Tracking every rollback, reversal, and overreach — and the path back to the America we know.
President Trump signed Proclamation 10692 on March 29, 2018, designating April 2018 as National Donate Life Month. The proclamation calls for Americans to recognize organ, eye, and tissue donation and encourages participation in donation programs. The proclamation has no direct regulatory effect on Americans but serves as a formal statement encouraging voluntary donation participation during the designated month.
On March 27, 2018, the Trump administration signed a notice continuing the national emergency declared in 2015 regarding significant malicious cyber-enabled activities originating from, or directed by, Russia. The continuation extends the emergency declaration that authorizes sanctions and restrictions on entities and individuals engaged in cyber attacks against U.S. infrastructure and institutions. The declaration remains in effect, allowing the executive branch to maintain existing cyber-related sanctions and take additional actions against designated cyber threat actors.
On March 27, 2018, the Trump administration issued a notice continuing the national emergency with respect to South Sudan, originally declared in 2014. The continuation extends the emergency declaration, which authorizes specific executive powers related to South Sudan policy. The direct impact on Americans includes potential restrictions on financial transactions with designated South Sudanese entities and individuals, and affects U.S. foreign aid and diplomatic engagement with South Sudan.
On March 23, 2018, President Trump signed a memorandum directing the Secretary of Defense to develop a policy prohibiting transgender individuals from serving in the U.S. military. The directive reversed the Obama administration's 2016 policy that permitted transgender service members to serve openly. The memorandum required the military to return to a policy denying service to transgender individuals, effective implementation began in April 2019.
On March 22, 2018, President Trump signed Proclamation 9705 imposing tariffs of 25% on steel imports and 10% on aluminum imports, with some country-specific exceptions. The tariffs applied to most countries importing these metals into the United States. The immediate effect increased prices for steel and aluminum products for American manufacturers and consumers, affecting construction materials, vehicles, appliances, and other goods containing these metals.
On March 22, 2018, President Trump signed a memorandum directing the U.S. Trade Representative to investigate China's laws, policies, practices, and actions related to technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. The investigation resulted in findings of unfair Chinese practices and led to the implementation of tariffs on Chinese goods beginning July 2018. American consumers and businesses faced increased costs on thousands of imported products, including electronics, machinery, and consumer goods.
On March 22, 2018, President Trump signed Proclamation 10017 imposing a 25% tariff on aluminum imports into the United States under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. The proclamation took effect on March 23, 2018, and increased prices on aluminum-containing products for American consumers and manufacturers, including automobiles, beverage cans, construction materials, and appliances. The tariff remained in effect through Trump's first term and into subsequent administrations with limited modifications.
President Trump signed Executive Order 13827 on March 19, 2018, imposing additional sanctions on Venezuela. The order prohibited U.S. persons and entities from purchasing, trading, or financing Venezuelan government bonds and specified gold transactions. The order directly affected American financial institutions and individuals engaged in Venezuelan financial markets by restricting their transaction options.
President Trump signed Proclamation 2018-05878 on March 16, 2018, designating the week of March 18-24, 2018 as National Vocational-Technical Education Week. The proclamation encourages recognition of vocational and technical education programs and their role in workforce development. The proclamation has no regulatory effect on Americans but serves as a symbolic recognition of career and technical education.
On March 12, 2018, the Trump administration issued Notice 2018-05340 continuing the national emergency with respect to Iran that was originally declared in 1995. The continuation extends the emergency declaration, which authorizes the President to maintain economic sanctions and other restrictions on Iran without Congressional approval. The declaration directly affects Americans through ongoing restrictions on trade with Iran, sanctions on Iranian entities, and related economic measures.