What to Do Before the Trump Administration Takes Office in January

Nearly four years after he left office amid a violent burst, Donald Trump has been reelected and will become the next president of the United States. For many marginalized people, a second Trump administration, which begins in January, is a looming threat. During Trump's first stint in office, we watched as he rolled back LGBTQ+ protections, put Supreme Court justices in place who removed the federal right to abortion (which has resulted in deaths), enacted a “Muslim ban” that resulted in Islamophobic violence, and much more.

During Trump's campaign for a second term, he promised similarly draconian measures. He plans to deport millions of people starting on his first day in office, end gender-affirming care for trans youth, deeply change federal oversight agencies like the FDA, and much more.

With the past and his promises for the future in mind, people are preparing for Trump's second term, attempting to guard themselves against a potential erosion of rights. Here's what people are doing, and steps you might consider taking if it feels helpful:

Get a passport

If you don't have a passport, get one; if yours is expiring, renew it now. This step is less about the ability to travel (though that's also handy) than it is about having accurate identification and avoiding hassles that may arise come January. For trans or nonbinary people, getting a passport that reflects your gender is particularly crucial. Trump has signaled that his administration will not be particularly friendly to trans people, so many are updating their identity documents now, in case the new Trump administration eliminates that option.

Update all of your identifying documents

Don't stop at your passport. Journalist Erin Reed advises trans people to update all documents with their accurate gender marker now, including state IDs and your social security gender marker. Having these documents can reduce the risk of violence for trans people and allows them access to public spaces that require identification. How and to what extent you can change your gender marker on documents varies by state; see a map of state laws here.

Beyond making sure your documents accurately reflect your identity, it's a good idea to make sure your documents are also up to date and in good standing. For non-citizen immigrants, that might mean renewing your DACA status, particularly if it expires in the next year.

Beyond making sure your documents accurately reflect your identity, it's also a good idea to make sure your documents are also up-to-date and in good standing. For non-citizen immigrants, that might mean renewing your DACA status, particularly if it expires in the next year.

Get birth control

Trump has denied that he would sign a national abortion ban, but many experts fear his administration may effectively ban abortion in other ways. And Trump has flip-flopped on his stance toward birth control access, saying he's open to restricting it before walking his statements back. With all that in mind, people are searching for information on emergency contraceptives, getting an IUD, and taking other measures to ensure they have access to birth control for the next four years.

Depending on what kind of IUD you get, they can last as many as eight years, making them a safe and effective long-term birth control option. People have indicated on social media that they're also stockpiling the morning after pill, but it's worth noting that this option is not foolproof and can carry some risks. According to Planned Parenthood, levonorgestrel pills like Plan B that are available over the counter reduce the chance of pregnancy by 75 to 89% if taken within three days after unprotected sex. Also, these kinds of pills may not work if you weigh more than 165 pounds. The morning after pill Ella can work for people who weigh up to 195 pounds, but you need a prescription to access it. Click here for a Planned Parenthood guide to help you figure out what kind of morning after pill is best for you

Talk to your doctor

Before anti-vaxxer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is allowed to “go wild on health,” it's a good time to go see your care providers for checkups or outstanding medical needs. According to the Washington Post, Kennedy is “poised to have significant control over health and food safety” in the Trump administration, and is being considered to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, according to CBS News (though he may face challenges in Congressional approval).

It's not clear what influence Kennedy will have and how he will use it, but Kennedy has a long history of spreading anti-vaccine misinformation, and he and Trump have made conflicting statements about their stance on vaccine availability and approval. He's also indicated that he would clear out “entire departments” at agencies like the FDA, according to NBC News. While Kennedy has said he won't take vaccines away, Project 2025 calls for the end of vaccine recommendations from the CDC, and the Washington Post reported that Kennedy could influence how vaccines are approved and who is recommended to receive them.

But if you're one of the millions of Americans who is insured under the Affordable Care Act via American Rescue Act subsidies, none of that matters. According to NBC News, an estimated four million people will lose access to health insurance if Trump doesn't renew the act, which he's reportedly signaled he won't. Whether you stand to lose your insurance or not, it may be a good idea to talk to your doctor about your health care needs before another Trump presidency takes effect. While you're at it, consider brushing up on how to protect your privacy when seeking health care, particularly abortion.

Build community

In the face of any challenge, community is crucial. This will be particularly true in the coming years when resources like health care access may change or we experience an erosion of rights. If you don't have a robust community right now, don't worry — it's totally possible to build one. You can seek friends in third spaces, where you can foster social connections just for support and good vibes; you can find like-minded online communities; you can tap into mutual aid efforts; join volunteer efforts in your town or city, where you can meet others and help your community members. Building community doesn't mean you need to have a million friends you talk to every day, it simply means you know where to turn when you need to — whether that's a crisis hotline or the Ravelry message boards.

Brush up on your media literacy

Trump's first presidency delivered us a fractured relationship with the truth, offering space for conspiracy theories and mis- and disinformation to take hold. Ahead of his second stint in office, some have said misinformation handed Trump the presidency, and predicted that our access to reliable, evidence-based information will erode further over the next four years — particularly on social media platforms like X. That means it's more important than ever to be a savvy, discerning media consumer. Organizations like the News Literacy Project and Media Literacy Now offer resources that you can use to arm yourself against misinformation.

Do not panic

Given Trump's promises to make his next term more extreme than his last, it's easy to freak out and feel powerless. We have two months before Trump takes office, though, so rather than panic, now is the time to prepare. Take a deep breath, allow yourself to process your feelings, then get to work.