Controversial Trump administration policies

The "Hands Off!" protests opposed many recent policies, from federal cuts to tariffs to deportation.
Anna Greenlee, Design, Entertainment and Opinion Editor

Trump revives Schedule F, strips job protections of civil servants

January 2, 2025

President Trump signed an executive order that reclassified tens of thousands of nonpartisan career civil servants as at-will positions. It stripped them of job protections, allowing them to be dismissed for almost any reason. A separate order froze the executive branch's hiring of federal civil employees and creation of new positions.

Trump imposes additional tariffs on Canada and Mexico starting Feb. 1

January 20, 2025

Trump announced 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports effective Feb. 1.

Trump imposes tariffs on Colombia, soon backs down

January 25, 2025

Trump announced that he would impose 25% tariffs on Colombia effective immediately, with an increase to 50% planned for one week later. Colombia President Gustavo Petro threatened tariffs in response but both he and Trump soon backed down.

The Trump administration offers buyouts to almost all federal employees

January 28, 2025

In an email, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management offered a deal to almost all 2.3 million federal employees: eight months of pay and benefits in exchange for a resignation by Feb. 6.

Tariffs on Canada, China and Mexico hit

February 1, 2025

Following through with his announcement on Jan. 25, Trump signed the executive order imposing 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico and announced a 10% tariff on China which went into effect on Feb. 4. All three countries threatened tariffs of their own or other countermeasures in response.

Canada and Mexico tariffs start 30-day pause

February 3, 2025

Trump agreed to a month-long break on his tariffs on Mexico and Canada. However, at the same time, he planned to target the European Union with new tariffs.

USAID employees placed on administrative leave

February 4, 2025 — February 23, 2025

On Feb. 4, 10,000 U.S. Agency for International Development employees were told that they'd be placed on administrative leave by the end of the week. On Feb. 23, all USAID direct hire personnel were placed on administrative leave, and they're implementing a Reduction-in-Force that will impact about 1,600 personnel.

The administration orders department to produce lists of lowest-performing employees

February 6, 2025

OPM Acting Director Charles Ezell asked federal departments and agencies to identify their lowest-performing employees, as well as barriers to "swiftly [terminating] poor performing employees who cannot or will not improve."

Trump fires head of the Office of Special Counsel

February 7, 2025

One of Trump's aides fired Head of Office of the Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger. The Office helps probationary employees challenge a dismissal, other than suing.

Trump fires leaders of Merit Systems Protection Board

February 10, 2025

Trump fired Merit Systems Protection Board Chair Cathy Harris and Federal Labor Relations Authority Board Chair Susan Grundmann, both of whom help federal workers contest dismissals, file complaints and expedite Union challenges.

25% tariff on steel and aluminum

February 10, 2025

Brought back from Trump's first term, a tariff on all foreign steel and aluminum was effective on Feb. 10.

Trump makes major cuts to federal work force

February 11, 2025

Trump made major cuts to the work force, limited the hiring of new employees and imposing new conduct standards on future federal hires via an executive order. It told department and agency heads to plan for "large-scale reductions in force" in cooperation with the Department of Government Efficiency.

DOGE makes cuts to the Department of Education

February 11, 2025

DOGE slashed 89 independent research contracts worth nearly $900 million.

3.3% of federal employees accept Trump’s buyout offer

February 12, 2025

In total, 75,000 employees out of 2.3 million government workers accept the buyout offer from Jan. 28. However, Congress hadn't yet approved spending for the next year, let alone spending for buyouts.

Thousands of probationary employees are fired

February 13, 2025

The government fired thousands of recently-hired employees.

Federal employees told to say five things they did last week or resign

February 22, 2025

Elon Musk announces on X, formerly known as Twitter, that all federal employees must respond to an email with what they got done last week or face termination.

Canada and Mexico tariffs resume, China hit with an additional 10%

March 4, 2025

After Trump announced it on Feb. 27, the 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods resumed after the 30-day break and an additional 10% tariff, on top of the previous 10%, was imposed on China. Canada responded with 25% tariffs on the U.S. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico threatened retaliatory measures to be announced on March 9 if the tariffs on Mexico remained.

Canada and Mexican tariffs suspended

March 6, 2025

Again, Trump suspended his tariffs on Canada and Mexico. However, he still had plans for 25% tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum effective March 12 and tariffs on all U.S. trading partners effective April 2.

Trump’s executive order plans for the dismantling of the Department of Education

March 20, 2025

Though it didn't include details on how it would be executed, the order says the education secretary will “to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law, take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return authority over education to the States and local communities.”

A 10% tariff is applied to all imports into the U.S.

April 2, 2025

Save for industries already hit with tariffs, the U.S. established a baseline 10% tariff on all imports. However, this will be impacted by various reciprocal tariffs that will make tariffs far higher.

Hands Off! protests

April 5, 2025

In over 1,400 protests across the nation and across the globe, protesters voiced their discontent with Trump's recent policies on April 5.

Trump revives Schedule F, strips job protections of civil servants

Trump imposes additional tariffs on Canada and Mexico starting Feb. 1

Trump imposes tariffs on Colombia, soon backs down

The Trump administration offers buyouts to almost all federal employees

Tariffs on Canada, China and Mexico hit

Canada and Mexico tariffs start 30-day pause

USAID employees placed on administrative leave

The administration orders department to produce lists of lowest-performing employees

Trump fires head of the Office of Special Counsel

Trump fires leaders of Merit Systems Protection Board

25% tariff on steel and aluminum

Trump makes major cuts to federal work force

DOGE makes cuts to the Department of Education

3.3% of federal employees accept Trump’s buyout offer

Thousands of probationary employees are fired

Federal employees told to say five things they did last week or resign

Canada and Mexico tariffs resume, China hit with an additional 10%

Canada and Mexican tariffs suspended

Trump’s executive order plans for the dismantling of the Department of Education

A 10% tariff is applied to all imports into the U.S.

Hands Off! protests

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Iowa City joins nationwide “Hands Off!” protests