Commencing a New Year with Fresh Strategies, and Issuing Executive Directives
The year 2025 kicked off with a storm of change in America, with President Trump's re-election leading to a wave of executive orders shaking up various sectors, including federal employment, higher education, and immigration. This slew of orders sparked widespread apprehension among affected groups, including federal workers, educational institutions, and immigrants.
In her article for Politico, Liz Crampton revealed federal workers to be "reeling" under digital anxiety, while Uriel Garcia's piece in the Texas Tribune discussed the sense of fear pervading the Texas immigrant community. Bracing ourselves against public scrutiny, we find that President Trump's executive orders have ignited an aura of uncertainty among diverse constituents.
The economic sentiments of the American people have taken a tumble, as revealed by Tim Smart in his January 2025 U.S. News & World Report article. Citing a survey, Smart highlights the decline in people's views about the economy, which remains a battleground issue from the 2024 presidential campaign. The fear of a prolonged wait to see improvements in food and essential costs cloud the optimism of many.
Democracy, inexorably complex and contentious, is a battlefield for opposing objectives, punctuated by spirited debate ending in majority victories. To ensure that none of the three branches of government - executive, legislative, or judicial - becomes too powerful, the Constitution provides checks on their powers. These checks act as safeguards, limiting the controversial actions of the branches or upholding their lawful ones.
Divided between executive, legislative, and judicial branches, America's democracy emerges as a fine example of the checks-and-balances system. The United States Supreme Court states that the framers of the Constitution intended such limitations to prevent the excessive grasp of power from any one branch.
Executive orders, with the weight of law, can face limitations if they clash with the Constitution or laws consolidated by Congress. These legal hurdles validate the function of checks and balances during uncertain times. Ensuing debate and judicial measures help define the legality of executive orders.
The first term of President George W. Bush saw an unconstitutional executive order that concealed access to past presidential records. This order faced judicial challenges and was rejected by a lower court, serving as a prime example of the checks-and-balances system operating well within its jurisdiction.
The executive order dictated by President Obama in 2012, aimed at providing a reprieve from deportation for 5 million undocumented immigrants, was also subjected to legal scrutiny. An injunction halted its implementation before the policy ultimately failed.
While different opinions sway the political landscape, America's system of checks and balances has historically served to placate uncertainty and preserve democracy's resilience. As James Madison stated in The Federalist Paper No. 51, the accumulation of extensive power in one hand contravenes the very definition of tyranny. By keeping a close check on the power of each branch, the United States maintains its overall functionality and longevity in the face of change.
Overseen by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, new plans to implement widespread layoffs across government will result in severe workforce reductions. Federal agencies must adhere to stringent provisions in hiring, cutting their new employees per departing ones to retain only around 25% of their workforce.
Higher education sees its influence wane under the Trump administration's executive orders. Foreign students vetted under stricter measures face extended processing times and the prospect of deferred or barred visa appointments. Colleges and universities grapple with the impact of the Executive Order "Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats" and its implications on admissions and DEI initiatives.
Immigration restrictions raise concerns as well. Applicants from high-risk countries encounter travel bans, usually resulting in delays in visa issuances and increased expectations for security clearances. The Trump administration's executive orders echo traditional immigration policies, with potential legal battles foreseen due to the stringent nature of their implementation.
Reinforcing its commitment to merit-based opportunity, the administration attempts to eliminate race-focused programs and redefine sex under federal law as strictly binary. Diversity staff receive paid leave ahead of planned layoffs, fostering higher levels of discontent and throwing a wrench in DEI efforts.
The Trump administration's pro-deregulation stance sets regulations in its sights. The "Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation" executive order may face legal challenges on grounds of constitutionality and legality due to its controversial measures aimed at drastically cutting federal regulation.
As long as American democracy endures the swirling winds of alteration, it continues to prove its capability to withstand demanding conditions and maintain its democratic sustainability.
- Despite reports of potential layoffs under Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, federal agencies are required to adhere to strict provisions in hiring, maintaining a workforce of only about 25% through a ratio of new employees to departing ones.
- The pro-deregulation stance of the Trump administration, as outlined in the "Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation" executive order, may face legal challenges due to its controversial measures and potential violations of constitutionality and legality.
- Speaking to the fear and apprehension surrounding President Trump's executive orders, Liz Crampton reported that federal workers are "reeling" under digital anxiety, while Uriel Garcia mentioned the sense of fear prevailing in the Texas immigrant community.
- The Trump administration's executive orders on federal employment led to widespread anxiety among federal workers, adding another layer of uncertainty to the complex and contentious democratic landscape.
- In the face of the Trump administration's immigration policies and executive orders, applicants from high-risk countries often encounter delays in visa issuances and stricter security clearance expectations, fostering concerns about potential legal battles due to their stringent implementation.
