized unit within the District of Columbia National Guard for public safety and order, and to ensure each State's National Guard is prepared to assist in civil disturbances. The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is to investigate non-compliance with crime-prevention and safety requirements.
The order directs federal agencies to take measures to end cashless bail and enforce stricter pretrial detention in the District of Columbia. Relevant federal law enforcement agencies and members of the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force are tasked to ensure that arrestees are held in federal custody to the fullest extent permissible under law. The Attorney General is instructed to review Metropolitan Police Department policies that may lead to pretrial release of dangerous suspects and request necessary modifications from the Mayor of D.C. The Attorney General is also directed to determine if D.C. maintains a policy of prohibiting cash bail and coordinate with federal agencies to press for policy changes if this is the case.
The order directs federal agencies to identify and potentially suspend or terminate federal funds to jurisdictions that have largely eliminated cash bail for crimes posing a clear threat to public safety. The Attorney General is tasked with creating a list of such jurisdictions, while the heads of executive departments and agencies, in coordination with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, are responsible for identifying the funds in question. The aim is to discourage cashless bail policies that may allow individuals posing a societal risk to be released without bail.
The order directs federal agencies to fly the United States flag at half-staff at all public buildings, military posts, naval stations, and vessels in the District of Columbia, across the United States, its territories, and possessions. This directive also applies to all U.S. embassies, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including military facilities and naval vessels. This is to honor the victims of the violence in Minneapolis, Minnesota on August 27, 2025, and it will continue until sunset on August 31, 2025.
The proclamation designates August 31 through September 6, 2025, as Overdose Prevention Week. It encourages Americans to participate in activities that raise awareness about the prescription opioid and drug overdose epidemic. The proclamation also references the HALT Fentanyl Act, which classifies fentanyl-related compounds as Schedule I drugs, and the designation of cartels as foreign terrorist organizations as measures taken to combat the drug crisis.
The order directs federal agencies to strengthen efforts to protect U.S. nationals from wrongful detention abroad. The Secretary of State is authorized to designate any foreign country that engages in or supports the wrongful detention of U.S. nationals as a State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention. Upon this designation, the Secretary of State shall review existing authorities to respond to and deter these actions, including imposing sanctions, applying inadmissibility under the Immigration and Nationality Act, imposing travel restrictions, restricting foreign assistance, and restricting the export of certain goods.
The order directs all departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the United States to display the flag at half-staff in honor of the 2,977 individuals who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. It also invites Governors of the United States and its Territories, as well as interested organizations and individuals, to join in this observance. Young people are encouraged to engage with family, friends, neighbors, military service members, and first responders to discuss their memories of that day and reflect on American citizenship.
The order directs federal agencies including the Departments of Treasury, War, Justice, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, Homeland Security, the United States Marshals Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee to establish a Memphis Safe Task Force. The task force's objective is to end street and violent crime in Memphis through various strategies such as hypervigilant policing, aggressive prosecution, complex investigations, financial enforcement, and large-scale law enforcement presence in troubled neighborhoods. The Task Force will be chaired by an individual appointed by the Attorney General and will coordinate closely with
The proclamation designates September 19, 2025, as National POW/MIA Recognition Day. It calls upon federal, state, tribal, and local government officials, as well as private organizations, to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities. The proclamation also reaffirms a commitment to pursuing full accountability for those captured and missing in action, mentioning the identification of the 100th service member from remains repatriated from North Korea.
The order directs federal agencies to designate Antifa as a "domestic terrorist organization". All relevant executive departments and agencies are instructed to utilize their authorities to investigate, disrupt, and dismantle any illegal operations conducted by Antifa or any person claiming to act on behalf of Antifa. This includes necessary investigatory and prosecutorial actions against those who fund such operations.
The order directs federal agencies, specifically the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of Homeland Security, to counter domestic terrorism and organized political violence. The agencies are instructed to develop a law enforcement strategy that investigates all participants in these criminal activities, including their organized structures, networks, funding sources, and preceding actions. The order also mandates a national strategy to investigate and disrupt networks that promote political violence, with the aim of intervening in criminal conspiracies before they result in violent acts.
The order directs the Attorney General and the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia to fully enforce federal laws related to capital punishment. This includes seeking the death penalty in all appropriate cases where the evidence and other relevant information justify a sentence of death. Additionally, these officials are instructed to pursue federal jurisdiction, to the maximum degree practicable, for crimes committed in the District of Columbia that are eligible for the death penalty under federal law.
This proclamation designates the last Sunday in September 2025 as Gold Star Mother's and Family's Day. It calls upon government officials to display the U.S. flag over government buildings and encourages the American public to hold ceremonies expressing the nation's gratitude and respect. This observation is in line with Senate Joint Resolution 115 of June 23, 1936, which established Gold Star Mother's Day.
Fire Prevention Week has been declared, urging households and communities to prioritize fire prevention measures and honor the work of firefighters and first responders. The order also directs the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to consolidate their wildland fire programs, encourages local wildfire preparedness and response, and mandates the use of new technology for wildfire identification and response. A task force was established to assess the Federal Emergency Management Agency's disaster response capabilities, and an Executive Order was signed to expedite recovery efforts in California, including a large-scale wildfire hazardous waste cleanup.
The order proclaims October 14, 2025, as a National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk. It calls on the American public to assemble in their places of worship to honor Kirk's memory and to pray for the advancement of peace, truth, and justice across the country. The directive also commits to continuing efforts to end political violence.
The order directs federal agencies to treat illicit fentanyl and its core precursor chemicals as Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). The Attorney General is instructed to pursue investigations and prosecutions into fentanyl trafficking. The Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury are to take actions against assets and financial institutions involved in the manufacture, distribution, and sale of illicit fentanyl. The Secretary of War and the Attorney General will assess if the threat of fentanyl warrants the provision of resources from the Department of War to the Department of Justice. The Secretary of Homeland Security is directed to identify threat networks related to fentanyl smuggling.
The order directs federal agencies to restrict and limit the entry of certain foreign nationals into the United States to protect national security and public safety. The Secretary of State, in coordination with the Attorney General, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Director of National Intelligence, identified countries with deficient screening and vetting information, leading to a full or partial suspension of admission of nationals from those countries. The U.S. Government is also instructed to engage with these countries on measures to comply with U.S. screening, vetting, immigration, and security requirements.
The order directs federal agencies to prioritize addiction treatment and recovery, establishing the White House Great American Recovery Initiative. This initiative will be co-chaired by the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Senior Advisor for Addiction Recovery, with involvement from various other officials such as the Attorney General and the Secretary of Education. The initiative aims to coordinate a national response to addiction that includes the healthcare sector, faith communities, and the private sector.
The order directs the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Transportation to designate a route for an INDYCAR street race, the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, in Washington, D.C. within 14 days. The route should showcase the city and celebrate the 250th anniversary of America's independence. The secretaries are also instructed to expedite all necessary permits and approvals for the event, and ensure that roads, trails, or bridges used for the race are properly maintained.
The order directs federal agencies to enhance national security by focusing on criminal actors, including foreign nationals with criminal histories. It instructs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to safeguard U.S. borders by interdicting illegal persons and goods, and to access criminal history record information (CHRI) from Federal criminal justice agencies. The Attorney General is directed to provide DHS with access to CHRI. The order also allows DHS to exchange CHRI with border security and immigration authorities of trusted foreign governments, including Visa Waiver Program countries, under reciprocal agreements.
The proclamation designates a National Angel Family Day to honor American lives lost due to crimes committed by illegal immigrants. It further emphasizes a commitment to the largest mass-deportation effort in the nation's history to remove criminal illegal aliens, and to stop violence against law enforcement. The document also recalls specific cases of crimes committed by illegal aliens, and reiterates the administration's commitment to prevent such incidents through legislation such as the Laken Riley Act, which mandates the detention and deportation of illegal alien criminals.
The order directs federal agencies to review and strengthen U.S. operational, technical, diplomatic, and regulatory frameworks to combat transnational criminal organizations (TCOs conducting cybercrime and predatory schemes), and to produce an action plan identifying responsible TCOs and proposing measures to prevent, disrupt, investigate, and dismantle them. It instructs the Secretaries of State, Treasury, War, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Office of the National Cyber Director and coordination with the Assistant to the President and Homeland Security Advisor, to create an operational cell within the National Coordination Center to coordinate federal efforts — including use of technical capabilities,
This proclamation designates the period of March 7, 2026 as the date on which the United States proclaims a commitment to dismantle criminal cartels and foreign terrorist organizations operating in the Western Hemisphere. The proclamation directs the Secretary of War and other federal agencies to coordinate with allied governments to deprive these groups of territory, financing, and resources, and to train and mobilize partner nation militaries to eliminate cartel control and influence.
The order directs federal agencies to provide pay and benefits to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees during the Department of Homeland Security shutdown by instructing the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, to use funds that have a reasonable and logical nexus to TSA operations to provide compensation and benefits that would have accrued absent the shutdown, consistent with applicable law. It also instructs agencies, once regular TSA funding is restored, to adjust DHS funding accounts as authorized by law to maintain planned operations, and clarifies implementation must follow applicable law and available appropriations.
This proclamation designates May 2 through May 3, 2026, as National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend and directs that the U.S. flag be flown at half-staff at all federal buildings on May 3, 2026, in accordance with Public Law 107-51. It calls for honoring and supporting fallen and active firefighters and emphasizes providing training, equipment, and resources to emergency responders.
This proclamation names May 2026 as National Foster Care Month. It highlights federal support expansions including an executive order on fostering, improved data sharing and accountability across agencies, and a $30 million Melania Trump Fostering Youth to Independence Program investment to support housing stability for youth exiting foster care.
This proclamation designates Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week, 2026, honoring law enforcement officers who died or were injured in the line of duty and recognizing their families for their sacrifice. It highlights federal actions to support policing, including directing Federal resources to assist local law enforcement in high-crime areas and ending cashless bail within the Federal justice system for offenses posing clear public-safety dangers, and notes the Working Families Tax Cuts Act provision that excludes overtime from taxation.