Since his inauguration on Jan. 20, President Donald J. Trump has introduced over 50 executive orders, and made countless promises, all dealing with a variety of topics. He is the first president in decades to introduce so many executive orders within the first hundred days of his presidency.
Although some of these orders align with beliefs he has held consistently over the years, like immigration policy, it seems that in his second term he plans to drastically change the American political system.
A president can sign as many executive orders as he wants, yet it is up to the federal bureaucracy to enforce these orders if they are approved. This means that separate agencies and experts ensure that these policies are enacted through their own actions.
AP U.S. History teacher Mrs. Reilly notes, “He has an ambitious agenda for the first 100 days. It will be interesting to see if his policies meet the standard of constitutionality.”
In terms of constitutionality, Trump can hardly stray further. Just one example of this is his outspoken desire for a third presidential term. This is blatantly against article 22 of the U.S. Constitution, which when ratified in 1951, established two-term limits on presidential service. The only time a president has ever served more than two terms was with president FDR, who was combating WWII and the Great Depression, and did so before 1951.
As expected, Trump has resumed his efforts to crack down on immigration. Through multiple executive orders, Trump has effectively begun the mass deportation of millions of Mexican immigrants, tearing families apart and leaving worksites barren.
Immigrants should be informed of their following rights: The right to remain silent, the right to not answer the door, the right not to sign any documents.
Trump has signed an executive order allowing ICE agents into “sensitive locations” like schools, churches and hospitals, which were previously off limits due to human decency. Not only are these efforts inhumane, they are costly. The estimated amount of money it will cost to deport a million people is $315 billion. Not to mention, the devastating impacts of depleting the immigrant workforce, who pay taxes and contribute significantly to various industries, namely agriculture and construction, which are quite literally the foundation of this country.
Trump also seems to be focusing quite intensely on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion frameworks of the American government.
AP Government and Economics teacher Mrs. Newkirk shares, “The policies and motions dealing with DEI programs and actions, especially those having to do with transgender people, seem to be aggressive.”
Trump has moved to announce that legally, “there are only two genders” which is surely what this country needed to focus on in a time of economic, environmental and social crisis. He has effectively banned trans women from competing in women’s sports and fired many officials in aviation on suspicion of their hiring due to DEI.
President Trump has also simultaneously declared an energy crisis, and temporarily halted all use of wind energy overseas. Trump has also withdrawn the U.S. from the World Health Organization which aims at securing equal and safe access to care worldwide.
Trump has also reintroduced the Hyde Amendment, which ends federal funding for abortion.
As promised, Trump has started to implement high tariffs on other nations like Canada. The idea is to promote domestic businesses in America, but it will most likely make the U.S. appear less than amiable to other countries, and increase prices for consumers.
These are just a few of the drastic changes that have taken place under Donald Trump, and there will be more to come.
Amidst these changes, ANHS has and will always aim to ensure the safety of its students. All ANHS students are loved and recognized for who they are, no matter who they love, where they come from or who they choose to be – nothing less. In the coming months and years, we would all do well to remain connected as a community, supporting each other rather than tearing each other down.
