Trump’s new policies- Phoebe G:
Donald Trump took office at the presidential inauguration on Monday 20th January, starting his second term as President of the United States. After over just a week in office, he has signed dozens of executive orders. These are rules issued by the president to a certain branch of government and have the force of the law. The orders passed have affected many facets of US policy, affecting everything from immigration, climate change, health and medical research, directives defining gender, and many more. Some of these actions will have immediate effect, whilst others will be challenged in courts (such as his attempts at getting rid of birth-right citizenship for those born in the US whose parents don’t have permanent legal status). I have summarised some of the key ones below:
ENERGY + ENVIRONMENT:
There have been many environmental/energy related orders put forward by Trump and they range in their extremity:
“Unleashing American Energy”: The encouragement of “energy exploration and production on Federal lands and waters” and the promotion of fossil fuels as a resource. It also lays out the idea of ‘true consumer choice’; the belief where people should have the ‘freedom to choose’ their household appliances and should no longer be restrained by regulations that favour electric vehicles.
“Declaring a National Energy Emergency”: Proposes that inadequate energy production is posing an “extraordinary threat” to US interests. Agencies are directed to identify emergency authorities that can facilitate energy projects (e.g. for oil and gas) as soon as possible.
“Putting America First in International Environmental Agreements”: Withdrawing the US from both the Paris agreement (international treaty on climate change) and Biden’s International Climate Finance plan.
“Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential”: This is in line with Trump’s pledge to “Drill, baby, drill” at his inaugural address. It states that it is US policy to benefit from Alaska’s “vast lands and resources” and develop the natural gas reserves for export, but also aims to roll back restrictions on drilling and mining that were implemented during Biden’s presidency.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT:
Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government”: This order claims that there are only “two sexes, male and female” and orders the federal government to have biological distinctions between men and women and refer to people by their sex rather than their gender identity. It also prohibited the use of federal funds to promote what they termed, “gender ideology”.
“Restoring Names that Honour American Greatness”: Orders the Gulf of Mexico to be renamed the “Gulf of America”, Alaska’s Denali Mountain “Mount McKinley” after former President William McKinley and to order the appointment of members to the US Board on Geographic Names who will be sympathetic to Trump’s policies.
HEALTH:
“Withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organisation” (pretty obvious by the title!)
IMMIGRATION:
“Clarifying the Military’s Role in Protecting the Territorial Integrity of the United States”: “Protect US sovereignty” by having the US Northern Command seal the Southern US border to prevent mass migration, narcotics and human trafficking (as well as others).
“Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship”: Denies citizenship to US born children whose parents are not US citizens/lawful permanent residents.
“Securing Our Borders”: A joint state/federal effort to cease + prevent future immigration at the southern border by constructing a physical barrier among other aggressive methods.
“Protecting the American People Against Invasion”: Trump calls for removal of those in the US without legal status + orders agencies to enforce removal orders, criminalise unauthorised entry into the country and construct detention facilities for those awaiting removal proceedings (this has recently been confirmed to be Guantanamo Bay).
There are other orders that have been put into place by Trump from his first week in office, and there will continue to be more as he continues his term. Whilst many of those reading this article may question the relevance that they have to many of us in the UK, his policies will have a far-reaching impact in the months and years to come, socially, environmentally and economically. It is so important to keep up to date and informed throughout his next four years as president.
Post Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.