(BBC) From the US’s stated intention for the future of Gaza and budget cuts for foreign aid agencies to the suspension of transgender athletes from sports competitions, Trump, his advisor Elon Musk, and the entire team have not stopped with their agenda.
The third week of the second term of the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, has been marked by some major actions from his administration. From the expressed intention that the US has for the future of Gaza and the reduction of the budget for foreign aid agencies to the suspension of transgender athletes in sports competitions, Trump, his advisor Elon Musk, and the entire team, have not stopped with their agenda.
PROPOSAL FOR THE US TO “TAKE CONTROL” OF GAZA
During a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday, Trump proposed that the United States “take control” and “hold” Gaza, displacing the Palestinian population. Trump also proposed developing the territory devastated by the 15-month war between Israel and Hamas, and turning it into the “Riviera of the Middle East.”
He added in a social media post that Gaza would be handed over to the US by Israel after the fighting ends. Trump has suggested the move would be permanent, while administration officials have suggested the move would be temporary. Any forced population transfer would be a violation of international law.
PLAN TO LAY OFF THOUSANDS OF USAID EMPLOYEES
Thousands of workers at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the government’s main foreign aid agency, are set to be laid off. The agency will reduce most of its workforce from 10,000 worldwide to a few hundred essential workers. The Trump administration’s goal is to merge the agency, which distributes billions of dollars in aid worldwide each year, with the State Department.
IMPOSING TARIFFS ON CHINA AND MAKING THREATS TO NEIGHBORS
Trump imposed a 10 percent tariff on Chinese imports on Tuesday, but held back on his threats to impose 25 percent tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico for another 30 days after the leaders of those countries promised to increase border security.
PAYMENT PLAN FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES WHO RETIRE
As part of efforts to reduce the number of government workers, the Trump administration offered bonuses to federal workers who voluntarily resign from their jobs by Friday (but the deadline was extended to February 14 by a federal court). A decision is expected to be made on Monday during a hearing, following a lawsuit filed by federal workers’ unions. More than two million federal workers have been left confused by the terms of the agreement, which the administration says allows them to receive benefits and payments through September if they resign now. Critics have challenged the legality of the offer, and some labor unions have urged caution about accepting the offer.
SANCTIONS AGAINST THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT
Trump signed an order on Thursday imposing sanctions on some ICC staff. The sanctions impose financial and visa restrictions on individuals and their families who assist the ICC’s investigations into US citizens and its allies. The Hague-based court prosecutes those accused of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. It recently issued arrest warrants for Hamas commander and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on charges of war crimes in Gaza, which Israel denies. Trump announced the sanctions during Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, D.C.
AIR ATTACKS AGAINST ISLAMIC STATE IN SOMALIA
Trump announced that he had ordered airstrikes against the mastermind of the attacks and others from the Islamic State in northeastern Somalia on February 1. He said that “many terrorists” were killed “without harming civilians.” The Somali president’s office welcomed the unwavering support in the fight against international terrorism.
WITHDRAWAL FROM UNITED NATIONS INSTITUTIONS
Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order to withdraw the United States from the UN’s main agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). The same order stipulates that the United States will not participate in the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), and will review its membership status in the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) within 90 days.
FIRST PLANE WITH DEPORTEES TO GUANTANAMO
The US sent the first planeload of illegal immigrants to Guantanamo on Tuesday, after Trump announced plans to expand the detention of immigrants and send them to the US naval base in Cuba. Dangerous immigrants who are not believed to be deportable will be sent to Guantanamo. The base is expected to hold 30,000 illegal immigrants. There have also been flights to India this week to return immigrants.
UKRAINE’S CONDITION OF RARE MINERALS FOR MILITARY ASSISTANCE
On Monday, Trump said Ukraine must guarantee supplies of rare earth minerals in exchange for $300 billion in aid to fight Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country was open to investment from American companies. Ukraine is rich in reserves of uranium, lithium and titanium, which could be used for defense and electronics.
BANNING TRANSGENDER PEOPLE FROM WOMEN’S SPORTS COMPETITIONS
Trump signed an executive order Wednesday that bans transgender women from participating in women’s sports. The order provides more guidance, regulations and legal interpretations for high schools, universities and local sports. The order also includes a ban on transgender people from participating in the 2028 Olympics, including denying them visas from abroad.
WATER RELEASE FROM DAM IN CALIFORNIA
Trump on Monday ordered the Army Corps of Engineers to release billions of gallons of water from two reservoirs in California’s Central Valley after deadly wildfires in Los Angeles in January. He said California had enough water reserves to make a big difference in fighting the fires, but that has been disputed by some officials. The water that was released went into a dry lake bed more than 100 miles from the fires. Experts have said the water cannot reach Los Angeles and will likely go to waste. California Governor Ted Lieu said the water was being saved for the summer to help farmers.
TASKFORCE TO FIGHT THE “BATTLE AGAINST CHRISTIANS”
Trump on Thursday signed an executive order aimed at “protecting the religious freedom of Americans and stopping the use of government as an anti-Christian weapon.”
INTERVENTION IN THE GOLF PROBLEM
Trump, a golfer and owner of many golf courses around the world, has been invited to mediate a dispute between the organizers of the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. According to representatives of the championships, Trump helped broker an agreement.
REMOVING THE ISSUE OF CLIMATE CHANGE FROM GOVERNMENT WEBSITES
Starting last week, the Trump administration has ordered several government agencies to remove references to climate change from their websites. The affected websites are mostly those of the Departments of Transportation, Defense, and Agriculture, but it has spared a few agencies like NASA, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Energy. Their removal was done with the influence of Elon Musk.
INCREASING ACCESS TO DOGE
Trump said Friday that he has ordered the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led by Musk, an initiative to shrink the federal government, to “control” spending at the Department of Defense, among other agencies. He has also given DOGE access to the U.S. Treasury Department.
JOE BIDEN’S RIGHT TO ACCESS CLASSIFIED INFORMATION IS REVOKED
Trump on Friday stripped former Vice President Joe Biden of his access to daily intelligence briefings, the same thing Biden had done to Trump four years earlier. He wrote on social media that “there is no need for Joe Biden to continue to have access to classified information.”
