Trump’s Tactics in Political Maneuvering: A Case Study on DOGE

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On February 17, 2025, demonstrators gathered in Los Angeles to protest policies enacted by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk. These policies represent a broader strategy often seen in Trump’s approach to governance: a relentless presence in the news, shifting from one controversial attack on American political traditions to another. These tactics challenge accountability within the government and reveal the administration’s approach since President Trump’s reelection.

A notable example of this strategy is the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). During the first 100 days of Trump’s second term, DOGE aggressively targeted federal agencies, initiating purges aimed at eliminating fraud, waste, and abuse. The cuts made by DOGE were described as substantial, indiscriminate, and executed with little regard for legal constraints. This was facilitated by a president confident in exerting his agenda upon executive agencies, bypassing Congressional approval.

An illustrative instance of DOGE’s impact concerns the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The agency suffered drastic reductions in staff and funding, with significant grants from the Biden administration rescinded. This disruption prompted a legal response, and on May 7, Judge Colleen McMahon of the Federal District Court in Manhattan condemned DOGE’s actions as unconstitutional.

Judge McMahon highlighted DOGE’s discriminatory revocation of grants based on perceived ideological non-alignment, violating the First Amendment. She pointed out the administration’s use of federal funds to endorse projects deemed patriotic while retracting support for works critical of the nation or those emphasizing diversity.

The judge criticized the inexperience and conduct of DOGE representatives overseeing NEH, neither of whom had substantial backgrounds in grant administration or the humanities. Furthermore, these representatives relied on tools like ChatGPT to discern grants associated with diversity, equity, and inclusion, pressuring the acting chair to quickly align decisions with the administration’s priorities.

McMahon’s ruling serves as a warning that disregarding legal frameworks for political motives will not go unchecked in the judiciary. Her decision underscores DOGE’s role in Trump’s broader strategy to utilize governmental power against ideological foes.

Awareness of DOGE’s actions and Judge McMahon’s careful examination is crucial in retaining the government’s accountability. The administration’s effort to obscure its legal and political transgressions necessitates vigilance and the preservation of facts.

Austin Sarat, holding the position of William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Jurisprudence and Political Science at Amherst College, underscores the importance of recognizing and challenging any administration’s misuse of power.