We are in the midst of a small piece of American history in the wake of the recent inauguration of President Donald Trump, in his second term in the Oval Office. For the first time since 2018, there is a “Republican trifecta” in Washington, DC. Along with a GOP president, the Republican party holds the majority in the Senate and the House, plus a majority of governorships.
What, then, does this mean for the country? It means that certain pieces of legislation have a higher likelihood of being repealed, while others stand a better chance at adoption or continuation. For example, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) – a federal act designed to reduce the national deficit, lower prescription drug prices, and promote clean energy (Brookings) – has received much pushback from Republican lawmakers ever since its enactment, but their efforts now have a viable shot at longevity thanks to their majority. The GOP largely opposes the IRA, calling it a “partisan climate and regulatory spending spree” that has been “devastating for the American people” (Shelley Moore Capito, Committee on Environment and Public Works). According to opposing sources, however, the IRA has produced significant profits for the American people – a year after its enactment, the IRA had created over 170,000 jobs in the clean energy sector and slowed inflation rates (American Progress). These varying perspectives on both the purpose and effect of certain pieces of legislation may no longer be a concern of GOP legislators and lawmakers.
Additionally, the second Trump administration has seen several noteworthy plans and proposals that have already made national headlines in just a few days post-inauguration. Among the most recent and (arguably) notorious is President Trump’s plan to significantly alter the landscape of the American federal workforce. This week, Trump has proposed a program for federal worker resignation. Federal workers will be given the option to resign from their jobs yet retain their salaries over several months post-resignation. The execution of this already heavily-criticized plan could lead to a potentially significant reduction in the federal workforce, but the Trump administration states that its purpose is to create a smaller and more efficient government with less bureaucracy and, therefore, more autonomy and freedom for the American people. Temporary leader of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) (formerly known as the United States Digital Service), Elon Musk, stated on social media platform X that the plan would allow government workers to “take the vacation [they] always wanted, or just watch movies and chill, while receiving [their] full government pay and benefits.” Right after his election, President Trump asserted that this plan would be the “perfect gift to America” in the wake of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence (New York Times). All federal employees will be eligible for this plan except for members of the military, postal workers, and immigration enforcement officers. Although the plan states that resignation from these jobs is optional, it does not necessarily ensure financial security and protection for these employees upon their leave.
The new administration’s plans could have a profound effect on the Cleveland community as well. The attempted freezing of federal loans – that has since been suspended by a judge – while the Trump administration figures out which of the relevant loans or grants align with their objectives is top of mind for Cleveland State students as they grapple with the realities of their financial situations. Over 69% of all Cleveland State students – including law students – take out federal loans to either supplement their education or provide for it completely (Prep Scholar). The new administration initially plans to freeze these loans for some time while they figure out if these loans – and any other related grants – align with their policies and objectives.
What are those policies and objectives, exactly? According to the Trump Administration's official website, the president’s goals are to “drain the swamp” of “overpaid DEI activists”; “make America affordable and energy dominant again” by withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accord; and “make America safe again” by cracking down on illegal immigration and strengthening border security. These policies, says the White House, are not only undoubtedly in alignment with key tenets of conservative values, including a decentralized, anti-bureaucratic, and anti-hegemonic government – they are ultimately the defining principles of our country’s founding. Without them, the idea of America being a free nation would arguably mean nothing.
Many, however, are questioning the effects of these policies as well as the motives behind them. The president’s recent statements about the tragic, deadly plane crash near Ronald Reagan National Airport on January 29th focused on the dangers of “DEI hiring practices”, while pushing sympathy to families of lost loved ones to the background (AP News). Additionally, at a recent confirmation hearing, controversial Secretary of Health and Human Services nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated that blacks and whites needed different vaccine schedules because “[blacks’] immune systems are [sic] better than ours”, harkening back to antiquated ideologies stemming from the health industry’s often tumultuous relationship with race throughout its history (NPR).
What does this mean for Americans? Is America heading toward a long-awaited era of unapologetic, progress-driven nationalism, or are we being hurled back into a bygone era full of the ghosts of policies’ past? Does the agenda of the Republican trifecta celebrate the principle of “America First”, or will it lead to “America Left Behind”?