Smart, structured change would be better

I wanted to shout out “You asked for it. Now live with it.” but I’m past that emotional response now. I am distressed at President Trump’s use of executive orders and the hiring of Mr. Musk. A scalpel rather than a meat ax would have minimized the destructive results as he reduces the number of skilled managers and experienced staff that keep the paperwork flowing.

I look at the incompetency of Mr. Trump’s newly appointed cabinet members and their performance so far and am convinced that none demonstrate understanding of the departments they are charged with running. Some have been told to shut their department down regardless of the good things accomplished. Others are run by appointees who have little experience in the complexities of their organizations or the interactions between them and their counterparts in allied countries.

Mr. Trump promised us that he was going to reduce costs and inflation “on Day One.” But, on Day Two, he announced that there would be a time of adjustment while he began implementing tariffs on goods provided by all our best friends. Of course, these friends have now begun feeling like this longtime ally has become an adversary, raising the cost of products all around the world.

I get that Mr. Trump thinks that the country is not being well run, and that it needs to be revamped. However, there could be a smart, structured way to conduct revamping — but that’s not the Trump way. Hopefully those who elected him will feel enough pain prior to the 2026 mid-term congressional elections to swing Congress and disable him before he can do much more damage. This will resolve my distress over Republican congressional members who have been cowed by President Trump for fear of their own political futures.

Allan Ayers

Mundelein