President Donald Trump’s administration has intensified its targeting of political opponents through multiple federal agencies, with actions ranging from criminal referrals to threats of prosecution. The Federal Housing Finance Agency has referred four of Trump’s political adversaries to the Department of Justice for alleged mortgage fraud, while several Democratic lawmakers face escalating threats following presidential accusations of seditious behavior.
Reuters identified at least 470 instances in which Trump pursued retribution, targeting everyone from federal workers and prosecutors to universities and news organizations. The tally underscores the administration’s broad campaign to punish critics and remold the machinery of government.
The retaliation appeared in three separate forms. The most frequent were disciplinary measures, including terminations, suspensions, formal inquiries, and the stripping of security clearances.
Bill Pulte of the Federal Housing Finance Agency referred Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell to the Department of Justice (DOJ), claiming the California congressman may have made false or misleading statements in loan applications. The referral prompted Swalwell to file a lawsuit in DC district court, alleging violations of his privacy and First Amendment rights.
In his lawsuit, Swalwell claims he is being targeted for his “political views and expression” and that Pulte improperly used information from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The congressman alleges Pulte invaded his privacy by digging into his financial records in violation of the Privacy Act. Swalwell’s lawsuit calls Pulte’s actions “a gross abuse of power that violated the law.”
The lawsuit notes that the Federal Housing Finance Agency has never issued a criminal referral to the DOJ alleging mortgage fraud by anyone who supports President Trump, but has referred four of the president’s political opponents. Among those targeted are New York Attorney General Letitia James, Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, and Senator Adam Schiff, all facing similar allegations.
Reuters reports that Trump’s campaign of retribution blends his personal grudges with an effort to assert cultural and political control. His administration has used executive authority to target those he views as adversaries – dismissing prosecutors who examined his attempts to overturn the 2020 election, directing reprisals against news outlets considered unfriendly, pressuring law firms linked to rivals, and marginalizing career officials who challenge his agenda. Many of these moves are now being contested in court.
The pattern of targeting extends beyond financial investigations. Trump posted claims of seditious behavior on Truth Social following a video in which several Democratic lawmakers urged members of the military to refuse illegal orders. According to a post on Truth Social, the president characterized their actions as “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL,” suggesting those involved should be arrested and put on trial.
The rhetoric escalated quickly when Trump posted that seditious behavior was punishable by death, though legal experts note this conflates different criminal statutes. The distinction between sedition and treason matters legally, though the president’s statements have continued regardless.
Michigan State Police responded to a bomb threat at Senator Elissa Slotkin’s residence in Holly, Michigan. Slotkin, who participated in the video urging military members to resist potentially illegal orders, was not at home during the incident. Police searched the property and determined no one was in danger.
Slotkin received 24-hour police protection following the partisan fallout from the video. The Michigan senator told NBC News she had received hundreds to 1,000 threats since Trump accused her of sedition. A bomb threat was also called into Representative Chrissy Houlahan’s district office in Pennsylvania. Houlahan and her staff were safe, and local law enforcement responded quickly to investigate.
Trump later retracted content from Stephen Miller, who appeared on Fox News, describing the lawmakers’ actions using different terminology. Miller called it insurrection, a separate legal concept from sedition that involves revolt or resistance against civil authority.
The convergence of domestic political prosecutions and aggressive military operations overseas represents a significant expansion of executive power. Legal scholars have expressed concerns about the administration operating beyond traditional limits of national and international law, though congressional efforts to impose restrictions have largely failed along partisan lines.
