Tracking the Trump Administration’s Harmful Executive Actions
The Trump Administration has acted illegally and unconstitutionally in ways that weaken our democratic institutions, slow down our economy, roll back protections for public health and the environment, and put health care and Social Security benefits at risk for millions of Americans. And that’s just the start.
I am committed to fighting back against these abuses of power and keeping you informed. House Democrats are engaged in a multifaceted struggle to protect and defend everyday Americans from the harm being inflicted by this administration. It is an all-hands-on deck effort simultaneously underway in Congress, the Courts and the Community. In connection with that effort, I have joined the House Democrats’ Rapid Response Task Force and Litigation Working Group.
This page is updated regularly with some of the latest developments and information on my work. More resources for Memphis and TN-9 residents impacted by the Trump Administration’s policies can be found on my website. For more real-time updates, sign up for my eNewsletter below.
Page Updated January 20, 2026
In 2025, Trump signed 225 Executive Orders. See all of them here.
Quick Links
All of the Trump Administration’s Major Moves in the First 100 Days — The New York Times
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Among the major Executive Orders in his first year in office, Trump has imposed, adjusted, canceled and revised tariffs on imported goods, increasing their costs to consumers.
In December, Trump signed Executive Orders:
On December 15, Designating Fentanyl as a “Weapon of Mass Destruction”
On December 11, Undermined the state regulation of Artificial Intelligence and AI-generated content
In September, Trump signed Executive Orders:
On September 25, Permitted TikTok to Operate Despite Congressional Ban
On September 19, established the $1 million “Gold Card” visa for foreign nationals
On September 5, “Restored” the name of the Department of War as an alternative to the Department of Defense
In August, Trump signed Executive Orders:
On August 28, to Make Federal Architecture “Beautiful Again”
On August 25, to Prosecute American Flag Desecration
On August 11, Declaring a crime emergency in the District of Columbia
In July, Trump signed Executive Orders:
On July 23, “Preventing Woke AI in the Federal Government”
On July 17, Creating Schedule G federal employee classification, potentially politicizing the civil service
In May, Trump signed Executive Orders:
On May 1, establishing the Religious Liberty Commission and ending federal funding for National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)
In April, Trump signed Executive Orders:
On April 9, to establish “acceptable water pressure in showerheads”
On April 4, extending the TikTok enforcement delay
In March, Trump signed Executive Orders:
On March 27, to restore “Truth and Sanity” to American History
On March 6, establishing the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and United States Digital Asset Stockpile
On March 1, designating English as the “Official Language” of the United States
In a variety of policy initiatives, Trump took action in the early days of his administration.
Democracy & Privacy
Stripping Power from Independent Regulatory Agencies
Date: February 18, 2025
Action: President Trump signed an executive order titled Ensuring Accountability for All Agencies, requiring independent regulatory agencies—including the Federal Election Commission (FEC), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and Federal Trade Commission (FTC)—to submit their major regulations to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. The order also mandates that these independent agencies set up new “White House Liaison offices” and coordinate legal positions with the President or Attorney General.
These independent agencies were created by Congress to serve the public interest free from political interference. They are led by experts in their fields and are not meant to be subject to the political whims of any administration. Trump’s executive order is widely viewed as an illegal power grab that seeks to erode their independence and bend them to his will.
Status: On February 28, 2025, the Democratic National Committee (DNC), along with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia challenging President Trump's Executive Order 14215, titled "Ensuring Accountability for All Agencies." The plaintiffs argue that the order unlawfully extends presidential control over independent agencies, particularly the Federal Election Commission (FEC), thereby undermining their mandated independence.
Legal experts anticipate that the courts will scrutinize the constitutionality of the executive order, especially regarding its impact on the autonomy of independent regulatory agencies. As of March 11, 2025, the case is pending, and no court rulings have been issued yet.
Congressman Cohen continues to oppose this executive order and is exploring legislative measures to reinforce the independence of regulatory agencies. He is also closely monitoring the ongoing legal proceedings and is prepared to support actions that uphold the checks and balances integral to democratic governance.
DOGE Access to Government Payment Systems
Date: January 31, 2025
Action: The Trump Administration granted Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) access to sensitive payment and data systems, including those managed by the Treasury Department, Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.
Status: Congressman Cohen, Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL), and more than 150 House Democrats demanded answers from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Musk’s access to government data and payment systems.
Congressman Cohen was among the first cosponsors of the Taxpayer Data Protection Act, a bill to lock Elon Musk and DOGE out of America’s most sensitive data systems.
Executive Order Freezing Federal Grant Funding
Date: January 27, 2025
Action: Trump issued an executive order halting nearly all federal grants, including those funding public health, education, small businesses, and infrastructure projects. This caused deep disruptions across nearly every sector of the economy—temporarily stalling funding for everything from infrastructure projects to lifesaving medical research at St. Jude, UTHSC, and other institutions, and more.
Status: Congressman Cohen joined his Transportation and Infrastructure Committee colleagues in sending a letter to DOT Secretary Duffy in response to President Trump’s executive orders halting the funding of important infrastructure investments.
On February 3, Trump’s funding freeze was blocked by a federal judge, who ruled that Trump lacked authority to withhold congressionally appropriated funds. While some payments have resumed, delays persist for many programs. Lawsuits were filed by a coalition of 22 state attorneys general, the ACLU, and multiple advocacy groups. Legal challenges remain ongoing.
Executive Order Ending Birthright Citizenship
Date: January 20, 2025
Action: Trump issued an executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship for children of non-citizens, a direct violation of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
Status: On February 13, 2025, a federal judge, U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin in Boston, issued a nationwide preliminary injunction blocking President Trump's executive order that sought to end birthright citizenship for children of non-citizens. Judge Sorokin ruled that the order is likely unconstitutional, emphasizing that the 14th Amendment broadly confers birthright citizenship. He is the fourth federal judge to rule against this unconstitutional executive order.
Closure of USAID
Date: February 3, 2025
Action: The Trump Administration empowered DOGE to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), a key institution in foreign aid, including HIV/AIDS prevention programs. The move aimed to significantly reduce the U.S. government’s role in international development, halting critical humanitarian aid, disaster relief, and global health initiatives. The decision was met with widespread bipartisan opposition, citing risks to national security and global stability. Many USAID workers are essentially stranded, with no plans from our government to help them travel back to the United States.
Status: Congressman Cohen sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressing concern about the impact that shuttering USAID would have on programs that help women and girls worldwide. He also wrote to Secretary Rubio urging that global HIV and AIDS services continue uninterrupted.
A federal judge ruled that Trump exceeded his constitutional authority by freezing almost all U.S. humanitarian and development spending abroad but did not order the restoration of the terminated contracts.
On March 10, 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the Trump administration had completed a six-week purge of USAID programs, eliminating 83% of them and moving the remaining 17% under the State Department. Legal challenges from international aid organizations, advocacy groups, and former USAID officials are ongoing.
Federal Workers
Threatening Emails to Federal Workers
Date: January 28, 2025
Action: The Trump Administration sent mass emails encouraging federal workers to resign, with thinly veiled threats of termination. These emails, sent to approximately two million federal employees, warned of impending job cuts and reductions in benefits, creating a climate of fear and uncertainty. Unions and civil service protections groups condemned the move as an intimidation tactic designed to weaken the federal workforce and dismantle career civil service positions.
Status: As of February 12, 2025, approximately 77,000 federal employees—about 3.2% of the workforce—accepted the administration's buyout offer, falling short of the 5-10% target. Legal challenges to the program are ongoing. Legal proceedings remain ongoing.
Resources for Federal Workers: Click here to visit Rep. Cohen’s Resources for Memphis & TN-9 Residents Impacted by New Trump Administration Policies page
Termination of Probationary Employees
Date: February 13, 2025
Action: The Office of Personnel Management and Acting Director Charles Ezell ordered federal agencies to terminate tens of thousands of probationary employees en masse. Probationary employees are members of the competitive service in their first year of employment or of the excepted service in their first two years of employment, and may also include long-time federal workers who have recently been employed in a new position or a new agency.
Status: On February 28, 2025, a judge ordered that OPM’s memos directing the termination of probationary workers were “unlawful, invalid, and must be stopped and rescinded,” and that OPM must provide written notice of the order to the six agencies.
Congressman Cohen sent a letter to OPM condemning the Trump administration’s illegal mass termination of probationary federal employees. He also cosponsored the Protect our Probationary Employees Act, which would strengthen protections for probationary federal workers who were recently fired by the Trump administration.
Public Health
Rollback of Healthcare Regulations
Date: January 25, 2025
Action: The Trump Administration issued executive actions rolling back key patient protections under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). These rollbacks eliminate essential health benefits requirements, allowing insurers to once again deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions and impose lifetime coverage limits. The move also defunded ACA outreach programs that help Americans enroll in affordable health plans, threatening access to care for millions.
Status: Legal challenges are ongoing. Several state attorneys general, along with healthcare advocacy groups, have filed lawsuits arguing that these actions violate federal law and endanger public health. A preliminary injunction request is under review in multiple courts.
On March 10, 2025, the Trump administration announced further rollbacks, including cuts to ACA enrollment periods and navigator funding. Some states have filed lawsuits to block these changes.
Rollback of Affordable Drug and Insulin Pricing Policies
Date: January 20, 2025
Action: The Trump Administration rescinded Executive Order 14087, which was designed to lower prescription drug costs for Medicare and Medicaid recipients. The rollback eliminated a $2 copayment cap on generic medications for Medicare beneficiaries and terminated a pilot program that helped state Medicaid programs afford expensive but life-saving cell and gene therapies. The order also removed Biden-era policies that allowed Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices for treatments granted accelerated FDA approval.
Status: Healthcare advocacy groups and a coalition of state attorneys general have filed lawsuits challenging the rollback, arguing that it unlawfully strips low-income Americans of affordable treatment options. Some states are exploring independent efforts to maintain lower drug costs, but federal support has been withdrawn. Legal challenges remain ongoing.
Executive Order Removing U.S. from WHO
Date: January 20, 2025
Action: The Trump Administration announced the withdrawal of the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO), cutting off U.S. funding for global health initiatives, including pandemic preparedness, vaccine distribution, and disease eradication programs. The decision immediately jeopardized global efforts to combat infectious diseases and undermined international health cooperation. Public health experts and bipartisan lawmakers warned that this move could leave the U.S. vulnerable in future health crises.
Status: WHO requires a one-year notice before a country can finalize the termination of its membership. Senate Democrats are considering potential legislative action to block the withdrawal and restore funding. Multiple public health organizations and advocacy groups have filed lawsuits challenging the legality of the withdrawal, arguing that it violates congressional mandates on global health commitments.
On January 31, 2025, Congressman Cohen sent a letter, co-signed by 42 Members of Congress, to President Trump asking him to reconsider his decision to withdraw from WHO.
Reducing Administrative Support for NIH Grants
Date: February 7, 2025
Action: The Trump Administration announced that it will reduce funds that support grants awarded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for indirect expenses. Tennessee institutions like St Jude, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center receive $770 million from NIH for medical research grants each year, leading to $1.99 billion in economic activity in our state. The grants include funds for the people conducting the research (direct costs) and also anything that is needed to support the researcher, such as construction, utility costs, safety and security, and the team that supports the researchers (indirect costs). The Trump Administration is limiting indirect expenses to 15% of the grant, a move that would cause layoffs, suspend clinical trials, and delay progress on groundbreaking research.
Status: On February 10, Congressman Cohen released a statement stating that the short-sighted and dangerous policy should be reversed immediately. He also signed onto a letter, co-signed by more than 90 of his colleagues in the House of Representatives, to the NIH Acting Director expressing alarm over the decision and requesting information about any downstream impacts NIH considered prior to its announcement.
On March 5, 2025, a federal judge in Massachusetts issued a nationwide preliminary injunction blocking the Trump Administration's proposed 15% cap on indirect cost reimbursements for NIH grants. This decision prevents the implementation of the cap, ensuring that for now research institutions will continue to receive necessary funding to support facilities and administrative expenses associated with NIH-funded research.
Education
Cuts to Pell Grants and Federal Student Loan Programs
Date: February 5, 2025
Action: The Trump Administration has significantly reduced funding for Pell Grants and other federal student aid programs, making it harder for low-income students to afford higher education. The Department of Education has also introduced new restrictions on federal student loans, capping borrowing limits and tightening eligibility for income-driven repayment plans. These cuts have forced many students to take on more private debt or reconsider their ability to attend college.
Status: Education advocacy groups have filed lawsuits, arguing that these changes violate federal education funding statutes and disproportionately harm low-income students. While some states are exploring ways to supplement lost funding, federal support remains uncertain, leaving current students and families in limbo.
Resources: Impacted students should visit studentaid.gov for more information on their loan status and to stay updated on policy changes. For more, click here to visit my resource page.
Rollback of PSLF and Student Loan Relief Programs
Date: February 5, 2025
Action: The Trump Administration has moved to dismantle key student loan relief programs, including Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and expanded income-driven repayment plans. Borrowers who were on track for forgiveness under PSLF now face uncertainty as the administration seeks to limit eligibility and cancel previously approved relief. Efforts to provide broader student debt cancellation, including relief for borrowers defrauded by for-profit colleges, have also been halted.
Status: Multiple lawsuits have been filed by borrowers, advocacy organizations, and state attorneys general, arguing that the rollback violates existing legal protections and disproportionately affects middle- and lower-income Americans. While legal challenges play out, millions of borrowers are left with higher repayment burdens and fewer options for relief.
Resources: Impacted borrowers should visit studentaid.gov/pslf for more information on their eligibility, application status, and updates on policy changes affecting the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. For more, click here to visit my resource page.
Attacks on the Department of Education and Locking Lawmakers Out
Date: February 7, 2025
Action: The Trump Administration is ramping up its efforts to dismantle the Department of Education, pushing an agenda to gut federal education funding and strip away student protections. Reports indicate the administration is preparing an executive order to shut down the department entirely, handing control over to states—many of which have already slashed public school budgets and rolled back civil rights protections.
Adding to the chaos, congressional lawmakers were locked out of the Department of Educationwhen they attempted to meet with agency officials to demand answers. Trump’s team is not only gutting critical student aid programs but actively blocking elected representatives from doing their jobs and holding them accountable.
Status: The administration's radical push to eliminate the Department of Education has drawn fierce backlash. Legal experts have pointed out that abolishing a federal agency requires congressional approval, making this another reckless political stunt. Meanwhile, shutting lawmakers out of a federal agency is unprecedented and raises serious questions about transparency and accountability.
House Democrats are calling for immediate oversight hearings and demanding the administration reverse course before millions of students and borrowers suffer the consequences. The fight to protect public education is far from over—but make no mistake, Trump and his allies want to tear it down brick by brick.
Congressman Cohen has cosponsored the Department of Education Protection Act, which prohibits the use of appropriated funds to be used to decentralize, reduces the staffing level of, or alters the responsibilities, structure, authority, or functionality of the Department of Education.
Status: On March 11, 2025, the Department of Education announced a reduction in force impacting nearly 2,000 – almost 50% -- of its employees.
Environmental Protections
Rollback of EPA Regulations
Date: February 4, 2025
Action: The Trump Administration issued sweeping rollbacks to environmental protections, weakening regulations on air and water quality, allowing increased industrial pollution, and reversing emissions standards for power plants and vehicles. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was ordered to halt enforcement of climate-related policies, and several clean energy funding programs were defunded. These changes sparked widespread concern among environmental organizations, health experts, and state governments.
Status: Executive order in effect. Lawsuits have been filed by multiple states, environmental advocacy groups, and public health organizations. A federal court has scheduled hearings on an emergency injunction request, but the policy changes remain in effect for now. Legal challenges remain ongoing.
Congressman Cohen signed onto a letter to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin defending the agency from drastic cuts because they would undermine the agency’s ability to protect public health through clean air, land, and water.
Withdrawal from Paris Climate Accords
Date: January 22, 2025
Action: The Trump Administration formally withdrew the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement, reversing years of progress on global climate commitments.
Status: The executive order remains in effect. Senate Democrats are pushing legislative measures to rejoin the agreement, while multiple states and environmental groups have filed lawsuits challenging the legality of the withdrawal. Several states, including California and New York, have announced independent commitments to meet Paris Agreement goals despite the federal withdrawal.
Cuts to Clean Energy and Sustainability Programs
Date: February 2, 2025
Action: The Trump Administration slashed funding for federal clean energy and sustainability programs, including initiatives aimed at expanding renewable energy infrastructure, improving energy efficiency, and reducing carbon emissions. Programs supporting wind and solar development, climate resilience projects, and electric vehicle infrastructure were among those defunded, putting thousands of clean energy jobs at risk.
Status: Lawsuits challenging the budget cuts have been filed by multiple states, clean energy organizations, and environmental advocacy groups, arguing that these reductions violate federal mandates on climate policy. A federal court has yet to rule on an emergency injunction request.
Congressman Cohen sent a letter DOT Secretary Duffy in response to DOT's suspension of state electric vehicle infrastructure deployment plans and rescission of guidance used for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program.
Congressman Cohen has also sent a letter to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin urging the rejection of the reported 65% spending reduction at the agency.
Small Businesses
Cuts to Small Business Grants, Including Black- and Women-Owned Businesses
Date: February 1, 2025
Action: The Trump Administration halted funding for federal small business grants, disproportionately impacting minority- and women-owned businesses that rely on these programs for startup capital, expansion, and stability. The cuts have particularly targeted initiatives aimed at fostering economic growth in historically underserved communities. The administration has also moved to eliminate funding tied to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
This page is regularly updated. For real-time updates, click here to sign up for Rep. Cohen’s eNewsletter.
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