It’s only 19 days into Donald Trump’s second administration, and he has already unleashed a blitz of executive orders that challenge fundamental constitutional principles. And though he couldn’t keep many of his “Day One” campaign promises, such as defunding all schools with vaccine mandates (since we would probably have no education in that case), his initial actions have nonetheless sent shockwaves through American institutions. Most concerning is his executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants — a direct challenge to the 14th Amendment. The impact of this order extends far beyond legal debates, threatening to create devastating complications for immigrant families within our own campus community. Students, faculty and staff face potential disruptions to their healthcare access, educational opportunities and legal status, whether directly affected or through family members. A change as drastic as this would have irreversible impacts on many people we never would have anticipated.
The constitutional concerns aside, this policy would likely backfire spectacularly. According to the Migration Policy Institute, rather than reducing illegal immigration, denying birthright citizenship would cause the unauthorized population to more than double from 11 million to 24 million by 2050. This outcome perfectly illustrates the shortsightedness of such reactionary policy-making.
The administration’s assault on civil rights extends far beyond immigration. Trump’s executive order recognizing only binary gender on official documents and his revival of the transgender military ban represent direct attacks on LGBTQ+ Americans — an end to what he called “transgender lunacy.”
Similarly, his sweeping dismantling of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives as part of his crusade against ‘woke’ culture threatens decades of progress toward workplace equality and organizations like our very own Inclusion Diversity Leadership Council (IDLC). In doing so, he revoked decades of executive orders — including the 1965 Equal Employment Opportunity order signed by former President Lyndon B. Johnson — which prohibits employment discrimination based on race, sex, color, religion and national origin. These actions will have long-lasting implications for creating a federal workforce that truly reflects America’s diversity in decades to come.
The power of executive orders today are more focused on creating divisive laws that tear our nation further apart than “making America great again.” They have become more than merely an inevitable occurrence that comes with the turnover of each presidency, but rather an outright abuse of power.
His controversial pardons have sparked particular outrage. By pardoning Jan. 6 insurrectionists, including extremist group leaders like Enrique Tarrio and Stewart Rhodes (leaders of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers), Trump has effectively sanctioned political violence. The pardons of Ross Ulbricht, the Silk Road creator (a blackmarket widely used for narcotic distribution), who was sentenced to life in prison in 2015, and the police officers convicted in the murder of 20-year-old Karon Hylton-Brown further demonstrate a troubling pattern of enabling both criminal enterprise and police brutality.
Given the deeply polarized political climate, presidential pardons today appear to have turned into an abuse of power as well. While we can’t stop them, it’s crucial that we stay aware of what’s happening. Police officers, just like the security team on our campus, lost their lives while doing their duty to protect, yet those responsible were let off without facing any consequences.
On the environmental front, Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement (the U.S. is the world’s second-largest greenhouse emitter) and declaration of a “national energy emergency” to promote deregulated drilling appear more symbolic than practical. According to the U.S. Energy Information Association, global supply is projected to outpace demand growth, with production likely rising less than 1% and oil prices actually falling by 2026. This suggests his “drill, baby, drill” agenda may be more political theater than effective policy.
Environmental policies and actions are constantly being reversed and reinstated with each new president, swinging back and forth between adhering to climate regulations and disregarding them. While each action plan has its merits, we need more than just four years to see real progress in our nation. When presidents take office and simply undo all previous executive orders instead of working to improve them, we’re stuck in a cycle with no real forward momentum.
The administration’s other actions range from the concerning to the bizarre. His reversal of a 2022 order to lower the cost of prescription drugs threatens millions of Americans’ access to vital medications, such as insulin. Meanwhile, attempts to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America,” repeated references to Canada as the “51st state,” and demands for Denmark to cede Greenland reflect a concerning detachment from diplomatic reality.
Someone like this is unfit to wield the power of executive orders. However, since executive orders aren’t going away, the only way to address this is by supporting the right candidate. Research the issues that matter to you and use your vote to drive change.
Outside of just voting, the solution lies in civic engagement. First, talk to the people that would be affected by this to better understand the real-world implications it would have on their lives. Then take action, whether that be through volunteering with advocacy groups, petitioning, or getting involved in school clubs like the Inclusion Diversity Leadership Council (IDLC). Use your voice to push for discussions and awareness to educate peers, and speak out often.
