American Power Architecture in Motion: From the Courts to the Senate

Washington, May 2025. The political barometer in the U.S. has once again stalled at “storm”: institutions resist, leaders escalate their rhetoric, and old mechanisms change under pressure — in plain sight and without any official overhaul. The Trump administration is actively promoting an ambitious restructuring while facing counter-pressure from the courts, Congress, and even individual states. Over the past three days, the country has witnessed at least thirteen significant events — each illustrating the depth of ongoing shifts.

One of the central issues was the conflict between the executive branch and the judiciary. On May 22, federal judge Susan Illston blocked a massive plan for mass layoffs across more than twenty federal agencies, citing procedural violations and the absence of labor rights guarantees. The ruling became a serious obstacle for the White House’s initiative to reduce bureaucracy, proposed as part of a new “administrative revolution.”

The next day, on May 23, another court — this time in Boston — suspended an attempt to dissolve the U.S. Department of Education. Judge Myong Joon ruled that the administration had no authority to eliminate an entire federal agency without Congressional approval. In this way, the courts once again demonstrated their role in the system of checks and balances — the very concept that often resurfaces ahead of turbulent elections.

Laws, Taxes, and States: How Everyday America Is Being Reformed

Alongside judicial blocks, Washington is brimming with legislative activity. One of the more unexpected moves was the repeal of the federal tax on tips. On May 22, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the “No Tax on Tips Act”, which exempts up to $25,000 in tips from taxation for low- and middle-income workers. The move was welcomed by the hospitality industry, but experts warn of a potential decline in federal revenues.

At the state level, equally important shifts are unfolding. Florida, consistent with its culturally conservative line, has approved restrictions on references to gender identity and sexual orientation in school documents — from early grades through graduation. Opponents call this a direct attack on LGBTQ students, while supporters describe it as “protecting children from ideology.”

Meanwhile, in Texas, a proposed law to increase firearm control was blocked. The state legislature advanced a bill prohibiting the adoption of “red flag” measures, which would allow temporary confiscation of firearms from potentially dangerous individuals. This decision became yet another example of the disconnect between federal policy and the interests of conservative states.

The immigration issue has also returned to the spotlight. On May 23, a federal court in New York suspended implementation of a new administrative order authorizing the deportation of undocumented immigrants under the Alien Enemies Act — a law dating back to World War I. The judges ruled the measures excessive and insufficiently justified.

Trump’s Campaign: Money, Rhetoric, and an “All or Nothing” Agenda

While the courts are restraining executive authority, Donald Trump is expanding his electoral campaign — and doing so in grand fashion. On May 23, the Times of India reported that the former president had already raised $600 million for his campaign and was aiming for the symbolic $1 billion milestone. These funds enable his campaign to dominate media coverage and deploy one of the largest networks of activists and legal consultants in the history of Republican politics.

But it’s not just financial firepower shaping the contours of the upcoming election. Trump is increasingly resorting to provocative rhetoric. On May 23, Daily Sabah published a piece in which he accused the South African government of committing so-called “white genocide”, repeating a long-debunked myth popular in far-right circles. The remark triggered a backlash from South Africa’s foreign ministry and human rights organizations.

That same day, US News and Axios highlighted another element of Trump’s messaging. In a series of interviews and public appearances, he continued to make provocative statements, including promises to “run the country and the world” and “rewrite U.S. history” if elected. These “showstopper quotes” have become a hallmark of his public style — turning each appearance into a media spectacle, but also raising concerns among moderate voters and party insiders.

Digital Government: From Taxes to Artificial Intelligence

While political rhetoric and legal battles dominate headlines, U.S. federal agencies continue to implement technological reforms that could significantly transform how citizens interact with the state.

In 2025, the Direct File program, originally announced in May 2024, entered its full-scale rollout. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) expanded access to this digital platform for filing taxes directly, making it available to millions of Americans across the country. The measure faced fierce opposition from commercial companies like TurboTax, but the government insists: a state-run service must be simple, secure, and accessible to all. Today, Direct File has effectively become the new standard for taxpayer interaction — for the first time in U.S. history.

The educational strategy around artificial intelligence also reached a new milestone. Initially launched in 2024 under the Biden administration, the federal initiative to introduce AI literacy into schools and universities gained new momentum in April 2025, when the Trump administration signed an updated executive order. The order expanded the program’s scope, launching a presidential AI competition and establishing partnerships with private tech firms. Thus, a project initiated by the previous administration has become one of the rare cases of constructive continuity in American politics — and in a field that will define the future.

Finally, Congress has once again turned its attention to Meta (the parent company of Facebook and Instagram). After thousands of fake accounts aimed at influencing the 2024 elections were discovered, a group of senators sent a formal request to Meta, demanding an explanation of what measures were taken to counter the interference. Under pressure from lawmakers, the company blocked several coordinated networks — but the debate over regulation is far from over.

Internal Circuit: A Test of Resilience

If the courts act as a brake, and the states as testing grounds for ideological experiments, then federal institutions appear to be operating in crisis-management mode. Tax reform, pressure on digital giants, and the attempt to take the lead in AI all suggest that the deep state — not in the conspiratorial, but in the institutional sense — is trying to rethink its role.

And yet, no matter how determined the reformers and judges may be, the decisive factor remains political mobilization. If the American architecture of power is to withstand today’s pressure, it won’t be through slogans, but through institutional resilience — and through the choice that citizens will soon be called upon to make.