Opinion | The Underachiever in Chief?

So long as it might have felt, we’re one yr into Donald Trump’s second time period as president. To comply with the Trump administration within the information is to be uncovered to the total muzzle velocity of this presidency. The overwhelming procession of stories tales, wild statements —— “You’re playing with World Conflict III ——” “The Riviera of the Center East.” “Do you suppose President Trump is a fascist?” “I’ve spoken about ——” “That’s OK. You possibly can simply say it.” Spectacular, outrageous, typically terrifying occasions. It appears like a lot extra is going on than the human thoughts and your entire media, than the nation can soak up. However how a lot has really modified? How a lot has Trump really gotten finished? What number of of those tales that have been so spectacular after they started have adopted by way of into sturdy distinction in how the federal government works, or what it does or how we reside? Donald Trump has signed fewer items of laws than any president within the trendy period. Economically important rule-making has been slower than within the first yr of the Biden administration or the Obama administration, or Bush or Clinton. We spent the primary six months of the yr watching DOGE take all types of actions supposed to scale back federal spending and restructure the federal government. However on the finish of the day, as a result of there was no legislative motion to vary spending, there was no actual change in spending. And total, as a result of the “huge, lovely invoice” spent a little bit extra on immigration enforcement and on protection, and since appropriations have been even for the yr, the federal authorities really spent 4 p.c extra in 2025 than in 2024. Within the first six months of the yr, N.I.H. spending was far behind its 2024 ranges. After which in June or early July, you see a sudden acceleration of N.I.H. spending. And clearly, there was some type of resolution made that really, no, the cash has to exit the door by the top of the yr. They haven’t gotten practically as a lot achieved as they are saying, and so they’ve not gotten as a lot achieved as most presidents do within the first yr of a brand new presidency.