As we speak, the Trump administration is abandoning principles of democracy and dismantling the rule of law. The willful destruction of the federal science apparatus is but one harmful and onerous aspect of this all-out assault.
Authoritarian regimes have one overarching goal: maintain power at any cost. They do so using tactics common to authoritarian regimes throughout history—tactics that simultaneously serve to advance the regime’s agenda and ideology while blocking avenues of dissent and accountability. We know from other countries and historical contexts that authoritarians often target the intellectual class, elevating loyalists, while suppressing or sidelining anyone that might have the knowledge, expertise, or power to challenge government transgressions.
As the director of the Center for Science and Democracy at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), I see the rise of authoritarian actions and the democratic backsliding in the country as one of the greatest threats we have faced in our lifetime.
The hallmarks of authoritarianism are on full display right now in the United States, put into action by Trump and his collaborators. We at UCS see and recognize these tactics for what they are – and we are actively working to counter them. For more than 50 years, UCS has stood for truth; our values include courage, integrity, democracy and action. We will continue to fight for a healthy, safe, and just future, especially in this moment when that future is in grave danger.
Political scientists, historians, and other experts have clearly documented the hallmarks of authoritarian regimes throughout history. They recognize that authoritarian takeovers do not happen overnight and democracies are eroded as they are chipped away a piece at a time. Below are some of key authoritarian tactics that my colleagues and I are monitoring, their implications, and how we are standing up for democracy, science, and truth during this crucial moment in American history.
Control information and suppress dissent
An authoritarian regime strives to control the public narrative—and to suppress facts, evidence, and information that threaten its power or agenda. This includes attacking and punishing individuals and institutions who speak out against the regime or produce and share information that undermines it. It also includes flooding the information environment with lies and disinformation that supports or advances the regime’s narrative and agenda.
At UCS, we are tracking and documenting how the president and his appointees are using this tactic. The Trump administration has fired scientists who stand up for the truth, pushed sham “climate science” that advances the agenda of their fossil fuel and billionaire backers, and used policy to elevate disinformation, including Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy’s quackery and the MAHA threat to public health.
Curtail civil rights
As part of its efforts to suppress dissent, an authoritarian regime works to erode and curtail civil rights such as freedom of speech, due process, and freedom of assembly. The means by which this is done have varied throughout history, but the end goal is the same.
In a healthy democracy, dissent and disagreement with the government carries no risk or penalty. Under an authoritarian regime, however, dissent has cost, risk, and consequences—just ask EPA staff, university professors, or anyone who fears retaliation for exercising their right of free speech.
The Trump administration has weakened the press through lawsuits, canceled funding, and bullied and banned journalists from the White House. They’ve worked to put their allies in control of major media and tech platforms. The Trump administration has also targeted student activism, attacked civil society organizations, and threatened nonprofits.
Centralize power, eliminate checks and balances
An authoritarian regime works to consolidate power and eliminate or reduce the power of those who could stop or hold it accountable for its actions. This typically includes efforts to undermine the power of Congressional bodies and the judicial system.
President Trump —and, more specifically, his collaborators like Stephen Miller and Russell Vought—have pursued and deployed this tactic in a variety of ways, including firing inspectors general, claiming and acting on powers not granted by the US Constitution, and successfully pressuring Congress to abdicate its Constitutional powers on spending and oversight.
They have weakened the civil service that works for all Americans, stacked the government with billionaires and corporate cronies, pushed out career experts to replace them with political loyalists under Schedule Policy/Career and placed political appointees in charge of science and research grants.
Disregard the rule of law
Abiding by the established rule of law is a cornerstone of democracy. Acting above the rule of law is a hallmark of authoritarian regimes.
The Trump administration has regularly ignored legal requirements and defied the rules and guardrails meant to hold them accountable. They have flouted, ignored, or delayed acting on court decisions that run counter to their agenda and actions.
The president has disregarded the federal government’s legal responsibility to provide the public with opportunity to comment on federal rules and policies that are being developed, enacted, or rolled back, as UCS documented in its recent report, Access Denied.
Frighteningly, this defiance of law includes ignoring a court’s order to halt the deportation of a legal US resident and attacking free speech of anyone who disagrees with the administration. Trump officials have claimed authority to defy Congressional appropriations and spend taxpayer money according to their “priorities” rather than the presidency is required by the Constitution to faithfully execute.
President Trump is using the Department of Justice to prosecute his perceived political enemies. Under this administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has become the highest funded federal law enforcement agency; it bears all the indications of a secret police or paramilitary force—another tool of authoritarian regimes.
Divide the country between “us” and “them”
An authoritarian regime works to foster division in society and dehumanize its opponents, often by stoking hate against them. We know from other countries, that fear of “the other” and anxiety about the future are key tactics to unite a coalition of supporters and then enact authoritarian tactics.
The Trump administration is dividing the country with extreme rhetoric that scapegoats immigrants, “outsiders,” Black people, women, disabled people, transgender people, political opponents, and many others so as to create a fictional world of enemies. President Trump’s policies have punished “blue” states where he lost the election and rewarded “red” states where the majority of voters supported him. He admitted to using the October 2025 government shutdown as a “weapon against blue America,” furthering hate and mistrust across the country.
The president has weaponized racism that maligns Black and Brown communities as the danger and creates a false narrative of lawlessness to justify deploying the National Guard under the pretense that only he can restore safety to US cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and Portland. He has been candid that he “couldn’t care less” about mending the political divide in the country. Rather, he has sought to recast the past by removing enslaved history from national parks and publicly extorted colleges and universities by threatening to block federal grants if they do not adopt his conservative and divisive agenda.
Target and discriminate against vulnerable communities
In addition to scapegoating, authoritarian regimes target and discriminate against vulnerable communities. They use this tactic to sow division and claim a false broad mandate for a traditional dominant majority group when they have none.
The Secretary of Defense has railed against diversity and the administration has targeted intersex (people born with sex characteristics that fall outside of the male/female binary) and gender non-conforming people (transgender and non-binary people), as well as gender-affirming care.
The Trump administration has entrenched white male supremacy in their people and policies while simultaneously attacking diversity, equity, and inclusion and dismantling environmental justice protections for Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities. The Trump administration has stripped away protections of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and deported citizens and others without due process.
Undermine free and fair elections
Authoritarian regimes undermine and tilt the electoral system in their favor to keep themselves in power. As President Trump has done, authoritarian regimes often claim the system is rigged before an election, cast doubt on elections, and refuse to accept the results.
President Trump and his allies are seeking to shape the rules and circumstances of elections to benefit themselves. The Trump administration has abandoned voting rights cases and elevated debunked voting conspiracy theories. President Trump has threatened to end mail-in voting and require proof of citizenship requirements (i.e. “show me your papers”) that would disenfranchise millions of voters, especially young, lower-income, and people of color. He has called to arrest democratically-elected leaders and dismantled efforts to prevent election interference. The administration’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has demanded voter file lists from at least 27 states and the administration has targeted election officials and civil society groups. Trump sought to illegally impose the national guard in Los Angeles through election day.
Republican-led legislatures, such as North Carolina, have grabbed power at the state level and changed election administration in their favor. Texas is aggressively redistricting in advance of the 2026 midterms to add Republican seats to Congress and Trump has urged more states to redraw their congressional maps for partisan gain.
Knowledge is power
Authoritarian regimes seek to make people feel like they are powerless and that change can only come from the top. However, history teaches us that authoritarian regimes are stopped by the people. Knowledge is foundational to action. Being able to recognize what’s happening for what it is—and sharing this knowledge with others—is step one for any successful resistance movement. So spread the word. Build solidarity. And together we will meet this pivotal moment in history.