The Trump administration is going even further in actions that have both national and international interest. Proposed layoffs of more than 2,100 of NASA’s most senior employees have drawn tremendous outcry. The very real imposition of personal sanctions against a UN investigator probing human rights abuses and a huge tariff on Brazil, following a month of explosive political turmoil. These changes are part of a larger, more troubling pattern by the Trump administration to flex its muscle at home and abroad.
In a move that has raised concerns among industry experts, the Trump administration plans to cut at least 2,145 high-ranking NASA employees. This unfortunate decision puts the heaviest burden on those with the most highly specialized skills or management tasks within the agency. According to LayOffs.fyi, the cuts affect crew from several countries. It is particularly remarkable that among them they have one from South Sudan, two from Myanmar (Burma), two from Cuba and each one from Vietnam, Laos and Mexico. Critics say that would be damaging to NASA’s ability to operate and pursue their current programs of record.
Sanctions Against Francesca Albanese
In another deeply controversial move, the Trump administration just issued sanctions against Francesca Albanese. As an independent UN expert, she has been the chief investigator into human rights abuses in the occupied Palestinian territories. The sanctions follow accusations that her Gaza conflict investigation efforts have been biased and politicized. This pattern is consistent with the Trump administration’s policy on international human rights matters. In particular, it addresses issues relating to Israel and Palestine.
The sanctions placed on Albanese have resulted in condemnation and alarm from human rights advocates and international observers alike. They claim that going after people who expose these bad practices is anti-accountability and anti-transparency. This is an action that could have ripple effects beyond just short-term diplomatic relations. It will – and should – affect the way other, similar investigations are handled going forward.
Tariffs on Brazil Amid Political Tensions
Donald Trump has gotten the economic rhetoric so hot that he’s recently introduced a 50% tariff on goods from Brazil. He justifies this intervention as a response to a “witch-hunt” undergone by former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro. That tariff would be a huge boon at the moment as Bolsonaro faces mounting court battles in Brazil. By doing so, this revelation is driving a significant diplomatic wedge between the two states. Trump has welcomed Bolsonaro’s rise, calling him a friend and even welcoming him to his Mar-a-Lago resort.
Trump has called on Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s government to abandon the legal action against Bolsonaro. Silva has been adamant that he will not accede to these demands. In a recent letter detailing the crisis, even Trump raised alarm bells over the situation. He tweeted, “This trial should never happen. It’s a witch hunt, and it should be dropped IMMEDIATELY! On one level, these statements just point to the changing political landscape in the United States and Brazil. They highlight the power that one man’s foreign policy decisions can hold.
Domestic Policies Under Scrutiny
Scandals surrounding the Trump administration’s domestic policy have captured recent headlines. Recently, it initiated legal action against California regarding its policies that permit transgender athletes to compete in girls’ school sports. Whatever the claims, this lawsuit is just the latest in a long-standing culture war in American society over gender identity and participation in sports. Critics contend that these types of lawsuits could create dangerous precedents that would harm civil rights protections.
U.S. agriculture officials in the Trump administration wanted to double down on that trend, promoting widespread adoption of automation in farming. They wanted to address the labor shortages caused by restrictive immigration policies. This retributive approach has sparked fears that migrant workers, many of whom are critical to maintaining the agricultural workforce, would succumb to an uptick in displacement.