Now begins the hard work of translating plans into action and promises into policy. Here are 10 concrete ideas for Trump and the new Congress.
End DEI, “disparate impact,” and other racist hiring policies.
DEI and disparate impact hiring policies should be prohibited for all federal agencies; for all federal contractors and subcontractors; and for institutions and nonprofits receiving federal aid, including K-12 schools and universities. DEI and disparate impact policies are racist and arguably violate basic civil rights laws, like Title VII, which are supposed to give everyone a fair chance, regardless of race or identity.
Withdraw from the United Nations and the World Health Organization.
In adopting the “Pact for the Future” in September 2024, the U.N. made it clear that they intend to impose a global governing structure upon the world, especially the United States. In addition to funding radical pro-abortion and comprehensive sexual education (CSE) programs, the U.N. is using U.S. tax dollars to train the socialist vanguard. It is time to defund the United Nations and demand that they leave U.S. soil.
Protect parental rights in health care.
Congress should pass legislation that specifically protects the fundamental right of parents to direct the health care of their children, especially as it regards Medicaid-funded services in schools and Medicaid-funded family planning services. Congress also needs to amend HIPAA to guarantee that parents, in every state, have access to their children’s medical records. In addition, just as the Biden administration required all of its agencies to pursue “whole-of-government” external policy objectives (LGBTQ+ special protections, Democrat GOTV efforts, Green New Deal programs, etc.), President-elect Trump should instruct every federal agency, including the Department of Defense, to promote — in every way possible — the rights of parents to direct their children’s health care.
End the marriage penalty for welfare.
Welfare has harmed low-income families by incentivizing single motherhood. Yet, marriage is one of the best ways for low-income families to move up the economic ladder. Marriage is also best for children. President-elect Trump and Congress should eliminate marriage penalties in welfare programs and reward couples raising their kids within wedlock. For example, one purpose of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is to “encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families.” The new administration should encourage states to use TANF funding to offer couples no-cost/low-cost marriage education and counseling. Tax credits for married couples who have children within wedlock are another way to promote marriage.
Restore pro-life protections.
President-elect Trump should immediately pardon all pro-lifers unjustly prosecuted by the Biden DOJ for FACE Act violations. In addition, Congress should investigate these politically motivated and unconstitutional convictions. President-elect Trump should also reissue the January 2017 presidential memorandum regarding the Mexico City Policy, which ties U.S. foreign aid to pro-life safeguards.
End Obamacare Medicaid expansion.
Ten states (all of which voted for Trump) have not expanded Medicaid to able-bodied adults who are not working and who have no kids. Congress should end this “optional” Obamacare expansion that has been used by the Left to transform Medicaid into a vehicle for socialized medicine. Congress should also reduce the federal FMAP bonus for states that have expanded Medicaid to able-bodied adults without children. In addition, Congress should end special federal payments being used to advance a radical, pro-abortion agenda through Medicaid-funded family planning services.
Restore strong welfare-to-work requirements.
The Obama and Biden administrations have slowly gutted the very popular and effective welfare-to-work requirements passed in 1996. The Trump administration should end all policies that allow states to waive work requirements for able-bodied adults. Biden’s illegal expansion of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“Food Stamps”) should also be halted. Likewise, school lunch and Medicaid programs need to be aggressively audited to eliminate fraud and waste.
Stop illegal aliens from receiving welfare and other government aid programs.
Rulemaking issued by the Biden administration has made it virtually impossible for states to follow federal law in preventing illegal aliens from receiving certain welfare benefits, such as Medicaid. This has to stop. In addition, universities that receive federal grants should be required to verify immigration status and cease giving aid to illegal aliens.
Maximize religious freedom and freedom of speech.
COVID-19 sidetracked President-elect Trump’s first term and crashed the real economy. Don’t think it can’t happen again. The Left is intent on exploiting future “multiyear pandemics” to exercise dictatorial powers — such as using public health measures to restrict First and Second Amendment rights (recall John Kerry’s recent critique of the First Amendment). In particular, pandemic “experts” believe deference to religious freedom rights “pose a dangerous trend that could weaken public health.” President-elect Trump could instead use his executive power to require that fundamental civil rights, especially religious liberty and parental rights, be protected during public health emergencies. He should also instruct every federal agency and all K-12 and higher educational institutions to prioritize religious freedom and free speech.
Eliminate OSHA.
The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) is, perhaps, the most dangerous federal agency in America. The Biden administration weaponized OSHA: attempting to impose a national vaccine mandate and using a reinterpreted “walk-around” rule to potentially benefit unions and intimidate business owners and nonprofit organizations. They are even trying to use OSHA to shut down volunteer fire departments and commandeer first responders. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has said that OSHA “may be the broadest delegation of power to an administrative agency found in the United States Code. … The question [of] whether the Occupational Health and Safety Administration’s broad authority is consistent with our constitutional structure is undeniably important.” We agree with Justice Thomas. It’s time for Congress to end OSHA and let the states exercise their proper authority to promote workplace safety.
Dr. Jameson Taylor is the director of AFA Action’s Center for Government Renewal.
