On Monday, January 21, President Trump was inaugurated for a second time. President Trump launched several new policies and promises on immigration, climate change, and gender; he also advanced efforts via an executive order to shut down federal agencies overseeing diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Since then, he has been met with legal trouble from many angles. 

Since his campaign, Trump has declared immigration a “national emergency.” Recently, he signed an executive order to end birthright citizenship, triggering many states and immigrant rights group to fight back. 

In the case of New Hampshire Indonesian Community Support v. Donald J. Trump, immigrant rights’ advocates sued the Trump administration over an executive order seeking to strip certain babies born in the United States of their U.S. citizenship. 

As of now, over 22 states, including California, have sued President Trump over his new executive order to end birthright citizenship. 

Trump also created a new government agency, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is led by billionaires Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. 

Several groups filed lawsuits against this department.  

One group was a public interest law firm called National Security Counselors filed a lawsuit claiming the Department of Government Efficiency was overstepping in its abilities, operating as a federal advisory committee, and therefore violating a law called the Federal Advisory Committee Act, or FACA. 

Other Policies/Promises to Keep Tabs On: 

Immigration: 

• Trump declared that the Department of Justice will seek the death penalty for migrants who commit “heinous crimes against humanity,” such as murder or maiming. 

• The President is suspending refugee resettlement, though details are vague. 

• 1,500 additional troops are currently being sent to the U.S.-Mexico border. 

• Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will be allowed to arrest undocumented people at or near so-called sensitive locations, including houses of worship, schools and hospitals. 

Diversity and Gender: 

• Federal government diversity programs may end; Trump wants to stop diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts nationwide.  

• The equal employment opportunity act was revoked. 

• Trump hopes to “establish male and female as biological reality,” promoting strict, conservative ideas of gender in law and policy. 

• Trump rescinds guidance documents such as “The White House Toolkit on Transgender Equality” and “Supporting Transgender Youth in School”.  

• Government agency forms may require one’s sex to be listed as only male or female, without any request for gender identity. 

Climate Change: 

• Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Climate Accord. 

• Trump halted the Green New Deal, a series of Biden measures focused on expanding “green” jobs, regulating the fossil fuel industry, and limiting pollution.  

• Trump promises to expand the fossil fuel industry.  

Other: 

• Trump will pause aid to foreign countries, part of an “America-First” foreign policy. 

• Trump issued pardons for members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, known far-right groups. 

• Trump will end the board of education and wants education programs and institutions to fall under each state. 

• Trump overturned Biden administration sanctions on Israeli settlers.