In the first month of his second term, President Donald Trump wasted no time in implementing a series of high-stakes policy moves, which for many, signaled the return of the bold and controversial decisions that defined his first presidency. His actions, spanning climate change, education, economic policy, social issues, and immigration have sparked both intense support and significant backlash.
Climate and Clean Energy
One of the president’s first major moves was his decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Agreement, a repeated move from his first term as president. The accord’s primary aim is to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by managing the rise in global temperature. Additionally, his administration has directed federal agencies to end subsidies for electric vehicles, signaling a shift away from green energy policies.
Education
In the realm of education, the president ordered a halt in investigations into the alleged book bans in schools. Trump also issued a directive to withhold funding from public schools that did not adopt a “patriotic” curriculum, which included a ban on teaching concepts like institutional racism, white privilege, and unconscious bias. Moreover, Trump ordered schools to cease recognizing transgender identities and offered public schools an ultimatum: adopt his new curriculum or risk losing federal funding.
DEI and LGBTQ+
Perhaps one of Trump’s most contentious actions was dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the federal government. The president attributed the deadly midair plane collision over the Potomac on Jan. 29 to DEI programs. He ordered federal agencies to terminate all DEI efforts and place employees working in these areas on paid administrative leave starting Jan. 22. Moving forward, Trump’s intention is for federal employment to be based on merit, rather than what he perceives were contracts based on race, sex, or religion.
Trump’s administration also challenged several policies from previous administrations attempting to secure LGBTQ+ rights. He mandated that transgender women be housed in men’s prisons. Furthermore, the administration began removing over 8,000 government web pages, including those discussing topics like diversity initiatives, gender identity, and LGBTQ+ issues. Among the pages removed were seven from the Department of Justice (DOJ) that addressed anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes. The government also required federal workers to remove pronouns from their email signatures and eliminated a third-gender option on federal identification documents.
Economic Policies
Trump’s economic agenda continued its focus on protectionism, with the administration announcing 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico. However, Trump announced a delay on the tax when Mexico promised it would send 10,000 troops to the border and Canada said it would appoint a fentanyl czar. Kevin Brosseau, who was recently appointed as Canada’s representative to control the travel of fentanyl, has declared his goal is to stop the opioid from crossing the border. Meanwhile, Trump’s stance on China remained unchanged, moving forward with a 10 percent tariff on Chinese goods, which he described as “just an opening salvo” in a broader trade war.
The president also threatened new tariffs on imports from the European Union, underscoring his commitment to reshaping global trade dynamics to favor American interests. These aggressive trade policies signaled to both allies and adversaries that Trump would prioritize U.S. economic dominance above all else.
Foreign Policy
On the international front, President Trump called for the closure of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The organization is the government’s main provider of global humanitarian and development aid, and Trump’s statement came just as many of their staff were expected to be suspended with pay or laid off. However, on Feb. 7, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking the agency from placing thousands of employees on administrative leave and hurriedly evacuating workers stationed overseas.
In the past few weeks, the president had drastically altered previous US policy, particularly with regards to the war in Ukraine and Gaza. On Jan. 12, Trump and Russian president Vladimir Putin called to discuss the Ukrainian war. While Trump described the call as “lengthy and highly productive”, critics notice the shift away from Biden’s robust support (with the exception of troops) to Ukraine. Further, the absence of Ukraine’s representatives in the oncoming peace deal negotiations have been a focal point, especially after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky declared they would reject any resolution reached in a conference without their involvement. In addition, The Trump administration has said Ukraine should not join NATO and has indicated they would accept the loss of Ukrainian territory to Russia over the course of the war.
With respect to Gaza, Trump has articulated a plan to permanently displace 2 million Palestinians from the territory and have the US take it over to redevelop it into a “Freedom City”. In anticipation of the refugees other Middle Eastern countries would have to accept, Trump hosted the Jordanian leader, King Abdullah II, at the White House. These announcements, along with those to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico and obtaining control of Greenland, hint at the imperialistic tendencies Trump has engaged in.
Jan. 6 Insurrection on Capitol Hill
Perhaps one of the most controversial decisions Trump made early in his second term was to grant clemency to everyone charged in connection to the Jan. 6 Capitol Hill attack. By pardoning the rioters, Trump sent a clear message about his allegiance to his supporters and his ongoing dispute with the legal system.
In addition to granting clemency, Trump took action against those in the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the federal prosecutor’s office involved in the legal cases against the rioters. He fired several officials, highlighting his emphasis on loyalty above all else. Trump’s critics have claimed that this undermines the rule of law, while his supporters argue that he is simply protecting the individuals who took part in, what he describes as, a protest against a rigged election.
Immigration
Trump’s first month saw a series of aggressive measures aimed at altering U.S. immigration policy dramatically. One of his most high-profile moves was the declaration of a national security emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border. In a direct challenge to Biden’s immigration reforms, Trump ordered the shutdown of a Biden-era initiative known as CBP One, an app that was introduced to help manage asylum seekers. It allowed individuals to schedule appointments and temporarily stay in the US while their asylum claim was being processed.
Under Biden’s program, migrants who crossed the border illegally were denied asylum, while those who entered through legal points of entry with help from the app had the chance to present their cases. Trump argued that the app facilitated illegal immigration and pointed to the rising numbers of border encounters as evidence that the Biden administration’s approach was flawed. As a result, he canceled over 30,000 scheduled asylum appointments, a decision that has led to widespread confusion and frustration among immigrants and asylum seekers.
Under Trump’s new orders, asylum in the US will be significantly harder to obtain. The president argued that asylum policies have encouraged illegal immigration, particularly by individuals fleeing economic hardships rather than fleeing political persecution. He proclaimed that the system had been abused and led to an influx of migrants into the country. His administration will aim to end illegal migration by tightening the asylum process and has already declared a national security emergency at the border.
Trump also moved to shut down a Biden policy that allowed people from countries such as Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela, and Nicaragua to enter the U.S. through humanitarian parole programs. This program allowed migrants from countries with political unrest to fly directly into the U.S., bypassing the treacherous journey most migrants take to come to the U.S. Trump’s administration views these programs as a way for individuals to enter the country without going through the proper legal channels.
Furthermore, Trump’s immigration actions also included a major shift in U.S. refugee policy. He paused the US Refugee Admissions Program on Jan. 20, a bipartisan-supported initiative that had been in place for decades. The Trump administration stated that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would review the program and decide whether it should be resumed within 90 days.
In a move that could have wide-reaching consequences, Trump also targeted birthright citizenship, calling for an end to the policy that automatically grants citizenship to children born in the U.S., even if their parents are not citizens. This proposal will encounter a steep legal challenge, as it would require a constitutional amendment or a ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court, given that birthright citizenship is enshrined in the 14th Amendment.
Finally, Trump proposed housing migrants in Guantanamo Bay, a US naval station and detention center in Cuba, which raised numerous questions about the treatment of asylum seekers and the broader humanitarian implications. The plan would, in Trump’s view, serve as a deterrent to illegal border crossings and help contain the flow of migrants into the U.S.
The first month of President Trump’s second term in office has been marked by sweeping and controversial decisions. His stance on climate change, his reform of the education system, his hardline policies on the economy and immigration, and his pardoning of the Jan. 6 rioters have set the tone for what is expected to be a divisive presidency.
For his supporters, Trump’s actions represent a welcomed return to the policies they believe will secure the country’s borders and restore American pride. For his detractors, however, these same policies reflect an authoritarian bent, one that seeks to undermine democracy and civil rights. As the country moves forward, Trump’s agenda will continue to fuel heated debates and challenge the limits of executive power.
By Olivia Mandelbaum Raz
