Trump Administration Executes Radical Changes to Government

January 20, 2025, was a busy day for Donald Trump. In the morning, he was inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States after delivering a rousing, if controversial, inaugural address. Almost immediately, he set about enacting his lofty campaign promises, and we got a taste of what the Trump administration has in store for America in the next four years.

On his very first day in office, Trump signed 26 executive orders, rescinded countless others by former President Joe Biden, and delivered mass pardons for the convicts involved in the Capitol riots of January 6, 2021, including those who engaged in police brutality. He has now withdrawn us from the Paris Climate Agreement and the World Health Organization, declared a “National Energy Emergency” to encourage higher domestic oil production, and restricted birthright citizenship to only those whose parents have legal permanent resident/citizen status. He also mentioned that he might seek to expand U.S. territory, declining to answer questions about whether he would use military force for this potential acquisition.

These orders have sparked massive controversy among the American public. Some people commend Trump for his decisive actions and his ability to deliver on campaign promises while others are concerned about the constitutionality of the actions and their worldwide ramifications. One of the most controversial orders is the birthright citizenship restriction, which has faced lawsuits from 22 states as of January 27. A judge here in Seattle called Trump’s order “blatantly unconstitutional,” criticizing it as a violation of the 14th Amendment, which states, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” 

Trump’s decision to recognize only two genders has also caused massive public outcry, with many criticizing the transphobic order as an attempt to erase trans people from U.S. culture and undermine their basic human rights. He has also signed orders rolling back federal diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and personally encouraged prosecutors to expand the use of the death penalty. 

What does this say about America’s future? While MAGA enthusiasts have utopian visions for America under Trump and left-wing pundits are eager to forecast doomsday for us all, no one can truly predict what will happen. However, we can say for certain that America is shaking out to be a drastically different nation than it has been for the last four years. In chaotic times like these, when many fear for their basic liberties, it’s more important than ever to preserve the foundations of our democracy: freedom of expression, governmental checks and balances, civil rights for all, and faith in our fellow Americans.