Article Summary –
President Donald Trump issued 143 executive orders in the first 100 days of his second term, aiming to dismantle the Department of Education, roll back gun safety regulations, impose tariffs on imports, rescind abortion rights protections, and reduce the federal workforce, among other actions. These orders have sparked significant legal challenges, with experts arguing many overstep presidential authority, and have caused economic disruption, specifically in Pennsylvania, where tariffs and federal workforce reductions led to job losses and increased consumer prices. Trump’s directives have also negatively impacted cultural and educational institutions in Pennsylvania, with federal funding cuts targeting programs related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
In the first 100 days of his second term, President Donald Trump issued 143 executive orders. These included efforts to eliminate the Department of Education, reverse gun regulations, impose tariffs, rescind abortion protections, and slash the federal workforce.
On May 1, Trump cut public funding for NPR and PBS, labeling them as “biased media.”
Many of Trump’s orders are based on presidential emergency powers granted by Congress. Several are being challenged in court by state attorneys general and legal experts, claiming violations of the law or Constitution.
What is an executive order?
An executive order is a directive from the president to the executive branch based on constitutional powers. Though the Constitution doesn’t specifically cover executive orders, they are widely accepted as presidential power. The Congressional Research Service noted the potential legal authority of these orders in a 2021 report.
Often, Congress outlines broad goals in legislation, leaving execution to the president, as explained by Eric J Segall, a law professor at Georgia State University. From the nation’s beginnings, presidents have issued executive orders under delegated authority, continuing a tradition started by George Washington, who issued the first eight.
What is the status of Trump’s executive orders?
Experts say presidential orders should align with Article II of the Constitution or Congressional authority. While most of Trump’s orders are in effect, several face court challenges. Law professor Ilya Somin criticizes many of these orders as “egregiously illegal,” and is involved in a lawsuit challenging tariffs.
During Trump’s term, he issued orders affecting citizenship for immigrants’ children, federal funding for sanctuary cities, collective bargaining rights, and state election laws. Several orders face injunctions, including efforts to dismantle the Department of Education and increase offshore drilling. The White House hasn’t commented.
What effects are Trump’s executive orders having in Pennsylvania?
Gov. Josh Shapiro described the impact of Trump’s tariffs as chaotic, stating they raise costs on goods like food and auto parts. The governor cited significant economic damage from ongoing tariffs and uncertainty over future tariffs.
Tariffs, defined as taxes on imports, have caused confusion and price hikes in Pennsylvania. The Port of Philadelphia’s officials fear job losses for the 12,000 workers handling imports like vehicles and produce. Farmers, trucking companies, coffee shops, and breweries report job cuts and higher consumer prices.
Pennsylvania workers fired
Trump’s orders also led to federal worker layoffs, impacting Pennsylvania heavily. Thousands of federal employees were fired, affecting sectors from energy research to national parks, sparking fears of public land sales to fund tax cuts.
The administration’s cuts have disrupted educational programs in parks, according to workers. In March, Gov. Shapiro streamlined hiring for laid-off federal workers to mitigate the impact.
Trump cuts harm Pennsylvania’s cultural and educational institutions
Cultural and educational bodies in Pennsylvania, like museums and libraries, face funding losses due to Trump’s orders targeting DEI initiatives. A recent executive order aims to purge federal grants linked to these subjects, leading to cancelled funding for library initiatives in Philadelphia.
These cuts threaten cultural sustainability, warned Carrie Wissler-Thomas of the Art Association of Harrisburg, expressing concern over the future of arts programs under the administration’s policies.
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