Donald Trump’s return to the White House has led to a rapid implementation of executive orders that are already reshaping federal policies. From renaming the Gulf of Mexico to dismantling diversity offices, his administration’s “shock and awe” strategy has sparked widespread debate.
Gulf of America: A controversial renaming
One of Trump’s most striking changes is renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” in federal documents. Florida was the first state to use the new term in a weather alert, with the U.S. Coast Guard following suit in an official press release. Trump defended the move by claiming, “we do most of the work there, and it’s ours.”
While the name change is now in effect domestically, its international recognition remains uncertain due to the lack of formal precedent. The Gulf remains a crucial hub for fishing, transportation, and oil production.
Diversity offices shuttered
In a significant policy shift, Trump has ordered the closure of all federal diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) offices. Employees were placed on paid administrative leave as the government begins dismantling DEI programs.
Trump described these initiatives as “immoral” and accused the Biden administration of implementing discriminatory policies. His executive orders also reversed LGBTQ+ protections and introduced measures that recognize only two genders.
Pardons and border policies
Trump pardoned over 1,500 individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol riot and dismissed pending cases against approximately 450 defendants. Among those pardoned was Jacob Chansley, the “QAnon Shaman.”
In another high-profile decision, Trump declared a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border, enabling the use of federal funds to resume construction of the border wall without congressional approval.
Reversals on climate and international agreements
Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement and the World Health Organization (WHO), cutting funding to the global health body. He also blocked global vaccination directives from applying to the U.S.
TikTok gets a temporary reprieve
Trump issued a temporary extension for ByteDance to divest from TikTok, salvaging the app for American users. While the platform had been briefly banned, it returned online with a message thanking “President Trump” for his efforts.
Other controversial measures
Trump’s other orders include attempting to end birthright citizenship and designating Mexican drug cartels and certain gangs as foreign terrorist organizations. This designation could lead to military actions or deportations.
These sweeping changes signal Trump’s intent to dramatically reshape U.S. domestic and foreign policies during his third day in office.
