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August 25, 2025

3 entries on this date.

Trump fired Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, citing FHFA director's pretextual mortgage fraud allegation

President Trump removed Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook on August 25, 2025, posting a termination letter to Truth Social citing his Article II authority and a "criminal referral" by Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William Pulte alleging Cook committed mortgage fraud before joining the Fed. The Federal Reserve Act permits removal of Board governors only "for cause," a provision designed to protect the central bank's independence from short-term political pressure. A federal court subsequently found Cook had made a strong showing that the removal violated the statute's cause requirement.

Pentagon installed Adm. Daryl Caudle as Chief of Naval Operations after he signaled loyalty to Hegseth's anti-diversity agenda

On August 25, 2025, Admiral Daryl Caudle was sworn in as the 34th Chief of Naval Operations, filling a vacancy created when Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth fired his predecessor in February 2025. A New York Times investigation published July 26, 2026 revealed that Caudle was selected because he had signaled support for Hegseth's anti-diversity agenda, and that Tim Parlatore — Hegseth's personal attorney and Pentagon special adviser — had represented Caudle during the promotion process, a conflict Hegseth denied to Congress when asked directly.

Trump signed EO 14341 directing AG to prosecute flag burning despite Supreme Court rulings protecting it as free speech

President Trump signed Executive Order 14341 on August 25, 2025, directing the Attorney General to prioritize prosecution of flag burning under any available criminal or civil law, despite Supreme Court rulings in Texas v. Johnson (1989) and United States v. Eichman (1990) holding that flag desecration is constitutionally protected political speech. The order explicitly acknowledges the Supreme Court precedent but instructs the AG to pursue prosecution using content-neutral laws as a workaround and to litigate to narrow First Amendment protections. The order also directs immigration officials to deny or revoke visas and naturalization for foreign nationals who burn the American flag.