Tracking every rollback, reversal, and overreach — and the path back to the America we know.
President Trump signed Proclamation 2018-22186 on October 4, 2018, designating October 5, 2018 as National Manufacturing Day. The proclamation called for recognition of American manufacturing and manufacturers. The proclamation had no direct regulatory or policy impact on Americans beyond ceremonial designation.
President Trump signed Proclamation 2018-19513 on August 31, 2018, designating the first Monday in September as Labor Day. The proclamation is an annual ceremonial declaration recognizing the contributions of American workers. It carries no regulatory changes or direct policy impact on Americans' labor rights or employment conditions.
President Trump signed Executive Order 13847 on August 31, 2018, directing the Department of Labor to expand access to retirement savings plans for small businesses and self-employed workers through Association Retirement Accounts (ARAs). The order simplified regulations to allow small employers to pool resources and offer 401(k)-style plans with reduced compliance costs. The confirmed direct effect was increased eligibility for small business employees to access employer-sponsored retirement savings options previously available primarily to larger corporations.
President Trump signed Proclamation 2018-19283 on August 29, 2018, imposing a 25% tariff on aluminum imported into the United States under national security authority. The tariff applied to aluminum from all countries except Canada. American manufacturers using imported aluminum faced increased input costs, which were passed to consumers through higher prices for vehicles, appliances, construction materials, and other aluminum-containing products.
On August 29, 2018, President Trump signed Proclamation 10296 imposing tariffs on steel imports under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. The proclamation established a 25% tariff on most steel imports into the United States, with some country-specific exemptions. American manufacturers, construction companies, and consumers faced increased costs for steel-containing products including vehicles, appliances, machinery, and infrastructure materials.
President Trump signed a memorandum on August 23, 2018, directing the modernization of how the United States reimburses international postal partners for delivered goods and enhancing security protocols for international mail. The memorandum instructed the State Department and Postal Service to review and adjust reimbursement models with foreign postal administrations. The confirmed effect was a directive to renegotiate postal payment arrangements, which affected rates and procedures for international mail delivery to and from the United States.
On August 10, 2018, President Trump signed Proclamation 10170 imposing a 25% tariff on steel imports into the United States. The proclamation applied tariffs to most countries, with some exceptions negotiated bilaterally. The tariff increased prices for steel-consuming manufacturers and businesses across the U.S., affecting construction, automotive, appliance, and machinery industries, with costs passed to consumers and workers in downstream sectors.
On August 8, 2018, the Trump administration issued Notice 2018-17465 continuing the national emergency declaration with respect to export control regulations. This action extends an existing emergency declaration affecting U.S. export controls on certain technologies and materials. The continuation maintains restrictions on exports of items deemed to affect national security, directly impacting American companies engaged in international trade, technology exports, and manufacturing sectors reliant on foreign sales.
On July 30, 2018, President Trump signed Proclamation 2018-16725 to take certain actions under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The proclamation modified trade preferences and eligibility determinations under AGOA. The confirmed effect was changes to tariff treatment and trade benefits for designated African countries and specific product categories imported into the United States.
On July 19, 2018, President Trump signed Executive Order 13845 establishing the President's National Council for the American Worker. The order created a council directed to coordinate federal workforce training and apprenticeship programs across agencies, with the goal of expanding career pathways outside traditional four-year college degrees. The confirmed direct impact includes the formation of an interagency council tasked with developing recommendations on workforce development policy, though measurable enrollment or employment outcomes from the council's activities have not been independently verified.