Response Center

As part of its illegal firings across the federal government, the administration has tried to thwart public transparency laws.

As parts of its efforts to dismantle multiple agencies and engage in mass firings across the federal government, the Trump administration has fired scores of agency officials who process Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. It also tried to entirely close some FOIA offices, such as the CDC's FOIA office. FOIA enables the public to request any written information from the government, enabling the public to better understand how the government makes key decisions and approaches various issues affecting lives across America. Downsizing or closing these offices reduces government accountability and transparency.

On January 27th, 2025, President Trump illegally fired Democratic members of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board.

The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB) is an independent executive agency that was established on the recommendation of the 9/11 Commission. Its purpose is to advise the executive branch on privacy and civil liberties concerns stemming from the fight against terrorism. Since its founding, the board has provided critical oversight to protect civil rights and combat abuse of surveillance powers. The independence of the board is essential to its mission. President Trump's illegal firing of the members of the board represents a threat to its ability to perform this crucial service. So far, a district court has issued an injunction blocking the firing.

This order creates a new task force, led by the Attorney General, to review Biden Administration actions protecting civil rights that it considers "anti-Christian."

This order establishes a Presidential Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias, housed within the Department of Justice and led by the Attorney General. The order justifies this task force by citing supposedly anti-Christian actions taken during the Biden administration, including: requiring schools, employers and foster parents to treat LGBTQIA+ students, employees, and foster children with respect; arresting protestors who unlawfully blocked patients' access to abortion clinics; and recognizing March 31 as Transgender Day of Visibility. The Task Force's duties include reviewing the activities of the Biden administration and suggesting that agencies terminate or revoke actions.

The Trump administration unilaterally revoked New York City's congestion pricing program that cut traffic and vehicle emissions.

On February 19th, 2025, the Trump administration began the process of revoking New York City's authorization to operate its congestion pricing program, which was designed to reduce traffic, vehicles emissions, and drive times. This program had started on January 5, 2025 and has already shown initial results. Congestion pricing has been successfully used in other major cities across the world, including as a way to encourage alternative transportation methods, such as buses and bikes. The Trump administration's revocation of this program was challenged immediately. At the end of May, a federal court blocked the revocation, after the MTA sued. As the case is decided by the courts, the congestion pricing program will continue.

This order designates English as the official language of the U.S. as part of a push to make the country less welcoming to non-English speakers.

This Executive Order designates English as the official language of the United States and revokes a quarter-century old executive order designed to make public services more accessible to people with limited English. The United States has never before had an official language nor is there a clear legal basis for doing so. This order is consistent with a widespread effort by the Trump administration to to make public services less accessible. While the messaging of the EO is clear in its effort to stigmatize people who do not speak English, it does not direct agencies to take specific actions besides removing prior guidance related to the revoked EO.

This directive forces agencies to fire all employees who have been hired recently (known as probationary employees) regardless of performance or merit.

The acting head of the Office of Personnel Management, the government's HR department, has instructed each agency to arbitrarily fire all employees who have been newly hired or recently started a new role (known as probationary employees). This action unlawfully encroaches on both the power of Congress (which established protections for career civil servants) and agencies themselves to manage their own workforce. It undermines effective government by firing employees without any assessment of merit or performance, endangering Americans by undermining the quality of the services that these employees provide - everything from keeping our food and medicine safe, to securing our borders, to improving our communities.