As President Donald Trump approaches the first-month mark in his second time period, he has moved with dizzying velocity and blunt pressure to reorder American social and political norms and the economic system whereas redefining the U.S. position on the earth.
On the identical time, he has empowered Elon Musk, an unelected, South African-born billionaire, to assist engineer the firing of 1000’s of federal workers and probably shutter complete companies created by Congress.
These efforts have largely overshadowed Trump’s crackdowns on immigration and the U.S.-Mexico border, and his efforts to remake social coverage by wiping out variety, fairness and inclusion applications and rolling again transgender rights.
The president has additionally imposed scores of recent tariffs in opposition to U.S. commerce companions and threatened extra, at the same time as economists warn that may move prices on to U.S. customers and feed inflation.
Here is a take a look at the primary 4 weeks:
What number of govt orders has Trump issued up to now in 2025?
Government Actions: 108 TOTAL
Government Orders: 73
Proclamations: 23
Memorandums: 12
President Trump signed extra govt orders in his first 10 days, and in his first month in workplace, than any latest president has of their first 100 days.
In a speech on Wednesday, President Trump mentioned his administration was placing each faculty receiving federal funding on discover that in the event that they “let men take over women’s sports teams” they might “be investigated for violations of Title IX.”
Mass federal firings start
The Trump administration fired 1000’s of employees who have been nonetheless in probationary durations frequent amongst new hires. Some had lower than an hour to go away their workplaces.
These probably shedding jobs embrace medical scientists, power infrastructure specialists, overseas service workers, FBI brokers, prosecutors, academic and farming information specialists, abroad support employees and even human assets personnel who would in any other case need to handle the dismissals.
On the Client Monetary Safety Bureau, which was created to guard the general public after the 2008 monetary disaster, workers say the administration not solely desires to chop almost the complete workforce but in addition erase all its information from the previous 12 years. The administration agreed to pause any additional dismantling of the company till March 3, below a choose’s order.
Whereas Trump promised to show Washington the wrong way up, his strikes might have far-reaching implications for 1000’s of federal workers across the nation and drive up the unemployment fee if massive numbers of layoffs occur without delay.
Authorized challenges mount
Court docket challenges to Trump’s insurance policies began on Inauguration Day and have continued at a livid tempo since Jan. 20. The administration is going through some 70 lawsuits nationwide difficult his govt orders and strikes to downsize the federal authorities.
The Republican-controlled Congress is placing up little resistance, so the court docket system is floor zero for pushback. Judges have issued greater than a dozen orders not less than briefly blocking elements of Trump’s agenda, starting from an govt order to finish U.S. citizenship prolonged mechanically to individuals born on this nation to giving Musk’s workforce entry to delicate federal information.
Whereas a lot of these judges have been nominated by Democratic presidents, Trump has gotten unfavorable rulings from judges picked by Republican presidents, too. Trump recommended he might goal the judiciary, saying, “Maybe we have to look at the judges.” The administration has said in the meantime that it will appeal, while White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt railed against the orders slowing the president’s agenda, calling each “an abuse of the rule of law.”
The administration has notched a couple of wins, too, most importantly when a choose allowed it to maneuver ahead with a deferred resignation program spearheaded by Musk.
The financial outlook worsens
Amid the coverage upheaval, the newest financial information might immediate some White Home worries.
Inflation rose at a month-to-month fee of 0.5% in January, in accordance with the Labor Division. Over the previous three months, the buyer worth index has elevated at an annual fee of 4.5% — an indication that inflation is heating up once more after having cooled for a lot of 2024.
Trump informed voters he might decrease inflation, and achieve this virtually instantly after taking workplace. However Leavitt, whereas blaming Trump’s predecessor, Democrat Joe Biden, acknowledged the newest inflation indicators have been “worse than anticipated.”
Extra hassle indicators got here when the Commerce Division reported that retail gross sales slumped 0.9% on a month-to-month foundation in January. A drop that giant might sign a weakening in shopper confidence and financial development.
The Federal Reserve’s report on industrial manufacturing additionally discovered that manufacturing facility output slipped 0.1% in January, largely because of a 5.2% drop within the making of motor autos and elements.
These might all be blips, which suggests the month-to-month information in February will actually matter.
President Donald Trump revoked an govt order that banned discrimination by federal contractors and subcontractors, a part of his effort to crack down on federal variety applications.
The ‘fair trade’ Trump desires is not essentially truthful
After beforehand imposing tariffs on China and readying import taxes on Canada and Mexico, Trump rolled out what he known as the “big one.” He mentioned his administration would put collectively new tariffs within the coming weeks and months to match what different international locations cost.
Different nations hardly discover Trump’s method truthful.
From their vantage level, he’s together with gadgets apart from tariffs reminiscent of worth added taxes, that are akin to gross sales taxes. Meaning the charges could possibly be a lot larger than a typical tariff in Europe.
On high of that, Trump plans separate further tariffs on autos, pc chips and prescription drugs, along with the 25% tariffs on metal and aluminum that he introduced on Monday.
It isn’t clear whether or not these commerce penalties are primarily negotiating instruments or methods for Trump to lift revenues. To date, he has recommended that they’re each.
Congress watches its authority erode. However there are indicators of pushback
Congress finds itself confounded by the onslaught as its institutional energy — because the Structure’s first department of presidency with its unmatched authority over federal spending — is being eroded in actual time.
Home Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., mentioned he finds the work of Musk’s workforce “very exciting.” Johnson mentioned Trump is “taking reliable govt motion.”
However even amongst congressional Republicans there have been small indicators of protest rising — letters being written and telephone calls being made — to guard their home-state pursuits and constituents as funding for applications, providers and authorities contracts is being dismantled.
Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., urged the Homeland Safety Division to not concern blanket deportations for Venezuelan migrants who fled their nation and now name the Miami-area house. “I’m not powerless. I’m a member of Congress,” he mentioned.
Democratic lawmakers have joined protesters outdoors shuttered federal workplaces, arguing Trump and Musk had gone too far. Democrats recommended laws to guard varied applications, and even filed articles of impeachment in opposition to the president over his plans to bulldoze and redevelop Gaza.
Trump desires a brand new world order
Together with his telephone name to Russian President Vladimir Putin this previous week, Trump is hoping he initiated the start of the top of the Kremlin’s battle on Ukraine.
The leaders agreed to have their groups “start negotiations immediately.” After getting off the telephone with Putin, Trump known as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to debate getting each side to the negotiating desk.
The Putin name is a monumental growth in a battle that has left tons of of 1000’s useless or critically wounded.
However the best way forward stays difficult.
Zelenskyy mentioned he won’t meet with Putin till a plan for peace is hammered out by Trump. Trump has gotten blowback when European leaders sharply criticized him and Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth for suggesting that NATO membership was not within the playing cards for Ukraine.
The White Home faces an additional quandary with Zelenskyy wanting the U.S. and different international locations to offer safety ensures for Ukraine, and Zelenskyy insisting that he and Trump iron out an settlement on the contours of any peace deal.
