On January 20, Donald J. Trump was officially sworn in as the 47th President of the United States. In his second term, Trump has introduced significant changes to his cabinet and policies. While most members of his administration are new faces, a few familiar ones have returned, including John Ratcliffe as Director of CIA, Russell Vought as Director of Office of Management and Budget, and Linda McMahon as Secretary of Education. At the first minute mark of his second presidency, Trump set a decisive tone, signaling swift action to reshape the nation’s course.
With both chambers of Congress now led by the Republican party, the legislative branch has aligned with Trump’s barrage of executive orders to undo many of those enacted by the Biden administration.
Below is an overview of acts considered by Congress since the beginning of the new administration:
Fix Our Forests Act
(passed House)
In response to the recent wildfires in Southern California, Congressman Bruce Westerman reintroduced the Fix Our Forests Act (FOFA) to Congress on January 16. Originally introduced in 2023 under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, the bill emphasizes national exigencies of forest management on federal property. Its goals include reducing wildfire threats and hastening the review and implementation of forest management projects.
Key provisions of the FOFA include identifying high-risk firesheds like areas under fire monitoring by the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Geological Survey. If enacted, the bill would establish an interagency Fireshed Center to assess and predict fire breakouts. The center would also maintain a publicly accessible fireshed registry, featuring interactive geospatial data to track and monitor firesheds in real time.
According to My Mother Lode, “a simple forest management plan now takes an average of 5.3 years to complete and costs millions of dollars – more than the value of the timber to be harvested. Since these laws were passed, timber harvested from the federal lands has fallen 75 percent with a concomitant increase in acreage destroyed by fire,” said Congressman McClintock, a co-sponsor of the bill.
Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act
(introduced)
An amendment to Title 18 of the U.S. Code, the main criminal code of the federal government, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (BAASPA) states that “if an abortion results in the live birth of an infant, the infant is a legal person for all purposes under the laws of the United States, and entitled to all the protections of such laws.”
In 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, eliminating the federal right to abortion and enabling states to determine its legality. According to Congressional Record Volume 171 Under Number 14, if enacted, this bill would mandate “if an abortion results in the live birth of an infant, the infant is a legal person for all purposes under the laws of the United States, and entitled to all the protections of such laws.” Additionally, it would impose penalties of up to a five year imprisonment for medical providers who fail to comply and could subject them to further prosecution under Section 1111 under Title 18, which outlines procedures considered of persons charged with murder.
According to The New York Times, the bill’s consideration is set to “coincide with the 52nd anniversary of Roe v. Wade and on the same week as the annual March For Life in Washington, [which] was part of a continuing Republican effort to appeal to its conservative, anti-abortion-rights base.”
Laken Riley Act
(became law)
On Wednesday, January 29, President Trump signed the first bill of his second term: the Laken Riley Act. This legislation is named after Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student at the Augusta University College of Nursing who was murdered last February by an illegal immigrant. According to AP News and Homeland Security, Riley’s killer, a Venezuelan alien “previously arrested and paroled into the U.S. under the previous administration,” was taken into custody shortly after Riley’s death, sparking widespread outrage and making the crime a focal point of the 2024 presidential campaign.
The newly signed law asserts that the Department of Homeland Security has the authority to “detain certain non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) who have been arrested for burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting.” Homeland Security also added that “assaulting a law enforcement officer and [committing] any crime that causes death or serious bodily injury” would also lead to detainment. The act marks one of many executive actions aimed at restricting both legal and illegal entry into the U.S., reflecting an essential piece of Trump’s political objective.
At a rally in Rome, Georgia, in the March of 2024, Trump described the law as one that would save “countless” lives, acknowledging it as “a perfect, incredible tribute to an unbelievable young lady,” according to NBC News. Concluding the bill’s signing, Trump reaffirmed his commitment to honoring Riley’s memory, declaring that “America will never, ever forget Laken Hope Riley.”
Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act
(passed House)
In 2023, Gallup News stated that “a larger majority of Americans now (69%) than in 2021 (62%) say transgender athletes should only be allowed to compete on sports teams that conform with their birth gender.” Over the past four years, the issue has sparked intense debate surrounding fairness and equality in transgender participation in sports.
Under the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, athletic programs are to prohibit biologically born males from entering female-designated sports. If an athletic institution were to oppose this legislation by “operating, sponsoring, or facilitating athletic programs or activities” with biologically co-ed athletes in female competitions, it would be considered a violation of Title 9 of the Education Amendments of 1972. The bill defines sex as an “individual’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth.”
While the bill restricts biological male individuals from competing in female athletic programs, it does not prevent them from training or practicing alongside female athletes, provided that their participation does not interfere with “opportunities or benefits” available to women.
Recent legislative actions highlight the ongoing debates shaping American politics. With shifting policies and court rulings, lawmakers continue to address questions of legal protection, public safety, and fairness. These efforts reflect broader societal discussions on how to balance individual rights with collective interests in an evolving political landscape.
