PRESIDENT TRUMP’S FIRST MONTH: DOGE. – Donald Trump was inaugurated for his second term as President of the United States after his unpopular win against Former Vice President Kamala Harris. His first month in office has been marked by a flurry of executive orders, mass firings, and significant policy changes.

DOGE—an acronym for the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—is a service temporary organization, an initiative of the second Trump administration informally led by Elon Musk.

The Department is not a Cabinet-level department but rather a temporary contracted organization under the United States DOGE Service (formerly the United States Digital Service). Its purpose is to carry out Trump’s agenda of federal spending cuts and deregulation and, according to the order that established it, “modernize federal technology and software to maximize governmental efficiency and productivity.” Its operations are expected to end by July 4th, 2026.

Here’s what we have seen in PRESIDENT TRUMP’S FIRST MONTH: DOGE

Executive Orders – PRESIDENT TRUMP’S FIRST MONTH: DOGE

Trump signed nearly 70 executive orders in his first month. He targets a wide range of issues, from immigration to trade policies. One of the major policy changes was ending the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the federal government and private sector after taking office. Additionally, he issued an order to stop funding organizations that promote critical race theory. This is an academic framework that is mostly taught in law schools and is predicated on the idea that racial bias, whether deliberate or not, is ingrained in American institutions and laws.

Mass Layoffs

A controversial move that has been made by Trump includes mass firings across various government agencies, which has been led by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by Elon Musk. Thousands of federal employees have lost their jobs across several federal agencies, which include the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Education Department, the Energy Department, and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It is reported that nearly all federal employees who chose to quit their employment before February 6 were offered financial incentives, such as months of paid leave, in exchange for a “deferred resignation” plan from the White House.

However, just before that deadline, a federal court rejected Trump’s plan, stating that the offer was unlawful and requesting to hear arguments from the government and affected groups.

According to the Office of Personnel Management, approximately 75,000 federal employees had accepted the offer as of February 12.

Cryptocurrency Promotion

As expected, Trump’s return came with a major boost for cryptocurrency. Bitcoin prices skyrocketed alongside the promotion of Dogecoin. Acting Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Mark Uyeda launched a crypto task force on Tuesday; President Donald Trump signed an executive order promoting the advancement of cryptocurrencies in the U.S.

Trump has also made several pro-crypto moves, including the creation of his own memecoin. His policies also rescind the Federal Digital Assets Policy of Former President Joe Biden,  Executive Order 14067 and Treasury’s Framework for International Engagement on Digital Assets, which were two of the United States’ previous major crypto policies. Biden’s directive prioritized central bank digital currency (CBDC) development, however the new executive order prohibits federal agencies from pursuing CBDCs, which President Trump declared as threats to “the stability of the financial system, individual privacy, and the sovereignty of the United States.”

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International Relations

In his relations in the international space, Trump has towed a completely different line from his predecessor, particularly with Russia and Ukraine. His open alignment with Vladimir Putin in the Russia-Ukraine war has raised concerns among European allies. After Trump’s call with Putin, he blamed  Ukraine for “starting” the war with Russia and even called for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to hold elections in his country. He took it further a day later when he branded Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksyy a “ dictator” for not calling elections and admitted he didn’t care much about the outcome of the war.

We’ve also seen President Trump announce his audacious takeover of Gaza.  In his declaration, he announced that the US would take over the Gaza Strip and turn it into the “ Riviera of the Middle East” while all Palestinians should permanently leave the land for “nice homes” in Egypt and Jordan.

Economic Policies

Trump moved right into his economic policies right after his inauguration. He set the cat among the pigeons globally when he introduced a slew of punishing tariffs on trade with Canada, Mexico, and China. Subsequent calls with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canada’s Justin Trudeau led to a one-month pause before the tariffs kicked in. However, he went ahead with his 25 percent tariff on China, prompting Beijing to take its “own countermeasures”. Early this February, Trump also ordered a 25 percent import tax on all steel and aluminum entering the US, ending previous exemptions for allies. Trump said he was “simplifying” the rules and the measures would boost domestic production. “This is a big deal, the beginning of making America rich again,” Trump said, signing the proclamation, which said the measures would come into force on March 12.

USAID Disengagement

Hours after his inauguration, President Trump signed an executive order freezing nearly all foreign funding, including USAID. Like his other executive orders on federal workers, his administration also plans to cut about 10,000 USAID workers. Addressing this, Trump says that the money would be better spent on America. He even called it an organization being “run by a bunch of radical lunatics”. Supported by his administrative sidekick, Elon Musk went even further, calling it “a radical-left political psy op” and a “chaotic waste of money”. He claimed, “USAID has been paying media organizations to publish their propaganda.”

Immigration Restrictions

Trump has taken steps to restructure the US immigration system, including the procedures for processing and expelling foreign nationals. He has also prohibited all undocumented immigrants from entering the United States. Border patrol officers have been directed to reject individuals without offering them an asylum hearing. Prior to the decree, travelers had the legal right to apply for asylum at the US border. Trump has also halted the US refugee resettlement program.

Conclusion

President Trump’s first month in office has been a whirlwind of activity, with significant changes across his administration. Elon Musk’s unpopular part to play with DOGE’s incorporation has been mainly received with protests and contention from US citizens and the global community. However, what remains is to see what the future holds for Donald Trump and his talisman, Elon Musk.

PRESIDENT TRUMP’S FIRST MONTH: DOGE