Tracking every rollback, reversal, and overreach — and the path back to the America we know.
President Trump signed Executive Order 13886 on September 9, 2019, directing the modernization of sanctions authorities related to terrorism financing. The order revised existing executive authorities to combat terrorist financing and related national security threats. The order delegated authority to the Secretary of State, Secretary of Treasury, and other officials to implement expanded sanctions determinations.
President Trump signed Proclamation 2019-20053 on September 9, 2019, designating a week in 2019 as National Minority Enterprise Development Week. The proclamation recognizes minority-owned businesses and calls for awareness of minority entrepreneurship. The action has no direct regulatory or budgetary impact on Americans.
On September 6, 2019, the Trump administration signed Memorandum 2019-19930 establishing a line of succession for leadership positions within the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). The memorandum specified the order in which CEQ duties would be assumed if the chair became unavailable. This affected the administrative structure of the federal agency responsible for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act and coordinating environmental policy across agencies.
President Trump signed Proclamation 9726 on September 5, 2019, designating national days of prayer and remembrance. The proclamation calls for Americans to observe prayer and remembrance on specified dates throughout the year. The proclamation has no direct regulatory effect on Americans but establishes ceremonial observances recognized by the federal government.
President Trump signed Presidential Proclamation 9877 on August 30, 2019, designating the first Monday in September as Labor Day and calling for its observance throughout the United States. The proclamation is ceremonial in nature and does not alter existing labor law or federal holidays. The confirmed effect is that Labor Day 2019 was officially recognized as a federal observance on September 2, 2019.
On August 30, 2019, President Trump signed Executive Order 13885 establishing the National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee. The order created an advisory committee to coordinate federal quantum information science research and development efforts across agencies. The committee provides recommendations to the National Science and Technology Council on quantum computing policy and research priorities.
On August 21, 2019, the Trump administration signed Memorandum 2019-18520 directing the discharge of federal student loan debt for veterans certified as totally and permanently disabled by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The memorandum established a process to identify eligible disabled veterans and eliminate their outstanding federal student loans. The action directly affected veterans with service-connected disabilities rated as total and permanent by the VA.
On August 14, 2019, the Trump administration issued Notice 2019-17735 continuing the national emergency declaration with respect to export control regulations. The notice extends the existing emergency authority that allows the President to regulate exports without standard Congressional trade procedures. The continuation maintains expedited export control powers affecting U.S. companies' ability to sell goods and technology internationally.
On August 8, 2019, the Trump administration issued Presidential Determination 2019-18595 identifying countries designated as major drug transit or major illicit drug producing countries for Fiscal Year 2020. This determination is required annually under the Foreign Assistance Act and serves as the basis for potential sanctions, including withholding of non-humanitarian foreign aid to designated countries that fail to take adequate steps to combat drug trafficking. The determination directly affects U.S. foreign aid eligibility for identified nations and can impact trade relationships and diplomatic engagement.
On August 5, 2019, President Trump signed Executive Order 13884, which blocked property and interests in property of the Government of Venezuela within U.S. jurisdiction. The order expanded existing sanctions by prohibiting transactions with specified Venezuelan government entities and officials. The direct impact on Americans includes restrictions on U.S. persons and entities conducting business with designated Venezuelan targets, potential effects on Venezuelan expatriates with frozen assets, and involvement of U.S. financial institutions in compliance and enforcement of asset freezes.