As Donald J. Trump returns to the role of U.S. president, many Americans ask themselves a simple question: Will his administration protect their pocketbooks, their way of life and their health?

While we want our government to do just that, Trump focused his first speech as the 47th president of the United States on fear-mongering and culture wars.

The priorities Trump’s administration has outlined make it clear their work will not be focused on cutting costs for the American people. Instead, they’re gearing up to cut vital programs that Americans rely on, from healthcare to infrastructure.

They also plan to purge apolitical civil servants from government agencies, undermining the very systems designed to protect us. This is not a government for the people; it’s a government for the powerful, focused on self-enrichment and special interests at the expense of everyday Americans.

Let’s face it, while many Americans are struggling with the high cost of living, Trump is inheriting a macro economy that any president would envy. Inflation is around the lowest it’s been since 2021. The Biden-Harris administration created 16 million jobs. The unemployment rate has held at around 4 percent for one of the most extended stretches in half a century. Now, Trump risks squandering this progress by making irresponsible moves like suspending refugee resettlement, which has helped drive local economies nationwide.

Instead, Americans should brace for their cost of living to increase under Trump’s economic policies. His plans to implement substantial tariffs on all imports — including from China and Mexico — are expected to raise the prices of goods like groceries, furniture, toys and clothing.

Moreover, these tariffs could incentivize companies to relocate their manufacturing operations abroad, potentially displacing U.S. jobs and harming our economy. If Trump’s tax and other economic policies were implemented, U.S. economic growth would actually slow down.

Trump has also signaled intentions to implement significant spending cuts across several federal programs. Key to this initiative is the establishment of a new Department of Government Efficiency, led by tech billionaire Elon Musk, aiming to reduce as much as $2 trillion in government expenditures by July 2026.

This ambitious goal will require cutting spending in some notable areas — including education, healthcare and social services. For example, there are concerns about substantial cuts to programs for child care and college tuition, which could negatively affect low-income communities. Additionally, the Trump administration is keen to eliminate the Department of Education in the name of fighting culture wars, which could severely affect services countless Americans rely upon.

Trump’s purge of civil servants — scientists, engineers and public health experts — will prove to be one of his more dangerous proposals. Removing and replacing up to 50,000 career civil servants with political loyalists smacks of corruption Americans won’t tolerate. This approach will create a climate of fear among federal workers and will only slow down the services Americans need.

Too often, Washington has failed to address the real concerns of working families. Trump’s administration shows no sign of reversing that trend. Despite their campaign rhetoric, MAGA Republicans lack substantive plans to tackle the issues that matter most — like controlling inflation, lowering housing costs, and making healthcare more affordable. Instead, this administration plans to focus on consolidating power, enriching themselves, and rewarding billionaire donors like Musk, who exemplify the MAGA oligarchy.

In his inaugural speech, Trump spoke about moving the country away from investments in clean energy, quipping “drill, baby, drill.” This rhetoric ignores the reality of a country that will only suffer more — both economically and personally — from climate disasters. It also fails to recognize that the United States produced more oil in the last four years than ever.

Americans deserve better than a government that works only for the wealthy and well-connected. While Trump talks a big game about standing up for the middle class, his actions betray a profound indifference to their struggles. We must hold his administration accountable to prioritize the needs of the people they were elected to serve. Americans are watching, and they will not forget who stood by them — and who sold them out.

_____

ABOUT THE WRITER

Laura Rodriguez is the senior vice president for government affairs at the Center for American Progress. She wrote this for InsideSources.com.

____

©2025 Tribune Content Agency, LLC