Trump’s big week – Tariffs and funding freezes

Trump’s chaotic second week: funding freeze causes confusion, tariffs unclear, blame on DEI after deadly crash, cabinet hearings ongoing.

Donald Trump’s activities during his second week in office have generated considerable controversy.

A surprise federal funding freeze announced on Tuesday led to disruption across numerous state and nonprofit programs.

This freeze, aimed at scrutinizing over 2,000 federal assistance programs, was met with immediate backlash, resulting in a temporary court block later that day.

The administration presented a buyout option for federal workers who voluntarily resigned, echoing similar tactics seen in the tech industry.

By Wednesday, the White House rescinded the freeze memo, asserting it didn’t affect essential programs like Medicare and Social Security, yet the accompanying chaos raised concerns.

In a separate incident, following a severe plane crash that claimed 67 lives, Trump attributed blame to diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, demanding a review of federal aviation hiring practices despite lacking supporting evidence.

Meanwhile, a confusing tariff announcement led to a back-and-forth on impending tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China, raising the prospect of retaliatory economic actions.

Significant concerns arose as several federal websites focused on health and social issues were scrubbed of content related to diversity and inclusion as of Friday.