President Donald Trump wasted no time since being sworn in on Monday; moving quickly to sign an array of Executive Orders, rescind existing orders signed by the Biden admin and make a bold declaration through a series of pardons.
Trump Pardons January 6 Rioters
A blanket pardon for the January 6 rioters—which includes approximately 1,500 people charged with storming and entering the Capitol—drew strict criticism from officials, including Republicans in Congress. Amongst those pardoned were several key figures in the planning of January 6, who were facing prison time for assaulting Capitol police—some of whom later died due to their injuries.
In a statement to CNN regarding the pardons, Michael Fanone, a US Capitol Police Officer on January 6, stated: “I have been betrayed by my country.”
Biden-Era Price Cap for Medicare and Medicaid Rescinded
Amongst the sea of rescinded Executive Orders was an order (Executive Order 14087) signed by President Biden which aimed to cap the price of certain prescription drugs for Medicare and Medicaid recipients. The order streamlined the evidence process for clinical drug approval, sought to improve access to expensive medical therapies, and looked to cap certain prescription drugs at $2 a month for Medicare beneficiaries. The Trump team has yet to state whether they plan to reimplement some of these policies—which are popular amongst the public—through future Executive Orders. Existing laws governing Medicare and Medicaid drug pricing remain in effect, but the Biden-era cap is no more.
Trump Aims to End Birthright Citizenship, the US Constitution and 22 States Say Otherwise
Perhaps the most consequential of Trump’s day-one moves was an Executive Order that aims to end birthright citizenship for those born in the US to an undocumented immigrant. Birthright citizenship is enshrined in the 14th Amendment, which states:
“All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”
This has led to claims that Trump’s efforts to curb birthright citizenship are unconstitutional and illegal. 22 states are gearing up to take the Trump admin to court over this order, pointing out its clear violation of the 14th Amendment.
Amongst the states planning to sue is New Jersey. NJ Attorney General Matthew Platkin stated “The president cannot, with a stroke of a pen, write the 14th Amendment out of existence. Period.”
These moves leave millions of citizens by birthright confused on what’s to come. The question becomes: Is this move complete theater? Or does the Trump team fully intend to rewrite parts of the Constitution? Only time will tell.
Protests have broken out in New Jersey against the President’s efforts since Monday.
Peter Candia is the Food + Drink Editor at New Jersey Digest. A graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, Peter found a passion for writing midway through school and never looked back. He is a former line cook, server and bartender at top-rated restaurants in the tri-state area. In addition to food, Peter enjoys politics, music, sports and anything New Jersey.
