Trump acts swiftly to assert control over Washington

Donald Trump has been in office for just five days, yet he has already made a decisive impact on Washington with remarkable speed and effectiveness, demonstrating that his bold campaign promises were more than empty rhetoric, according to Reuters. 

The Republican president has initiated steps to overhaul the federal bureaucracy, which he claims was hostile to him during his previous presidency (2017-2021). This includes reassigning or firing hundreds of civil servants and targeting various government agencies.

Trump has quickly deployed military forces to the southern border, removed the head of the US Coast Guard, and challenged decades of constitutional law with a sweeping series of executive orders—26 issued within hours of his inauguration—addressing issues ranging from environmental regulations to citizenship rules.

One of his most controversial actions has been pardoning approximately 1,500 supporters involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, an iconic symbol of American democracy.

His supporters liken his bold actions to a special forces operation, catching federal workers, unions, advocacy groups, and even the media off guard due to their scale and speed. They attribute his efficiency to the years of planning by conservative allies who have crafted detailed policy strategies, allowing him to act swiftly upon returning to office.

“This is the beachhead team taking over the federal government,” said Steve Bannon, a former White House chief strategist and ally to Trump, in an interview with Reuters.

However, Trump's critics argue that he is stretching the limits of executive power and distorting the US Constitution. They believe his early actions indicate he is more focused on fundamentally transforming the country than on uniting it, often with a vengeful intent.

Among his initial moves, Trump revoked the security clearances of dozens of former intelligence officials who were linked to negative media coverage about President Joe Biden's son Hunter. He also removed security details for three former national security officials, despite credible threats from Iran. In a symbolic act, his team had the portrait of General Mark Milley, a vocal critic, removed from a Pentagon hallway.

Trump's actions also included purging the National Security Council of career officials deemed disloyal, replacing them with his own loyalists in more than 100 key national security roles.

"He is clearly not a man who discards his grudges easily," said William Galston, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.

Despite opposition, even some of Trump's critics acknowledge the stark contrast between this early phase and his first term, where internal divisions and lack of preparation derailed many of his key policies.

“The scope and speed of this is astonishing,” said Timothy Naftali, a presidential historian. Many of Trump’s policies align with the objectives of “Project 2025,” a conservative initiative that has spent over two years preparing for his potential return to power.

Although Trump distanced himself from the project last year, its influence is evident in his new administration, which has already adopted several of its key proposals, such as creating a category of federal worker that is easier to fire (the "Schedule F" proposal) and considering a major reorganization of FEMA to give states more control over its functions.

Bannon emphasized that Trump’s political network, which has been working since 2021, is now reaping the rewards of long-term planning.

However, Trump’s administration may face significant challenges moving forward. His executive orders, some of which test the boundaries of constitutional law, have already been challenged in court. For instance, his proposal to end birthright citizenship was blocked by a federal court.

Some of his initiatives are expected to encounter more legal hurdles, potentially stalling his momentum. Additionally, Trump’s narrow majority in the House of Representatives may be jeopardized in the upcoming midterm elections, further complicating his ability to enact his agenda.

“Trump has a decisive mandate to bring dramatic reforms to Washington,” said Mike Davis, an adviser on judicial matters. “But that political mandate will diminish if he doesn’t deliver, and deliver quickly.”