He’s taken jobs from over 120,000 federal workers and crippled many of the federal agencies that provide services to millions of Americans. He’s cut funding for programs and agencies that protect the public, support veterans, conduct scientific research and help feed thousands of people.
Besides being unconscionable, these actions are unconstitutional (not to mention cruel, destructive and authoritarian) since they impede the disbursement of federal funds allocated by congress.
Trump has signed over 240 executive orders in his first year, by far the most of any President to date. These executive orders have created a lot of pain and chaos for Americans across the board.
He declared a national emergency in order to justify imposing tariffs on most countries, including our three largest trading partners. These tariffs were ruled unconstitutional and illegal by the Supreme Court in February 2026. He also invoked the Alien Enemies Act in order to apprehend, restrain, and remove noncitizens, claiming the US faces an “invasion or predatory incursion” by another country or foreign government. This law was passed in 1798 and last used to intern Japanese Americans during WWII. These actions were an abuse of power, since no real national emergency or invasion exists.
Trump appointee Elon Musk’s DOGE (remember the Department of Government Efficiency?) made seemingly random budget cuts and firings that caused substantial pain. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), “The consequences of a depleted workforce are already being felt across the country, from Social Security recipients’ inability to access basic services,[3] to concerns that core data systems at the Department of Health and Human Services might collapse,[4] to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s inability to help investigate potential lead poisoning.[5] These impacts will only increase over time. The Administration reportedly plans additional RIFs [Reductions in Force] with a goal of eliminating another 150,000 positions, on top of the 130,000 employees who have already been laid off or taken buyouts. Personnel losses on this scale are likely to undermine public health,[6] food and drug safety,[7] veterans’ access to benefits and care,[8] and many other critical government functions.
DOGE also cut thousands of US Forest Service employees ahead of the summer season of peak wildfires and national park visitation. These people were responsible for wildfire mitigation, habitat conservation, land and timber management and outdoor recreation management.
Job “Approval”
All of this “Government Efficiency” has not gone unnoticed. According to polling by Gallup about Trump’s first year in office, this President garnered a 36% approval rating – and a 60% disapproval rating (see chart below). These results are termed “underwater” as disapproval significantly tops approval. His approval numbers on major issues were similarly dismal: Crime – 43%, Foreign Affairs 41%, Foreign Trade 39%, Immigration 37%, US Economy 36%, Federal Budget 31%, Ukraine Situation 31%, Healthcare Policy 30%.
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