Inside Trump’s Agenda47: Key Policy Proposals

Former President Donald Trump is set to face Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday in their first debate, where he may promote policies from his “Agenda47” platform. This agenda encompasses a range of proposals from his campaign’s primary election season, spanning from December 2022 to December 2023. These proposals, which include stricter school regulations, hardline immigration policies, and the creation of new “freedom cities,” may require congressional action but could also be enacted through executive orders. Although Trump’s campaign website now features a more concise list of priorities aligned with the Republican National Committee’s platform, the detailed Agenda47 proposals remain accessible, providing insight into his priorities.

Trump’s education policy under Agenda47 includes allowing parents to elect school principals, cutting federal funding for schools teaching “critical race theory,” ending teacher tenure, and creating a new credentialing body for teachers who support “patriotic values.” He advocates for increased prayer in schools, supports allowing teachers to carry concealed firearms, and promotes school choice. For higher education, Trump proposes eliminating current college accreditors and creating new ones that enforce conservative values. He also plans to impose fines on colleges that he believes discriminate against students, using the funds to establish a free online “American Academy” to offer a broad spectrum of knowledge.

On climate change, Trump aims to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord and reverse President Joe Biden’s policies that restrict emissions and promote electric vehicles. Instead, he supports ramping up oil and gas production. His Justice Department plans involve appointing 100 U.S. attorneys aligned with his policies, investigating left-leaning district attorneys, and establishing a task force to protect the right to self-defense and combat perceived anti-conservative bias in law schools and law firms.

Regarding crime, Trump proposes investing in hiring and retaining police officers, implementing policies such as “stop and frisk,” and directing the DOJ to dismantle gangs and drug networks. He also plans to deploy federal troops when local authorities fail to act and support the death penalty for drug dealers and human traffickers. His immigration policies include prohibiting undocumented immigrants from receiving benefits, ending birthright citizenship for their children, and reinstating a travel ban from certain countries. He also seeks to mandate extreme vetting for foreign nationals, cut federal grants to sanctuary cities, and close the southern border to asylum seekers.

Economically, Trump’s proposals include cutting taxes, reducing federal regulations, and implementing tariffs on foreign goods to boost American manufacturing. He also plans to require federal agencies to purchase U.S.-made medicines and medical devices and to enforce an executive order that ensures the government pays pharmaceutical companies the best price available to foreign nations. In foreign policy, Trump wants European allies to reimburse the U.S. for military support provided to Ukraine and to impose new restrictions on Chinese-owned infrastructure in the U.S. He also advocates for building a missile defense shield.

Trump’s stance on Social Security is notable for its departure from some previous GOP views, as he opposes cuts to Social Security and Medicare under any circumstances. On homelessness, he plans to work with states to ban public camping and create large tent cities with medical and social services. For transgender rights, Trump supports terminating Medicare and Medicaid funding for gender-affirming care for youth and pushing for legislation that recognizes only male and female genders assigned at birth. His proposals for Big Tech include barring federal departments from collaborating with entities that censor Americans and revising Section 230 to increase legal liability for social media platforms.

Currently, Trump’s campaign website lists a set of 20 priorities that align closely with the Republican National Committee’s platform, including border security, tax cuts, and ending inflation. These priorities overlap with his previous Agenda47 proposals but are less detailed. Project 2025, developed by the Heritage Foundation and other groups, serves as a separate policy blueprint for a potential Trump administration and shares many similarities with Agenda47, such as positions on climate policy and transgender rights. The extent to which Trump might implement Project 2025 if elected remains uncertain.

As Trump and Harris prepare for their debate, the specifics of Agenda47 offer a glimpse into Trump’s policy vision. Many proposals would require congressional approval, but some could be enacted through executive orders. Trump’s intention to expand presidential control and overhaul federal agencies highlights his ambitious plans if re-elected. Recent developments, including additional proposals on abortion and tax changes, reflect Trump’s evolving policy landscape. Understanding these proposals is crucial for assessing Trump’s potential impact on American governance if he returns to the White House.