Donald Trump’s rapid implementation of over 200 executive orders in his second term has sparked concerns about democratic principles in the U.S. Among the most alarming are:
- Birthright Citizenship Challenge: Trump’s order to deny citizenship to children of undocumented migrants contradicts the 14th Amendment, which guarantees citizenship to all born in the U.S. This defies legal precedent, testing institutional checks and balances.
- Reviving Schedule F: Reinstating this order risks politicizing the civil service by allowing mass dismissal of federal employees, replacing them with loyalists and undermining the apolitical nature of governance.
- Pardoning January 6 Rioters: Trump’s pardon of 1,500 rioters, including leaders like Stewart Rhodes, undermines accountability and incentivizes political violence, politicizing the justice system.
- Politicized Investigations: Orders targeting Biden-era policies empower investigations that risk becoming tools to purge opponents and politicize agencies.
These actions challenge democratic norms, placing U.S. institutions at a critical crossroads. Failure to counter them could normalize authoritarianism.
