Reports suggest that upon taking office, President Trump has implemented significant policy changes, many of which align with the objectives outlined in “Project 2025,” a blueprint for conservative governance developed by former Trump administration officials and conservative think tanks.
Key areas of focus in these early actions, often framed as tackling the “deep state,” include:
- Federal Workforce Reform: One of the most prominent moves has been the reclassification of certain federal employees into a new “Schedule F” category. This is intended to allow for the quicker removal of employees in policy-influencing roles who are deemed to be undermining the presidential agenda, or for reasons of poor performance or misconduct. The stated aim is to enhance accountability and ensure that federal agencies are aligned with the President’s directives.
- Dismantling DEI and “Woke” Initiatives: Executive orders have reportedly been issued to end Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs across the federal government and within higher education and corporate America. This is consistent with a broader effort to remove what the administration views as inappropriate racial, sexual, or political content from federal rules, regulations, and programs.
- Regulatory Rollbacks: The administration has initiated significant regulatory relief, particularly in areas like environmental regulations, with exemptions granted for certain industries from EPA rules. There have also been actions to revoke certain mandates, such as the electric vehicle mandate.
- Immigration Enforcement: The administration has taken steps to seal the border, expand deportations, and dismantle the asylum system, aligning with promises to carry out the largest deportation operation in American history.
- Reforming Independent Agencies: There’s an apparent effort to bring independent agencies under greater presidential control, including by requiring them to report directly to the Office of Management and Budget and firing independent agency leaders.
These actions reflect a broader strategy to reshape the federal bureaucracy and policy landscape, with proponents arguing they are necessary to restore accountability and implement the President’s agenda, while critics express concerns about their potential impact on civil service protections, civil liberties, and the balance of power.
