Washington — (BrooklandNews.com) — Apr. 29, 2025 — It has been 100 days since Donald Trump was elected as the 47th President of the United States, for his second term, and a lot has happened.
President Donald Trump has signed more than 100 executive orders in 2025, marking the most by any president in almost a century. These orders include ending diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in the federal government, allowing the Department of Defense to take control of public lands along the southern border for immigration enforcement, pausing U.S. foreign development aid for 90 days to review spending, shutting down the U.S. Department of Education to give power back to state and local governments and begin a war-on-tariffs. These moves represent a major shift in federal policy and priorities.
DEI
In January, days after Donald Trump took office, he signed an executive order to remove diversity, equity and inclusion from the federal government. The Trump administration moved to end affirmative action in federal contracting and directed all federal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) staff to be placed on paid leave, with plans for layoffs. The executive order revoked a directive from President Lyndon Johnson and restricted DEI efforts by federal contractors and grant recipients. Trump has called such programs discriminatory and pushed for strictly merit-based hiring.
The Southern Border
In another controversial move, Trump authorized the Department of Defense (DoD) to take control of public lands along the southern border for immigration enforcement. Under this executive order, the DoD has been granted expanded powers to use military assets for border security, including the potential construction of physical barriers and surveillance systems. This shift marks a major step in the administration’s “America First” immigration agenda and reflects Trump’s continued focus on strengthening border security. The move also raises concerns about the militarization of public land and the long-term impact on environmental protections.
Pausing U.S. Foreign Development Aid
Trump also issued an order pausing all U.S. foreign development aid for 90 days to conduct a review of its effectiveness. The decision follows his administration’s skepticism about the impact of foreign aid and its tendency to emphasize domestic priorities. Critics have argued that the halt could undermine humanitarian projects worldwide, but the administration maintains that the review will ensure taxpayer money is spent more efficiently. Trump’s approach signals his preference for reevaluating and streamlining U.S. foreign policy, focusing on reducing foreign entanglements while prioritizing domestic interests.
Shutting Down the Department of Education
Trump’s order to close the U.S. Department of Education is among his boldest efforts to shift control of educational policy to state and local governments. This move ends the federal government’s direct involvement in educational funding, curriculum oversight, and policy enforcement, empowering states to set their own standards. The administration argues that education should be handled closer to the people it affects, rather than being dictated by Washington. Supporters believe this will foster more localized and flexible approaches, while critics warn it could exacerbate inequalities in education across the nation.
War on Tariffs
President Trump has continued to use tariffs as a central tool in his trade policy, significantly increasing duties on imports from China, Europe, and other nations. These tariffs were designed to protect U.S. manufacturing jobs and reduce the trade deficit by encouraging American consumers to buy domestic products. Trump has framed the tariffs as a necessary measure to level the playing field, particularly in industries like steel and aluminum, which have been hit hard by foreign competition. Critics argue that the tariffs have led to higher prices for American consumers and strained relationships with trading partners. However, Trump maintains that they are a strategic move to force other countries into fairer trade agreements and reduce U.S. reliance on foreign goods.
Polling at 100 Days
Recent polling has also come out from multiple different pollsters. Most of it, shows Donald Trump at the lowest approval rating for a president in over 100 years.
| Polling Organization | Approval Rating | Disapproval Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos | 39% | 55% | Lowest 100-day approval rating in 80 years. |
| CNN/SSRS | 41% | 59% | Lowest 100-day approval rating of any president in at least seven decades. |
| NPR/PBS News/Marist | 42% | 53% | Plurality of Americans give Trump an “F” grade for his performance. |
| Fox News | 44% | 55% | Approval lower than his first term; only border security received majority approval at 55%. |
| Pew Research Center | 40% | Not specified | Majorities disapprove of tariffs and government cuts. |
| RealClearPolitics (aggregate) | 45.1% | 52.5% | Net approval: -7.4%. |
| Silver Bulletin (aggregate) | 43.8% | 53.3% | Net approval: -9.5%. |
| Race to the WH (aggregate) | 43.5% | 53.9% | Net approval: -10.4%. |
Donald Trump still has 1,460 days left as President of the United States.