Investigations & Topics

DHS’s Text Message Preservation Policy

What we know, and what key information we’re still missing.

document preservation requirementsgovernment transparencyTrump administration accountability

Updated November 25, 2025

Trump’s Immigrant Registration Requirement

The Trump administration has revived the WWII-era law used to force Japanese Americans into internment camps as part of its effort to carry out mas…

immigrationTrump administration accountability

Updated July 24, 2025

Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric and Election Denialism

The specter of votes being illegally cast by noncitizens has become a new conservative talking point intended to further doubts in election results…

election denialimmigration

Updated July 17, 2025

The Expansion of Local Law Enforcement Power to Carry Out Trump’s Mass Deportations

As the Trump administration looks for new ways to achieve its political and xenophobic goal of deporting 1 million people a year, it is deputizing …

constitutional sheriffs movementimmigrationweaponization of government

Updated June 30, 2025

The Militarized Response to Protests of Immigration Raids in Los Angeles

This stunning abuse of power violates American’s right to peaceful protest and demonstrates Trump’s increasing willingness to weaponize all facets …

civil rightsimmigrationTrump administration accountabilityweaponization of government

Updated June 24, 2025

The Weaponization of the Government Against Civil Society

As it tries to silence dissent and punish opposition, the Trump administration is attacking the educational institutions, legal advocacy groups, an…

civil rightsTrump administration accountability

Updated June 4, 2025

Abusive Conditions and Private Industry Ties to Mass Immigration Detention

As the Trump administration moves to drastically increase the number of immigrants held in detention, it has turned to problematic solutions for it…

immigrationTrump administration accountability

Updated May 8, 2025

The Trump Administration’s Dismantling of Federal Agencies and Threats to Important Social Services

The Trump administration is systematically dismantling important federal agencies, jeopardizing access to crucial programs, and undermining civil r…

dismantling federal agencies

Updated April 24, 2025

Attacks on Gender-Affirming Care

American Oversight is investigating the national rise in legislation targeting gender-affirming care as part of its larger investigation into attac…

gender-affirming care bansLGBTQ rights

Updated April 18, 2025

The Trump Administration’s Use of Signal and Other Ephemeral Messaging Platforms

High-level Trump administration officials are conducting work — including classified coordination of military attacks — on secretive, private, and …

document preservation requirementsDOGE secrecy

Updated April 3, 2025

Trump Appointees’ Questionable Email Practices

Trump officials have used personal accounts or improper platforms for government communications on multiple occasions during both Trump administrat…

document preservation requirementsTrump appointees

Updated April 2, 2025

Exposing the Work of Elon Musk and DOGE

Elon Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency,” the office carrying out the Trump administration’s attacks on the federal government and civil s…

dismantling federal agenciesDOGE secrecy

Updated March 18, 2025

Trump’s Hostile Takeover of the National Archives — and Our Nation’s History

As his administration takes a sledgehammer to the federal government, the Trump administration is threatening the independence and functioning of t…

Attacks on FOIAdismantling federal agenciesdocument preservation requirements

Updated March 12, 2025

Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s Illegal Dismantling of USAID

The reckless decimation of USAID by Donald Trump and Elon Musk put thousands of employees out of jobs and left aid recipients around the world with…

dismantling federal agencies

Updated February 27, 2025

Trump’s Illegal Firing of Inspectors General

Less than one week into President Donald Trump’s second term, his administration abruptly fired more than a dozen federal watchdogs. The late-night…

dismantling federal agencies

Updated February 25, 2025

The Election Denial Movement’s Misguided Push to Hand-Count Ballots

Election officials across the country are being pressured to use hand counts to confirm election results. With experts having repeatedly warned tha…

election administrationelection denialvoting rights

Updated September 10, 2024

Conservative Efforts to Sabotage Ballot Initiatives

In the wake of the overturning of Roe v. Wade, people across the country have gathered signatures in support of ballot initiatives that would ensur…

reproductive rightsvoting rights

Updated August 28, 2024

Investigating State Support for Anti-Abortion Centers

American Oversight is investigating the proliferation of “crisis pregnancy centers,” which have received increased support from state governments s…

reproductive rights

Updated April 19, 2024

Conservative States’ Migrant Transportation Programs

Governors in Florida, Texas, and Arizona have sent immigrants to states hundreds of miles away as part of an exploitative political stunt.

immigration

Updated March 6, 2024

Efforts to Restrict Abortion Rights

American Oversight has filed dozens of public records requests in states across the country seeking communications and analyses about new or potent…

reproductive rights

Updated March 6, 2024

The Trump Administration’s Compliance with Document Preservation Laws

U.S. law requires the preservation of most White House and federal agency records.

document preservation requirements

Updated February 27, 2024

Right-Wing Attacks on Education and Student Expression

Led by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, conservatives and Republican state leaders are attempting to prevent students from learning about race or gender …

attacks on educationgender-affirming care bans

Updated September 29, 2023

Wisconsin’s Baseless Investigation of the 2020 Election

Following the 2020 election, Wisconsin joined a growing list of states where allies of former President Trump launched bogus “investigations” as pa…

2020 election interferenceelection denialvoting rights

Updated September 26, 2023

The January 6 Attack on the U.S. Capitol

The heavily armed, Trump-incited mob attack of Jan. 6, 2021, was an attack not just on the U.S. Capitol building, but also on democracy and the rul…

January 6

Updated September 26, 2023

Texas’s ‘Forensic Audit’ of the 2020 Election

In September, the Texas secretary of state’s office announced a “full forensic audit” of the 2020 election — just hours after former President Dona…

2020 election interferenceelection denialvoting rights

Updated September 26, 2023

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin’s Anti-Critical Race Theory Tip Line

American Oversight is investigating the system set up by Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration to collect reports of “divisive” topics bein…

attacks on education

Updated September 26, 2023

The Activist Network Eroding Trust in Democratic Elections

Embracing conspiracy theories that the 2020 election was stolen, a nationwide network of Trump-allied activists aims to discredit democracy and und…

2020 election interferenceelection denial

Updated September 26, 2023

Conservative Attacks on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Investing

Among the latest conservative culture wars is a crusade against environmental, social, and governance investing, a practice in which companies take…

Updated August 17, 2023

The Radical Legal Theory Threatening Fair Election Administration

Partisan actors eager to tilt the election playing field in their favor are pushing a new tactic in their voter suppression toolkit: the independen…

election administration

Updated June 30, 2023

The Conspiracy-Driven Push for States to Abandon ERIC Voter List Program

The number of states leaving the Electronic Registration Information Center — used to maintain up-to-date voter rolls — has risen as conservative l…

the Electronic Registration Information Center

Updated June 15, 2023

Attacks on LGBTQ Rights

A national rise in anti-LGBTQ legislation is threatening the rights of millions of people. American Oversight is seeking public records that shed l…

LGBTQ rights

Updated June 1, 2023

The Arizona Senate’s Partisan Audit of Maricopa County Election Results

Efforts to undermine the 2020 presidential election results in Arizona culminated in an “audit” of votes cast in Maricopa County. The discredited e…

2020 election interferenceelection denial

Updated May 23, 2023

‘Remain in Mexico’ and Barriers to Seeking Asylum

American Oversight is investigating the influences behind some of the Trump administration’s harshest anti-immigration policy changes, including th…

immigration

Updated May 23, 2023

Conditions in Migrant Detention Centers

Squalid conditions, overcrowding, cold temperatures, inadequate medical care, and even tragic deaths — the emergence of disturbing reports and imag…

detention center conditionsimmigration

Updated May 23, 2023

State ‘Election Integrity’ Units and the Threat of Voter Intimidation

Conservative leaders across the country have established state offices focused on “election integrity” as a response to ongoing myths about widespr…

voting rights

Updated May 22, 2023

Anti-Immigration Opportunism in the Coronavirus Response

Under the guise of fighting the pandemic, the Trump administration carried out some of its most restrictive anti-immigration measures. American Ove…

Covid-19immigrationTrump administration accountability

Updated May 18, 2023

Efforts to Audit and Undermine the 2020 Election in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has joined the growing number of states where partisan actors have launched baseless election investigations, with Republican lawmaker…

2020 election interferenceelection denial

Updated April 11, 2023

Threats to Democracy in the States

Government corruption at the state level has flourished — and has often gone unchecked thanks to the decline in local journalism and the urgency of…

voting rights

Updated April 6, 2023

The Constitutional Sheriffs Movement and Its Threat to Democracy

American Oversight is investigating sheriffs who support the fringe theory, as well as the movement’s ties to anti-immigration or extremist groups …

constitutional sheriffs movement

Updated March 17, 2023

Pushing For Transparency in Georgia Election Administration

Despite a strong open records law, Georgia’s secretary of state tried to stonewall our requests for records related to voting rights and election a…

election administrationvoting rights

Updated March 7, 2023

The Constitutional Sheriffs Movement and Election Denial

Election-denial activists have encouraged “constitutional sheriffs” to bolster partisan election investigations and further undermine faith in U.S….

constitutional sheriffs movement

Updated February 10, 2023

State-Led Immigration Enforcement Operations at the U.S.-Mexico Border

American Oversight is investigating border enforcement initiatives in Texas and Arizona that rely on legally dubious justifications for what amount…

immigration

Updated November 1, 2022

Top Texas Officials’ Failures of Transparency

State leaders in Texas have frequently avoided providing requested records to the public by claiming overly broad exemptions and applying heavy red…

Attacks on FOIA

Updated October 21, 2022

Gun Lobby Influence On Responses to Mass Shootings

American Oversight is investigating state and federal officials’ responses to the horrifying number of mass shootings that have occurred across the…

The Militarized Response to Protests of Immigration Raids in Los Angeles

DHS’s Text Message Preservation Policy

Trump’s Immigrant Registration Requirement

Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric and Election Denialism

The Expansion of Local Law Enforcement Power to Carry Out Trump’s Mass Deportations

The Militarized Response to Protests of Immigration Raids in Los Angeles

The Weaponization of the Government Against Civil Society

Abusive Conditions and Private Industry Ties to Mass Immigration Detention

The Trump Administration’s Dismantling of Federal Agencies and Threats to Important Social Services

Attacks on Gender-Affirming Care

The Trump Administration’s Use of Signal and Other Ephemeral Messaging Platforms

Trump Appointees’ Questionable Email Practices

Exposing the Work of Elon Musk and DOGE

Trump’s Hostile Takeover of the National Archives — and Our Nation’s History

Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s Illegal Dismantling of USAID

Trump’s Illegal Firing of Inspectors General

The Election Denial Movement’s Misguided Push to Hand-Count Ballots

Conservative Efforts to Sabotage Ballot Initiatives

Investigating State Support for Anti-Abortion Centers

Conservative States’ Migrant Transportation Programs

Efforts to Restrict Abortion Rights

The Trump Administration’s Compliance with Document Preservation Laws

Right-Wing Attacks on Education and Student Expression

Wisconsin’s Baseless Investigation of the 2020 Election

The January 6 Attack on the U.S. Capitol

Texas’s ‘Forensic Audit’ of the 2020 Election

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin’s Anti-Critical Race Theory Tip Line

The Activist Network Eroding Trust in Democratic Elections

Conservative Attacks on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Investing

The Radical Legal Theory Threatening Fair Election Administration

The Conspiracy-Driven Push for States to Abandon ERIC Voter List Program

Attacks on LGBTQ Rights

The Arizona Senate’s Partisan Audit of Maricopa County Election Results

‘Remain in Mexico’ and Barriers to Seeking Asylum

Conditions in Migrant Detention Centers

State ‘Election Integrity’ Units and the Threat of Voter Intimidation

Anti-Immigration Opportunism in the Coronavirus Response

Efforts to Audit and Undermine the 2020 Election in Pennsylvania

Threats to Democracy in the States

The Constitutional Sheriffs Movement and Its Threat to Democracy

Pushing For Transparency in Georgia Election Administration

The Constitutional Sheriffs Movement and Election Denial

State-Led Immigration Enforcement Operations at the U.S.-Mexico Border

Top Texas Officials’ Failures of Transparency

Gun Lobby Influence On Responses to Mass Shootings

Maryland Gov. Hogan’s Use of Self-Destructing Messaging App

The ‘Alternate Electors’ Plot to Overturn the 2020 Election

Trump White House Control of Information During the Pandemic

Industry Influence at the Department of Agriculture During Pandemic

The Trump Administration’s Controversial ‘Operation Legend’ Program

Elaine Chao’s Family Business and Kentucky Favoritism

Georgia’s Voting Machines and Election Security

Political Interference at the U.S. Postal Service

Sonny Perdue’s Ties to His Family Business

Trump’s Mismanagement of North American Trade Negotiations

Wilbur Ross’s Web of Financial Conflicts

Trump’s Pressure Campaign on the Justice Department to Overturn 2020 Election Results

Trump’s Use of Presidential Clemency Powers

Defund Trump

Trump’s Interference in the FBI Headquarters Relocation Plan

The Trump Administration’s Contacts with Ukraine

Arizona’s Anti-Democracy Legislation

Early Pandemic Confusion at Federal and State Health Agencies

Law Enforcement’s Response to Nationwide Racial Justice Protests

Voter-ID Proposals in States Across the Country

Limiting Access to the Polls

Attacks on Voting Rights in Arizona

Outside Interference in New Hampshire Redistricting Reform

The ‘Burrowing In’ of Political Appointees

State Proposals to Restrict Protests

The February 2021 Texas Power Outage

Conservative Attorneys General Group’s Involvement in the Jan. 6 March to the Capitol

New York’s Nursing Home Data Discrepancies

Mike Pompeo’s Political Ambitions and Influences

As Variants Spread, States Reopen

The Spread of Coronavirus in Migrant Detention Facilities

Covid Relief Funds and Loans: Where Has The Money Gone?

The Pandemic’s Spread in Florida

Florida’s Inequitable Vaccine Rollout