Know What Is Happening. Know What Applies to You.

Section 338 tariff on Canada

A 50% tariff on listed Canadian products, under three proclamations answering Canada’s treatment of U.S. alcohol, dairy and autos, took effect August 22, 2026. The list changed September 15, and since September 29 some of those products are barred from import. (source)

$103,265 fee on every H-1B cap petition (proposed rule)

DHS proposed it on August 25, 2026. Public comments closed September 24. (source)

Justice Department suits for states' full voter files

A judge dismissed the Washington suit on September 22, 2026, the department's 25th loss. Georgia and Utah are pending, and Oklahoma settled. (source)

Public charge rule

DHS rescinded the 2022 rule. The new rule applies to adjustment applications filed on or after September 18, 2026, and gives officers broader discretion. (source)

Extension of the payment to September 2027 (Proclamation 11069)

Signed September 18, 2026. It extends the restriction for 12 more months, while the court order against the implementing guidance stands. (source)

2024 carbon limits for power plants

EPA finalized a repeal of most of the 2024 standards on September 17, 2026, effective November 16, 2026. (source)

2015 greenhouse gas findings for power plants

EPA proposed on September 17, 2026 to rescind them on the same legal theory. Public comments are due November 2, 2026. (source)

H.Con.Res. 93, Iran

Passed the House 220-204 on September 15, 2026, and was referred to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on September 16. (source)

Checking voter rolls against federal data (SAVE database)

A judge vacated the 2025 overhaul on June 22, 2026. The D.C. Circuit refused to pause that ruling, the League of Women Voters, a plaintiff, announced September 5, 2026. (source)

Viramontes v. Cook County and Grant v. Higgins

Granted June 30, 2026 and combined. Set for argument on December 2, 2026. The question is whether the Second Amendment protects AR-15-style rifles. (source)

The 12 full-year spending bills for fiscal 2027

None had been enacted as of September 3, 2026. A stopgap funds the government through December 11, so the next deadline falls after the November 3 election. (source)

TPS for El Salvador

The designation ran through September 9, 2026. USCIS said September 3 that holders keep protection until an announcement. (source)

Fair Market Rents for fiscal 2027

HUD published new area rent limits on September 1, 2026, effective October 1. They set how much a voucher can cover in each area. (source)

Private suits in 7 Plains states

Tribes moved to file an amended complaint in North Dakota on August 28, 2026. (source)

Holds on cases from high-risk countries (PM-602-0192 and PM-602-0194)

A Rhode Island federal court vacated both memos on June 5, 2026. A California federal court enjoined them on August 24, 2026 and certified a class. USCIS says it strongly disagrees but will follow the orders pending possible further review. (source)

Hatch Act cases against rank-and-file employees

On August 20, 2026, the office announced discipline complaints against a Postal Service worker and a VA worker who ran for state legislative seats; the Postal Service worker also raised campaign money. (source)

Mandatory electronic filing

An interim rule effective August 11, 2026 lets USCIS require online filing for some forms, with a waiver process. (source)

Permanent dealer records

The 2022 rule made dealers keep sales records indefinitely. A May 2026 ATF proposal would cut that to 20 or 30 years. Comments closed August 4, 2026. (source)

$100,000 payment (Proclamation 10973)

A federal court in Massachusetts vacated the policy that carries out the payment on June 8, 2026, and the First Circuit refused to pause that order on July 24. USCIS says DHS is complying while it considers next steps and still plans to collect the payment if the order is lifted. (source)

Excepted fertility benefits rule

Proposed May 13, 2026. Comments closed July 13, 2026. Not final. (source)

AFGE v. Trump (Ninth Circuit)

The court vacated the injunction on February 26, 2026, and on June 17 amended its opinion and barred rehearing. The case returns to the trial court. (source)

SAVE America Act (H.R. 7296)

Would require documentary proof of citizenship to register. Passed the House February 11, 2026. An attempt to attach it to a Senate bill failed 48-50 on June 4, 2026. Details on our SAVE Act page.

Veterans Affairs contract with AFGE

The VA ended its master contract on August 6, 2025. A court ordered it restored, and FedSmith reported on May 20, 2026 that the First Circuit refused to pause that order. (source)

BLAST Act (lifetime lobbying ban for former members)

Introduced May 14, 2026, by Sens. Rick Scott and Elizabeth Warren. (source)

Executive orders against four law firms

Four district judges held them unconstitutional in 2025. The D.C. Circuit heard the appeal on May 14, 2026, and had not ruled by September 24. (source)

Work requirements and time limits

HUD’s March 2 proposal would let housing agencies and owners require up to 40 hours of work a week and set time limits of at least two years for households that are not elderly or disabled. CBPP estimates up to 3.7 million people would be at risk. No final rule had been published as of October 3, 2026. (source)

Citizenship checks for every family member

HUD’s February 20 proposal would require proof of citizenship or eligible immigration status from every family member at any age, and make prorated help for mixed-status families temporary. No final rule had been published as of October 3, 2026. (source)

Executive Order 14187 funding cutoff

A nationwide injunction in PFLAG v. Trump, and one covering Washington, Oregon, Minnesota, and Colorado, still block it. The Fourth Circuit denied a stay on April 16, 2026, refused full-court review of that denial on May 21, and the appeal continues. (source)

Executive Order 14398, the federal contractor order

Signed March 26, 2026. Contractors must agree not to run "racially discriminatory DEI activities" or risk losing federal contracts. (source)

HOPE with Fertility Services Act (H.R. 8119)

Introduced March 26, 2026 with 21 cosponsors from both parties. In committee. (source)

Freedom Path v. IRS

A federal court in Washington held the IRS rules for 501(c)(4) groups unconstitutionally vague. On March 11, 2026, an amicus brief was filed on what standard should replace them. (source)

Chamber of Commerce v. DHS

A federal judge in Washington upheld the proclamation on December 23, 2025. The D.C. Circuit heard the appeal on March 9, 2026, and had not ruled as of October 6. (source)

DISCLOSE Act (S. 3991)

Introduced March 4, 2026, by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse with 46 cosponsors, all Democrats or independents, and referred to the Rules Committee. (source)

Federal ERPO Act (H.R. 7599)

Introduced February 17, 2026, with 113 cosponsors. It has sat in the Judiciary Committee since. (source)

TPS for Honduras, Nicaragua, and Nepal

A district court vacated the terminations December 31, 2025. The Ninth Circuit stayed that order February 9, 2026, and the appeal is pending. (source)

The lawsuit against both orders (NADOHE v. Trump)

The Fourth Circuit vacated the preliminary injunction on February 6, 2026, and sent the case back to the federal court in Maryland. (source)

Forced home entry with an I-205 (May 2025 memo)

Two Massachusetts groups sued January 30, 2026. No ruling as of September 2026. (source)

Election rules order (EO 14248)

In LULAC v. Executive Office of the President, a federal court permanently blocked the proof-of-citizenship rule for the federal registration form on October 31, 2025, then two more provisions on January 30, 2026, holding that election rules belong to the states and Congress. (source)

S. 3667, Senate companion

Introduced by Sen. Mike Rounds on January 15, 2026. 13 cosponsors, all Republicans, and no action. (source)

NTEU v. Trump (D.C. Circuit)

The appeals court paused the trial judge's injunction on May 16, 2025, and set argument for December 2025. The trial court stayed its case on January 9, 2026, and no appeals decision was found as of October 6, 2026. (source)

Strikes in Nigeria

December 25, 2025 strikes on two ISIS sites in Sokoto State, reported to Congress as authorized by the 2001 AUMF. (source)

Guard call-up law (Section 12406)

In Trump v. Illinois on December 23, 2025, the Supreme Court read "regular forces" to mean the military, which kept the Chicago deployment blocked and means the president likely needs an exception to the Posse Comitatus Act first. (source)

H.R. 6751, Sunset for the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force Act

Repeals the 2001 AUMF 240 days after enactment. 18 cosponsors, 3 of them Republicans. Referred to the House Foreign Affairs Committee December 16, 2025. No action since. (source)

Protect America's Workforce Act (H.R. 2550)

Passed the House 231 to 195 on December 11, 2025, after a discharge petition. Received in the Senate December 15, with no Senate action recorded. (source)

Justice Department Title VI rules

Disparate-impact liability removed, effective December 10, 2025. Intentional discrimination is still covered. (source)

Passports marked by sex at birth

The Supreme Court let the policy take effect on November 6, 2025, while the case continues. (source)

Executive Order 14343 (more agencies)

Signed August 28, 2025. Added NASA, the National Weather Service, and others. (source)

Cutting grants to sanctuary cities and counties

Judge William Orrick blocked the cuts on April 24, 2025 and extended it to 34 more cities and counties on August 22, 2025. The government's Ninth Circuit appeal had not been decided as of April 2026. (source)

Justice Department memo to federal funding recipients

Issued July 29, 2025. It lists practices the department considers unlawful and calls its best practices non-binding. (source)

VISIBLE Act (S. 2212, H.R. 4667)

Would require immigration officers to show their agency and a name or badge number and would bar most masks. Introduced in the Senate July 8, 2025. (source)

Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025 (H.R. 12 / S. 2150)

Introduced June 24, 2025, the third anniversary of Dobbs, with 209 House cosponsors, all Democrats. No committee vote as of October 2026. (source)

SECURE Act (S. 2106)

Introduced June 18, 2025 by Sen. Chris Van Hollen, with 35 cosponsors, in the Judiciary Committee. (source)

Close the Revolving Door Act

Reintroduced May 21, 2025, by Sen. Michael Bennet. (source)

Assault Weapons Ban of 2025 (H.R. 3115)

Introduced April 30, 2025 and referred to the House Judiciary Committee, with no further action. It had 194 cosponsors, all Democrats, as of September 28, 2026. (source)

White House staff violations

Since April 25, 2025, findings against White House staff who are not Senate-confirmed go to the President for discipline, not the Merit Systems Protection Board. (source)

Campaign gear and former employees

Since April 25, 2025, campaign items for people not currently running are allowed at work, and no new complaints are filed against people who have left government while the office litigates that question. (source)

Federal disparate-impact enforcement (Executive Order 14281)

Signed April 23, 2025. It told agencies to deprioritize cases over policies with unequal effects. (source)

Executive Order 14251 (VA, Justice, State, Defense and more)

Signed March 27, 2025. Agencies were told to stop recognizing unions once their contracts ended. (source)

House Joint Resolution 80 and S.J.Res. 38

Both would declare the ERA ratified despite the deadline. Referred to the Judiciary Committees on March 24 and 25, 2025, with no action since. (source)

EEOC and Justice Department guidance on DEI at work

Released March 19, 2025, with a joint one-page document from the EEOC and the Justice Department. The EEOC says both rest on Title VII, its existing guidance, and Supreme Court precedent. (source)

John Lewis Act (H.R. 14, S. 2523)

In committee since 2025, with no action. (source)

H.R. 1688 and S. 806

Both were introduced February 27, 2025, and referred to committee the same day, with no action since. (source)

American Dream and Promise Act (H.R. 1589)

Introduced February 26, 2025, with 220 cosponsors and no committee action. (source)

H.R. 1282, the Eliminate DEI in Colleges Act

Referred to the House Education and Workforce Committee on February 13, 2025, with no action since. (source)

Executive Order 14206, "Protecting Second Amendment Rights"

Signed February 7, 2025. It told the Attorney General to review federal gun rules and actions from January 2021 through January 2025, including ATF's 2022 kit and frame rule. (source)

H.R. 722, Life at Conception Act

In House Judiciary since January 24, 2025. 116 cosponsors, all Republicans, and no hearing. (source)

Executive Order 14173, the grant and contract certification

Signed January 21, 2025. Recipients must certify they run no DEI program that violates federal anti-discrimination law, under False Claims Act liability. (source)

Federal definition of sex

Executive Order 14168, signed January 20, 2025, makes it federal policy "to recognize two sexes, male and female," defined by the sex a person belongs to "at conception." (source)

Executive Order 14151, ending federal DEI programs

Signed January 20, 2025. It told agencies to end, "to the maximum extent allowed by law," DEI and DEIA offices and positions and "equity-related" grants and contracts. (source)

Enforcement at schools, hospitals, and places of worship

DHS rescinded its protected-areas limits in a memo issued January 20, 2025. Under a court order since March 2025, ICE must keep the old limits at about 1,400 places of worship in 36 states. (source)

Certification by the Archivist

The Archivist said on December 17, 2024 that the ERA cannot be certified, deferring to the Justice Department, whose 2020 opinion still stands. Under a 2020 agreement, any certification would wait at least 45 days after the department said the ERA is still pending, and it has not. (source)