President-elect Donald Trump has promised to completely remake the US government and wield new power as president.
The ambitious promises, if enacted, would transform society. Some of his most-repeated promises on the campaign trailinclude:
- Mass deportation of 11 million undocumented immigrants
- Closing the southern border and ending birthright citizenship
- Unprecedented tariffs on foreign goods from all countries, but especially China
- Expansive tax cuts to benefit corporations, tipped workers, seniors on Social Security, property owners in the Northeast and many others
- Trillions in cuts in government spending with help from Elon Musk
- Reforming the country’s health and food systems with help from vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
- Reversing regulations aimed at addressing climate change
- Building a new missile defense shield with help from former NFL player Herschel Walker
- And so much more
Now Americans will find out what was hyperbole and what was real. They will see what is achievable and what he will push through.
His pledge to end Russia’s war on Ukraine “in 24 hours,” seems overwrought.
His pledge for a mass deportation effort is serious. It seems backed by clear planning but lacks public details.
Is there a master plan?
During the campaign, Trump tried to distance himself from Project 2025. This was a detailed blueprint for a new federal government by conservatives at the Heritage Foundation.
While Trump may not want to associate with that plan, it was made by his allies. At least 140 people associated with Project 2025 worked in Trump’s administration, according to CNN’s Steve Contorno. There is overlap between Project 2025 and Trump’s plans in his “Agenda47” videos.
In one Agenda47 video, Trump vows to issue an executive order to stop birthright citizenship for undocumented immigrants' kids. The 14th Amendment ensures birthright citizenship, so expect legal battles if this happens.
Russell Vought, a key figure in Protect 2025, was recorded by undercover journalists over summer. He discussed an aggressive agenda for Trump's first 180 days in office.
Trump's most aggressive promise is to deport millions of undocumented immigrants. He plans to use executive orders to reinstate border policies undone by Biden.
US immigration policy has seen many changes due to Congress's failure to pass meaningful reforms for decades. It's unclear how Trump will close the US border and if the US military, National Guard, or local law enforcement will be involved.
Stephen Miller, Trump's adviser, said deportations will start on January 20, 2025, the day Trump becomes president again.
“They begin on Inauguration Day, as soon as he takes the oath of office,” he said.
But how deportations will work is still unclear. Rep. Carlos Gimenez said undocumented immigrants will get a hearing before deportation, requiring more government workers. The current process is long.
“I agree; it’s going to be a very, very big task,” Gimenez said. “And my hope is, and I expect, that we’ll just simply follow the law.”
CNN's Priscilla Alvarez reported on discussions among Trump allies and private sector groups to detain and deport migrants on a large scale. Any operation would be expensive.
She noted Tom Homan said deportations would start with those accused of a crime. It's unclear what will happen to Dreamers, people brought to the US as children. Some Dreamers are protected by an Obama-era program that Trump tried to end.
Plans to 'aggressively' fire government workers and move agencies out of DC
Trump planned to reclassify federal workers to make firing easier at the end of his first term. This is known as “Schedule F.” Trump's goal was to undo protections for nonpartisan civil servants.
The Biden administration has put obstacles in place to prevent this. Trump promises in an Agenda47 video to start working on reinstating Schedule F. He wants to “remove rogue bureaucrats.” He also plans to “clean out all of the corrupt actors” in national security and intelligence and move federal agencies out of DC.
John McEntee, who was the director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office during Trump’s first administration, worked on Project 2025. This project aimed to build a list of Trump loyalists for administration roles. He remains close to Trump, according to CNN’s report on Trump’s transition.
McEntee said recently he wasn’t involved with the policy recommendations in Project 2025. Even though he agreed with most of it, he’s focused on staffing the president with good people. He believes Trump deserves that.
What about Trump’s Cabinet?
Trump likes to surround himself with big names. Musk will help with government efficiency, but not in the Cabinet. Kennedy wants to give parents more say over vaccines, but it’s unclear if he’ll be in the Cabinet.
Does Trump’s promise to put Walker in charge of a missile defense program mean a job for the failed Senate candidate? There are 26 people in President Joe Biden’s Cabinet. Some positions can change, but only two of Trump’s are filled.
Trump will likely name more top officials soon.
Trump’s first key personnel news came Thursday night. He announced Susie Wiles, his campaign manager, as his chief of staff. She’ll be the first woman to hold the position. Trump had four top aides in his previous administration, the longest being retired Marine Gen. John Kelly.
Trump can hire a chief of staff easily. But most Cabinet positions need Senate confirmation. Trump will have a Republican majority in the Senate, making confirmations easier. Each Cabinet appointee will have a confirmation hearing.
Frustrated by the difficulty of getting Cabinet officials confirmed, Trump often appointed people as “acting” secretaries. These appointments are temporary.
Trump’s oldest son, Donald Jr., said on Fox News that Trump values loyalty. He will look for people who respect the president’s authority.
Taking power away from Congress
Trump won’t have the 60 votes needed to pass sweeping legislation quickly. It’s unclear if Republicans will control the House, but any majority will be slim.
One of Trump’s big plans is to take power over government spending from Congress. In an Agenda47 video, Trump says he would use “impoundment” to reject spending instructions and use taxpayer money differently.
Congress limited presidents with a law after the Nixon administration. Trump plans to challenge it and take more power for the president.
