A Divided Nation
Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, marked Donald J. Trump’s second presidential inauguration. In the days leading up to the event, many of Washington, D.C.’s residents, particularly those in nearby neighborhoods, opted to leave their homes, citing safety concerns and a charged atmosphere. Just two days prior, on Saturday, Jan. 18, thousands marched in Washington, D.C. for the annual People’s March. Since its inception in 2017, this march has highlighted a range of causes, including climate change, immigration reform, and women’s rights. Meanwhile, conservative supporters – both local, and from outside the city – flooded the streets in support of the impending inauguration 一 underscoring the deepening divide in the nation.
Swift Executive Orders Redefine Policy Directions
In a notable deviation from tradition, Trump chose not to place his hand on the Bible during the oath of office. Immediately following the ceremony, he signed a series of executive orders that indicated a clear departure from the previous administration’s stance, and reversed key policies established during the Biden administration. These swift actions have sparked widespread discourse, extending beyond directly affected groups to the broader public. These orders address critical issues including immigration, diversity initiatives, the environment, and the federal workforce — touching many sectors of American life.
A selection of the orders issued includes:
Immigration
● Restrict eligibility for asylum to individuals arriving at the southern border. This restriction could prevent individuals fleeing violence and persecution from seeking refuge in the United States.
● Reinstate the “Remain in Mexico” policy requiring asylum seekers to await court decisions outside the U.S. This policy reverses President Biden’s repeal, which critics claim will force migrants to wait in presumably unsafe conditions, and may result in legal and humanitarian consequences.
Gender and Diversity Policies
● Establish a federal policy recognizing only male and female sexes. This policy may eliminate recognition of nonbinary identities in federal documentation, creating obstacles in accessing services and legal protections.
● Revoke protections for transgender individuals in federal prison settings. This decision could exacerbate the vulnerability of transgender individuals to discrimination and increase the risk of assault and mistreatment.
Environmental Policies
● Withdraw U.S. participation in the Paris Climate Agreement. This decision signals a divergence from global climate efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change.
● Overturn restrictions on offshore drilling in federal waters imposed by the Biden administration. By expanding oil and gas production in fragile environments, this order could result in significant environmental damage.
● Rescind vehicle emission standards promoting electric vehicle production. This policy aims to prolong reliance on fossil fuels by rolling back efforts to promote clean energy alternatives.
● Expand oil and gas exploration in protected areas of Alaska. This action reverses President Biden’s restrictions on drilling in the Arctic, threatening fragile ecosystems in the region.
● Abolish environmental justice initiatives. These initiatives, championed during the Biden administration, were devised to address pollution and climate change impacts on marginalized communities.
● Reevaluate regulations perceived to hinder the development of diverse energy sources, including fossil fuels and renewables. This move could reinforce dependence on fossil fuels and impede the growth of renewable energy sources.
Health
● Withdraw U.S. membership from the World Health Organization. This decision impacts global health initiatives, including pandemic preparedness, vaccination programs, and health research.
Cultural Changes
● Rename landmarks such as Denali and the Gulf of Mexico. Renaming landmarks may ignite disputes over cultural heritage and historical recognition, potentially leading to controversies about the preservation of history.
Federal Workforce
● Implement a freeze on federal hiring, exempting positions related to the military, immigration enforcement, national security, and public safety. This freeze could lead to staffing shortages in critical agencies and undermine Biden’s efforts to expand federal workforce diversity and enhance staffing in climate change and healthcare areas.
● This order would end remote work policies and require federal employees to return to in-person work full-time. This approach would impact employee satisfaction and present challenges for those who have adjusted to remote work, specifically those balancing caregiving or health needs.
Crackdown on Immigration Sparks Fear
Among these actions were extensive ICE raids targeting undocumented individuals, provoking fear across immigrant communities. These raids extended to workplaces, neighborhoods, and even schools, where children were reportedly detained or separated from their families. Workers were taken from their jobs during their shifts, further amplifying the disruption to lives and livelihoods.
The administration’s mass deportation plans have drawn sharp criticism, with human rights advocates cautioning the devastating effects on families and the impact on communities of color. Critics argue that these policies not only fracture families but also threaten the nation’s commitment to compassion and equality.
In response to these developments, Bishop Mariann Budde, during the interfaith prayer service at the Washington National Cathedral on Jan. 21, 2025, addressed President Trump directly, urging him to show compassion to vulnerable populations, including immigrants.
She stated: “In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now. There are gay, lesbian, and transgender children in democratic, republican, and independent families. Some who fear for their lives. And the people who pick our crops, and clean our office buildings, who labor in poultry farms and meatpacking plants, who wash the dishes after we eat in restaurants, and work the night shifts in hospitals – they may not be citizens or have the proper documentation, but the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals. They pay taxes and are good neighbors. They are faithful members of our churches and mosques, synagogues, gurdwara, and temples. I ask you to have mercy Mr. President, on those in our communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away and that you help those who are fleeing war zones and persecution in their own lands to find compassion and welcome here. Our God teaches us that we are to be merciful to strangers, for we were all once strangers in this land,” to which Mr. Trump responded by calling her a “radical left, hardcore Trump hater” and noted that she wasn’t good at her job, accusing her of bringing the church into politics in an ungracious way and demanding an apology. The exchange underscored how deeply intertwined politics, faith, and society remain, leaving Americans questioning whether these connections bring harmony or division.
Trump’s AI Investment
In addition to the orders, Mr. Trump announced a multibillion-dollar initiative aimed at establishing the United States as a global leader in artificial intelligence. Funded largely by the private sector, the initiative will focus on expanding AI infrastructure, focusing on advancements in automation, robotics, and data analytics.
Advocates argue that this move will drive economic growth, create jobs, and improve the efficiency of various industries, including healthcare, defense, transportation, and manufacturing. However, critics warn of potential ethical and societal risks, including the potential for increased unemployment due to automation, probable misuse of AI in surveillance, and the widening economic gap between those who control these technologies and those who do not.
Controversial Pardons Ignite Debate
In addition, Trump pardoned approximately 1,500 individuals convicted of crimes related to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, including those involved in violent offenses. This decision sparked widespread debate both in the United States and internationally, as the attack remains one of the most controversial and prominent events in modern American history.
The decision drew criticism from the Department of Justice and members of the general public, who expressed concerns about the lack of accountability for the individuals who harmed police officers and other victims during the storming of the Capitol. Law enforcement groups and victim advocates voiced frustration over what they regarded as a dismissal of the trauma and injuries suffered by Capitol police officers, some of whom obtained life-altering physical and emotional harm as a result of the attack.
Several Senate Republicans expressed mixed reactions to the pardons. Some acknowledged the severity of the offenses, while others claimed they had not seen footage of rioters assaulting police officers or downplaying the violence altogether. This raised questions about the extent of their awareness regarding the events of that day, and sparked broader concerns over biased perceptions of the attack.
DEI Policies Under Fire
Notably, Mr. Trump ordered all federal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) employees to go on mandatory leave, asserting that DEI and DEIA policies violate federal civil rights laws and threaten the safety of American citizens. His directive outlines plans to eliminate programs related to diversity, equity, and equitable decision-making while reversing policies aimed at equitable financial and technical assistance deployment. He emphasized a desire to restore “merit-based opportunity,” arguing that decisions should prioritize individual qualifications and achievements over equity-based considerations.
DEI initiatives, which aim to promote fair treatment and equal access to opportunities for individuals of all backgrounds, have ties to the civil rights movement. These policies strive to address system inequalities in education, employment, and representation, particularly for historically marginalized groups such as people of color. Analysts argue that dismantling DEI policies could undo decades of progress toward equality and inclusion, unequally affecting communities that rely on such efforts to address inequalities. As these policies are tied to broader civil rights protections, their elimination raises concerns about potential racial and social equity setbacks in the United States.
Trump’s Contentious Start
By straying from conventional practices and long-held national views, Trump’s decisions reflect his departure from the typical presidential norms and traditional political discourse. While some argue these moves are necessary for national security and economic growth, their long-term implications remain tentative. The direction set by these actions will likely continue to shape the trajectory of his presidency and the nation’s future in the years to come.
