The Trump administration is considering broad new travel restrictions that could impact citizens from 41 countries, according to sources and an internal memo seen by Reuters. The proposed ban, still awaiting final approval, would fully suspend visas for 10 countries, partially restrict visas for five others, and impose conditional restrictions on 26 more nations if they fail to meet U.S. security demands within 60 days.
New Travel Ban Under Consideration
According to the memo, Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba, and North Korea are among the 10 countries facing a total visa suspension. A second group, including Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, and South Sudan, would see restrictions on tourist, student, and other immigrant visas, with some exceptions. The third category features 26 nations—including Belarus, Pakistan, and Turkmenistan—which could face suspensions unless their governments address U.S. security concerns.
A U.S. official, speaking anonymously, stressed that the list is subject to change and has not yet been approved by the administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The New York Times first reported on the list of countries, noting its similarity to Trump’s 2017 travel ban on seven majority-Muslim nations, which was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018 after several legal challenges.
The potential restrictions follow an executive order signed by Trump on January 20, directing intensified security vetting for foreign travelers and mandating a report by March 21 recommending which countries should face partial or full travel suspensions due to deficient screening procedures.
During his 2023 campaign, Trump pledged to tighten immigration policies further, vowing to block entry from countries he deemed national security risks, including Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, and Gaza.
Federal Layoffs and Budget Cuts Continue
Meanwhile, the Trump administration is pressing ahead with mass layoffs and sweeping budget cuts, despite federal court rulings ordering the reinstatement of thousands of dismissed workers.
Vice President J.D. Vance acknowledged that mistakes had been made during the downsizing effort, which began immediately after Trump’s second inauguration.
Federal agencies were given a deadline to submit large-scale reorganization plans, as part of Trump’s vision to reshape the federal bureaucracy. The administration has largely entrusted this effort to Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
So far, DOGE’s plans have resulted in:
- Over 100,000 job cuts from the federal workforce
- Foreign aid freezes
- Cancellation of thousands of government programs and contracts
The rapid cuts have led to critical missteps, with key personnel—including nuclear stockpile overseers and infectious disease experts working on bird flu—being fired and later recalled.
Financial markets have also been rattled by Trump’s trade war policies, causing stock markets to plummet by $5 trillion over the past two weeks. However, markets rebounded slightly on Friday.
Legal Challenges to the Layoffs
On Thursday, federal courts in California and Maryland ruled that some agencies must reinstate thousands of dismissed employees, prompting fierce pushback from the White House.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called the rulings “unconstitutional”, stating that a “low-level district judge” should not have the power to override the president’s executive authority.
Trump has already appealed the California ruling and instructed agencies to continue preparing for large-scale layoffs.
Despite the controversy, Vice President Vance defended Musk’s approach, saying: “Elon himself has said that sometimes you make a mistake, and then you undo it. I’m accepting of mistakes.”
Trump’s second term has so far been defined by aggressive immigration restrictions, deep government cuts, and ongoing legal battles, with both domestic and international implications.
