Less than a week into his initial term, President Donald Trump has issued a series of executive orders that signal significant policy shifts throughout the United States. These orders address various topics such as immigration, healthcare and historical transparency. While supporters argue that these changes will restore peace and prosperity within the United States, critics warn that their implementation might have dire consequences for the country.
One of the most controversial orders targets birthright citizenship, a principle highlighted within the Constitution. As Section 1 of the 14th Amendment explicitly states, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” This clause has long ensured that anyone born on U.S. soil, regardless of their parents’ nationality, is considered an American citizen. However, Executive Order 14160, titled “Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship,” aims to reinterpret this amendment by denying birthright citizenship to children of undocumented immigrants. However, most legal scholars agree that Trump cannot unilaterally end birthright citizenship through an executive order. Rather, a constitutional amendment ratified by a vote in Congress is necessary to lawfully change this withstanding precedent. So, for now, this executive order seems to be nearly impossible to place into effect.
Beyond immigration, Trump’s executive orders have also impacted the future of American healthcare. Executive Order 14163, titled “Reasserting American Sovereignty in Global Health Policy,” officially withdrew the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO) due to Trump’s skepticism about how they handled COVID-19. The WHO oversees seasonal and pandemic flu cases. In addition, they are also in charge of alerting others when a new outbreak occurs, including those that will impact the U.S. Without WHO membership, the U.S. won’t be able to obtain information about outbreaks quickly enough to help their citizens. Critics of this decision fear that pulling out of the WHO could weaken global health surveillance, hinder international pandemic preparedness and isolate the U.S. from crucial health efforts. The WHO was instrumental in preparing U.S. citizens to fight against coronavirus back in 2020, and so drawing out of this organization implies that if there were to be another pandemic, the U.S. would have to go into it unprepared and alone.
Amid these sweeping changes comes another notable executive action titled “The People’s Right to Truth: Full Disclosure of the JFK Files.” This order mandates the disclosure of all governmental records containing information about John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassinations that were previously withheld from the public. This executive action asserts Trump’s belief that the people have the right to full transparency regarding two of the most infamous political assassinations in history. For JFK, decades of conspiracy theories about the CIA, FBI or other governmental branches being involved in his assassination may finally be put to rest. For MLK, beliefs about the FBI being linked back to his death may be proven right. One thing is certain: the release of these files will reshape how history views the tragic end of these political figures’ lives.
As Trump’s presidency unfolds, it remains crucial to monitor his executive actions and promises to America. Whether these orders will strengthen or weaken the nation is up for debate; however, it should be noted that they will impact different aspects of the country. However, Trump’s executive orders have faced significant legal pushback. Federal Courts have swiftly intervened, with judges blocking his requests to remove birthright citizenship, deeming it unconstitutional and a clear abuse of power. However, possibilities of Trump ignoring the decisions made by the courts have arisen, similar to how lawsuits challenging the withdrawal of WHO were simply ignored. Ultimately, if these orders were to be implemented, the long-term effects of these decisions would shape the nation’s future, influencing everything from policy and economy to the broader political landscape.
