Stories

From Day 1, the Trump administration dismantled U.S. immigration policy through executive orders: canceling CBP One, revoking TPS protections for nationals of more than a dozen countries, deploying National Guard troops and Marines to sanctuary cities, and expanding detention capacity through facilities like "Alligator Alcatraz" and Guantanamo Bay. The campaign rapidly expanded beyond undocumented immigrants to target green card holders, DACA recipients, legal visa holders, and naturalized citizens - with ICE making arrests at courts, schools, airports, and military graduations. By mid-2026, ICE was arresting more than 50,000 people monthly - the highest recorded pace - backed by a \$70 billion enforcement funding bill and a series of Supreme Court rulings favoring the administration. At least 32 immigrants died in ICE custody in 2025 alone, multiple others were fatally shot by agents during street operations, and more than 145,000 U.S. children were separated from detained parents.

The administration withdrew from Paris Agreement and UNFCCC, revoked the EPA endangerment finding on greenhouse gases, opened Arctic and offshore drilling, halted wind energy projects, weakened PFAS and mercury rules, cut climate research funding, and deleted climate data from government websites.

Trump signed executive orders eliminating DEI programs across federal agencies, military, and universities; banned transgender military service; attacked gender-affirming care; stripped civil rights protections; and pressured corporations, schools, and cultural institutions to abandon diversity initiatives.

Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led sweeping cuts to the federal workforce through mass firings, buyouts, and agency restructuring. The effort faced numerous court challenges, culminated in Musk's departure amid a feud with Trump, and left agencies from the IRS to the Weather Service severely understaffed.

Health Secretary RFK Jr. gutted CDC staffing, weakened vaccine recommendations (removing a third of childhood vaccines), promoted unproven autism-Tylenol links, fired the FDA commissioner, restructured HHS with 10,000+ job cuts, and reversed scientific consensus on multiple health issues while measles outbreaks surged.

The administration cut billions in federal funding to Harvard, Columbia, and other universities over antisemitism allegations and DEI policies; banned Harvard from enrolling international students; demanded race data; and pressured institutions into settlements. Universities fought back with lawsuits while some capitulated.

The administration detained pro-Palestinian activists Mahmoud Khalil and others, revoked student visas over minor infractions, banned Harvard from enrolling foreign students, paused visa processing at embassies, required social media screening, and deported academics. International student enrollment dropped 17%.

Federal ICE agents fatally shot two US citizens—Renee Good and Alex Pretti—during immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis, sparking nationwide protests, congressional investigations, and calls for DHS Secretary Noem's removal. The incidents led to a partial drawdown of agents and Noem's firing, and subsequently to DOJ charges against protest organizers and attempts to criminalise resistance to ICE operations.

Pete Hegseth faced controversies including the Signal classified leaks, firing Joint Chiefs Chair CQ Brown, renaming bases after Confederates, removing women from promotion lists, stripping Harvey Milk's name from a ship, Democrats filing impeachment articles, and presiding over the Iran war with multiple friendly-fire incidents.

The Trump administration's sweeping changes to US healthcare policy — including slashing Medicaid funding, allowing ACA subsidies to expire, defunding Planned Parenthood, and introducing new Medicare pricing rules — resulting in rising premiums, hospital closures, and millions losing coverage.

The Trump administration organised a sweeping series of events marking the 250th anniversary of American independence, branded as "Freedom 250." Centrepiece events included a state fair on the National Mall, a UFC fight card at the White House on Trump's 80th birthday, concerts, and a major July 4th celebration. The programme blended patriotic commemoration with political spectacle and drew both large crowds and criticism over costs and access.

From day one, the Trump administration has systematically dismantled reproductive healthcare in the United States and abroad. The global gag rule was reinstated, Planned Parenthood defunded, emergency abortion protections rescinded, and VA abortion services banned even for survivors of rape and incest. The FDA's approval of mifepristone came under sustained attack, with courts eventually blocking mail-order access. Meanwhile, the administration destroyed nearly million in contraceptives intended for women overseas and transferred pregnant immigrant girls across state lines to deny them abortion access.

The administration capped NIH indirect funding at 15%, canceled hundreds of grants worth billions, cut cancer research funding, and terminated HIV vaccine research programs. Courts blocked some cuts while universities laid off thousands of researchers, with scientists warning of a generational setback to American medical research.

Trump's policies have squeezed American farming from every direction: USDA workforce and funding cuts dismantled institutional support; tariffs on China triggered retaliatory bans on US grain and soybean exports while tariffs on Canada and Europe raised input costs; ICE raids stripped farms of their labor supply as the Agriculture Secretary suggested Medicaid recipients could simply fill the gap. Deregulation lifted bans on cyanide devices on public lands, killed rules on PFAS-contaminated fertilizer, and shielded Roundup from scrutiny. A $12 billion emergency aid package — drawn from tariff revenues — was dismissed by farmers as wholly inadequate, with thousands of farms facing bankruptcy and US wheat production on track for its worst season since 1972.

Trump signed executive orders to dismantle the Education Department, laid off 1,300+ employees, transferred functions to other agencies, confirmed Linda McMahon as secretary to oversee its dissolution, and moved student loans to the Small Business Administration. Congress retained legal authority over the department's existence.

The Trump administration's sustained effort to roll back gun regulations, defund violence prevention programmes, reinstate loopholes, and expand Second Amendment rights — supported by a series of favourable Supreme Court rulings.

Two government shutdowns occurred: a brief one in late 2025 and a record-breaking 43-day shutdown starting October 2025, the longest in US history. The shutdowns disrupted SNAP benefits, TSA operations, and federal services as Trump used them as leverage for voting restrictions and agency cuts.

The administration froze, then systematically eliminated USAID operations, closing headquarters, firing thousands of staff, cutting 90%+ of contracts, and terminating the famine early warning system. Courts repeatedly ordered aid restoration but the agency was effectively absorbed into the State Department.

Musk led DOGE's government restructuring effort before publicly feuding with Trump over the 'Big Beautiful Bill,' calling it 'disgusting.' Trump threatened Musk's subsidies, Musk called for Trump's impeachment and launched the 'America Party,' and Tesla lost $152B in a single day. They briefly reconciled at Charlie Kirk's memorial before Musk resumed criticism.