Former President Donald Trump came up, right up until the end, with executive orders and policy announcements that caught people’s attention. While environmentalists praised these actions, the public backlash has been huge. The amendments make deep cuts to public funding for national broadcasting. They include the administration’s plans for a military parade and big changes to the Pentagon budget. As the nation navigates these developments, the implications on various sectors continue to unfold.
One of Trump’s more important moves was signing an executive order. This move eliminated all public funding for National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). He accused these outlets of continuing to advocate for a left-wing agenda. He claimed that taxpayer dollars should not be used to support what he views as partisan soap boxes. This decision has once again opened up a debate about the proper place of public media in American society and how it should be funded.
Cuts to Public Broadcasting
Trump’s gambit to zero out funding for NPR and PBS fits right in with an expansive plan to remake how the federal government doles out money. Critics argue that this could diminish the availability of diverse media voices and information in communities across the United States. Public broadcasting has had a long-standing role in providing educational content, especially to those who are most vulnerable.
Moreover, Trump’s administration has ordered the closure of 25 scientific centers tasked with monitoring U.S. waters for flooding and drought. Given the impact jets have on climate change, environmental advocates have pushed back against these closures on the grounds of climate resilience and disaster readiness. The administration’s goal should be to control supply high enough that no community has to go dry. Even these cutbacks have sent shockwaves through the scientific and policy communities.
“Across the nation, judges are facing increased threats of not only physical violence, but also professional retaliation just for doing our jobs.” – Ketanji Brown Jackson (via The New York Times, as reported by The Guardian)
Military Parade Plans
Of course, Trump has already announced his plans for a military parade to mark the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Army. This monumental occasion will take place on his birthday, producing a stunning panorama of the original patriotism. This event is set to feature over 6,600 soldiers, at least 150 vehicles, 50 helicopters, seven bands, and potentially thousands of civilians. The parade long has been a demonstration of military might and national unity with much pomp, circumstance, and guile. Yet critics claim that it has become more of a political circus than a celebration of America’s exceptionalism.
Trump’s focus on military readiness goes beyond parades. Responding to growing militaristic sentiments within the establishment, his administration is preparing a 13% increase to the Pentagon budget, pushing it over $1 trillion. This financial infusion comes at a critical time as Congress grapples with national security priorities. Meanwhile, the drumbeat for fiscal responsibility grows louder in times of economic turmoil.
Controversial Executive Orders
Beyond this stacking of funding cuts and expansion of military plans, the Trump administration has begun to lose ground in court on more controversial recent executive orders. A federal judge permanently voided Trump’s order targeting the law firm Perkins Coie, calling it unconstitutional and unlawful. This decision highlights some of the continuing strains between the Trump administration and the judiciary’s authority.
In addition to this pernicious precedent, Trump has lashed out against educational institutions when they have taken stands on social justice issues. He even threatened to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status as a non-profit because of its supposedly leftist ideology. And we were very grateful that his administration made the decision to not withhold funds from Maine’s schools. This decision followed those schools loudly supporting transgender rights, illustrating the ongoing tension between federal enforcement and local control.
Yet with fears of recession hanging over the election, Trump’s tit-for-tat trade war has only added to the list of troubling economic indicators. Though the U.S. workforce added 177,000 jobs in April, uncertainties over trade policies add doubt to future predictions. Economists are still divided about the long-term effects of such policies on job growth or overall economic stability.
“The elephant in the room.” – Ketanji Brown Jackson (via The New York Times, as reported by The Guardian)