Donald Trump is making bold moves as he gears up for his second term. His immediate priorities? Border security and revamping American energy. He revealed his plan during a meeting with Senate Republicans. The president-elect aims to sign 100 executive orders, with 25 ready for day one.
Immigration overhaul: deportation and military involvement
At the Wednesday meeting, Trump shared his strategy to tackle these issues. His trusted team, including ‘border czar’ Tom Homan and immigration advisor Stephen Miller, was present to provide insight. One of the first actions on his agenda? Deporting illegal migrants with criminal records.
Trump plans to declare a national emergency to push his immigration policies into action. He intends to use military support for deportations, focusing on illegal migrants with criminal records, without making arrests.
Expanding ICE powers and border wall expansion
Trump plans to expand ICE’s powers, ensuring they have the support they need to crack down on illegal immigration. The border wall will continue to grow, and detention centers will need approval from Congress. Trump’s team is asking for funds to increase the number of detention beds. This will be challenging, given the slim margin Republicans hold in Congress.
Tackling terrorism: travel bans and border policies
Trump is also bringing back his controversial travel bans, targeting countries he deems ‘terror-plagued.’ He wants to reinstate the ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy and end migrant flights from the border. The president-elect is ready to eliminate the ‘catch and release’ policy and block entry via the CBP One app. Even the issue of ‘birthright citizenship’ is on the table, as Trump pushes for changes that would deny citizenship to children born to illegal migrants on U.S. soil.
Energy reform: returning to ‘Drill, baby, drill’
But Trump’s priorities don’t stop at immigration. His energy policies are poised for a major overhaul. He plans to reverse many of Joe Biden’s clean energy policies. Offshore gas and oil drilling are back on the table, especially in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Reserve. Trump’s infamous ‘drill, baby, drill’ mantra will return in full force.
Ending Biden’s electric vehicle mandate and natural gas ban
Trump is also taking aim at Biden’s electric vehicle mandate. He plans to undo Biden’s ban on exporting natural gas, further strengthening America’s energy independence.
Pardons and reversals: January 6 and Title IX
In another move, Trump is set to issue pardons to supporters involved in the January 6 Capitol riot. He also plans to fire special counsel Jack Smith and reverse Biden’s attempt to redefine sex under Title IX to include gender identity.
Congressional republicans: charting the path forward
Congressional Republicans are already hard at work to implement Trump’s agenda. Trump hinted in a Monday post that border security, energy reforms, and extending his 2017 tax cuts are top priorities. He also made a promise to protect tips from taxes, shifting the burden to tariffs on other countries.
The road ahead: navigating a slim majority in congress
The president-elect’s second term begins January 20, as the GOP-controlled Congress convenes. But with a slim majority, Republicans face a tough road ahead. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has little margin for error, especially as infighting continues among Republicans.
Budget reconciliation: a strategic move for Republicans
Republicans plan to use the budget reconciliation process to pass major bills. This allows them to bypass the 60 votes needed for a filibuster in the Senate. The GOP’s slim majority in the House complicates matters, and a single misstep could derail the entire process.
The debate over one bill vs. two: divisions within the GOP
For now, Trump and his team are pushing for a single massive bill to tackle border security, taxes, and other key priorities. Some Republican lawmakers, however, suggest two separate bills: one for border security and one to address the expiring tax cuts from 2017. This strategy has caused some divisions among GOP members, especially as they navigate the challenges of passing such large bills.
Speaker Johnson’s challenge: uniting the party
House Republicans gathered in Maryland to discuss the best way forward. Johnson, aligning with Trump, prefers a single bill to address all these issues. The timeline for this legislation is unclear, but Johnson hopes to start the reconciliation process by early February, although it could take months to fully implement.
Debt crisis: will Republicans agree on spending cuts?
Meanwhile, Republicans face a looming debt crisis. The national debt is ballooning, and some conservative lawmakers are demanding spending cuts in exchange for raising the debt limit. This could complicate Trump’s agenda, especially when it comes to his plan to reduce taxes.
Tariff tensions: Republican concerns and economic impact
Tariffs could also cause friction within the party. Some Senate Republicans, including the new Senate Majority Leader John Thune, have raised concerns about Trump’s tariff policies. They worry about retaliatory tariffs and the potential costs being passed down to American consumers.
Reconciliation process: a path to major legislation
The budget reconciliation process has been used before, notably by the Biden administration for major bills like the American Rescue Plan and the Inflation Reduction Act. But passing immigration reform through reconciliation failed in 2021, highlighting the difficulties ahead for Republicans.
The future of Trump’s second term agenda
As Trump and Congress work to advance his agenda, the stakes are high. Will they be able to overcome internal divisions and deliver on Trump’s promises? Only time will tell. But one thing is clear: Trump’s second term is shaping up to be a whirlwind of bold actions and high-stakes political maneuvering.
