In recent years, political narratives have been shaped by contrasting policies and statements from different administrations. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under President Biden provided temporary housing solutions to North Carolinians displaced by Hurricane Helene. Meanwhile, the Trump administration's approach to social media took center stage when Executive Order 13942 sought to ban TikTok, only for a subsequent executive order in 2024 to pause the ban. The Biden administration has also faced criticism for its handling of displacement and immigration policies.
The Animal Health Protection Act of 2002 empowers the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to depopulate herds and flocks to curb disease spread. This authority was exercised during a bird flu outbreak in March 2017, when nearly 253,000 birds were culled. USDA data shows that since 2022, 108 million egg-laying chickens have died, contributing to a notable chicken and egg supply shortage.
Former President Donald Trump has been vocal about various policies, particularly regarding hiring practices and social media platforms. In 2018, Trump eliminated the biographical assessment used in hiring air traffic controllers, a move not reinstated by the Biden administration.
"I changed the Obama policy (on hiring air traffic controllers) … And then Biden came in and he changed it." – Donald Trump
This hiring assessment was initially introduced by the Obama administration in 2014, focusing on biographical information such as work and education experience rather than race.
Temporary housing solutions provided by FEMA have also sparked debate. Congress allocated funds to FEMA's Shelter and Services Program, aiding state and local governments and nonprofits in providing temporary shelter, food, and transportation for migrants. However, households lose eligibility if they miss inspections, their homes are deemed habitable, or they voluntarily check out of temporary housing.
"Any sheltering option is, by design, a temporary, short-term solution, designed to be a bridge to middle and longer-term solutions," – Brock Long
Despite these efforts, allegations arose from former President Trump regarding mismanagement of FEMA funds.
"$1 billion was stolen from FEMA to use it for illegal migrants. … And FEMA is now busted. They don’t have any money." – Donald Trump
"The Biden administration kicked 2,000 displaced North Carolinians out of their temporary housing into freezing 20-degree weather," – Donald Trump
Another contentious issue is the provision of healthcare within prisons. During Trump's tenure, the Bureau of Prisons issued a Transgender Offender Manual referring to hormone or other medical treatments but not explicitly mentioning surgery. In contrast, a 2018 Justice Department budget memo highlighted the statutory mandate to provide necessary medical care to inmates, including surgery as part of treatment for transgender offenders.
"Harris ‘supports taxpayer-funded sex changes for prisoners and illegal aliens’." – Donald Trump
Animal health policies have also been scrutinized under the Biden administration. The USDA's bird flu response plan updated in May 2017 incorporated strategies from past outbreaks during the Obama era. Nevertheless, mass depopulation of chickens has led to criticisms regarding its impact on food supply.
"The Biden administration and the US Agriculture Department ‘directed the mass killing of more than 100 million chickens, which has led to a lack of chicken supply in this country, therefore a lack of egg supply, which is leading to the shortage’." – Karoline Leavitt
Trump's stance on technology platforms like TikTok diverges from his previous actions. Initially signing an executive order to ban TikTok in 2020 due to security concerns, he later issued another order in 2024 to pause this ban temporarily.
"We love TikTok. I’m going to save TikTok. Biden wants to get rid of TikTok." – Donald Trump
These policy shifts underscore the complexities and contradictions inherent in political decision-making. Each administration's approach reflects its priorities and responses to evolving challenges.
