Last updated: July 16, 2026. This page lists additional violations beyond the most egregious cases.
| Date | Administration Action | Why does this violate the Constitution? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2025 | Stripped the security clearance of national-security lawyer Mark Zaid — in a memorandum targeting 14 critics and opposing lawyers — over his representation of whistleblowers and clients adverse to the government. | A federal judge blocked the revocation in December 2025, holding he is likely to succeed on First Amendment retaliation: “The Constitution forbids government officials from using their power to retaliate against people for their speech.” | The government’s appeal was argued in May 2026 alongside the law-firm executive order cases. |
| April 2025 | The President signed a memorandum ordering the investigation of a former Department of Homeland Security employee who, during Trump’s first term, wrote an op-ed that was damaging to the president. | The statements did not expose national secrets, merely criticized the president, but Trump described the former employee as “treasonous.” This is a clear attempt to silence dissent by the president himself. | A year later, no charges had been filed but the investigation had not been closed; his lawyers call it “unprecedented and unlawful retaliation,” and reporting indicates the order became a template for targeting other critics. |
| May 2025 | Employees of the U.S. Agency for International Development were placed under investigation after speaking to the press about their termination notices. | While federal employees are not allowed to speak to the press without permission, these interviews were conducted after they were told their jobs had been suspended. Many see it as an intimidation tactic to silence further negative news about the administration. | At least six employees received formal notices threatening “removal”; their union called it “total intimidation.” |
| June 2025 | During Los Angeles immigration-raid protests, DHS agents shot journalists and legal observers with projectiles and tear gas. | A federal judge, crediting roughly 50 declarations, barred DHS from assaulting or dispersing press, legal observers, and non-threatening protesters, finding retaliation against people for protesting and reporting on the raids. | An appeals court upheld the injunction in April 2026, and the court certified a class in July 2026. |
| June 2025 | The Federal Trade Commission issued a sweeping investigative demand to Media Matters, the watchdog whose reporting on ads appearing next to antisemitic content on X had angered Elon Musk and conservative officials. | A federal judge blocked the probe, finding the FTC likely acted with “retaliatory animus” against “quintessential First Amendment activity” — publishing an article criticizing a powerful ally of the administration. | In May 2026, the FTC settled, permanently withdrawing the demand. |
| 2025 | The National Endowment for the Arts required grant applicants to certify that funds would not “promote gender ideology” and disfavored such projects. | A federal judge held the policy “violates the First Amendment because it is a viewpoint-based restriction on private speech” and was arbitrary and capricious. | |
| September 2025 | West Point required civilian faculty to obtain prior approval for any external writing, speaking, or media contact. | A federal judge blocked the pre-approval regime for all civilian faculty in May 2026, finding it likely violates the First Amendment. | |
| October 2025 | The attorney general announced she had “demanded” Apple remove ICEBlock — an app alerting users to nearby ICE agents — and Apple and Google complied, also removing similar apps. | Publishing information about law enforcement activity is protected speech; legal experts say the takedown demand is unconstitutional government jawboning. The developer sued in December 2025. | |
| June 2026 | Federally indicted 15 Minneapolis residents for conspiracy to impede federal officers over Twin Cities protests against ICE’s “Operation Metro Surge,” explicitly invoking the NSPM-7 domestic-terrorism directive at the announcement. | Legal analysts warn the indictment criminalizes protest and association, following the pattern a federal court condemned in the Broadview Six case. | Charges against dozens of other Metro Surge protesters were dropped; this prosecution was pending as of July 2026. |