Week 8: Directives Over Democracy
Power Consolidation, Institutional Breakdown, and Foreign Realignment
đď¸ Week 8: Directives Over Democracy
*By Cyberluzie | Trumped Out: A Diary of American Madness
By Day 100, the balance of power in Washington had shiftedâformally, functionally, and, in some cases, irreversibly. Executive orders overrode legislation. Inspectors general were removed. Federal agencies were restructured under Project 2025 guidance. International alliances realigned behind closed doors.
This final instalment tracks the most sweeping and structural power moves of Trumpâs second term so far.
đš TIMELINE OF POLICY MOVES
January 20
â EO 14169: âReevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aidâ
Paused all development aid for 90 days pending ideological review
Exemptions are limited to military aid for Israel, Egypt, and food assistance
Excluded programs with ties to DEI, reproductive health, or gender care
February 2025
â U.S.-Russia Peace Talks in Riyadh
U.S. and Russian delegations met without Ukrainian involvement
European allies expressed concern over the precedent and process
February 28
â Trump-Zelenskyy Oval Office Meeting
The meeting ended with no agreement on resource or security arrangements
On March 3, the U.S. suspended all military aid to Ukraine
April 30
â U.S.-Ukraine Economic Agreement
Restored limited support in exchange for access to mineral and reconstruction contracts
Created a joint U.S.-Ukraine Investment Fund for postwar development
Dropped repayment demands for past military aid
AprilâMay
â Institutional Restructuring Under Project 2025
Agencies realigned to increase presidential control
Inspectors general dismissed or reassigned in 11 departments
Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is embedded within all executive agencies
đš INSTITUTIONAL IMPACT
Department of State
Shifted foreign aid from development to transactional partnerships
Paused multiple programs in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America
Restructured country teams to focus on âvalue-aligned diplomacyâ
Department of Defense
Implemented an aid pause to Ukraine
Began internal review of all international training programs
Military aid is now routed through the Executive Office rather than NATO channels
Congressional Oversight
Multiple Inspectors General removed
Internal reporting redirected to White House liaisons via DOGE
The legislative branch faced delays in receiving agency compliance reports
White House Office of Presidential Personnel
Accelerated implementation of Schedule F
Replaced hundreds of senior civil service officials across 12 agencies
Required loyalty certifications for new high-level hires
đš PUBLIC SENTIMENT & GLOBAL RESPONSE
Pew polling (April 2025): 62% of Americans are concerned about the erosion of checks and balances
EU and NATO leaders issued a joint statement expressing âdeep concernâ over U.S. unilateralism
Ukraineâs parliament passed a resolution condemning Trumpâs handling of aid as âstrategic abandonmentâ
Protests reported in multiple U.S. cities on April 15 and May 1
đš KEY TAKEAWAYS
Power within the executive branch expanded across legal, budgetary, and foreign policy lines.
Checks and balances were weakened by design, not failure.
International credibility and alliances adjusted to the new American posture.
Project 2025 has moved from proposal to implementation