Periodical #16
First Days in Office, What has Trump Done So Far?
In his first week in office, 47th President Donald Trump has signed off on numerous executive orders. In fact, on Inauguration Day itself, Trump signed off on 20 executive orders to be carried out. Executive orders, different from other pieces of legislation, do not need congressional approval, providing an explanation for Trump’s quick actions. Prominent among these orders include his repeal of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the federal government. As of January 26th, 2025 anyone hired to work on improving DEI within the federal government has been placed on leave until the president signs off on an official executive order to lay them off. Additionally, Trump has granted pardons that were granted to most of the charged at January 6th riots. Finally, the president has removed the United States from the Paris Agreement—a climate change treaty—and the World Health Organization (WHO). Many of the executive orders Trump put in place are subject to legal discussion and debate. With this much impact created in just one week of a presidency, there is no telling what will happen in the next four years.
To read more about Trump’s DEI executive order, go here:
Executive order: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/ending-radical-and-wasteful-government-dei-programs-and-preferencing/
NPR Analysis: https://www.npr.org/2025/01/23/nx-s1-5271588/trump-dei-diversity-equity-inclusion-federal-workers-government
To read more about Trump’s other actions, go here:
Information retrieved from The Sunday Times and USA Today.
Palisades Fire Continues to Ravage Southern California
As of January 25th, 2025, 84 percent of the Palisades fire has been brought under control by fire departments in the area. Over 23,400 acres have been burned by the horrific fire that began on January 7th, 2025. Experts have pointed out that extreme climate change has caused fires to be especially brutal this year. Due to drier winters, the fires burn faster, and thus cause much more destruction. Communities across the state and country came together to support those affected by the fires by donating water, food, and clothes as well as opening up their homes to those who were forced to leave their houses behind. Although it has been a grim three weeks since the fires began, the natural disaster is a testament to society’s ability to come together in times of strife.
Information retrieved from The Sacramento Bee and NBC Chicago.