Legal Framework

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights — Article 25

Guarantees the right to participate in public affairs, vote in genuine periodic elections with universal and equal suffrage by secret ballot, and access public service on equal terms.

Related incidents

7 incidents

USAGM and Voice of America Broadcasting Dismantlement

A coordinated attack on US government-funded international broadcasting placed 1,300 journalists on leave, terminated Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's grant, and attempted to gut Voice of America — …

  • On March 15, 2025 — 'Bloody Saturday' — approximately 1,300 journalists, producers, and support staff at VOA, RFE/RL, and Radio Free Asia …
  • RFE/RL's federal grant agreement was terminated on March 15, 2025, threatening to end operations that broadcast to audiences in countries …

DOGE Employees Matched Social Security Data with Voter Rolls to Pursue Voter Fraud Claims

DOGE employees at SSA secretly worked with a political advocacy group to match Social Security data with voter rolls to find 'evidence of voter fraud and to overturn election results.' A signed …

  • In March 2025, a political advocacy group — believed to be True the Vote — contacted DOGE employees at SSA with a request to analyze state …
  • One DOGE team member signed a 'Voter Data Agreement' with the advocacy group on March 24, 2025, in his capacity as an SSA employee, without …

Executive Order on Elections: Voter Suppression and Presidential Seizure of Election Administration

An executive order attempting unprecedented presidential control over federal elections — requiring proof of citizenship to register, decertifying voting machines in 39 states, restricting mail …

  • The order mandated proof of US citizenship (passport or equivalent) to register to vote using the national form. Only about half of …
  • The order directed the EAC to decertify all previously certified voting machines within 180 days. Machines used in 39 states would be …

Schedule F Reclassification: Mass Removal of Civil Service Protections

Schedule F reclassification targets 50,000 federal employees for removal of civil service protections, enabling political firing for 'subversion of presidential directives.' The rule strips appeal …

  • Approximately 50,000 federal employees (2% of the federal workforce) will be reclassified into 'Schedule Policy/Career,' losing civil …
  • The final rule removes statutory whistleblower protections and prevents workers from appealing their reclassification to the Merit Systems …

Punishing Sanctuary Jurisdictions: Federal Funding Cutoffs and Lawsuits Against 29 States

Federal funding cutoffs threatened against sanctuary cities and their entire states, lawsuits against 29 states, and pending legislation to condition unrelated federal funding on immigration …

  • On January 13, 2026, Trump announced plans to suspend all federal funding to states hosting sanctuary cities starting February 1, expanding …
  • The DOJ sued 29 states and Washington, DC for refusing to hand over voter registration lists and cooperate with federal immigration …

Weaponization of Security Clearances for Political Retaliation

A systematic campaign of security clearance revocations targeting political opponents, critics, and former officials who investigated or prosecuted Trump, including 51 intelligence officials, …

  • On January 20, 2025, Trump revoked security clearances of 51 former intelligence officials who signed a 2020 letter stating the Hunter Biden …
  • On March 22, 2025, a second executive order revoked clearances from former officials including Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, and individuals …

Blanket Clemency for January 6 Defendants, Including Violent Offenders

Trump used his first day back in office to grant sweeping clemency to January 6 defendants, including people convicted of violent attacks on police and leaders of groups convicted of seditious …

  • The clemency action covered most January 6 defendants on Trump's first day back in office.
  • It extended to violent offenders and leaders of groups convicted of seditious conspiracy.