Tracking every rollback, reversal, and overreach — and the path back to the America we know.
On April 14, 2020, President Trump signed Executive Order 13915, which established the order of succession for positions within the Department of the Interior. The order designates which officials assume leadership if the Secretary of the Interior becomes unable to perform duties. This affects the chain of command for managing federal lands, natural resources, and Native American affairs.
On February 19, 2020, the Trump administration signed Memorandum 2020-04089 directing federal agencies to increase water supplies to California. The memorandum instructed the Department of Interior and Army Corps of Engineers to maximize water deliveries through state and federal water projects. Confirmed effects included increased water allocations to Central Valley agricultural and urban water districts in 2020.
On March 29, 2019, the Trump administration signed an order authorizing TransCanada Keystone Pipeline, L.P. to construct, connect, operate, and maintain pipeline facilities at the international boundary between the United States and Canada. The order granted the company permission to proceed with building the cross-border pipeline infrastructure. The pipeline began transporting crude oil from Canada through the U.S. in 2020, affecting oil supply chains and environmental conditions in states along the route, particularly in Nebraska, South Dakota, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.
President Trump signed Executive Order 13855 on December 21, 2018, directing federal agencies to actively manage forests, rangelands, and other federal lands to reduce wildfire risk. The order established procedures for increased timber harvesting, vegetation management, and prescribed burns on federal lands. Implementation occurred through updated Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management protocols affecting land management practices on approximately 640 million acres of federal land.
President Trump signed Proclamation 2018-24027 on October 26, 2018, establishing Camp Nelson National Monument in Kentucky. The proclamation designated approximately 6,271 acres of federal land as a national monument to preserve the Civil War-era site where formerly enslaved people sought refuge and served as soldiers and laborers. The designation protects the historic land from future development and makes it available for public visitation and educational purposes.
President Trump signed Proclamation 2018-23416 on October 19, 2018, designating a national week to recognize forest products industries. The proclamation calls for Americans to observe National Forest Products Week and recognize the economic and social contributions of the forest products sector. The proclamation has no direct regulatory impact on Americans beyond its observational designation.
On October 19, 2018, the Trump administration signed Memorandum 2018-23519 directing federal agencies to promote reliable water supply and delivery in western states. The memorandum instructed the Department of Interior and other agencies to review and modify federal water management policies and regulations. The confirmed direct effect included changes to federal water project operations in western states, affecting irrigation deliveries, hydropower generation, and water availability to agricultural and municipal users in the West.
Executive Order 13840 was signed on June 19, 2018, directing federal agencies to review ocean policies and develop a new ocean policy framework. The order required agencies to balance economic development, national security, and environmental stewardship in ocean management. Confirmed direct impacts include revised permitting processes for offshore energy development and infrastructure projects, and altered coordination between federal agencies on ocean resource management.
President Trump signed Proclamation 2018-08822 on April 20, 2018, designating National Park Week in the United States. The proclamation calls for celebration and recognition of the nation's parks during the specified week. The proclamation has no direct regulatory or budgetary impact on Americans but serves as an official recognition of the National Park System.
On January 24, 2017, President Trump signed Memorandum 2017-02032 directing the Army Corps of Engineers to proceed with the Dakota Access Pipeline project. The memorandum reversed the Obama administration's December 2016 decision to deny the easement needed to complete the pipeline. The pipeline began transporting crude oil from North Dakota to Illinois in June 2017, crossing treaty lands and water sources of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.