{"id":7438,"date":"2025-03-18T17:23:22","date_gmt":"2025-03-18T17:23:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bluelightnews.com\/category\/politics\/a-nearly-complete-list-of-trumps-actions-in-his-eighth-week-in-office\/"},"modified":"2025-03-18T17:23:22","modified_gmt":"2025-03-18T17:23:22","slug":"a-nearly-complete-list-of-trumps-actions-in-his-eighth-week-in-office","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bluelightnews.com\/category\/politics\/a-nearly-complete-list-of-trumps-actions-in-his-eighth-week-in-office\/","title":{"rendered":"A (nearly) complete list of Trump\u2019s actions in his eighth week in office"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<p>President Donald Trump took his most dramatic step to claim executive powers in his eighth week in office, invoking the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.msnbc.com\/deadline-white-house\/deadline-legal-blog\/trump-alien-enemies-act-1798-immigrants-supreme-court-rcna175269\" target=\"_blank\">Alien Enemies Act <\/a>to begin deporting noncitizens without giving them a chance to go before a judge.<\/p>\n<p>The 1798 law has been invoked only three other times: during the War of 1812, World War I and World War II. The last time it was used as part of the legal rationale for Japanese internment camps.<\/p>\n<p>Here&rsquo;s a mostly complete look at what else the Trump administration has done over the last seven days:<\/p>\n<p>&bull; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.msnbc.com\/deadline-white-house\/deadline-legal-blog\/trump-alien-enemies-act-violate-court-orders-aclu-rcna196682\" target=\"_blank\">Invoked the 18th century Alien Enemies Act<\/a> to deport alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador.<\/p>\n<p>&bull; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.msnbc.com\/morning-joe\/watch\/-it-s-clear-trump-wants-a-fight-on-this-why-wh-would-rather-fight-over-migrants-than-economy-234561093614\" target=\"_blank\">Denied that it violated a court order<\/a> temporarily blocking the deportations, arguing it &#8220;had no lawful basis.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&bull;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.msnbc.com\/top-stories\/latest\/child-brain-cancer-deported-mexico-rcna196295\" target=\"_blank\">Deported a 10-year-old U.S. citizen<\/a> recovering from brain cancer and her family to Mexico after detaining them on their way to one of her medical checkups.<\/p>\n<p>&bull;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.msnbc.com\/rachel-maddow-show\/maddowblog\/trump-says-s-invalidating-biden-pardons-claiming-power-doesnt-rcna196671\" target=\"_blank\">Claimed that pardons of House Jan. 6 committee members<\/a> and some others by then-President Joe Biden were now &#8220;void.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&bull;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/03\/12\/g-s1-53270\/australia-us-tariffs-steel-and-aluminum\" target=\"_blank\">Ruled out an exemption for Australia<\/a> on steel and aluminum tariffs, as the European Union <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-eu-tariffs-countermeasures-806a3b9bcc9cd4e45817e672d95f0070\" target=\"_blank\">announced<\/a> retaliatory trade actions.<\/p>\n<p>&bull;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-economy-tariffs-stock-musk-business-8a5f28d9bb16e0b8a924d99ead0907fa\" target=\"_blank\">Threatened to double steel and aluminum tariffs<\/a> on Canada if Ontario added surcharges to electricity sold to the U.S.<\/p>\n<p>&bull;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.msnbc.com\/rachel-maddow-show\/maddowblog\/ignoring-public-opinion-trump-administration-starts-gutting-education-rcna195992\" target=\"_blank\">Fired 1,300 workers from the Education Department<\/a>effectively gutting an agency he&#8217;s vowed to shut down.<\/p>\n<p>&bull;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/news\/politics\/2025\/03\/12\/trump-tariffs-economy-updates\/82302018007\/\" target=\"_blank\">Announced that another 1,000 <\/a>National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration workers will be laid off.<\/p>\n<p>&bull;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/cvge4l109r3o\" target=\"_blank\">Put 1,300 staffers at the Voice of America<\/a> on paid leave amid plans to shutter the news agency, which was set up during World War II.<\/p>\n<p>&bull;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2025\/03\/11\/politics\/government-funding-bill-spending\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">Passed a spending bill<\/a> with $485 million more for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and nearly $1 billion in cuts to the budget of Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n<p>&bull;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/entertainment\/art\/2025\/03\/11\/gsa-fine-arts-layoffs-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\">Made plans to fire workers<\/a> who preserve and maintain 26,000 works of art owned by the U.S. government.<\/p>\n<p>&bull;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.msnbc.com\/opinion\/msnbc-opinion\/trump-tesla-white-house-conflict-rcna196093\" target=\"_blank\">Promoted Tesla on the White House lawn<\/a> and said vandalism against the company will be treated as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/us\/trump-says-he-will-buy-new-tesla-show-support-musk-2025-03-11\/\" target=\"_blank\">domestic terrorism<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&bull;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.msnbc.com\/rachel-maddow-show\/maddowblog\/trump-administrations-approach-food-safety-tough-swallow-rcna195849\" target=\"_blank\">Disbanded two federal committees<\/a> tasked with advising policymakers on food safety.<\/p>\n<p>&bull;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.msnbc.com\/top-stories\/latest\/marco-rubio-south-africa-ambassador-ebrahim-rasool-race-trump-rcna196577\" target=\"_blank\">Expelled the South African ambassador<\/a> for criticizing the Trump administration, calling him &#8220;persona non grata.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&bull;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/live\/2025\/03\/13\/us\/trump-tariff-government-news\" target=\"_blank\">Withdrew a<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/live\/2025\/03\/13\/us\/trump-tariff-government-news\" target=\"_blank\">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention nominee<\/a> who had questioned the measles vaccine.<\/p>\n<p>&bull;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/03\/17\/us\/politics\/musk-doge-lease-terminations.html\" target=\"_blank\">Reversed more than 100 terminations<\/a> of leases for federal buildings around the country.<\/p>\n<p>&bull;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2025\/03\/13\/trump-threatens-to-put-200percent-tariff-on-french-champagne-and-other-eu-spirits.html\" target=\"_blank\">Threatened to impose a 200% tariff<\/a> on European wine, Champagne and liquor amid a trade war with the European Union.<\/p>\n<p>&bull;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/live\/2025\/03\/13\/us\/trump-tariff-government-news\" target=\"_blank\">Lost in court as two judges<\/a> ordered the administration to reinstate thousands of fired federal workers.<\/p>\n<p>&bull;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/us\/doctor-brown-university-deported-lebanon-despite-us-judges-order-2025-03-16\/\" target=\"_blank\">Deported a kidney transplant doctor and professor<\/a> even though a judge had issued an order blocking it.<\/p>\n<p>&bull;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/03\/14\/g-s1-53831\/dei-universities-education-department-investigation\" target=\"_blank\">Launched investigations into 52 universities<\/a>accusing them of &#8220;racial preferences&#8221; for diversity efforts.<\/p>\n<p>&bull;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/education\/trump-demands-admissions-overhaul-and-control-of-academic-department-at-columbia-university\" target=\"_blank\">Threatened to pull federal funding<\/a> to Columbia University unless it overhauls admissions and cedes control of academic departments. <\/p>\n<p>&bull;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/news\/us-news\/protesters-take-trump-tower-nyc-demand-release-mahmoud-khalil-rcna196265\" target=\"_blank\">Faced a major protest as demonstrators <\/a>took over Trump Tower to demand the release of Mahmoud Khalil.<\/p>\n<p>&bull; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2025\/03\/13\/trump-sued-by-20-states-to-halt-dismantling-of-education-department.html\" target=\"_blank\">Was sued by a group<\/a> of Democratic state attorneys general over efforts to dismantle the Education Department.<\/p>\n<p>&bull; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/national-security\/trump-white-house-asked-us-military-develop-options-panama-canal-offic-rcna195994\" target=\"_blank\">Directed military officials<\/a> to draw up options for increasing the troop presence in Panama, according to two U.S. officials.<\/p>\n<p>&bull;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/03\/14\/nx-s1-5327552\/trump-takes-birthright-citizenship-to-the-supreme-court\" target=\"_blank\">Asked the Supreme Court <\/a>to narrow court orders so that it can put into effect a new policy against birthright citizenship.<\/p>\n<p>&bull;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/epa-green-bank-zeldin-climate-trump-5168d11b7f63aeaf72001b50221c3c19\" target=\"_blank\">Terminated $20 billion worth<\/a> of Biden-era grant agreements to finance clean energy and climate-friendly projects. <\/p>\n<p>&bull;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedailybeast.com\/watch-trump-nominee-dr-oz-wont-commit-to-opposing-medicaid-cuts\/\" target=\"_blank\">Refused, in confirmation hearings<\/a> for Dr. Mehmet Oz to lead Medicare and Medicaid, to commit to not cut Medicaid.<\/p>\n<p>&bull;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.msnbc.com\/opinion\/msnbc-opinion\/trump-capital-one-debanking-lawsuit-rcna196303\" target=\"_blank\">Sued, through various entities affiliated with Trump,<\/a> Capital One bank for closing accounts after the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.<\/p>\n<p>&bull;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.msnbc.com\/top-stories\/latest\/trump-justice-department-speech-2025-law-order-rcna196562\" target=\"_blank\">Delivered a highly politicized speech<\/a> claiming he was persecuted to officials at the Justice Department.<\/p>\n<p>&bull;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/administration\/5195881-trump-media-illegal\/\" target=\"_blank\">Argued in that speech<\/a> that reporting by independent news outlets is biased and should be &#8220;illegal.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&bull;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wtsp.com\/article\/life\/food\/maha-fries-rfk-beef-tallow-seed-oil-steak-n-shake\/67-56197ec8-3501-4c2e-9a6a-65f1fff897bf\" target=\"_blank\">Promoted Steak &#8216;n Shake beef tallow-cooked fries<\/a> in an interview with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.<\/p>\n<p>&bull;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/lutnick-trumps-policies-worth-it-recession\/\" target=\"_blank\">Said, in an interview with the commerce secretary<\/a>that Trump&#8217;s policies would be &#8220;worth it&#8221; even if they led to a recession.<\/p>\n<p>&bull; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.msnbc.com\/rachel-maddow-show\/maddowblog\/latest-justice-department-purge-includes-mel-gibson-angle-rcna195875\" target=\"_blank\">Fired a pardon attorney<\/a> who said she believes she was ousted because she refused to restore Mel Gibson&#8217;s right to carry a gun.<\/p>\n<p>&bull;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2025\/03\/12\/trump-canada-fingerprint-visitors\" target=\"_blank\">Made plans for a registry<\/a> that would require Canadians staying in the U.S. for longer than a month to get fingerprinted.<\/p>\n<p>&bull;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/finance.yahoo.com\/news\/trump-loses-wall-street-journal-151107574.html\" target=\"_blank\">Criticized The Wall Street Journal <\/a>by saying it&#8217;s &#8220;owned by the polluted thinking of the European Union.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Subscribe to<\/em><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/link.msnbc.com\/join\/5ck\/msnbc-trumps-first-100-days\" target=\"_blank\"><strong><em>Trump&rsquo;s First 100 Days<\/em><\/strong><\/a><strong><em>newsletter for weekly updates&nbsp;on and expert insight&nbsp;into&nbsp;the key issues and figures defining his second term.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-activity-map=\"expanded-byline-article-bottom\">\n<div data-testid=\"byline-thumbnail\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.msnbc.com\/author\/ryan-teague-beckwith-ncpn1308435\" tabindex=\"-1\"><picture data-testid=\"picture\"><source media=\"(min-width: 320px)\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_focal-60x60,f_auto,q_auto:best\/newscms\/2024_45\/3667962\/ryan_headshot_44jcwhvv_400x400.jpg\" alt height=\"48\" width=\"48\"><\/source><\/picture><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span data-testid=\"byline-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.msnbc.com\/author\/ryan-teague-beckwith-ncpn1308435\">Ryan Teague Beckwith<\/a><\/span><span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Ryan Teague Beckwith is a newsletter editor for BLN. He has previously worked for such outlets as Time magazine and Bloomberg News. He teaches journalism at Georgetown University&#8217;s School of Continuing Studies and is the creator of <a href=\"https:\/\/yourfirstbyline.substack.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Your First Byline<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.msnbc.com\/top-stories\/latest\/trump-alien-enemies-act-pardons-week-review-rcna196001\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>President Donald Trump took his most dramatic step to claim executive powers in his eighth week in office, invoking the Alien Enemies Act to begin deporting noncitizens without giving them a chance to go before a judge. The 1798 law has been invoked only three other times: during the War of 1812, World War I [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7439,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7438","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-trump"],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bluelightnews.com\/category\/politics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7438","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bluelightnews.com\/category\/politics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bluelightnews.com\/category\/politics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bluelightnews.com\/category\/politics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bluelightnews.com\/category\/politics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7438"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bluelightnews.com\/category\/politics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7438\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bluelightnews.com\/category\/politics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7439"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bluelightnews.com\/category\/politics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7438"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bluelightnews.com\/category\/politics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7438"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bluelightnews.com\/category\/politics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7438"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}