By Maria Maalouf
As we enter the first 100 days of Donald Trump’s second term in 2025, the landscape of American policy is set for a significant transformation. The administration has laid out an extensive agenda, promising to reshape America in ways that prioritize the needs and aspirations of its citizens.
The promise of an economy that works for every American is at the heart of the Trump administration’s economic policy. By focusing on tax reforms tailored to benefit middle-class families and small businesses, alongside a significant reduction in regulatory burdens, the administration aims to stimulate job growth and economic prosperity. There’s a strong push towards revitalizing domestic manufacturing, with policies aimed at incentivizing companies to bring jobs back to the U.S. Critics, however, caution that while these measures might spur short-term growth, they could also exacerbate income inequality without careful calibration of benefits distribution.
Healthcare under the new administration is set to undergo a philosophical shift, aiming to place patients and doctors back in control. The strategy includes promoting direct primary care models, where patients subscribe to a monthly fee for comprehensive care, bypassing traditional insurance complexities. This could lead to more personalized and potentially less expensive healthcare, but there’s apprehension about the fate of existing protections like those under the Affordable Care Act. The move towards site-neutral payments for Medicare could streamline costs, yet there’s uncertainty about how this will affect the broader healthcare ecosystem, particularly for low-income groups.
The administration’s commitment to America’s founding principles involves a significant reduction in federal oversight, with an emphasis on states’ rights and individual freedoms. This includes revisiting policies that might be seen as infringing on religious freedoms or individual liberties. While this resonates with those advocating for less government intervention, it raises questions about the protection of civil rights and the potential for a rollback in areas like voting rights and discrimination protections, stirring a national debate on what true equality and freedom mean in contemporary America.
Education reform under Trump aims to shift power from federal mandates to parental choice. Proposals include expanding school choice through mechanisms like federal scholarship tax credits and possibly restructuring the Department of Education to favor local decision-making. While proponents see this as empowering parents, critics argue that without careful implementation, this could lead to a further stratification of educational opportunities, potentially disadvantaging schools in less affluent areas.
The administration’s hard stance on immigration, human trafficking, and drug cartels involves enhancing physical and policy barriers at the border, reintroducing policies like “Remain in Mexico,” and intensifying efforts against drug cartels. These measures aim at securing national borders and reducing crime but have ignited discussions on human rights, with critics pointing to the humanitarian challenges at the border and the broader implications for international relations.
In foreign policy, the strategy is to project strength to achieve peace, which includes reassessing U.S. commitments abroad, potentially withdrawing from international agreements not deemed beneficial, and bolstering military capabilities. This approach could signal a more unilateral foreign policy, raising questions about America’s role in global alliances and its impact on international stability.
Energy policy is steering towards greater reliance on domestic resources, particularly fossil fuels, with a rollback on some environmental regulations to spur production. This policy aims at achieving energy independence but at the cost of potentially stalling progress on climate change initiatives, posing a dilemma between economic benefits and environmental sustainability.
The administration’s focus on election integrity involves measures to enhance security, like voter ID laws, while ensuring accessibility. This initiative seeks to address concerns of election fraud but has sparked debate over its implications for voter turnout, particularly among marginalized communities, highlighting the tension between security and accessibility.
Community safety policies emphasize supporting law enforcement, tackling crime at its roots, and addressing issues like drug trafficking through stringent measures. This includes immigration policies aimed at reducing crime rates, but it also brings to light discussions on police reform, community relations, and the broader definition of safety in a diverse society.
Finally, the promise to combat government corruption involves a significant overhaul of federal employment practices, aiming to reduce bureaucracy and ensure that government service aligns with public interest. This might involve changes in how federal employees are hired and retained, potentially leading to a more politically aligned civil service, which critics argue could undermine the non-partisan nature of government operations.
As these policies unfold over the first 100 days, the nation watches with bated breath. The administration’s agenda is ambitious, promising to realign the country with core American values and priorities. However, the execution of these policies, their impact on various segments of society, and the response they elicit from both supporters and detractors will shape the narrative of this new era in American governance. The balance between change, continuity, and the diverse needs of the American populace will be the true test of this administration’s first steps.