Trump Administration Has Reversed Itself More Than 10 Times

During his inaugural cabinet meeting on Wednesday, President Donald Trump invited Elon Musk to share insights regarding his initiatives aimed at reducing the federal workforce and cutting government expenditures. Sporting a black “Make America Great Again” cap and a T-shirt emblazoned with “TECH SUPPORT,” an enthusiastic Musk presented plans to trim $1 trillion from federal budgets and further downsize staff. He admitted that the teams he deployed to various agencies occasionally overstepped, recalling an incident where funding for Ebola outbreak prevention was “accidentally” terminated. “We may not get it right every time, but we will quickly rectify any errors,” he assured.

However, these missteps are proving both costly and embarrassing, as budget cuts are impacting essential government operations such as nuclear security, pandemic response, and veteran services, prompting officials to reverse course. Less than six weeks into Trump’s presidency, his administration has already backtracked on more than a dozen significant decisions.

Despite the numerous reversals, they do not diminish the extent to which Trump’s administration is pursuing his vision for restructuring the federal government. Many of the changes implemented by Trump are permanent. Thousands of federal employees across the Internal Revenue Service and the Defense, Energy, and Veterans Affairs Departments have been dismissed, while tens of thousands more have resigned under Musk’s influence. USAID, which manages billions in global food and medical aid, has also been significantly weakened. Moreover, Musk’s assertion that funding for Ebola prevention has been fully restored is now under scrutiny by both current and former USAID officials.

The numerous reversals highlight an administration that is operating at a breakneck pace. During his first term, many of Trump’s early actions were rolled out chaotically and faced legal challenges, such as the visa ban for several Muslim-majority countries and plans for a border wall. This time, Trump’s team appears more equipped to push through their agenda despite setbacks, according to Timothy Naftali, a presidential expert at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. Several individuals who served in Trump’s first term have returned, eager to implement bold actions that were previously stymied. “Unlike the first term, where these errors caused paralysis, now it’s more about making quick adjustments,” Naftali notes. “While some tactics have changed, the core policies remain consistent.”

There is little expectation that the administration will slow its pace. Trump has pushed out senior career officials in key agencies and made other moves to eliminate constraints on his authority, potentially paving the way for even more radical changes in the upcoming months.

While Trump’s officials maintain that their actions reflect a commitment to efficiency and adaptability, critics believe that the frequency of these reversals undermines public confidence in the administration’s leadership.

Democrats have seized on this confusion as indicative of dysfunction within the Republican Party, speculating that it could lead to a robust challenge in the midterms. “The party associated with chaos will ultimately be the one that falters,” warns Senator John Fetterman, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, in a conversation with TIME.

Here’s a look at the ways in which the Trump Administration has reversed its decisions so far.

Canceled order freezing federal grants

Just a week into Trump’s second term, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a memo freezing all federal loans and grants. However, two days later, the administration rescinded this order. This initial memo alarmed states, schools, and community organizations reliant on federal funding, leading to widespread legal challenges and confusion regarding its impact on crucial services like food assistance and healthcare programs. A federal judge temporarily blocked part of the aid freeze, but the administration has appealed this decision to the Supreme Court.

Initially, the freeze was justified as part of a broader review to ensure that federal spending aligned with Trump’s executive orders, which included the termination of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. However, following a swift backlash, the administration reversed its stance. Nonetheless, many programs have reportedly not yet resumed funding, impacting areas such as medical research, infrastructure projects, and food assistance.

Reversed decision to terminate free COVID testing program

In mid-February, the Trump Administration pulled back on its plan to discontinue the government’s free COVID-19 testing distribution program just moments before its website, COVIDtests.gov, was scheduled to shut down. This program, which delivers free tests directly to households in the U.S., was deemed a crucial resource at the pandemic’s peak. As the virus’s spread began to slow, officials at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) considered the costs associated with destroying over 160 million unused tests.

Public health experts and lawmakers voiced skepticism, warning that destroying these resources could be catastrophic if the virus were to resurge. Ultimately, HHS officials decided that unused tests would “remain in inventory until they meet their expiration date,” as reported by The Washington Post. Free COVID tests remain available upon request at COVIDtests.gov.

Reinstated multiple laid-off federal employees

In mid-February, the Trump Administration laid off thousands of federal workers in a wave of firings targeting those on probation. New hires or employees transitioning from one agency to another typically hold probationary status.

Many of those terminated were involved in critical functions such as monitoring nuclear safety, aiding pandemic response, supervising the food supply, and operating crisis hotlines for veterans. In response to significant public outcry, Trump officials moved to rehire dozens of employees from the National Nuclear Security Administration who had been dismissed. Some bird flu specialists from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and food safety regulators from the Food and Drug Administration were also reinstated.

Additionally, when the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) laid off over 1,000 probationary workers, it included staff who operated the Veterans Crisis Line, which provides vital support to veterans in crisis. A week later, the VA reinstated at least two of these individuals, as reported by Senator Tammy Duckworth, a military veteran and Illinois Democrat who advocated for their return.

A union representing federal workers, the American Federation of Government Employees, filed a lawsuit on February 19, accusing the Trump Administration of unjustly terminating employees. The head of the Office of Special Counsel—a federal watchdog that Trump has attempted to dismiss—has submitted complaints to the Merit Systems Protection Board, asserting that the firings were unwarranted and violated the law under 5 U.S.C. § 2302(b)(12), which governs employee terminations and layoffs. According to the Office of Special Counsel, probationary employees can only be let go if their performance or conduct renders them unfit for federal employment.

Accidental cancellation of Ebola prevention program at USAID

During Trump’s initial cabinet meeting, Musk admitted that DOGE “accidentally canceled” USAID’s efforts to prevent Ebola outbreaks while one was ongoing in Uganda—a decision he claims was soon reversed. “I think we all agree on the need for Ebola prevention,” he stated. “There was no interruption.”

However, few specifics were provided regarding the restoration of cuts, and former USAID officials assert that Ebola prevention efforts have stagnated since Musk and his DOGE affiliates moved to dismantle the global assistance agency and halt outgoing payments. “I’ve led Ebola outbreak responses at @USAID. This is simply untrue from Elon,” stated Jeremy Konyndyk, former director of USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance during the Obama administration, on X. “They have laid off most of the experts, are financially crippling most partner organizations, have withdrawn from WHO, and have silenced the CDC.”

The CDC has reported nine confirmed cases of the Sudan virus—one of six identified strains of Ebola—in Uganda, including one fatality, since an outbreak was declared there on January 30.

Rehired staff from 9/11 health program

After instituting funding and staff reductions at a healthcare program designed for individuals affected by toxic debris from the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the Trump Administration reversed this decision. The turnaround was prompted by criticism from families of first responders who were frustrated that research into the long-term impacts of toxins would be halted. This move also drew backlash from congressional Republicans from New York, who wrote to Trump urging him to overturn the cuts.

“This staff reduction will only complicate the program’s ability to oversee contracts and care for its members, who are the courageous individuals who responded to danger and helped in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks,” they stated in their letter to Trump.

In light of the backlash, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which supervises the World Trade Center Health Program, announced that it had reinstated two research grants and rehired employees who had been laid off. Approximately 20% of the program’s workforce had been terminated as part of the initial cuts. Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the minority leader, remarked that the program “should never have been on the chopping block in the first place.”

Announced new tariffs and then postponed them

The Trump Administration has provided mixed and at times contradictory information regarding the timeline for imposing tariffs on trading partners. During his Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Trump indicated that he would delay 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico until April 2, just two days after previously stating they would take effect on March 4—and well beyond the original date of February 1. However, the following day, Trump retracted those comments and announced via social media that the tariffs would indeed commence on March 4. Additionally, he mentioned that China would also face an added 10% tariff on March 4, on top of the 10% imposed in February.

U.S. Postal Service reversed decision on packages from China

In early February, the U.S. Postal Service made a swift decision to halt and then resume acceptance of packages from China within 24 hours. This sudden change sent shockwaves throughout the complex international parcel system and among suppliers relying on efficient deliveries between China and the U.S. Customers of Chinese discount retailers like Temu and Shein faced uncertainty regarding the status of their online purchases.

The temporary suspension began with a notice on the U.S. Postal Service website stating that it would “temporarily suspend” acceptance of international packages from China and Hong Kong starting February 4. Trump Administration officials expressed concerns that small package deliveries could serve as a potential loophole for Chinese businesses to evade Trump’s 10% tariff on imports.

However, the U.S. Postal Service reversed its decision within a day. A new advisory on usps.com stated that effective February 5, the U.S. would accept “all international inbound mail and packages” from China and Hong Kong. The message indicated that USPS and U.S. Customs and Border Protection were collaborating to find a way to collect Trump’s tariffs on goods from China to minimize disruption in package delivery.

Trump’s remarks on Ukraine and subsequent reversal

On February 18, Trump stated that Ukraine “should have never started” the war against Russia that began three years ago, provoking widespread condemnation from the international community. A few days later, he clarified his stance, affirming that Russia was indeed the aggressor. “Russia attacked, but they shouldn’t have allowed him to do so,” Trump told Fox News Radio when asked for clarification. The conflict erupted on February 24, 2022, when Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered military action against Ukraine, launching attacks across the country, including in Kyiv.

Trump, who had promised during his campaign that he would resolve the conflict on his first day in office, claimed he is “trying to recover” the funds previously allocated to Ukraine by the prior administration. However, his relationship with Ukraine has soured recently, as he labeled President Volodymyr Zelensky “a dictator” and asserted that Zelensky’s support among voters is at an all-time low. When asked on February 27 if he still considered Zelensky a dictator, Trump responded, “Did I say that? I can’t believe I said that. Next question.”

Contradictions over Musk’s recent email directive

An email sent from the Trump Administration to federal employees, titled “What did you do last week?” has created some confusion. The message requested workers to reply with five examples of their recent activities without disclosing classified information. In a post on X, Musk indicated that failure to respond would be interpreted as a resignation. However, several agencies advised employees to disregard this request, diverging from Musk’s directive. During a White House briefing on Tuesday, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that agency heads had the discretion to interpret Musk’s ultimatum.

The following day, at the cabinet meeting with Musk, Trump contradicted Leavitt and other Cabinet members, suggesting that federal workers who hadn’t responded to the email “are on the bubble, as they say; maybe they’re going to be gone.”

A federal employee from the Veterans Health Administration, who spoke to TIME on the condition of anonymity, expressed that he and his colleagues have experienced significant stress due to the administration’s “inconsistency.” He characterized Musk’s recent directive as yet another attempt by the administration “to intimidate the federal workforce and make their lives miserable in hopes they’ll quit.”

Moreover, Trump has also contradicted his own White House regarding Musk’s position in the administration, asserting that Musk is in charge of DOGE. In an earlier court filing, however, the White House stated that Musk serves as a senior adviser to the President and has no authority over DOGE nor is he an employee of that program.