The Introspective

Moves on voting, museums, and policing deepen White House reach.

Trump’s 31st week brought updates on Washington, D.C., government oversight, immigration, and the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. As Trump’s federalization of D.C. continues, three additional states—Mississippi, Tennessee and Louisiana—deployed the National Guard to the capital, following a previous report from The Introspective that highlighted West Virginia, South Carolina and Ohio being deployed as backlash over the unprecedented takeover grows. At the same time, members of the military’s Judge Advocate General Corps (JAG) will prosecute civilian crimes, raising implications as the Department of Justice (DOJ) investigates whether the city’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) manipulated crime data.

Trump later continued his criticism of the Smithsonian museums, stating that there was too much focus on “how bad slavery was” while directing his attorneys to review the museums. This comes after a previous Introspective report detailed an executive order directing federal agencies and Smithsonian museums to remove exhibits deemed “divisive” or “anti-American” as backlash toward diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) continues. That same day, Trump announced he will sign an executive order to ban mail-in voting for the 2026 elections, calling the machines “inaccurate,” “expensive” and “controversial,” while stating that the U.S. will no longer approve renewable energy projects.

As anti-immigrant sentiment continues, the Trump administration reached deals to send undocumented immigrants to Honduras and Uganda, continuing a previous directive that deported undocumented immigrants to countries they were not originally from. The State Department later revoked more than 6,000 student visas, alleging violations such as assault, driving under the influence and “support for terrorism.” Meanwhile, as backlash continues toward Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over disinformation, more than 700 employees across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) sent a letter calling on the government to stop spreading false information in light of the shooting at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters.

As government restructuring continues, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey will serve as co-deputy director of the FBI, following a previous report that detailed former Fox News host and Secret Service agent Dan Bongino being selected as deputy director. At the same time, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced that 50% of national intelligence staff will be laid off, becoming the largest reform by the agency since it was created after the Sept. 11 attacks. Meanwhile, as the Jeffrey Epstein scandal continues, a federal judge denied the DOJ’s request to unseal grand jury records related to the late child sex offender, marking the third and final time the request was denied.

D.C. Takeover

As Trump’s takeover of D.C. continues, three additional states—Mississippi, Tennessee and Louisiana—deployed the National Guard to the capital, following a previous report from The Introspective detailing three states—West Virginia, South Carolina and Ohio—deploying troops.

“Crime is out of control there, and it’s clear something must be done to combat it,” wrote Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves in an X post.

“Americans deserve a safe capital city that we can all be proud of. I know the brave men and women of our National Guard will do an excellent job enhancing public safety and supporting law enforcement.”

Tennessee deployed more than 160 National Guardsmen to the capital.

“These service members will join the D.C. Joint Task Force and work alongside local and federal law enforcement agencies to assist with monument security, community safety patrols, protecting federal facilities and traffic control,” said Elizabeth Johnson, a spokesperson for Gov. Bill Lee, in an email obtained by The Introspective.

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry approved sending more than 135 members of the Guard, claiming the deployment will bring “safety and sanity” to Washington, D.C., despite data showing that crime in the city hit a 30-year low.

“Our capital is a reflection of our nation’s respect, beauty and standards,” wrote Landry on X.

“We cannot allow our cities to be overcome by violence and lawlessness.”

At the same time, members of the military’s Judge Advocate General Corps (JAG) will begin prosecuting civilian crimes, joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia as federal prosecutors. However, former prosecutors have noted that the Trump administration fired multiple prosecutors who worked on cases related to the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, contributing to a shortage.

“To the extent the U.S. Attorney’s Office has a shortage of lawyers, this administration did itself no favors by firing qualified prosecutors who worked on Jan. 6 cases and pushing out others by pursuing such an obviously political agenda,” said former Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan Ballou to NBC News.

“It sounds like the U.S. attorney is trying to import both staff and credibility; I don’t think it’ll work.”

Meanwhile, Trump announced that the DOJ is investigating whether D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) manipulated crime data, with the president claiming the capital is the “most unsafe city” in the United States.

“D.C. gave Fake Crime numbers in order to create a false illusion of safety,” wrote Trump on Truth Social.

“This is a very bad and dangerous thing to do, and they are under serious investigation for so doing!”

Police Chief Pamela Smith acknowledged the investigation on Wednesday, saying she will cooperate and expects subpoenas to be issued soon, calling the federal takeover “a cohesive process.”

“We have met with our federal partners. We’ve given them different areas across the city where we would like to see resources allocated,” said Smith.

“And today, I will tell you, it’s been a cohesive process. We speak every single day.”

Smithsonian, Voting, and Energy

As backlash toward diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) continues, Trump continued his criticism of the Smithsonian museums, stating that there was too much focus on “how bad slavery was” while directing his attorneys to review the museums. This followed a March executive order that directed federal agencies and Smithsonian museums to remove exhibits deemed “divisive” or “anti-American.”

“The Smithsonian is OUT OF CONTROL, where everything discussed is how horrible our Country is, how bad Slavery was, and how unaccomplished the downtrodden have been — Nothing about Success, nothing about Brightness, nothing about the Future,” wrote Trump on Truth Social.

“We are not going to allow this to happen, and I have instructed my attorneys to go through the Museums, and start the exact same process that has been done with Colleges and Universities where tremendous progress has been made.”

The museums previously faced criticism after removing Trump from an exhibit on presidential impeachments. The exhibit was later restored after backlash.

“As the keeper of memory for the nation, it is our privilege and responsibility to tell accurate and complete histories,” the museum said, confirming that mentions of Trump were removed and noting it was “not asked by any administration or other government official to remove content from the exhibit.”

Trump later announced he would sign an executive order banning mail-in voting in the 2026 midterm elections, writing on Truth Social that the machines boost voter fraud.

“I am going to lead a movement to get rid of MAIL-IN BALLOTS, and also, while we’re at it, Highly ‘Inaccurate,’ Very Expensive, and Seriously Controversial VOTING MACHINES, which cost Ten Times more than accurate and sophisticated Watermark Paper, which is faster, and leaves NO DOUBT, at the end of the evening, as to who WON, and who LOST, the Election,” wrote Trump

“Remember, the States are merely an ‘agent’ for the Federal Government in counting and tabulating the votes. They must do what the Federal Government, as represented by the President of the United States, tells them, FOR THE GOOD OF OUR COUNTRY, to do.”

While meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier in the week, Trump acknowledged his Truth Social posts, saying that the Republican Party is “going to do everything possible that we get rid of mail-in ballots.”

“We’re going to start with an executive order that’s being written right now by the best lawyers in the country to end mail-in ballots because they’re corrupt,” he said.

“And it’s time that the Republicans get tough and stop it, because the Democrats want it. It’s the only way they can get elected.”

At the same time, Trump also said the U.S. will no longer approve renewable energy such as wind or solar power projects, despite electricity demand outpacing supply in many parts of the country.

“We will not approve wind or farmer-destroying Solar,” he wrote on Truth Social.

“The days of stupidity are over in the USA!!!”

The “Big Beautiful Bill,” signed over Fourth of July weekend, ended investment and tax credits for wind and solar by the end of 2027, cutting off a key factor in the expansion of renewable energy.

Immigration and Health Misinformation

With anti-immigrant sentiment ongoing, the Trump administration reached deals to send undocumented immigrants to Honduras and Uganda.

“The agreement is in respect of Third Country Nationals who may not be granted asylum in the United States, but are reluctant to or may have concerns about returning to their countries of origin,” said Ugandan Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Vincent Bagiire on X.

“This is a temporary arrangement with conditions including that individuals with criminal records and unaccompanied minors will not be accepted.”

In a report by CBS News, a State Department official acknowledged the move as supporting Trump’s policies.

“We don’t comment on the content of private diplomatic negotiations, but the State Department is doing everything possible to support the President’s policy of keeping Americans safe by removing illegal aliens who have no right to be in the United States,” said the official.

The move continues a previous directive that deported undocumented immigrants to countries they were not originally from, sparking backlash as the State Department revoked more than 6,000 student visas for alleged violations including assault, driving under the influence, burglary and “support for terrorism.”

Meanwhile, following the shooting at the CDC headquarters, more than 750 HHS employees wrote a letter to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., calling on him to stop spreading misinformation and disinformation, accusing the secretary of being “complicit in dismantling America’s public health infrastructure” and “repeatedly spreading inaccurate health information.”

HHS supported Kennedy in a statement to ABC News.

“Secretary Kennedy is standing firmly with CDC employees—both on the ground and across every center—ensuring their safety and well-being remain a top priority. In the wake of this heartbreaking shooting, he traveled to Atlanta to offer his support and reaffirm his deep respect, calling the CDC ‘a shining star among global health agencies,’” the statement read.

“For the first time in its 70-year history, the mission of HHS is truly resonating with the American people—driven by President Trump and Secretary Kennedy’s bold commitment to Make America Healthy Again,” the statement continued.

“Any attempt to conflate widely supported public health reforms with the violence of a suicidal mass shooter is an attempt to politicize a tragedy.”

A previous report from The Introspective detailed disinformation spread by Kennedy over the years, including the false belief that vaccines cause autism and the racist claim that Black people have higher pain tolerances and stronger immune systems than white people.

FBI, Mass Layoffs, and Epstein

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey was chosen to serve as co-deputy director of the FBI, following former Fox News host and Secret Service agent Dan Bongino being selected as deputy director in February.

“I am thrilled to welcome Andrew Bailey as co-deputy director of the FBI,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi in an interview with Fox News.

“He has served as a distinguished state attorney general and is a decorated war veteran, bringing expertise and dedication to service. His leadership and commitment to country will be a tremendous asset as we work together to advance President Trump’s mission.”

In that same report, FBI Director Kash Patel praised Bailey’s appointment, stating that he will be an “integral part of this important mission.”

“The FBI, as the leading investigative body of the federal government under the Department of Justice, will always bring the greatest talent this country has to offer in order to accomplish the goals set forth when an overwhelming majority of American people elected President Donald J. Trump again,” he said.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche also praised Bailey’s appointment on X.

“Thrilled to welcome Andrew Bailey as our new FBI co-deputy director. As Missouri’s attorney general, he took on the swamp, fought weaponized government, and defended the Constitution,” he wrote.

Bailey acknowledged his appointment on X, writing, “To Missouri, thank you.”

“My tenure as attorney general has been the honor of my professional career, but what has made it truly meaningful has been the opportunity to serve my home state. Together, we have defended the rule of law and safeguarded our freedoms. I am forever grateful.”

In a press release announcing his resignation as Missouri attorney general, he thanked Bondi and President Trump.

“I extend my deepest gratitude to President Trump and U.S. Attorney General Bondi for the privilege to join in their stated mission to Make America Safe Again.”

At the same time, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard laid off half of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), marking the largest reform at the agency since it was created after the Sept. 11 attacks.

“Over the last 20 years, ODNI has become bloated and inefficient, and the intelligence community is rife with abuse of power, unauthorized leaks of classified intelligence, and politicized weaponization of intelligence,” Gabbard wrote in a press release.

“ODNI and the IC must make serious changes to fulfill its responsibility to the American people and the U.S. Constitution by focusing on our core mission: find the truth and provide objective, unbiased, timely intelligence to the president and policymakers,” she continued

“Ending the weaponization of intelligence and holding bad actors accountable are essential to begin to earn the American people’s trust, which has long been eroded. Under President Trump’s leadership, ODNI 2.0 is the start of a new era focused on serving our country, fulfilling our core national security mission with excellence, always grounded in the U.S. Constitution, and ensuring the safety, security, and freedom of the American people.”

In a report by Politico, a former analyst at the National Security Agency (NSA) warned that the layoffs could impact coordination between intelligence agencies.

“The ODNI was created to address obvious failures in coordination between intelligence agencies. It’s incomprehensible to think they can continue that work with half the staff,” said the former NSA employee.

In that same report, a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) employee shared the same sentiments.

“There doesn’t seem to be a strategy,” said the former CIA employee.

“To me, this seems to be just more of a constant reaction. Which is ironic, since that’s not intelligence analysis.”

Meanwhile, as the Jeffrey Epstein scandal continues, a federal judge denied the DOJ’s request to unseal grand jury records related to the late child sex offender, marking the third and final time the request was denied. However, the department planned to share other Epstein files with Congress later in the week.

Epstein Ruling

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“The instant grand jury motion appears to be a ‘diversion’ from the breadth and scope of the Epstein files in the government’s possession. The grand jury testimony is merely a hearsay snippet of Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged conduct,” wrote U.S. District Judge Richard Berman, criticizing the Trump administration for seeking to unseal the grand jury records when the DOJ already has other files in its possession and further highlighting that the release of the files could result in “possible threats to victims’ safety and privacy.”

“The government’s 100,000 pages of Epstein files and materials dwarf the 70-odd pages of Epstein grand jury materials,” he wrote.