UJ
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In his first month in office, President Donald Trump has consistently announced a series of policy initiatives at a rapid pace, focusing on reducing government size, implementing tax cuts, and launching initiatives against diversity programs, illegal immigration, and transgender rights.
His allies in various states are swiftly attempting to keep pace.
Legislatures in Florida and Tennessee have enacted extensive immigration laws intended to streamline collaboration between state law enforcement and federal immigration agents during recent special sessions.
Leaders in Ohio and Arkansas are intensifying their efforts to impose work requirements on Medicaid beneficiaries.
Moreover, Republicans in at least nine states are working to establish government efficiency task forces inspired by initiatives led by billionaire Elon Musk.
Nationwide, Republican governors and legislatures are seizing the opportunity presented by the supportive regulatory climate of the Trump administration to push forward key conservative policies. Through State of the State addresses, social media posts, and press briefings, they have characterized the new administration as a cooperative partner, keen to showcase their loyalty.
For Democrats, this serves as a reminder that elections hold significant consequences at both the federal and state levels, where Republicans have maintained dominance for years.
Legislation supported by Republicans, particularly in the nearly two dozen states where they control the governorship and both legislative chambers, has been central to some of the most contentious culture war disputes in recent years, including the 2022 Dobbs ruling that revoked federal abortion rights and an ongoing case regarding gender-affirming care for minors.
Democrats have increasingly emphasized the necessity of strengthening their influence at the state level to counter Republican advancements.
“Red states feel emboldened by Trump’s occupation of Washington to implement legislation that induces confusion and chaos, from cutting essential programs to reversing fundamental rights,” stated Sam Paisley, spokesperson for the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee. “Democrats in state legislatures represent the strongest defense against the destruction pursued by MAGA Republicans.”
Republican officials in several states, including Idaho, New Hampshire, Georgia, Texas, Kansas, and Oklahoma, have initiated DOGE task forces or new legislative committees. Last month, over two dozen Republican governors signed a letter to GOP congressional leaders endorsing this initiative.
The American Legislative Exchange Council, a conservative organization that develops model legislation, established a government efficiency coalition following its national meeting in December.
“The objective was essentially to pinpoint that if DOGE succeeds at the federal level, many responsibilities are likely to revert to state and local government,” explained Jonathan Williams, ALEC’s president and chief economist. “Our ALEC members genuinely responded to the call and expressed a desire to explore these government efficiency concepts and collaborate with those in Washington seeking to do the same.”
Indiana’s Republican Gov. Mike Braun signed executive orders last month mandating state employees to work from their offices by July and instructing agencies to eliminate 25% of regulations by 2029 while seeking ways to reduce costs.
Iowa’s Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds, who signed an executive order last week establishing a DOGE task force in her state, has portrayed the initiative as a continuation of the work Iowa began a few years ago. She noted that Iowa’s previous “alignment” efforts saved the state $217 million within 18 months, which she highlighted in her Condition of the State address last month.
“Iowa was executing DOGE principles before DOGE was even a concept,” the governor recently shared with a House panel.
Democrats have, however, contested Reynolds’ representation of the state’s initiatives, criticizing the governor for endorsing a 2023 bill that restricts the authorities of Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand, the only Democrat elected statewide. This law limits the auditor’s access to documents and prohibits him from pursuing lawsuits against state agencies for records, with disputes required to go through arbitration.
“We’re pleased that the governor is focusing on government efficiency, as we’ve been engaged in this effort for six years already,” Sand shared with UJ. “Yet, the administration’s superficial attention to government accountability is unfortunately late and insufficient.”
Even when the administration’s agenda has raised concerns over budget deficits, Republicans have been reluctant to critique the Washington approach. Following a brief pause in federal assistance from the Office of Management and Budget, Louisiana Republican Gov. Jeff Landry and other state authorities requested OMB to “craft a responsible strategy to disentangle us from any unnecessary and extreme policies without jeopardizing the state’s financial health.”
School choice and immigration
Trump has also prioritized contentious school choice initiatives early on. Last month, the president signed an executive order mandating agencies to devise strategies to broaden school choice options. Conservatives anticipate that the administration will reverse many of the regulations imposed during the Biden era regarding these programs. Advocates for school choice are hopeful that Republicans will also introduce provisions allowing tax deductions for contributions to scholarship programs that fund private school attendance.
“There’s been a noticeable shift, with the Department of Education appearing more supportive rather than antagonistic as states seek to enact and execute these policies,” remarked Frederick Hess, a senior fellow and director of education policy studies at the conservative American Enterprise Institute.
Supporters of school choice argue that vouchers and similar programs enable students to attend higher-quality schools or institutions tailored to their needs. Conversely, opponents contend that these initiatives siphon funding from public schools and that private, religious, and charter schools lack the same level of oversight as public institutions.
Following a brief power struggle between Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the Republican legislature, state lawmakers recently approved a set of immigration enforcement measures making it a criminal act for individuals who have entered the country unlawfully to be present in Florida. The laws also allocate increased funding and resources to facilitate state and federal collaboration on immigration matters.
One new statute additionally terminates the availability of in-state college tuition for young adults lacking legal status.
“In Florida, we are obliged to be strong allies of the Trump administration,” DeSantis commented during a press conference on Thursday.
In Tennessee, lawmakers passed an immigration enforcement bill this month establishing a new unit within the state’s Department of Safety tasked with coordinating immigration enforcement with the federal government. This legislation would also classify it as a felony for local officials to implement so-called sanctuary policies, with provisions to remove them from office upon conviction.
Democrats have argued that the measure making “sanctuary city” votes criminal is unconstitutional. The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee has labeled the law “unprecedented” and is challenging it legally.
State Rep. Aftyn Behn, a Democrat, has advised her national party to take more action in states like Tennessee, where Republicans hold a supermajority in the legislature, enabling them to pass legislation that may ignite future legal disputes.
Tennessee’s GOP House Majority Leader William Lamberth has introduced legislation this month permitting school districts to opt out of educating children lacking legal residency. Lawmakers are promoting this legislation as a means to challenge a 1982 Supreme Court decision mandating that schools accept all students regardless of their legal status.
“There must be a greater urgency, enthusiasm, and financial commitment toward states like Tennessee,” Behn urged.
