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President Donald Trump’s first 100 days in the White House have led to the deepest cuts in the federal workforce in decades and worldwide tariffs that have shaken international trade, rocking financial markets.
It is a far cry from the start of his first term, when he was new to Washington and faced a learning curve on how to wield the levers of power.
In what many call “Trump 2.0,” there is little doubt that the president and his Republican supporters had planned for years to implement a wide range of policy changes. Trump has arguably created the most extensive changes to the federal government in a generation.
Congressional Republicans, who control the House and Senate, couldn’t be more pleased. They are about to embark on a major budget reconciliation process, which they believe will affirm the president’s legislative agenda, including the extension of the Trump tax cuts from his first term.
DOGE Cuts Leave Their Mark
Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are pressing ahead with massive cuts, even as Musk is widely expected to soon take on a less influential role in the administration.
The IRS, which recently handled the federal tax deadline, is just one example. The tax-collecting agency had close to 100,000 employees when Trump took office. But with more than 20,000 employees accepting a resignation offer, along with other resignations and probationary workers being laid off, the IRS could lose close to a third of its workforce this year.
The State Department is reportedly considering a budget about half its current size — a decline of about $27 billion. What’s left of USAID, which has already been dismantled by DOGE, would become part of the State Department.
Still, as deep as the cuts are, DOGE has not attained the goal Musk originally set of $1 trillion in savings. Musk recently revised the goal to about $150 billion.
Tariffs Create Uncertainty
The president’s tariffs are the most extensive in close to 100 years and have been rocking financial markets. The United States is in a trade war with China, which the White House says now faces up to a 245% tariff on imports to the U.S.
Tariffs against other countries and various products remain in flux. The Trump administration recently paused tariffs on electronics, including smartphones and laptops. However, economic experts say consumers are still likely to see price hikes for various products in the coming months.
The White House paused its so-called “reciprocal” tariffs for 90 days, which briefly gave markets a boost.
Countries around the world continue to deal with a great deal of uncertainty. The administration says it plans to negotiate with dozens of countries to try to even the playing field for international trade.
Border Security
Trump has campaigned for years — going back to his first term — on improving border security.
The administration recently pointed to major changes at the southern border, where the number of people crossing illegally into the U.S. has dropped dramatically.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported just over 7,000 apprehensions at the southern border in March — a 95% decrease from March 2024, when nearly 140,000 people were apprehended.
“This is a testament to the tireless dedication and vigilant service of the men and women of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, who work every day to keep our country safe,” said acting CBP Commissioner Pete Flores.
Congressional Republicans plan to increase funding for border security as they begin budget reconciliation talks on the president’s legislative agenda.
