"If we don’t have Free Speech, then we just don’t have a Free Country. It’s as simple as that,” President Donald Trump stated during his campaign, previewing his Administration's commitment to protecting free expression. On January 20, the first day of his new term, President Trump issued an Executive Order titled "Restoring Freedom of Speech and Ending Federal Censorship" (Free Speech EO). This order reiterates existing law prohibiting federal government censorship but aims to enhance protections for legal speech.
However, since signing this order, the Administration has taken actions perceived as contradictory. In recent weeks, it has moved to censor or suppress speech it disfavors both online and offline. Additionally, actions undermining tools of free expression have been observed despite aligning with foreign policy objectives against authoritarianism.
On January 20, alongside the Free Speech EO, President Trump issued another executive order titled "Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid." According to the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), this impacts global free expression by undermining programs supporting privacy-enhancing technologies and internet freedom. The move is seen as benefiting adversaries like China and Russia.
Following this on January 22, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reinstated complaints against broadcasters ABC, CBS, and NBC regarding their coverage of the 2024 election. These complaints alleged bias in fact-checking presidential debates and other election-related coverage. The previous FCC chair had dismissed such complaints as contrary to the First Amendment.
The FCC's actions appear part of a trend investigating news organizations such as NPR and PBS over alleged sponsorship rule violations and KCBS in San Francisco for reporting on ICE officers' locations. Even if investigations close without action, they may deter press coverage disfavored by the Administration.
On January 27, seven days post-Free Speech EO issuance, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released a memo titled "Temporary Pause of Agency Grant, Loan, and Other Financial Assistance Programs." This purported pause aimed at reviewing alignment with Administration priorities could impact speech about diversity in education or climate change advocacy. A court injunction currently blocks its implementation due to constitutional challenges.
Additional executive orders from the Administration enforce positions limiting gender identity recognition on federal documents and restricting educational content related to historical discrimination in schools.
In another move under anti-Semitism efforts, President Trump threatened non-citizen college students protesting Israel’s war in Gaza with deportation: “To all resident aliens who joined in pro-jihadist protests...we will find you...and deport you.” Critics argue this contradicts commitments to free speech rights under the First Amendment.
Government agency staff face lists of banned words restricting basic expression among researchers or employees; these include prohibitions on displaying images featuring women or people of color along with terms like “diversity” or “integrity.” Agencies are reportedly censoring related content internally while scouring research grants for restricted language use.
These developments seemingly contradict President Trump's executive order advocating a Free Speech agenda by punishing dissenting voices through governmental power usage—raising concerns over constitutionally protected freedoms domestically and globally.
