Moving from excuses to action in 1 year

In just 12 months, the Trump administration has delivered real results that Americans can see in their daily lives by restoring law and order at our border, reining in a runaway federal government, and reaffirming a simple but essential principle: This nation belongs to its citizens, and its leaders are accountable to them.

Probably the clearest example of this leadership is the southern border. For years, Americans were told by the Biden administration nothing could be done without Congress passing a new law. That excuse has now been fully exposed. We did not need new laws; we needed a president willing to act.

I saw firsthand the consequences of inaction when I visited the border in January 2024. What I witnessed was a system in collapse. Large stretches were effectively wide open. I could literally see people walking across the shallow areas of the Rio Grande River and into the United States, unimpeded. Border patrol agents were overwhelmed. Communities were strained. The message being sent to the world was unmistakable: Come now, and you will likely get in.

Today, that message has been reversed. Under President Trump’s leadership, illegal crossings have plummeted in many sectors. The border is no longer treated as a suggestion, but as a sovereign boundary. The difference is simple. The Biden administration chose to look the other way and then blamed Congress. President Trump chose to enforce the law. The result has been immediate, measurable, and historic. Border security is not just about stopping illegal entry; it is about protecting our communities. That is why President Trump has directed federal law enforcement to focus on removing criminal illegal aliens. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has increased enforcement actions nationwide, targeting offenders who have already demonstrated contempt for our laws.

Here in Alabama, ICE recently worked alongside the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office to detain 14 illegal aliens, 12 of whom had prior criminal offenses for serious crimes. That is exactly the kind of coordinated enforcement effort Americans expect and deserve.

Restoring the rule of law at the border and within our communities is essential to ensuring families can once again feel safe in their neighborhoods. A country that cannot control its borders cannot control its future.

Just as importantly, Trump and congressional Republicans have renewed their commitment to putting taxpayers first and restoring fiscal discipline.

The One Big Beautiful Bill reflects that effort and shows what can happen when the White House and Congress work together to deliver real solutions.

I fought to include priorities that directly benefit hardworking families, including a strong child tax credit and support for rural hospitals. Those provisions matter. They help parents keep more of what they earn and ensure that families in rural communities can continue to access care close to home.

I can’t talk about Trump’s first year in office without also mentioning United States Space Command. As you are aware, Redstone Arsenal was selected as the permanent home of Space Command based on merit. Its temporary location in Colorado Springs, Colorado, didn’t even finish second, third, or fourth in the evaluation process. Nevertheless, President Biden reversed the decision for purely political reasons. President Trump restored Space Command to where it rightfully belongs, and I was proud to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in December.

The contrast after one year is undeniable. We have moved from excuses to action, from chaos to order, and from a Washington that too often protects itself into a government that is being forced to answer to the American people again.

Robert Aderholt is a U.S. representative who has represented Alabama’s fourth congressional district since 1997.