American Oversight · [email protected]

March 13, 2026 at 6:04 PM

We Need Answers About Trump’s Voter Data Grab

[link removed] ** We Need Answers About Trump’s Voter Data Grab ------------------------------------------------------------ [link removed] For at least a year, the Trump administration has been gathering U.S. voters’ personal data — including driver’s licenses and Social Security numbers …

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

March 6, 2026 at 6:24 PM

Noem Is Out, but DHS’s Accountability Issues Remain

[link removed] ** Noem Is Out, but DHS’s Accountability Issues Remain ------------------------------------------------------------ [link removed] President Donald Trump announced ([link removed]) yesterday that DHS Secretary Kristi Noem is stepping down at the end of the month, and that sh…

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

February 27, 2026 at 5:40 PM

Pushing for Answers about Ruben Ray Martinez’s Death

[link removed] ** Pushing for Answers about Ruben Ray Martinez’s Death ------------------------------------------------------------ [link removed] Last week, we obtained documents ([link removed]) revealing an ICE agent fatally shot another U.S. citizen in March 2025, months before similar…

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

February 20, 2026 at 2:56 PM

ICE Violence Is Up Under Trump, and DHS Has Known for Nearly a Year

[link removed] ** ICE Violence Is Up Under Trump, and DHS Has Known for Nearly a Year ------------------------------------------------------------ [link removed] President Trump has sent thousands of ICE officers into American cities in the past year, where they have assaulted ([link remov…

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

February 13, 2026 at 7:07 PM

What Is Trump Fighting So Hard to Hide?

[link removed] ** What Is Trump Fighting So Hard to Hide? ------------------------------------------------------------ [link removed] Donald Trump does not want the public to see the Justice Department’s full report on his mishandling of classified documents after his first term — but we’r…

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

February 6, 2026 at 7:01 PM

ICE Can't Give Congress the Cold Shoulder

[link removed] ** ICE Can’t Give Congress the Cold Shoulder ------------------------------------------------------------ [link removed] This week, courts affirmed again that Congress has a constitutional right ([link removed]) to conduct oversight of immigration detention centers. We’re re…

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

January 30, 2026 at 8:08 PM

Keeping the Pressure on ICE

[link removed] ** Keeping the Pressure on ICE ------------------------------------------------------------ [link removed] Congress is legally required to inspect immigration detention centers — a fact that a federal court affirmed ([link removed]) just last month — but members were denied …

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

January 23, 2026 at 5:11 PM

Personal Info as Political Ammo

[link removed] Personal Info as Political Ammo [link removed] The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is reportedly sharing air travelers’ data with ICE ([link removed]) for immigration enforcement purposes — an alarming continuation of the Trump administration’s pattern of using sen…

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

January 16, 2026 at 3:50 PM

ICE Can't Freeze Out Oversight

[link removed] ICE Can't Freeze Out Oversight [link removed] This week, we returned to federal court after the Trump administration reinstated a policy that blocks members of Congress ([link removed]) from making oversight visits to ICE detention facilities unannounced. We’re representing …

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

January 9, 2026 at 5:37 PM

Trump Doesn’t Get to Rewrite History

[link removed] Trump Doesn’t Get to Rewrite History [link removed] This week marked five years since the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6., 2021. In that time, Donald Trump and his administration have tried to rewrite the history of that day and whitewash supporters’ efforts to ov…

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

December 19, 2025 at 7:59 PM

Our Biggest Stories of 2025

[link removed] Our Biggest Stories of 2025 [link removed] Editor’s note: This is our final newsletter of the year. We’ll be back on January 9, with more news on our work to hold the government accountable. It’s hard to grasp just how much happened this year: We saw DOGE’s takeover of the f…

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

December 12, 2025 at 6:32 PM

What We Still Need to Know about the Trump Admin’s Lethal Boat Strikes

[link removed] What We Still Need to Know about the Trump Admin’s Lethal Boat Strikes [link removed] The Trump administration has carried out more than 20 strikes against boats in the Caribbean and Pacific since early September, killing at least 87 people ([link removed]) . Experts ([link rem…

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

December 5, 2025 at 4:41 PM

Hegseth’s Signal to Resign

[link removed] Hegseth’s Signal to Resign [link removed] Pete Hegseth put the safety of U.S. servicemembers at risk when he used Signal to discuss sensitive military operations, according to a new report ([link removed]) by the Pentagon’s inspector general. In light of the findings, we’re cal…

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

December 2, 2025 at 4:56 PM

We need your help to keep fighting

American Oversight Across the country, the tone is shifting. We are still seeing the same news stories: Too many government officials are abusing their power and everyday people are paying the price. But Americans are not just standing by. People are demanding transparency and accountability —…

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

November 21, 2025 at 4:38 PM

When Records Vanish, So Does Accountability

[link removed] When Records Vanish, So Does Accountability [link removed] Top Trump administration officials keep getting caught using personal devices and auto-deleting messaging apps ([link removed]) to conduct official business — in clear violation of federal recordkeeping laws, including …

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

November 14, 2025 at 6:28 PM

Transparency is Non-Negotiable, from Georgia to Guantánamo

[link removed] Transparency is Non-Negotiable, from Georgia to Guantánamo [link removed] Last year, we sued the Georgia State Election Board ([link removed]) (SEB), and specifically board member Janice Johnston, for delaying responses to public records requests in the lead up to the 2024 elec…

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

November 7, 2025 at 6:06 PM

Seeking Accountability Amid Chaos

[link removed] Seeking Accountability Amid Chaos [link removed] Nearly a year ago, Judge Aileen Cannon imposed a gag order blocking the full release of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s report on Donald Trump’s mishandling of classified documents at the end of his first presidency. Volume II of Sm…

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

October 31, 2025 at 6:03 PM

Nothing’s Spookier than Government Secrecy

[link removed] Nothing’s Spookier than Government Secrecy [link removed] President Donald Trump and his administration have made repeated efforts to keep key information secret since returning to the White House, despite claiming dedication to transparency ([link removed]) . That’s why Americ…

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

October 24, 2025 at 7:48 PM

What Do Federal Records and Voting Rights Have in Common?

[link removed] What Do Federal Records and Voting Rights Have in Common? [link removed] When government officials conduct business on messaging platforms using auto-delete functions, they risk the destruction of crucial public records and erode the public’s trust in our democracy. The public …

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

October 17, 2025 at 6:05 PM

Trump’s Abuse of Federal Power National Guard, ICE, and the Jack Smith Report

[link removed] Trump’s Abuse of Federal Power: National Guard, ICE, and the Jack Smith Report [link removed] Donald Trump is escalating his misuse of the National Guard in American cities, even as legal challenges ([link removed]) mount against his federalization efforts. This week, as a judg…

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

October 10, 2025 at 4:14 PM

What They Don’t Want You to Know: Trump, Epstein, and Our Battle for Public Records

[link removed] What They Don’t Want You to Know: Trump, Epstein, and Our Battle for Public Records [link removed] The Trump administration really doesn’t want you to see its records, and it has no issue leveraging the power of the government to conceal, delay, and avoid public accountability.…

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

October 3, 2025 at 9:07 PM

Our Fight for Accountability Does Not Shut Down

[link removed] Our Fight for Accountability Does Not Shut Down [link removed] The federal government shut down this week, and instead of working toward a solution, the Trump administration is using federal resources to point fingers ([link removed]) and direct blame ([link removed]) at its …

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

September 26, 2025 at 6:33 PM

Transparency Is Not Optional for Democracy

[link removed] Transparency Is Not Optional for Democracy [link removed] In a healthy democracy, power operates inside a glass house. Public records, the intentional separation of powers, and an intricate system of checks and balances keep the citizens aware of their elected representati…

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

September 19, 2025 at 9:37 PM

The Least Transparent Administration

[link removed] The Least Transparent Administration [link removed] Susan Monarez, the former head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), was ousted last month after refusing to comply with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s demands, she recently attested in the Wall St…

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

September 12, 2025 at 9:06 PM

Investigating the Sweeping Influence in the Shadows at DHS

[link removed] Investigating the Sweeping Influence in the Shadows at DHS [link removed] In a week marked by multiple acts of heinous violence, it is important to underscore that political violence has no place in our democracy. A democracy cannot fulfill its promises unless all people are pr…

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

September 5, 2025 at 8:50 PM

You Should Be Concerned About the Trump Administration’s Abuse of Personal Data

[link removed] You Should Be Concerned About the Trump Administration’s Abuse of Personal Data [link removed] The Trump administration is accessing, centralizing, and weaponizing individuals’ government-held personal data to advance its draconian and inhumane anti-immigrant agenda. It claims …

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

August 29, 2025 at 7:58 PM

What Won't Trump Do to Advance His Agenda?

[link removed] What Won't Trump Do to Advance His Agenda? [link removed] Donald Trump’s abuse of power and disregard for the rule of law have become so blatant that he no longer bothers to conceal his authoritarian ambitions. “A lot of people are saying, ‘Maybe we like a dictator,’” Trump mus…

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

August 22, 2025 at 7:39 PM

Democracy Needs Openness, Not Secrecy

[link removed] Democracy Needs Openness, Not Secrecy [link removed] As the Trump administration continues to use its power to punish its perceived enemies — strengthening ([link removed]) its hold on the nation's capitol ([link removed]) and federal agencies ([link removed]) , exploiting ([li…

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

August 15, 2025 at 6:04 PM

Trump’s Hostile D.C. Takeover

[link removed] Trump’s Hostile D.C. Takeover [link removed] President Trump’s strongman act is on full display in the nation’s capitol. In a move straight out of the authoritarian handbook, Trump this week declared a crime emergency in Washington, D.C. and took federal control of the cit…

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

August 8, 2025 at 6:04 PM

Trickle-Down Retribution

Trickle-Down Retribution [link removed] The federal government should not punish people for challenging its policies or standing up to its demands. But that’s exactly what Donald Trump’s administration is doing. Trump’s Department of Justice escalated its attacks on the legal profession this …

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

August 1, 2025 at 3:37 PM

Asking the Questions Trump Won’t Answer

Asking the Questions Trump Won’t Answer [link removed] Donald Trump really doesn’t want to answer questions about his relationship with sexual abuser and former “closest friend” ([link removed]) Jeffrey Epstein. This week, he even dodged a question about Epstein by speeding away in his golf c…

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

July 25, 2025 at 5:37 PM

Trump Is Reviving a WWII-Era National Immigration Registry

Trump Is Reviving a WWII-Era National Immigration Registry [link removed] As Donald Trump pushes increasingly extreme measures to advance his mass deportation agenda, the risk of abuse and civil rights violations for immigrants and people of color continues to mount. And one such measure is the …

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

July 18, 2025 at 3:05 PM

Who Is Working for DOGE?

Who Is Working for DOGE? [link removed] Massive cuts to foreign aid and public broadcasting — brought to you by the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) — moved closer to finality ([link removed]) late on Thursday night, with Congress to cancel $9 billion in funding. * DOGE has …

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

July 11, 2025 at 2:49 PM

Cashing In — Financially and Politically — on Mass Detention

Cashing in on Mass Detention [link removed] As it continues to signal its contempt for the rule of law, the Trump administration has taken aim at the mechanisms used to investigate the human toll of its deportation agenda, using immigrants as political pawns to bolster Trump’s strongman image. A…

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

June 27, 2025 at 7:33 PM

Consolidating Power at All Costs

Consolidating Power at All Costs [link removed] President Trump’s second term has been defined by an inhumane and xenophobic anti-immigrant crusade — and this week, his willingness to abuse his power and weaponize the government against vulnerable groups and perceived opponents to score politica…

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

June 20, 2025 at 7:30 PM

When Power Is the Priority — Not People

When Power Is the Priority — Not People [link removed] Last weekend, the administration directed immigration enforcement authorities to pause ([link removed]) making arrests at certain businesses out of concerns about economic fallout ([link removed]) . But within days, the threat of raids at f…

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

June 13, 2025 at 4:01 PM

The Strongman's Agenda

The Strongman's Agenda On Saturday, as President Trump’s military parade is planned to march down the streets of Washington, D.C., more than 1,800 “No Kings” protests are scheduled to take place across the country. The protests are in opposition to Trump’s increasing authoritarianism — which w…

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

June 6, 2025 at 4:45 PM

The Art of the Bad Deal

The Art of the Bad Deal [link removed] President Trump has continued to ramp up his attacks on higher education institutions — and demonstrate why efforts to appease authoritarian acts only lead to more abuses of power. This week, Trump went after Columbia University, despite it having earlie…

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

May 30, 2025 at 2:52 PM

Newsletter: Pardons for Trump’s Friends, Punishment for His Foes

Newsletter: Pardons for Trump’s Friends, Punishment for His Foes [link removed] The Trump administration’s despotism was on full display this week as the president issued sweeping pardons to his supporters and ratcheted up his attacks on Harvard University. While Trump has called on the Interna…

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

May 23, 2025 at 8:11 PM

DOGE Evasions, Trump Attacks, and Another Potentially Erroneous CECOT Removal

DOGE Evasions, Trump Attacks, and Another Potentially Erroneous CECOT Removal [link removed] Once again, the Trump administration and the Department of Government Efficiency are doing all they can to avoid any scrutiny over their reckless cuts to the federal government — this time asking the U…

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

May 16, 2025 at 8:52 PM

Deleted Messages and Secretive Deals

Deleted Messages and Secretive Deals [link removed] The Trump administration has never hidden its contempt for transparency, and recent news demonstrates just how far it is willing to go to avoid accountability — including by attempting to evade public records laws and trying to hide details ab…

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

May 9, 2025 at 7:19 PM

Newsletter: What Is Being Hidden in the Administration’s Taxpayer Data-Sharing Agreement?

Newsletter: What Is Being Hidden in the Administration’s Taxpayer Data-Sharing Agreement? [link removed] Millions of people’s sensitive taxpayer data is at risk thanks to a new agreement between the Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Homeland Security. And the public still doesn’t h…

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

May 2, 2025 at 8:08 PM

Newsletter: Mike Waltz, RFK Jr., and Trump’s First 100 Days

Newsletter: Mike Waltz, RFK Jr., and Trump's First 100 Days [link removed] This week marked 100 days of President Trump’s second term — a time during which he has sought to reshape the federal government to serve his political and personal interests and has attempted to evade rules and laws tha…

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

April 25, 2025 at 8:30 PM

Newsletter: New Lawsuit Against DOGE, Turmoil at the Defense Department

Newsletter: New Lawsuit Against DOGE, Turmoil at the Defense Department [link removed] News emerged ([link removed]) this week that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had shared military attack plans in yet another Signal group chat — this one with his wife, brother, personal lawyer, and others in …

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

April 18, 2025 at 8:09 PM

Newsletter: Who Deleted the CIA Director’s Signal Messages?

Newsletter: Who Deleted the CIA Director’s Signal Messages? [link removed] Our lawsuit against the Trump administration for its use of Signal to communicate about military plans uncovered damning new evidence this week of the administration’s disdain for federal record-keeping rules and basi…

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

April 11, 2025 at 8:41 PM

Newsletter: Investigating Threats to Crucial Social Services

Newsletter: Investigating Threats to Crucial Social Services [link removed] This week, American Oversight launched a new investigation into the Trump administration’s efforts to undermine and dismantle the Social Security Administration (SSA), following reports about plans to slash the agenc…

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

April 4, 2025 at 7:27 PM

Signalgate Scandal Fallout Continues

Newsletter: Signalgate Scandal Fallout Continues [link removed] The fallout from the Signalgate scandal and American Oversight’s legal actions against Trump administration officials for violations of public records laws continued this week, with new revelations about the use of nonofficial co…

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

March 28, 2025 at 8:04 PM

Newsletter: The Latest on Our Signalgate Lawsuit

Newsletter: The Latest on Our Signalgate Lawsuit Democratic accountability is at risk when public officials conduct government business on secretive platforms — particularly when those platforms are designed to erase records. That’s why this week, following bombshell reporting ([link removed…

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

March 21, 2025 at 6:56 PM

Newsletter: Celebrating Sunshine Week and Fighting the Trump Administration’s War on Transparency

Newsletter: Celebrating Sunshine Week and Fighting the Trump Administration’s War on Transparency [link removed] This week, American Oversight recognized the 20th anniversary of Sunshine Week, the annual celebration of government transparency and open records access, and took the opportunity …

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  American Oversight · [email protected]

March 14, 2025 at 7:14 PM

Newsletter: Destruction at the Highest Level

Newsletter: Destruction at the Highest Level [link removed] Efforts by the Trump administration and Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to decimate the federal government and evade oversight continued this week, with reported orders to destroy records ([link removed…

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