Unconstitutional Actions in Trump's Second Term

 In his second term, President Donald Trump has already undertaken several actions that have been widely criticized as unconstitutional, undermining the foundational principles of American democracy.

Our constitutional republic was formed with a broad separation of powers. Trump in his first two weeks has committed a broad assault on the constitution, which is leading to a constitutional crisis.

Assault on Birthright Citizenship

On his first day back in office, Trump issued an executive order aiming to end birthright citizenship for children born in the United States to non-citizen parents. This move directly challenges the 14th Amendment, which unequivocally grants citizenship to all individuals born on U.S. soil, regardless of their parents' immigration status. Legal experts have denounced this action as a blatant violation of constitutional rights. Multiple federal judges have acted quickly to block the order, affirming its unconstitutionality.

Dismantling Democratic Institutions

In collaboration with Elon Musk, Trump established the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), purportedly to streamline federal operations. However, this initiative has led to the closure of essential government agencies, freezing of federal funds, and unauthorized access to private information. Such actions erode the checks and balances integral to the U.S. political system, concentrating power in the executive branch and sidelining legislative and judicial oversight. In the constitution, the only branch with the authority to add or eliminate a government agency or department is the legislative. As such, eliminating the Department of Education and USAID both violate the separation of powers and the constitution. Article I clearly gives this power only to Congress, and the actions taken by the President and Musk have violated this. 

Politicization of the Federal Civil Service

Trump's administration has aggressively reclassified career civil servants as political appointees, stripping them of protections and making them directly answerable to the president. This move undermines the apolitical nature of the civil service, turning public servants into instruments of the executive branch's agenda. Such actions compromise the integrity of federal agencies and violate principles designed to prevent authoritarianism. This action violates multiple laws including the Civil Service Reform Act.

Erosion of Civil Rights Protections

Through a series of executive orders, Trump has targeted diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives within federal agencies and among federal contractors. These orders seek to dismantle programs aimed at promoting equal opportunity and addressing systemic discrimination. By undermining DEI efforts, the administration is reversing decades of progress in civil rights, contravening constitutional guarantees of equal protection under the law.

These actions represent a concerted effort to consolidate power and dismantle democratic safeguards. It is imperative for citizens and institutions alike to remain vigilant and uphold the constitutional principles that form the bedrock of the United States.

In the face of these unconstitutional actions, it is more important than ever for Americans to defend the principles of democracy, the rule of law, and the Constitution itself. Trump's second-term overreach demonstrates a dangerous disregard for legal precedent and institutional norms, setting a precedent that, if left unchecked, could permanently weaken the nation's democratic foundations. Congress, the judiciary, and the public must push back against these violations, ensuring that no president—regardless of party—can place themselves above the law. The resilience of American democracy depends on an engaged and vigilant citizenry committed to upholding the Constitution.

What is USAID and What Does it Do?

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has long been a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy, dedicated to promoting democratic values, improving global health, alleviating poverty, and fostering economic growth in developing countries. It has been a dedicated force in accomplishing humanitarian good on behalf of the American people. However, recent actions by the Trump administration have significantly altered the agency's structure and operations, raising concerns about its future role in international development.

The Mission of USAID

Established in 1961, USAID's mission is to advance democratic values, enhance global health, reduce poverty, and stimulate economic growth in developing nations. The agency operates in over 100 countries and supports communities in their efforts to achieve healthier, more productive lives. Historically, USAID has focused on building resilience in areas such as education, healthcare, food security, economic development, and governance.

Recent Developments Under the Trump Administration

In early 2025, the Trump administration initiated significant changes to USAID, including:

• Staff Reductions: Plans were announced to reduce USAID's workforce from over 10,000 employees to approximately 300, focusing on essential personnel. This move has led to widespread furloughs and resignations, disrupting ongoing projects and operations.

• Freeze on Foreign Aid: A near-total freeze on foreign assistance was implemented, with exceptions made only for humanitarian aid. This freeze has halted numerous development programs, affecting millions of people worldwide.

• Integration into the State Department: Actions are underway to merge USAID into the State Department, aiming to streamline operations and align foreign aid with the administration's priorities. This restructuring has raised concerns about the agency's autonomy and effectiveness, as well as whether this change is unconstitutional.

Implications of These Changes

The restructuring of USAID under the Trump administration has led to several challenges:

• Operational Disruptions: The reduction in staff and resources has impaired the agency's ability to monitor and distribute aid effectively, potentially leading to inefficiencies and increased risks of aid misallocation.

• Impact on Development Programs: Critical programs addressing health crises, education, and economic development have been suspended or scaled back, affecting vulnerable populations globally.

• Legal Challenges: The rapid changes have faced legal opposition, with unions and advocacy groups filing lawsuits to halt the cuts and protect the agency's mission.

Conclusion

USAID has historically played a pivotal role in international development, fostering global stability and prosperity. The recent restructuring efforts by the Trump administration have introduced significant challenges, potentially altering the agency's capacity to fulfill its mission. As these developments continue to unfold, the future of USAID remains uncertain, with ongoing debates about the best approach to foreign aid and international development.

Why Do We Have the Same Number of Representatives That We had 100 years ago?

In the constitution, the duty of assigning the number of representatives is granted to Congress. The constitution states "The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct. The Number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty Thousand, but each State shall have at Least one Representative."

A proposed amendment included in the original package of amendments now known as the Bill of Rights capped the number of individuals one representative could represent at 50,000. 

The last time a full apportionment including increasing sets raised the number of members of the House of Representatives at 433. This was in 1911, and we have only increased the number to 435 by adding the states of Hawaii and Alaska. When the permanent apportionment act was passed in 1929, the US population was approximately 121,767,000. US population is expected to shortly climb to above 330 million individuals. At that time, it meant each representative represented about 281,000 people. Now each representative in the House represents over 758,000 individuals. Is it no surprise that members of Congress are often very out of touch with the individuals they represent? 

Additionally, smaller states are overrepresented while larger states are underrepresented. The Electoral College, which is based partly on the number of congressional representatives, is skewed by the current imbalance. This contributes to the perception that votes in some states carry more weight than in others, undermining the principle of equal representation.

Worldwide Legislative Size

How does this stack up to the rest of the world, though? We are the worst in the world for representation. The next worst is Japan at one representative per 272,000. The graphic below from Vox shows clearly why the US house desperately needs to be expanded to increase our nation's democracy. If the US had the same proportions as Japan we would have 1223 representatives. 

Congress this year had the ability to increase this number to make us more representative, but once again we have pushed off a desperate need. One proposal referred to as the "Wyoming rule" would make the smallest state by population, Wyoming, as the basis for the smallest district possible. This would increase the size of the US House of Representatives to 573, or one representative per 575,000 individuals. This more modest proposal would help to fix the many issues, but we need to do more to uncap the house and make our democracy more representative of our nation, and more accessible to individuals.

What about the House chambers? They couldn't handle that number of Representatives, right? Well, rarely are all members of the house in the chambers, but the capitol was specifically designed by George Washington with it's large dome with the intent that it would expand as needed. Temporarily, new members could be in the gallery if needed for the State of the Union and other major speeches. Other accommodations such as secured distance voting could also be allowed. 

The Benefits of Expanding the House

Restoring Proportional Representation

Increasing the number of seats would better align representation with population growth. A larger House would ensure that representatives are more directly accountable to their constituents and can advocate more effectively for their specific needs.

Improving Electoral Fairness

A bigger House would also lead to a fairer Electoral College. By redistributing electoral votes more equitably, presidential elections would more accurately reflect the will of the people.

Enhancing Diversity

A larger House would allow for a broader range of voices in government. More seats mean greater opportunities for candidates from underrepresented communities, leading to a Congress that better reflects the racial, ethnic, and socio-economic diversity of the U.S. population.

Reducing the Influence of Big Money in Politics

With smaller districts, the cost of running for office would decrease. Candidates could rely less on large donations and Super PACs, making elections more accessible to grassroots campaigns and ordinary citizens rather than corporate-backed candidates.

 

Independence Day 2015-Why We Are Celebrating Today

British colonies had been established on the North American continent for well over a hundred years. The French and Indian war had shortly been brought to peace just a decade earlier. For about two decades however, legislation had been passed with continued hostility toward the American colonies, without any representation. The intolerable acts drove the colonies to act. With the Boston Tea Party coupled with the battles of Lexington and Concord and Bunker Hill, the colonies had entered into pure state of rebellion. By summer it became clear that the crown was sending an expeditionary force to enforce it's will upon the colonies, and that this force would include foreign mercenaries known for their ruthlessness.

Congress had been meeting for months on the matter of independence. On June 11th it was decided that a committee to draft a resolution to declare independence should be formed. This committee was made up of John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston and a young Virginian named Thomas Jefferson. It was decided that Jefferson(the only member from the southern states) would be the member to write the initial draft. After revisions by the committee and by congress as a whole, the final document was voted on and accepted on July 2nd. Final approval came two days latter on July 4th, or the day we now refer to as Independence day. I wish now to quote from that document :

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."

With those words on that day our founders staked our claim as a nation to independence. However, it was not ours to be had by merely laying claim to it. Our independence was not easily won. Many men gave their lives for the hope of a future nation, and for the hope that with such a nation our natural rights would be ours to be had for us and for generations to come. For 238 years now we have looked back to that founding, as our assertion that there are certain rights that no government should usurp without due process of law. This declaration established our reasons for breaking allegiance to our mother country, and firmly rooted within our culture the ideas of freedom from oppression and liberty of thought action. We as Americans have held their sacrifice as sacred within our hearts and we have honored them through the past two centuries.

Independence was won eventually, but it was not until another document was also written that our nation was on placed on a firm foundation. Our constitution was enacted  to ensure that these rights and privileges would continue to be protected. It established law and justice in our country as well as ways for individual citizens to address their grievances through a representative republic.

 This document established our country on a firm foundation of law and justice that has governed us well for over 200 years. Our path as a nation has not been the easiest, we have had times of prosperity and peace, and we have had times of depression and war. Overall though, we have shown that as we work together, not always agreeing but finding ways to compromise that we can accomplish great things. I do not believe that the days of our great accomplishments are past, and I still see America as a shining beacon on a hill, standing as an example that democracy can work.

As we celebrate our nation this Independence day let us not forget those who have sacrificed all to protect our nation and our freedoms. Let us remember them and honor them for their heroic sacrifice. Let us remember our founders and their great work. And let us look to the future with hope that the future years will bring hope and prosperity to our nation once again.

We are celebrating today because we have a great nation established on freedom and justice. Many have paid with their lives so that we may live in peace. So wave a flag, sing our national anthem, grill some hot dogs and watch some fireworks, but please remember what we are celebrating.