Trump’s Sixth Week, Part 2: Military Purges, Policy Overhauls, and Power Struggles
From banning transgender troops to slashing federal jobs, Trump’s latest moves spark controversy at home and abroad.
Continuing The Introspective’s coverage of the second Trump administration, the sixth week saw continued efforts to break decades of precedent and stir controversy. This comes after a heated argument in the Oval Office on Friday between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Vice President J.D. Vance, and President Donald Trump over the U.S. stance in the Ukraine conflict, which resulted in a significant fracture in the long-standing alliance between the two nations.
At the same time, Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), called for the cancellation of a $2.4 billion contract for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to upgrade air traffic control systems, instead advocating for his company, Starlink, to take over.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) faced backlash from health officials after Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. canceled a federal vaccine advisory meeting, continuing a trend under his leadership amid ongoing measles and flu outbreaks and concerns over the spread of bird flu. A previous Introspective report highlighted Kennedy's history of spreading vaccine-related misinformation.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that transgender individuals would be removed from the military and disqualified from enlisting. A previous memo from Hegseth stated that individuals with a history of gender dysphoria would no longer be allowed to join but would be “treated with respect.” This policy comes amid a series of legislative and executive actions aimed at rolling back LGBTQ+ rights. On the same day, Hegseth also announced the deployment of up to 3,000 additional troops to the U.S.-Mexico border, following a previous executive order declaring a “national emergency” at the southern border due to criticism of undocumented immigration.
Continuing the Trump administration’s initiative to downsize the federal government, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced Friday that more than 7,000 jobs would be cut, reducing its workforce by about 12%. The State Department also canceled $60 billion in humanitarian aid contracts linked to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), effectively dismantling the agency’s operations.
Amid growing backlash toward diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, the Department of Education launched an online "END DEI" portal, warning institutions to end their DEI policies or risk losing federal funding.
In a further blow to federal language assistance programs, President Trump signed an executive order designating English as the official language of the United States, reversing a Clinton-era policy that required federal agencies to provide assistance and translations for non-English speakers. The U.S. previously did not have an official language.
White House Tensions and Power Struggles
President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy engaged in an unprecedented public argument during an Oval Office meeting Friday over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine following Russia’s 2022 invasion. Zelenskyy was meeting with the president and vice president to sign a minerals deal that would grant the U.S. access to Ukraine’s resources, which could have been a step toward ending the conflict in the region.
“You’re gambling with World War III. And what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country that’s backed you far more than a lot of people said they should have,” Trump told Zelenskyy.
Tensions between the two countries have been escalating after a previous report revealed the U.S. stance on the conflict was shifting toward Russia, creating animosity after a Saudi Arabia meeting between Russian and American delegates that excluded Ukraine and aimed to end the war.
Trump later accused Zelenskyy of “not acting at all thankful” for the U.S. support. Vance defended Trump by saying the country was trying to engage in “diplomacy,” which angered Zelenskyy, who pointed to Russia’s history of violating ceasefire agreements.
“We signed ceasefire. Ceasefire. All of them told me that he will never go … But after that, he broke the ceasefire, he killed our people, and he didn’t exchange prisoners. We signed the exchange of prisoners. But he didn’t do it. What kind of diplomacy, JD, are you speaking about? What do you mean?” Zelenskyy said.
Vance responded, accusing Zelenskyy of “litigating” the conflict in front of the media.
“Mr. President, with respect, I think it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media. Right now, you guys are going around and forcing conscripts to the front lines because you have manpower problems. You should be thanking the president for trying to bring an end to this conflict,” Vance said.
After further back-and-forth, Zelenskyy left the meeting without signing the deal. Trump later posted on Truth Social, saying that he had “determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for peace” and accused him of “disrespecting” the United States.
“We had a very meaningful meeting in the White House today. Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure. It’s amazing what comes out through emotion, and I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations. I don’t want advantage, I want peace. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for peace,” Trump wrote.
In an interview with Fox News, Zelenskyy refused to apologize for the meeting but thanked Trump and the American people for their support throughout the conflict.
“We’re thankful to Americans for all your support. You did a lot. I’m thankful to President Trump and to Congress, bipartisan support, and I was always very thankful for all our people,” Zelenskyy said.
Global leaders reacted swiftly to the altercation, with European leaders defending Ukraine.
“There is an aggressor, which is Russia, and a people who have suffered aggression, which is Ukraine,” French President Emmanuel Macron said, according to Politico.
“You have to respect those who have been fighting since the beginning because they are fighting for their dignity, their independence, for their children, and for the security of Europe.”
European Union Foreign Policy Chief and former Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas posted on X that “We will step up our support to Ukraine.”
“Today, it became clear that the free world needs a new leader. It's up to us, Europeans, to take this challenge,” Kallas wrote.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau posted on X that Canada will “continue to stand with Ukraine.”
“For three years now, Ukrainians have fought with courage and resilience. Their fight for democracy, freedom, and sovereignty is a fight that matters to us all,” Trudeau wrote. “Canada will continue to stand with Ukraine and Ukrainians in achieving a just and lasting peace.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer issued a statement reaffirming the U.K.'s “unwavering support” for Ukraine. He later met with Zelenskyy on Saturday and posted a video greeting the president.
“Action, not just words,” Starmer wrote.
Within Ukraine, many citizens reacted to the tense meeting, with some suggesting that Zelenskyy should have “just listened” to Trump.
“I think he should have stayed silent and just listened to Trump. Trump wants to stop this war,” said a Ukrainian named Valentina in an interview with The Guardian.
“There is a lot of grief in our country. Every day people are getting killed. I was disappointed. It was night in Kyiv when the meeting happened. I just cried because the war will now continue.”
In the same report, others expressed doubts about the war’s outcome, with many believing that Ukraine will not regain its occupied territory.
“I can’t judge. It’s a difficult moment. I don’t think Ukraine will get its territory back, unfortunately,” said teenager Andrii Semeniuta.
In the U.S., the meeting drew reactions from both Democrats and Republicans. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer accused Trump and Vance of doing Putin’s “dirty work.”
“Trump and Vance are doing Putin’s dirty work. Senate Democrats will never stop fighting for freedom and democracy,” Schumer wrote on X.
Republicans supported Trump after the meeting, with Sen. Lindsey Graham calling the interaction “disrespectful” and urging Zelenskyy to resign.
“Trump and Vance are doing Putin’s dirty work. Senate Democrats will never stop fighting for freedom and democracy,” Graham said in a report by Reuters.
“He either needs to resign and send somebody over that we can do business with, or he needs to change.”
Meanwhile, Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), called for his company Starlink—an arm of his satellite company SpaceX—to take over upgrades of the FAA’s air traffic control system. This followed Musk’s call for the cancellation of a $2.4 billion contract with Verizon to update the systems, amid renewed concerns about air safety following recent plane crashes in Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia.
“The Verizon communication system to air traffic control is breaking down very rapidly. The FAA assessment is single-digit months to catastrophic failure, putting air traveler safety at serious risk,” Musk wrote in an X post.
“This situation is extremely dire.”
In a statement obtained by CNN, Verizon spokesperson Rich Young said the company was continuing to work with the FAA, despite Musk’s objections.
“Our company is working on building the next-generation system for the FAA, which will support the agency’s mission for safe and secure air travel,” Young said.
“We are at the beginning of a multi-year contract to replace antiquated, legacy systems. Our teams have been working with the FAA’s technology teams and our solution stands ready to be deployed. We continue to partner with the FAA on achieving its modernization objectives.”
Musk’s plan has raised suspicions about conflicts of interest, as the FAA oversees the operations of SpaceX, as well as the possibility of legal challenges over the potential cancellation of a federal contract.
Government Restructuring and Policy Shifts
On Friday, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced that 7,000 jobs—12% of its workforce—will be eliminated, continuing the Trump administration’s initiative to reduce the federal government.
“The agency plans to reduce the size of its bloated workforce and organizational structure, with a significant focus on functions and employees who do not directly provide mission-critical services,” the SSA said in a press release.
“Social Security recently set a staffing target of 50,000, down from the current level of approximately 57,000 employees.”
Reactions were swift, as it remains unclear how the layoffs will affect Social Security benefits, including payments to retirees and disability recipients.
“The Social Security Administration is already chronically understaffed. Now, the Trump administration wants to demolish it,” said Nancy Altman, president of the advocacy group Social Security Works, in an interview with ABC News.
She added that the layoffs would deny Americans access to their benefits and lead to the closure of offices nationwide.
Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden echoed similar concerns, calling Trump’s policies a “sham.”
“Firing half of all Social Security workers will guarantee that seniors stop receiving their earned benefits on time and in full,” Wyden said in a statement.
“Trump’s promises to protect Social Security are a sham, just like the rest of his actions since taking office. A plan like this will result in field office closures that will hit seniors in rural communities the hardest. The goal of this effort is to hollow out an agency that currently delivers retirement benefits with a 99.7% accuracy rate and hand over the keys to private equity and grifters who want to pillage Social Security for all it’s worth.”
In addition to Social Security layoffs, the Trump administration announced the cancellation of $60 billion in U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) humanitarian contracts. This follows a previous Introspective report detailing mass layoffs within the agency. A Supreme Court judge later ruled in favor of the administration, allowing it to proceed with USAID’s disbandment.
According to reports by The Associated Press, a letter sent to USAID offices explained that programs were being discontinued “for convenience and the interests of the U.S. government.” The letter also stated that Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who also serves as deputy administrator of USAID, had “determined your award is not aligned with agency priorities and made a determination that continuing this program is not in the national interest.”
More than 10,000 contracts were terminated, impacting humanitarian aid efforts in nations such as Haiti and Sudan.
DEI Backlash in Schools
As backlash against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies continues, the Department of Education launched an online “END DEI” portal, allowing people to report the promotion of “divisive ideologies” in public K-12 schools.
“For years, parents have been begging schools to focus on teaching their kids practical skills like reading, writing, and math instead of pushing critical theory, rogue sex education, and divisive ideologies—but their concerns have been brushed off, mocked, or shut down entirely,” said Tiffany Justice, co-founder of the group Moms for Liberty, in a press release.
“Parents, now is the time to share the receipts of the betrayal that has happened in our public schools. This webpage demonstrates that President Trump’s Department of Education is putting power back in the hands of parents.”
A previous Introspective report highlighted the Trump administration’s directive ordering schools and universities to dismantle their DEI programs or risk losing federal funding.
Supporters of the initiative argue that reporting DEI policies is necessary.
“We’re very much in a ‘see something, say something’ moment in time—not only to root out the obvious practices and policies but also the insidious proxies that have permeated education,” said Nicole Neily, president of Parents Defunding Education, in an interview with Fox News.
“With approximately 13,500 school districts and 4,000 degree-granting institutions, there’s a lot of ground to cover—and many hands make light work.”
English Declared Official Language
President Trump signed an executive order on Saturday declaring English the official language of the United States. Previously, the country had no designated official language.
“Speaking English not only opens doors economically, but it helps newcomers engage in their communities, participate in national traditions, and give back to our society. This order recognizes and celebrates the long tradition of multilingual American citizens who have learned English and passed it to their children for generations to come,” the White House said in a statement.
“Establishing English as the official language will not only streamline communication but also reinforce shared national values and create a more cohesive and efficient society.”
The executive order rescinds Executive Order 13166, a Clinton-era mandate from 2000 requiring federal agencies to provide translations and assistance to non-English speakers.
According to 2022 U.S. Census data, 1 in 5 Americans—67.8 million people—speak a language other than English at home.
Immigration advocates quickly condemned the order, arguing that immigrants are “here to stay” and that Trump “can’t erase” their existence.
“Trump is trying to send the message that if you’re not white, rich, and speak English, you don’t belong here,” said Anabel Mendoza, communications director for United We Dream, in an interview with The Associated Press.
“Let me be clear: Immigrants are here to stay. No matter how hard Trump tries, he can’t erase us.”
Others praised the move, calling it a “message of national unity.”
“This is HUGE. In an era of mass immigration, asserting that English is the American language is a message of national UNITY,” political commentator Charlie Kirk wrote in an X post.
DOJ Shakeup
Meanwhile, Joshua Stueve, a spokesperson for the Department of Justice, announced his resignation this week, citing a “toxic” work environment.
“Simply put, I cannot continue to serve in such a hostile and toxic work environment—one where leadership at the highest levels makes clear we are not welcomed or valued, much less trusted to do our jobs,” Stueve said in a statement.
His departure follows a wave of resignations during Trump’s second term, as many officials have voiced opposition to the administration’s cuts to the federal government.
Vaccine and Public Health Policy
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) canceled an advisory committee meeting for the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) on Wednesday. The meeting was set to select the flu strains to be included in next season’s vaccine.
This marks the second cancellation of a vaccine-related meeting, following the February cancellation of a vaccine advisory meeting after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was confirmed as Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Kennedy has been widely criticized for spreading misinformation about vaccines, including the debunked claim that vaccines cause autism and the racist assertion that Black people’s immune systems function differently from white people’s in response to COVID-19, as detailed in a previous Introspective report.
Health experts expressed shock over the cancellation.
“I’m quite shocked. The VRBPAC is critical for making the decision on strain selection for the next influenza vaccine season,” said a former director of the FDA’s Office of Vaccine Research and Review in an interview with NBC News.
The meeting was scheduled for March 13.
Military and Defense Policies
Expanding on previous legislation aimed at rolling back LGBTQ+ rights, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced in a memo Wednesday that all transgender service members will be removed from the military. The decision follows an executive order stating that individuals with a history of gender dysphoria are “incompatible” with the government’s “high standards for troop readiness, lethality, cohesion, honesty, humility, uniformity, and integrity.”
“Transgender Americans have served openly and honorably in the U.S. Armed Forces for nearly a decade. Thousands of transgender troops are currently serving and are fully qualified for the positions they hold. No policy will ever erase transgender Americans’ contributions to history, warfighting, or military excellence,” SPARTA Pride, an organization for transgender and nonbinary service members and veterans, said in a statement.
“Transgender service members have a unique fighting spirit and will continue to defend the Constitution and American values no matter what lies ahead.”
The memo calls for the establishment of protocols within 30 days to identify service members with gender dysphoria or a history of gender dysphoria and to “begin separation actions.” Exceptions may be made on an individual basis if the government determines that enlisting or retaining the service member directly supports warfighting capabilities. Another exception applies to individuals who have shown “stability” in their sex for at least 36 months—three years—without “clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.”
The memo also refers to a Jan. 20 executive order that defines sex as “male” and “female” while disregarding gender identity.
“The department only recognizes two sexes: male and female. An individual’s sex is immutable, unchanging during a person’s life,” the memo states.
According to a report by ABC News, many transgender service members reacted to Hegseth’s announcement with little surprise.
“This is exactly what we anticipated, and it’s exactly how we framed our complaint and our motion for a preliminary injunction,” said Sasha Buchert, an attorney and former service member who served openly as a transgender woman.
“The executive order, frankly, is dripping with animus, and we expected nothing less than exactly what we got today. So, there are absolutely no surprises, and it’s absolutely shameful.”
At the same time, Hegseth also directed the deployment of up to 3,000 troops to the U.S.-Mexico border. This follows a previous report by The Introspective detailing an executive order in which President Trump declared a “national emergency” at the border on his first day back in office.
According to the Department of Defense, the Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) and the General Support Aviation Battalion were deployed to “reinforce and expand current border security operations to seal the border and protect the territorial integrity of the United States.”
“These forces will arrive in the coming weeks, and their deployment underscores the department’s unwavering dedication to working alongside the Department of Homeland Security to secure our southern border and maintain the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security of the United States under President Trump’s leadership,” the statement read.