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FEBRUARY 27, 2025 |
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Harvard Kennedy School | | | |
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The U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Samuel Corum/Getty Images) | | |
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Democracy & Governance |
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Analyzing DOGE’s impact one month into Trump’s second administration |
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Barely a month into his administration, President Donald Trump has issued a flurry of executive orders and taken unprecedented actions—including giving Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest man, far-reaching powers to fundamentally transform the federal government. Musk’s actions, taken under the auspices of the initiative known as DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency), have included firing government workers across a broad swath of federal departments and agencies, gaining access to sensitive government data previously held only by small groups of career civil servants, and seeking to eliminate some agencies outright. In a new collection of essays, HKS faculty members Linda Bilmes, John Donahue, Stephen Goldsmith, Steve Kelman, Elizabeth Linos, Paul Peterson, and Lawrence Summers examine the widespread implications of these actions.
Also read: Our latest analysis of the Trump administration’s activities.
Learn more about Democracy & Governance at HKS » | | |
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DEMOCRACY & GOVERNANCE |
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Oligarchy in the open: What happens now as the United States confronts its plutocracy problem? |
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In the latest episode of PolicyCast, Professors Archon Fung of HKS and Lawrence Lessig of Harvard Law School say President Trump’s embrace of billionaire ruling partners could be an inflection point in what many view as a long U.S. slide toward rule by the wealthiest. For more than a decade, studies have shown political outcomes overwhelmingly favor the wealthy, while the influence of ordinary citizens is minimal. Fast forward to 2024 and a presidential campaign that saw record support by billionaires for both candidates, but most conspicuously for Republican candidate Donald Trump from Elon Musk. That prompted outgoing President Joe Biden, in his farewell address, to warn Americans about an impending oligarchy. Lessig and Fung discuss the problem and possible ways to restore egalitarian democracy.
Learn more about Democracy & Governance at HKS » | | |
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International Relations & Security |
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Optimism, pessimism, and uncertainty: How U.S.-China relations may evolve during the second Trump administration |
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Only a few weeks into Donald Trump’s second administration, the president has shown he is willing to make unpredictable political moves that may blindside even his closest advisors. When it comes to U.S.-China relations, Trump has talked about imposing stiff tariffs, but it is unclear whether his stance will soften. Despite the U.S. president’s economic threats, he has claimed to respect Xi Jinping and is surprisingly popular in China. In two new essays, Harvard Kennedy School faculty scholars Rana Mitter and Anthony Saich share their insights on how U.S.-China relations may evolve, and the implications for both countries.
Learn more about International Relations & Security at HKS » | | |
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