As of February 11, 2025, President Donald Trump has enacted several significant policies during his second term, marked by a series of executive orders and initiatives that have elicited varied responses. President Trump has been active in issuing executive orders, with 55 signed in 2025 alone. One notable order is the “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity,” signed on January 21, 2025, which aims to eliminate unlawful discrimination and promote merit-based opportunities across federal agencies.
In a move to streamline government operations, the administration has proposed significant reductions in the federal workforce. An executive order mandates that federal agencies prepare for large-scale staff cuts, implementing a hiring restriction of no more than one new hire for every four employees who leave. This initiative, led by advisor Elon Musk, seeks to identify over $1 trillion in savings by eliminating fraud and waste. However, these efforts have faced legal challenges and criticism from various quarters. Furthering his deregulation agenda, President Trump signed the “Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation” executive order on January 31, 2025. This order mandates the elimination of ten existing regulations for every new regulation introduced, aiming to alleviate burdens on businesses and stimulate economic growth. Critics argue that such aggressive deregulation could compromise essential protections and oversight.
In the economic sphere, the administration has proposed significant tariffs on imports to encourage domestic production and stimulate economic growth. On February 1, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order imposing a 25% tariff on all imports from Mexico and Canada, citing concerns over illegal immigration and drug trafficking. The implementation of these tariffs has been paused for 30 days to allow for further negotiations. While these measures aim to bolster the U.S. economy, experts caution that they might increase the federal deficit by $7.75 trillion over the next decade and could provoke trade wars. The so-called “Trump trades,” betting on a stronger dollar and higher bond yields, have faltered due to concerns over the economic impact of aggressive trade policies. Contrary to expectations, the U.S. dollar has weakened, and U.S. Treasury bonds have rallied, as fears of an economic slowdown have started to eclipse worries about inflation. Additionally, the administration has proposed the creation of a U.S. Sovereign Wealth Fund. An executive order directs the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Commerce to develop a plan within 90 days for establishing this fund, aiming to manage national assets and generate revenue. Critics express concerns about the potential risks and ethical implications of the government engaging in investment activities.
In terms of immigration, the administration has initiated mass deportations to reduce competition for American jobs. However, this approach has raised concerns about potential increases in prices and negative impacts on economic growth.
On the social front, President Trump has taken steps to redefine federal recognition of gender. He announced plans to eliminate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) mandates at the federal level and stated that the U.S. government would only recognize two genders: male and female. This move has been met with significant criticism from LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and raises concerns about the potential erosion of civil rights protections.
Collectively, these actions reflect the administration’s commitment to its policy objectives. However, they have also sparked considerable debate and concern regarding their potential long-term implications for the nation’s economic stability, social cohesion, and international standing.
Sources:
Federal Register. “2025 Donald J. Trump Executive Orders.”
Reuters. “Trump to order US agencies to plan for ‘large scale’ staff cuts.”
The White House. “Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Launches Massive 10-to-1 Deregulation Initiative.”
The White House. “Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Imposes Tariffs on Imports from Canada, Mexico and China.”
Financial Times. “‘Trump trades’ start to misfire as dollar weakens.”
The White House. “Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Orders Plan for a United States Sovereign Wealth Fund.”
AP News. “The Latest: Trump, hosting Jordan’s king, renews his insistence that the US can control Gaza.”
New York Post. “President Trump says the US government will only recognize two genders - ‘male and female’.”
Morgan Muntean