Policy Analysis — Student Opinions

The Trump Administration’s “Brain Drain” and Attack on the Federal Workforce

The size of the federal government has long been a hallmark of conservative political talking points and anger. However, federal employment actually increased under George W. Bush and during President Donald Trump’s first term, even if slightly. But Trump’s second administration has taken a different turn, shedding about 323,000 jobs from the federal government’s payroll in just one year, including many expert and vital employees. Additionally, the Trump administration has stripped many federal employees of their collective bargaining rights.

Policy AnalysisAshland RossMarch 23, 2026Jacob Nolan, AY 2025-2026

Are National Guard deployments worth it?

As National Guard deployments quietly packed up and left in Chicago, Portland, and Los Angeles, they left an undoubtedly controversial wake behind them. Many of the residents they were there to protect—alongside Americans around the country—are wondering the same thing: was it worth it?

Policy AnalysisAshland RossMarch 6, 2026Lucas Hayden, AY 2025-2026

It is time to start paying attention to tariffs

If you ask the average American what, in their view, the government’s biggest priority should be, you can expect to get a plethora of responses—but it is not likely that tariffs would be frequently mentioned. Yet the outcome of the case over President Donald Trump’s authority to levy tariffs on the grounds of national emergencies, currently in the Supreme Court, will have incredibly far reaching effects for the country—far beyond trade policy.

Student Opinion

Read the thoughts and political insights of Georgetown’s student body