We’ll Never Tire of Winning Under President Trump

March 8, 2025

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Action Summary

Border Security & Immigration: Illegal border crossings hit all‐time lows with a 94% drop overall and 99% reduction at the Del Rio Sector; major human smuggling ring disrupted with key arrests; visa restrictions imposed on foreign officials and students linked to terrorism and illegal immigration facilitation.
Economic Revival & Job Growth: Manufacturing rebounded with 10,000 new jobs (auto sector leading with nearly 9,000 jobs) after steep losses under the previous administration; mortgage rates fell for a seventh consecutive week.
Foreign & Domestic Investment: Historic investments announced, including a $100 billion TSMC semiconductor project in Arizona, a $20 billion commitment from CMA CGM for shipping/logistics, and multi-billion dollar energy and manufacturing investments from Venture Global, Siemens, and Clarios.
Policy & Regulatory Reforms: Deregulation efforts credited with saving $180 billion for American families; executive orders signed to boost timber production, establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, and suspend burdensome small business reporting requirements.
Trade & Tariff Actions: Tariffs used strategically – an additional 10% on Chinese imports and pressure on Mexico and Canada to combat drug trafficking – earning praise from the United Auto Workers as a corrective to free trade abuse.
National Security & Counterterrorism: Key actions include apprehending an ISIS-K terrorist, designating the Iran-backed Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, expediting military aid to Israel, and strengthening counterterrorism raids and airstrike protocols.
Domestic Initiatives & Symbolic Actions: Renaming military installations and wildlife refuges (Fort Benning, Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge), designating English as the official language, cancelling federal grants to institutions failing to protect Jewish students, and reforming small business support through SBA measures.
Infrastructure & Transportation: Interstate recovery efforts post-natural disaster, reversal of a previous LNG export ban, and the return of crucial ports on either side of the Panama Canal to U.S. control.
Government & Public Service: Swift cabinet confirmations (e.g., Secretary of Education Linda McMahon), restoration of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, redirection of VA savings to veterans’ care, and launch of new tools for conflict-of-interest disclosure at the CDC.
National Celebrations & Special Tasks: Proclamations celebrating Women’s History Month and Irish-American Heritage Month; establishment of a task force for the FIFA World Cup 2026; and a widely acclaimed address to Congress that significantly outperformed previous speeches.

Risks & Considerations

The cancellation of $400 million in federal grants to Columbia University due to their inaction on anti-Semitism could set a precedent for other universities, including Vanderbilt, to face similar scrutiny and potential funding cuts if they do not adequately address issues of discrimination and campus safety.
The establishment of the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile indicates a shift towards cryptocurrency, which may require Vanderbilt to consider integrating cryptocurrency education and research into its curriculum to stay relevant in the evolving financial landscape.
Visa restrictions on international students linked to terrorist organizations could impact Vanderbilt’s international student population, necessitating a review of admissions and monitoring processes to ensure compliance with new regulations.
The emphasis on American manufacturing and job creation may influence Vanderbilt’s engineering and business programs to focus more on domestic industry partnerships and research opportunities.
The suspension of invasive reporting requirements for small businesses could affect Vanderbilt’s small business partnerships and collaborations, potentially easing administrative burdens and fostering more agile cooperation.

Impacted Programs

Vanderbilt’s Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion may need to enhance its efforts to address discrimination and ensure a safe and inclusive campus environment to avoid potential funding repercussions.
The Owen Graduate School of Management could benefit from expanding its curriculum to include cryptocurrency and digital asset management, aligning with national trends and preparing students for future financial markets.
Vanderbilt’s International Student and Scholar Services will need to stay informed about visa policy changes and ensure that international students are supported and compliant with new regulations.
The School of Engineering may find new opportunities for collaboration with domestic manufacturing firms, aligning research and development efforts with national priorities in manufacturing and job creation.

Financial Impact

The potential for federal funding cuts related to campus safety and anti-discrimination measures could impact Vanderbilt’s financial planning and necessitate increased investment in these areas to mitigate risks.
Opportunities for research funding in cryptocurrency and digital assets may increase, providing Vanderbilt with new avenues for securing grants and enhancing its research portfolio.
Changes in international student visa policies could affect tuition revenue from this demographic, requiring adjustments in financial aid and recruitment strategies.
Partnerships with small businesses may become more streamlined, potentially increasing collaboration opportunities and reducing administrative costs.

Relevance Score: 4 (The actions present a need for potential major changes or transformations of programs and policies.)

Key Actions

Vanderbilt’s Office of Federal Relations should monitor changes in federal grant allocations, especially in light of the Trump Administration’s cancellation of grants to Columbia University. This could signal a shift in funding priorities that may affect future grant opportunities for Vanderbilt.
The Department of Political Science should analyze the implications of President Trump’s designation of English as the official language of the United States. This policy could impact language programs and international student recruitment strategies at Vanderbilt.
Vanderbilt’s Financial Aid Office should review the changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program to ensure that students and alumni are informed about how these changes might affect their eligibility and benefits.
The Center for International Studies should assess the impact of visa restrictions on international students linked to terrorist organizations. This could affect Vanderbilt’s international student population and necessitate adjustments in recruitment and support services.
Vanderbilt’s Environmental and Energy Management Office should explore opportunities arising from the Trump Administration’s energy policies, such as the LNG permit extension and investments in energy infrastructure, which may present research and collaboration opportunities.

Opportunities

The executive order to increase American timber production presents an opportunity for Vanderbilt’s School of Engineering to engage in research and development of sustainable timber technologies and practices.
The establishment of the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile offers Vanderbilt’s Owen Graduate School of Management a chance to expand its curriculum and research in cryptocurrency and digital asset management.
The focus on manufacturing and job creation, such as the investments by TSMC and CMA CGM, provides Vanderbilt’s Career Center with opportunities to develop partnerships and internship programs with these companies to enhance student career prospects.
The Trump Administration’s emphasis on counterterrorism and military support could lead to increased funding and collaboration opportunities for Vanderbilt’s Center for Security Studies.
The White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup 2026 could allow Vanderbilt’s Sports Management Program to engage in research and event management opportunities related to this global event.

Relevance Score: 4 (The executive orders and actions present significant opportunities and potential impacts on Vanderbilt’s programs and strategic initiatives.)

Average Relevance Score: 3.2

Timeline for Implementation

N/A – No explicit implementation deadlines or time-based directives were mentioned in the actions.

Relevance Score: 1

Impacted Government Organizations

The White House: Central to numerous executive actions including the creation of the new White House Office of Shipbuilding.
Department of Energy (DOE): Approved an LNG permit extension for the Golden Pass LNG Terminal in Texas as part of the energy policy actions.
Department of State: Designated the Iran-backed Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and imposed visa restrictions on individuals linked to facilitating illegal immigration and terrorism.
Department of Defense (DOD): Renamed Fort Moore, Georgia, to “Fort Benning” and led other military-related initiatives.
Small Business Administration (SBA): Implemented reforms including citizenship verification on loan applications and relocation of offices from sanctuary cities.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Canceled wasteful grants, achieving significant taxpayer savings.
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): Redirected $900 million in savings to enhance healthcare, benefits, and services for VA beneficiaries.
Department of the Interior: Announced a new ten-year lease regarding critical energy infrastructure in New York City.
Department of Education: Confirmed Secretary Linda McMahon and restored student loan programs, impacting policies affecting higher education.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Saw administrative actions involving the conflict of interest tool for its vaccine advisory committee.

Relevance Score: 3 (6-10 government entities are directly impacted by the wide-ranging executive actions.)

Responsible Officials

Secretary of State – Charged with implementing directives such as imposing visa restrictions, revoking visas for individuals linked to terrorist organizations, and formally designating groups (e.g., the Iran-backed Houthis) as Foreign Terrorist Organizations.
Secretary of Defense – Responsible for executing military-related directives, including renaming military installations (e.g., renaming Fort Moore as “Fort Benning”) and overseeing expedited military assistance.
Secretary of Energy – In charge of actions such as approving LNG permit extensions and other energy-related directives.
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – Tasked with implementing measures to cancel or modify grant programs and other environmental cost-saving reforms.
Secretary of Veterans Affairs – Responsible for redirecting savings towards enhanced health care, benefits, and services for veterans.
Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) – Charged with executing reforms that affect small business operations, including changes to loan application processes and relocation of offices out of “sanctuary cities.”
Secretary of the Interior – Oversees directives related to critical energy infrastructure agreements and lease arrangements.

Relevance Score: 4 (Directives affect agency heads who are responsible for wide-ranging, high-level policy implementations across national security, energy, environmental, and economic sectors.)