On 2025-04-18, Donald Trump replaced acting IRS commissioner Gary Shapley with Michael Faulkender, reportedly due to a complaint from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent about Elon Musk's influence on the appointment. Billy Long is Trump's nominee for the permanent position, signaling an attempt to increase White House control over the IRS.

On 2025-04-18, reports indicated that the IRS is considering revoking Harvard's tax-exempt status following Trump's public calls on 2025-04-17 and allegations that Harvard failed to properly report significant foreign donations. The administration has already frozen $2.3bn in federal funds and threatened to terminate $9bn more, with at least 60 other universities under investigation for alleged campus antisemitism.

On 2025-04-18, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the US will withdraw from peace negotiations within days unless significant progress is made, signaling impatience regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

On 2025-04-18, the Trump administration replaced the Covid.gov website with content promoting the 'lab leak' theory of the COVID-19 origin, criticizing Dr. Anthony Fauci, the World Health Organization, and New York state leadership.

On 2025-04-18, the Appeals Court denied the Trump Administration’s bid to end deportation protections for Venezuelans. The ACLU filed emergency requests to halt the Trump administration's planned deportation of Venezuelan detainees, but a judge denied one request, while others were pending; an appeals court has paused a contempt proposal against the Trump administration for violating a deportation order.

On 2025-04-18, a federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration's plan to lay off nearly 1,500 workers at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Senator Elizabeth Warren criticized the move, highlighting the CFPB's role in protecting consumers, which has recovered over $21 billion for defrauded consumers.

On 2025-04-18, it was reported that several international students with revoked visas have sued the Trump administration, claiming denial of due process.

On 2025-04-18, it was reported that conservationists are suing the Trump administration over its rollback of green policies aimed at boosting the oil industry.

On 2025-04-18, a judge has temporarily rejected a challenge by the Associated Press (A.P.) to a new White House press policy, and denied AP's request for further enforcement of a previous order to allow AP access to cover events; the decision is a temporary one.

On April 17, 2025, U.S. airstrikes on Yemen's Ras Isa oil port, held by Houthi rebels, killed 74 and wounded 171. The U.S. stated the strike aimed to eliminate fuel sources for the Houthis.

On April 18, 2025, Mike Huckabee, the new U.S. ambassador to Israel, visited the Western Wall and offered a prayer written by President Trump. Huckabee stated that efforts are underway to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.

On April 18, 2025, economists feared the Trump administration's tariff war with China threatens U.S. global authority, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent singled out China as "bad actors". President Xi Jinping is touring Southeast Asia to bolster economic alliances, positioning China as a stable partner.

On 2025-04-18, it was reported that on 2025-04-16, the executive director of Hope Florida, Erik Dellenback, resigned, as the charity came under heightening scrutiny.

On April 17, 2025, Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez, a US citizen, was arrested in Florida during a traffic stop and detained at the request of ICE, despite presenting a birth certificate. On April 18, 2025, the charge was dismissed, but ICE requested he be held.

On April 18, 2025, President Trump elevated Christian prayer at a White House Easter Service, with conservative Christian supporters rejoicing in a second chance for their values to have power. Many Christian supporters believe Trump miraculously survived an assassination attempt to remake America.

On 2025-04-18, the Trump administration released thousands of classified documents related to the 1968 assassination of Robert F. Kennedy. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. supported this release, suspecting a second gunman, while experts have differing opinions on whether the new information will change the conclusion that Sirhan Sirhan acted alone.

On 2025-04-18, Elon Musk supported a post by Laura Loomer on X, accusing Treasury Secretary Bessent of collaborating with a 'pro-impeachment and pro-censorship Trump hater'.

On 2025-04-18, it was reported that a scandal could potentially sink Casey DeSantis's candidacy for the November 2026 gubernatorial election.

As of April 18, 2025, Barbara Lee had surged into the lead in the Oakland mayor’s race.

Published on 2025-04-18, Trump’s nominee to head the IRS, former U.S. Rep. Billy Long of Missouri, has not yet been confirmed.

On 2025-04-18, Melanie Krause resigned from her role at the IRS after the agency agreed to share tax information of undocumented immigrants with federal agents.

On 2025-04-18, Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen met with Kilmar Ábrego García in El Salvador, who was deported despite a court order, prompting comments from El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele. The White House contrasted the meeting with an image of Trump with the mother of Rachel Morin, while Trump stated Ábrego García is a violent person and won't return, deferring to lawyers on due process. A federal appeals court called the Trump administration's handling of the case "alarming."

On 2025-04-18, it was reported that the Food and Drug Administration is suspending a quality control program due to staff cuts.

On 2025-04-18, Rümeysa Öztürk, a Fulbright scholar, was detained after co-writing an op-ed criticizing Tufts’ response to Gaza. Alireza Doroudi, an Iranian student, was arrested and taken to an ICE processing center. Over 370 Georgetown alumni opposed the detention of Dr. Badar Khan Suri, whose visa was revoked due to his father-in-law's alleged ties to Hamas.