During Donald Trump’s presidency, he frequently sought to increase the rent for at least 4 million of the nation’s poorest citizens, many of whom were elderly or disabled. Additionally, he aimed to reduce federal disability benefits for a quarter-million low-income children because another family member was already receiving such benefits. Trump also proposed that poor parents comply with child support enforcement, which included single mothers revealing intimate details about their families, before accessing food assistance.
Trump’s administration attempted to introduce a rule enabling employers to keep workers’ tips and enacted a regulation that denied overtime pay to millions of low-wage workers earning more than $35,568 annually. Throughout their campaign, Trump and vice-presidential candidate JD Vance pledged to prioritize the working class, vowing to defend ordinary Americans against an influx of immigrant labor, bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S., support rural communities and families with children, and challenge the elites.
Critics have highlighted Project 2025, which outlines potential plans for a second Trump presidency that could involve significant reductions to the social safety net for low-income families while providing substantial tax relief for the wealthy. However, Trump has stated that this project does not represent his views. His tenure as president included attempts to implement policies that would cut essential programs and protections for lower-income Americans.
ProPublica examined Trump’s proposed budgets from 2018 to 2021 and his administration’s regulatory attempts through various government agencies. Their investigation revealed an agenda focused on reducing health care, food, and housing programs, as well as labor protections for poor and working-class individuals.
Despite having control of both the House and Senate during his first two years, Trump’s administration primarily used budget reconciliation opportunities to implement tax cuts for the wealthy and attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act. By 2019, there was limited time to develop and implement new regulations due to the lengthy federal rulemaking process and potential legal challenges.
Reports suggest Trump and his supporters plan to avoid previous mistakes if he secures the presidency again, with intentions to combine tax cuts with cuts to social spending and propose new regulations earlier. If he reverts to his first-term policies, initiatives may include cuts to programs such as the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Pell grants, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Trump also sought to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, an effort that has increased the number of uninsured Americans during his term. Current President Joe Biden has since reversed many of these changes, but Trump could reverse them again if given the opportunity.
Trump’s administration aimed to reduce nonpolitical federal employees, described as the “Deep State,” which would negatively impact assistance programs for poorer communities. Trump campaign representatives did not address questions about whether his second-term agenda would vary from his first but emphasized his commitment to protecting Social Security and Medicare.
The Trump campaign has hinted at a pro-worker policy to eliminate taxes on tips. However, opponents argue that increased federal spending on safety net programs is necessary, as some communities have continued to support Trump despite relying on the programs his proposed policies threaten to cut.
ProPublica poses whether Trump, if reelected, would uphold Biden’s policies aimed at ensuring fair IRS audits and welfare reforms targeted at genuinely assisting low-income families. These critical issues haven’t received extensive coverage in the campaign, as discussions often center around middle-class matters.
