By Emmanuel Bobby
Since returning to the White House in January, President Donald Trump has moved quickly to reshape America’s domestic and international priorities.
In the first year of his second term, his administration enacted sweeping tax reforms, deported millions of illegal immigrants, imposed broad tariffs, brokered peace deals, overhauled U.S. foreign policy, and directed the federal government to recognize only two sexes—male and female—among many other actions.
Below is an overview of the most significant initiatives undertaken so far.
Border Security and Immigration Enforcement
One of Trump’s earliest priorities was addressing illegal immigration, which had escalated into a crisis during President Joe Biden’s tenure. A series of executive orders focused on border enforcement led to a sharp decline in illegal crossings at the southern border.
According to Customs and Border Protection, illegal immigration fell to the lowest levels ever recorded. For seven consecutive months, border authorities released zero illegal immigrants after apprehension.
The Department of Homeland Security reported that more than 2.5 million illegal immigrants had been deported since the start of the year. Trump has argued that these removals reduce competition for housing and jobs for American citizens.
In March, Trump ordered hundreds of illegal immigrants to be deported to a prison in El Salvador, invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expedite removals. His administration stated that the law allowed the targeting of members of the MS-13 and Tren de Aragua criminal organizations. Courts have since blocked deportations under the law, and legal challenges remain ongoing.
Additional immigration actions included:
A $100,000 annual fee on new H-1B visa applications
An executive order ending birthright citizenship
A halt to green card and naturalization applications from 19 high-risk countries
Suspension of the diversity visa lottery
Introduction of the Trump Gold Card, costing $1 million for individuals and $2 million for businesses, offering expedited residence
Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection are set to receive a large share of $170 billion allocated for immigration enforcement through September 2029. The funding will support deportations, border wall construction, and new detention facilities.
‘America First’ Trade Policy
Shortly after his inauguration, Trump called “tariff” the most beautiful word in the dictionary, drawing inspiration from President William McKinley’s protectionist trade policies.
On April 2—dubbed “Liberation Day”—Trump imposed tariffs of at least 10 percent on more than 80 countries, marking a significant expansion from his first-term approach.
In his second term, tariffs have been used as leverage to lower foreign barriers to U.S. goods. Trump credits tariffs with attracting more than $17 trillion in new investment commitments and noted a 10.9 percent decline in the U.S. trade deficit in September.
Trump also pledged to send $2,000 tariff rebate checks to American taxpayers using tariff revenue.
Following April 2, the administration launched trade negotiations and announced new deals with 17 partners, including the European Union, Japan, the United Kingdom, South Korea, and Vietnam.
Pressure on China increased sharply, with tariffs rising to 47.5 percent despite partial reductions after a November truce. The administration has said this will accelerate long-term economic decoupling between the two countries.
Trump’s tariff policies face ongoing legal challenges, with the Supreme Court reviewing whether the actions violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
Despite warnings from some economists, inflation cooled to 2.7 percent in September, below expectations.
A Major Shift in Foreign Policy
Trump’s foreign policy marks a departure from previous administrations. A new National Security Strategy released in November redirected focus from Europe and the Middle East toward the Western Hemisphere and U.S. homeland security.
Recent actions reflecting this shift include a military buildup near Venezuela and the appointment of Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as U.S. special envoy to Greenland.
Trump shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development, emphasizing “trade over aid” and “investment over assistance” in foreign affairs.
Since January, Trump has helped broker the end of multiple conflicts, using economic pressure and tariffs to push adversaries toward negotiations. A cease-fire between Israel and Hamas resulted in the return of all Israeli hostages after two years, one of the administration’s most notable diplomatic achievements.
Trump has also pursued peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, pressured NATO allies to increase defense spending, and ordered precision strikes on Iran’s primary nuclear facilities. He signed an order renaming the Department of Defense as the Department of War and secured a major defense budget increase.
Internationally, Trump has urged allies to prioritize military readiness over climate initiatives, ESG policies, and diversity programs.
Seeping Tax Reform
Trump fulfilled a key campaign promise by passing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in just six months—roughly half the usual congressional timeline.
Signed into law on July 4, the bill:
Extends first-term Trump tax cuts set to expire in 2025
Eliminates taxes on tips and overtime (up to set limits)
Removes taxes on Social Security benefits
Administration officials project average tax filer gains of $1,000 in 2026.
The Tax Foundation estimates the reforms will raise GDP by about 1.2 percent while reducing federal revenue by approximately $4.5 trillion annually through 2034. Trump has argued that tariffs will offset these losses and could eventually replace income taxes altogether.
Culture and Social Policy Reforms
Trump has issued dozens of executive orders addressing public health, education, energy, gender policy, and crime—describing them as part of a “common sense” agenda.
On his first day in office, he signed an order stating that the federal government recognizes only two sexes, male and female. Weeks later, he barred transgender-identifying male athletes from competing in women’s sports.
He also eliminated diversity, equity, and inclusion programs across the federal government, a move mirrored by many private corporations.
The appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health secretary and the creation of the Make America Healthy Again Commission reshaped federal public health priorities.
Trump deployed the National Guard to address riots and crime in several major cities. Legal challenges followed, and the Supreme Court blocked the deployment in Chicago, potentially limiting future actions.
DOGE and Federal Downsizing
On day one, Trump created the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), initially led by Elon Musk.
DOGE reports $214 billion in savings through asset sales, fraud reduction, and canceled contracts—about $1,300 per taxpayer. The department terminated 264 federal office leases, saving more than $113 million.
Federal workforce reductions followed, with approximately 317,000 employees leaving government service—92 percent voluntarily.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act included $1.7 trillion in mandatory spending cuts, which Trump described as eliminating “waste, fraud, and abuse.”
Musk’s 130-day tenure ended in May, after which he publicly criticized the bill for failing to reduce the national debt.
Trump also issued an order requiring agencies to eliminate 10 regulations for every new one. In 2025, agencies removed 129 regulations per new rule, saving an estimated $212 billion.
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