According to a White House article dated February 17, 2025, titled “Trump Effect Shows No Slowdown,” the White House wrote: “In his first month back in office, President Donald J. Trump has taken extraordinary action to usher in a new Golden Age of America – through border security, deregulation, government accountability, and leveling the playing field for American workers, to name a few.”
The positive effects of President Trump’s policies continue to be felt across the country.
Here are some headlines you may have missed this weekend:
- Top automaker could move some production out of Mexico amid Trump tariff talks, CEO says.
- Trump tariffs spark ‘exciting time’ for Ohio steel plant as CEO eyes adding jobs, boosting productivity.
- San Diego migrant shelter closes after no new arrivals since Trump took office; over 100 employees laid off.
- DOGE Discovers $1.9 Billion HUD Money ‘Misplaced’ By Biden Administration.
- USDA Axes Millions in Contracts, Including $230K for ‘Brazilian Forest and Gender Consultant’.
- Border Czar Tom Homan: “In the last 24 hours the US Border Patrol has encountered a total of 229 aliens across the entire southwest border. That is down from a high of over 11,000 a day under Biden. I started as a Border Patrol Agent in 1984 and I don’t remember the numbers ever being that low. President Trump promised a secure border and he is delivering.”
In just one month back in office, President Donald J. Trump has rapidly set into motion sweeping reforms, striving to fulfill his promise of ushering in a “New Golden Age of America.” His administration has aggressively pursued policies on border security, trade, deregulation, and government accountability, sparking both fervent praise and intense opposition. As the nation absorbs the whirlwind of these early days, a stark political divide emerges, featuring legal battles and growing unrest from influential figures like Elon Musk.
Trump’s Policy Blitz: Executive Orders and Governmental Tremors
From day one, President Trump has exercised executive power with unprecedented speed, issuing a record number of executive orders that have dramatically reshaped the government and the economy.
The Abrupt Closure of USAID
One particularly contentious decision was the immediate shutdown of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) following an audit by the Department of Government Oversight and Efficiency (DOGE), led by a close Trump ally. Citing rampant corruption and mismanagement, the administration dissolved the agency, redirecting its multi-billion-dollar budget toward domestic projects, such as border security and American infrastructure.
The White House hailed this as an “America First victory,” arguing that taxpayer dollars should no longer be spent on “foreign handouts.” Conversely, Democrats, humanitarian groups, and international allies decried the move as “a reckless abandonment of global responsibility.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Congressional Democrats vowed to challenge the action in court, contending that the president lacks unilateral authority to dissolve a federal agency without congressional approval. The legal battle over USAID’s dissolution is just one of several lawsuits facing the administration.
Simultaneously, mass layoffs have commenced across federal agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control, the Department of Education, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Reports indicate that over 75,000 federal workers have accepted buyout offers, while others have been terminated.
Protests Erupt in D.C. Against Trump and Musk’s Federal Overhaul
Washington, D.C. has become a hotbed of protest, with hundreds of demonstrators gathering outside the U.S. Capitol to oppose both President Trump’s downsizing of the federal government and Elon Musk’s burgeoning influence over government operations.
Chanting “Elon Musk has got to go!” and displaying signs reading “Protect our federal workers,” protesters criticized the administration for dismantling vital institutions.
“I’m here because I’ve seen Elon Musk indiscriminately firing, laying off, and threatening people,” said Tyra Winguard, a Maryland resident at the protest. “Federal workers are dedicated American citizens, not the enemy.”
Alicia Blumberg, a longtime contractor with USAID, likened the situation to “falling out of an airplane.” She and her colleagues have been devastated by the agency’s abrupt shutdown. “We’re regular people with families who have devoted our lives to working with and for others,” she lamented.
With the Office of Personnel Management directing agencies to finalize layoffs by Tuesday at 8 p.m., many federal employees fear they could be next. Protester Don Powell, who knows several individuals affected by the cuts, expressed hope that Congress would intervene.
The #50501 Movement and the ‘Fire Elon Musk’ Campaign
Nationwide Protests Against Trump’s Executive Overreach
In addition to the protests in Washington, D.C., activists across the country have mobilized under the #50501 movement, organizing a national day of action against what they call “racist and fascist attacks” and the administration’s Project 2025 initiative. Demonstrations have erupted at state capitols nationwide, with over a thousand expected in D.C. alone.
The ‘Fire Elon Musk’ Campaign Gains Traction
Central to this unrest is Elon Musk, who activists accuse of exerting undue influence over the Trump administration. The “Fire Elon Musk” campaign, led by groups like Common Cause and the Southern Poverty Law Center Action Fund, calls for Musk to be removed from any government advisory roles.
Critics argue that Musk is attempting to run the government like one of his companies, pointing to his reported involvement in federal workforce reductions and AI policy discussions.
The campaign has sought to place full-page ads in major newspapers like The Washington Post, though the paper reportedly backed out due to potential legal concerns. Meanwhile, progressive lawmakers, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, have renewed calls for stricter regulations on Musk’s businesses.
Border Security: A Historic Decline in Illegal Crossings
President Trump’s stringent border policies have led to historically low illegal crossings, with daily encounters plummeting from over 11,000 under Biden to just 229. This has been achieved through a combination of:
- Expanded border wall construction
- Increased deployment of National Guard troops
- Immediate deportations under a newly reinstated “Remain in Mexico” policy
- Suspension of all asylum claims for non-citizens entering illegally
The sharp drop in crossings has resulted in the shutdown of migrant shelters across the country, including in San Diego, where over 100 employees were laid off due to the lack of new arrivals. Progressives and immigrant rights groups have condemned the policy shift, accusing Trump of “waging war on asylum seekers” and violating human rights laws.
Legal Challenges: Democrats and Advocacy Groups Fight Back
Trump’s aggressive executive orders have triggered a wave of legal challenges:
- Civil rights groups have sued over the border policies, arguing that the near-total halt of asylum applications violates U.S. and international law.
- Congressional Democrats are preparing a lawsuit to challenge the dissolution of USAID, arguing that its funding and structure are protected by congressional authority.
- Several blue states, including California and New York, are exploring legal avenues to fight Trump’s tariffs, citing potential economic harm.
While these cases will take months or even years to resolve, Trump’s legal team is confident that the conservative-leaning Supreme Court will ultimately uphold many of his actions.
What’s Next? A Nation at a Crossroads
With legal challenges mounting, protests intensifying, and new executive actions on the horizon, one thing is certain: Trump’s second term is shaping up to be just as unpredictable and combative as his first.
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