Muzzle velocity is a term that is traditionally used to describe objects as they leave the barrel of a firearm. However, when it is discussed in politics, in simple terms, it is when so many different concepts are being created at one time that the media and its recipients become overwhelmed. This can be attributed to the overstimulated feeling many, including myself, have experienced when opening news apps these past two months. According to New York Times columnist Ezra Klein, this is what President Donald Trump is doing. Muzzle velocity is a political tactic coined by Steve Bannon, who served as the White House’s chief strategist for the first seven months of Trump’s first term. Bannon says in an interview with PBS, “The opposition party is the media.” This remains true, as journalism is one of the only ways constituents receive information on what their elected officials are doing. It is a direct line from Capitol Hill to your home.
Bannon continues, “All we have to do is flood the zone. Every day, we hit [news sources] with three things. They’ll bite on one, and we’ll get all of our stuff done. Bang, bang, bang. These guys will never — will never be able to recover.” That is what the Trump administration is doing to the American public. They are “hitting us” with an infinite number of stories so fast that it is difficult to process. If you are “hit” with so much information at one time, it is easy to get lost. It becomes nearly impossible to catch up on the latest news story because you are already three stories behind.
So, how has Trump been using the muzzle velocity tactic during his first two months as president? I am going to walk you through some of the recent, noteworthy things that Trump and his administration have done.
January 6 Pardons
Trump celebrated his inauguration by signing over 20 executive orders in a stadium filled with people. One of the orders included his blanket pardon of over 1,500 people who were convicted of criminal offenses on Jan 6. According to NPR, this included people who were “convicted of violently assaulting police officers,” and some of the pardoned defendants having “prior convictions or pending charges for crimes including rape, sexual abuse of a minor, domestic violence, manslaughter, production of child sexual abuse material and drug trafficking.” They were all pardoned.
Out of the 1,500 people pardoned, a handful declined this pardon. Pamela Hemphill was charged with a six-month sentence following Jan. 6. When asked why she declined the pardon, she said, “It would be a slap in the face to the Capitol police officers, to the rule of law, to our whole nation.” Hemphill then returned to Capitol Hill on Feb. 28 of this year and personally apologized to the police officers on duty, according to CNN. While very few who participated in Jan. 6 took this approach, it is admirable of Hemphill to take accountability for her actions.
Withdrawal From World Organizations
Trump has withdrawn the United States from many world organizations. Here are two organizations we are no longer a part of and what the implications of this change are.
Paris Climate Agreement: This agreement was established in 2015. It aims to limit global warming and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the US contributes over 13% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. While this percentage may appear to be lower, it still has a serious impact on our environment. Keep in mind that this is the percentage under the Paris Climate Agreement. Since the withdrawal, “U.S. greenhouse gas emissions levels are estimated to rise to 36 percent higher,” according to the Center for American Progress.
World Health Organization (WHO): This is an organization dedicated to promoting good health and helping those in need. They help with things ranging from diseases to substance usage. They also conduct extensive research regarding diseases and illnesses; for example, they were extremely influential during the COVID-19 pandemic. WHO had researchers working around the clock to find a vaccine. According to Johns Hopkins Public Health, the WHO is already struggling with funding; since the United States withdrew, it will likely be unable to conduct many of its programs. In 2020, Trump attempted to leave the organization for its “slow response” to the COVID-19 outbreak. This is his reason for dropping out of WHO in 2025, according to US News. While signing the executive order removing the US from the organization, Trump said, “it was ‘due to the organization’s mishandling’ of the pandemic.”
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)
Created by Elon Musk, DOGE was brought to the media’s attention in an executive order signed by Trump. The order claimed that DOGE’s primary function would be to create a more effective government, however, they are doing this by cutting federal funding. These funds help support countless programs and employ nearly three million people. Through the Veteran Affairs (VA), these programs provide support to aid individuals across the world (USAID). DOGE has inserted itself in over 20 government departments, causing mass chaos. Due to DOGE, a range from 60,000 to 172,017 people have lost their jobs. However, DOGE has yet to release an official number, leaving the media frantic. I believe that is part of the problem, as no one quite knows the truth. This is a 245% increase from January (2025) layoffs and they aren’t going to stop here. For example, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is seeing many more dismissals. According to AP News, the “Trump administration plans to cut 80,000 [more] employees”. This would be a cut of nearly 18% of the VA’s employees.
Despite cutting essential federal funding, the Trump Administration and DOGE have yet to reach their goals. A bill was recently passed in a 217-215 vote in Congress, calling for a $2 trillion cut to federal spending. The United States typically spends around $7 trillion a year that goes to benefit many Americans through social security, education, health programs, etc. For the context of where the specific amount of $2 trillion came from, ever since Musk entered the political scene he has been raving about a $2 trillion budget cut. Similar to the number of federal employees laid off, DOGE has not released an official number of the money that has been cut. News sources are reporting that a range of $2-$7 trillion has been cut, but it is safe to say that they are behind on their goal. According to the Washington Post, this has led many to believe that Medicaid will be impacted. Medicaid is a program dedicated to helping low-income people afford healthcare. This will have extremely negative implications, as according to Medicaid.gov, over 70 million people benefit from this program.
The Department of Education (DoE)
According to ABC News, Trump has already laid off 50% of those employed in the DoE. Completely getting rid of the department requires Congress’ approval. However, through executive orders, Trump has been able to greatly minimize it. The department helps fund public schools. The money from the department is put towards school improvement and special needs programs. Along with that, the DoE also “protects students against racial and sex-based discrimination,” according to US News. Another possible implication of the elimination of the DoE is the impact it could have on those with Individualized Education Programs (IEP) or 504 plans. According to ADDituide, “the DoE is the primary watchdog for both IDEA [IEPs] and Section 504”, leaving the department susceptible to elimination.
For those who plan on attending college, the DoE also manages the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This program helps provide financial aid for those who choose to further their education. The status of FAFSA has not been determined; however, according to the Times Magazine, Trump reported that all student loans would likely be moved to the Department of the Treasury. The Treasury has a reputation for being slow, and it can be somewhat difficult to receive a loan.
While I have touched on a few topics, this is far from the extent of it. There have been executive orders affecting those in the LGBTQ+ community and creating tariffs for our neighboring countries. Recent effects include an increase in grocery prices, and the stock market is seeing some of its lowest numbers in months. As Trump’s term progresses, we are sure to see many more drastic changes as he continues to “de-woke” our government. Only time will tell, but I leave you with a question. Do you believe that Trump’s tactic of muzzle velocity will eventually break the American people?
Want to learn more? Overwhelmed?
New York Times Opinionist Ezra Klein released a video titled Don’t Believe Him. The video gave a detailed description of the strategies Trump has used so far (muzzle velocity included), not only that, but it also leaves the viewer with a hint of hope, which I found refreshing.
The New York Times did an interview segment with the Inspector Generals who were recently fired because of DOGE. These people were the ones working tirelessly behind the scenes to create a more efficient government, and they were then simply terminated. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GupyEudjdNw
