Response Center

Challenged

Updated:

3/13/25

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This order suspends all refugee entries indefinitely, starting on Jan. 27, 2025.

Starting on Jan. 27, 2025, all refugee entries into the U.S. under the auspices of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) will be suspended indefinitely until President Trump decides to resume them. The Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) must submit a report to the president within 90 days, and then every 90 days thereafter, analyzing whether resumption of the USRAP would be in line with the priorities outlined in the order. Given how those priorities are set out, a recommendation to resume the program would be highly unlikely. Refugees can be admitted on a case-by-case basis, if the Secretaries of State and DHS jointly determine it is in the national interest and doesn't pose a threat. Finally, DHS and the Department of Justice (DOJ) are directed to examine whether states and localities can play a larger role in determining where refugees are placed; this emboldens an anti-immigrant argument that states and localities should have essentially veto power over the placement of refugees in their communities.

Underway

Updated:

4/2/25

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This memo functionally removes the United States from the OECD Global Tax Deal negotiated with about 140 countries.

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Global Tax Deal, negotiated by the Biden administration with about 140 countries, is a 15% global corporate minimum tax that addresses tax avoidance by multinational corporations and a race to the bottom on corporate tax rates. Congress never passed a law to bring the United States in compliance with the deal, but President Trump's commitment to withdraw our nation from it will undermine its effectiveness at combatting tax avoidance, including in the United States. Additionally, this memo orders an investigation into whether any foreign countries are not in compliance with any tax treaty with the United States, and if so, orders the development of protective measures the United States should take in response.

Challenged

Updated:

3/14/25

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This omnibus order covers various aspects of interior immigration enforcement, including criminal prosecutions, expanded enforcement, and threats to sanctuary jurisdictions.

This is an expansive, omnibus-style executive order focused on interior immigration enforcement, and touches on a number of discrete policy issues. First, it revokes the Biden administration's priorities memo, so the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will not focus its resources on people with criminal convictions or people who pose threats to national security. In addition, this order directs the Department of Justice to prioritize prosecuting immigrants for unlawful entry and reentry — which already consumes significant resources for Assistant United States Attorneys along the U.S.-Mexico border. The order directs DHS to expand expedited removal (a fast-track deportation scheme) to its maximum extent, increase fine collection from noncitizens here without authorization, try to expand detention, and re-establish an office focused on crimes committed by noncitizens that existed in Trump's first term. DHS and DOJ are directed to establish a Task Force in each state, and prosecute noncitizens who don't register with the government (which would apply to all undocumented people). The order directs DHS to freeze funding to organizations that serve migrants until an audit is complete, cancel contracts, and even try to take back funds if the organizations don't pass the audit. On the issue of "sanctuary" jurisdictions, this order tells the Attorney General and DHS Secretary to deny them funding to the extent the law allows (which is contested), and tells DHS to issue guidance on existing law. DHS is instructed to expand 287(g) agreements, which allow state and local law enforcement organizations to enforce certain immigration laws in specific circumstances. The order also hints that a type of 287(g) agreement that allows local police and sheriffs to enforce immigration law in the community, while carrying out their law enforcement duties, could be revived after many years. The order directs the State Department, DOJ, and DHS to take a hard look at Temporary Protected Status and work permits, but doesn't rescind them. State and DHS are directed to pressure recalcitrant countries to take their citizens back when the U.S. wants to deport them.

Underway

Updated:

3/17/25

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This order rescinds dozens of prior executive orders that sought to make progress across the economy, civil rights, health care, climate and more.

This order rescinds roughly 80 Biden-Harris administration executive orders that sought to improve the lives of millions of people, across issues like expanding access to health care, raising wages, protecting civil rights, and combatting climate change. For example, it eliminates the Task Force that sought to reunify families after Trump's family separation program; programs expanding economic opportunities for Native, Black, and Hispanic people; and an initiative promoting access to voting. Democracy Forward and its partners will continue assessing the impact of each individual rescission.

Underway

Updated:

4/2/25

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This memo asks for recommendations on how to make Federal public buildings more uniform, classical, and traditional.

This memo directs the Administrator of the Government Services Administration (GSA), together with the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy and agency heads, to make recommendations as to the the architectural style of federal public buildings. Specifically, it is focused on how to emphasize classical architecture and tradition.

Challenged

Updated:

3/13/25

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This order establishes the "Department of Government Efficiency," which has been tasked with modernizing federal technology and software to maximize governmental efficiency.

This executive order claims to create the "Department of Government Efficiency" as a Temporary Organization under 5 U.S.C. 3161, with a stated purpose to modernize federal technology and software in order to maximize governmental efficiency and productivity. Such a mission may appear to be benign, or even a positive development for the federal bureaucracy, but Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and others associated with DOGE have made clear their intent to target, overrule, or undermine civil servants; roll back important protections that keep us safe; and, cut massive programs that benefit tens of millions of Americans.