20 Things Republicans Would Like to Ban if Given a Chance

Moderate Republicans and Democrats are nowhere to be seen. Instead, two opposites are running the U.S.: the far right and the far left. What would Republicans change if they had all the power? Here are 20 of the most talked-about topics, from a federal abortion ban and no gun restrictions to arts, books, and even cutting or privatizing social security.

1. Abolish DEI policies

Last year’s SCOTUS ruling on affirmative action in college admission was just the beginning. There is no hiding that Republicans are eager to eliminate DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion), and former president Trump promised to “eliminate all diversity, equity, and inclusion programs across the entire federal government” and “direct the [Department of Justice] to pursue civil rights claims against any school, corporation or university that engages in unlawful racial discrimination.”

The fight against DEI would have consequences for qualified women, Black, Latino, LGBTQ+, and people with disabilities.

2. Fewer gun regulations

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Republicans believe that the 2nd amendment has no boundaries, but it is not like they are pretending that mass shootings are not a significant problem. However, instead of sticker gun laws, most promote fewer restrictions and more guns. One example is that around 74% of GOP voters would allow teachers and school officials to carry guns in 12 schools to fight school shootings.

Republicans and Democrats agreed they would like to restrict gun access to those with mental illnesses. In other cases, the majority of Republicans will argue there are “good guys with guns” who will save the day.

3. Federal abortion ban

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Most vocal House Republicans are against abortions and pro-guns. Almost all presidential hopefuls in the 2024 race spoke in support of a national abortion ban, and some, like Pence and DeSantis, suggested a six-week ban. Others, like Haley and Trump, expressed they are pro-federal abortion ban. Scott supports a 15-week ban, though he praised South Carolina’s six-week ban.

4. Defunding sanctuary cities

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In April 2023, several GOP Senators and representatives introduced legislation that would defund sanctuary cities, with Senator Tillis pointing out that “reckless sanctuary policies” have allowed dangerous criminals back into communities. The Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act would first defund, though it is no secret that the GOP would love to eliminate this status from all U.S. cities.

5. Dropping climate change regulations

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Many liberal and moderate Republicans are worried about the environment. However, the number of those who doubt or even entirely reject climate change is troubling. The Trump administration focused on rolling back actions intended to address climate change.

For one, the Trump administration replaced the Clean Power Plan and exited the Paris Climate Agreement. It should come as no surprise since, in 2012, Trump posted on then-Twitter, “The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive.”

6. Cutting gender-affirmative care

Last year brought us the highest-ever number of proposals that would affect trans and non-binary people. Gender affirmative care has been cut off for 36 percent of trans minors, and reports claim that the end goal would be banning it for adults as well.

President of the American Principles Project, Terry Schilling, spoke to the New York Times in January 2023 and “confirmed that his organization’s long-term goal was to eliminate transition care.” Considering that trans and nonbinary individuals of all ages are more likely to struggle with mental health issues, banning gender-affirmative care would come with severe consequences.

7. Book banning

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Florida is an example of what many Republicans believe to be a safe haven for all children. Most of the banned books deal with LGBTQ+-related content or themes of race or racism. Some are also related to science, climate change, and evolution. Historically, book bans never signaled anything good, but if most Republicans had it their way, even Anne Frank’s diary would be under consideration.

In April 2023, a high school in Florida removed a graphic novel based on the diary of Anne Frank.

8. War on sex education

The so-called “Don’t Say Period” bill in Florida bans instruction on human sexuality, STD, and other connected subjects, including menstruation, before sixth grade. The issue is that many girls start their periods way earlier, in third or fourth grade.

Numerous researchers also found that comprehensive sex education reduces teen pregnancies by 7 percent, which should be helpful if someone aims to ban abortions. Though many argue it is to protect children’s innocence, the studies revealed that over 50 percent of high school seniors practice sex, with or without sex ed.

9. Banning CRT

Critical race theory, or CRT, is under attack. Opponents argue that CRT teaches that all White people are oppressors and all Black people are victims. Governor DeSantis, Abbott, and Youngkin are among the most known opposers of CBT teachings despite a CBS poll finding that the majority of Americans believe that teaching about race makes students comprehend what others went through.

Teaching that Black people benefited from slavery, which was done in Florida last year, is “undermining quality education,” confirmed Bernard Powers, a historian at the College of Charleston in South Carolina.

10. Blocking vaccination

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In March 2023, Wisconsin Republicans blocked the Governor’s anti-mingitis and chickenpox vaccination requirements for students. This is a relatively new issue for Republicans, and the COVID-19 pandemic and required vaccination only sparked more controversies and conspiracy theories.

Republicans would not drop vaccination but would likely ban government mandates requiring it. That seems fair enough, but we have already seen outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases without proper immunization.

11. Ending net neutrality

Net neutrality means using well-established “common carrier” rules to maintain the Internet’s freedom and openness. While many Republicans are not against net neutrality, they see it as another unwanted regulation. Among concerns are possible government overreach and the belief that the government shouldn’t regulate private industries such as internet services.

12. Fighting unions

The Republic Party platform sees unions as a threat to “freedom in the workplace,” according to the HPAE. The report said GOP urges elected officials to pass laws restricting collective bargaining rights and supporting so-called “right to work” laws.

13. Social media regulations

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The GOP aims to stop “bullying social media companies to censor certain views and news,” according to James Comer, a Kentucky representative. In March 2023, the House passed the Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act.

The argument against this act included foreign malign interference and the spread of misinformation. However, The GOP’s TikTok attacks proved that some regulations are necessary.

14. Voting rights concerns

No, the Republicans are not going to take away voting rights from Americans. Yet, NPR reported that courts found that some GOP-controlled states approved diluting the influence of Black voters. Alabama and Louisiana are among the states that had to draw new maps before the 2024 election.

15. Social Security cuts

According to Bloomberg, Republicans argue that failing to change Social Security could lead to a 23% benefit cut once the trust fund is depleted. The 2023 report said they would raise the Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 67 and the Social Security eligibility from 65 to 69.

16. Voting by mail

Due to security reasons, many Republicans argue that mail-in voting and ballot deadlines could affect the elections. RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel stated in early February 2024, “Federal law is very clear – Election Day is the Tuesday after the first Monday in November,” adding, “However, some states accept and count ballots days and days after Election Day, and we believe that practice is wrong.”

17. Banning transgender athletes

House Republicans argued that born males should be banned from women’s sports due to natural advantages. This is not an unpopular opinion, and many liberals actually agree with this. Also, many female athletes discuss fairness and safety, including former University of Kentucky champion Riley Gaines and Martina Navratilova, a tennis legend. The two athletes are on opposite sides of the political spectrum.

18. War on “woke” brands

Despite being all freedom of speech, when it comes to “woke” companies or individuals, most Republicans are calling for boycotts. In 2023 alone, Bud Light, M&M, Disney, Barbie the movie, The North Face, and Nike were among those Republicans who wanted to expunge.

It is not just a boycott, as we saw in Florida. It is a whole war brought to us by DeSantis vs. Disney.

19. Boycotting Taylor Swift

The latest target of many Republicans is Taylor Swift. Swift endorsed Biden in 2020, and if she does it again, Trump’s allies will announce “holy war” on the musician. Fox News presenter Jesse Watters speculated that Pentagon officials were using Swift as a “psyop.” It does not help that her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, an NFL star, collaborated with Bud Light and urged people to get vaccinated.

20. Cutting funding for arts and humanities

Trump’s budget plans eliminated arts, public TV, and library funding for four years in a row, calling it “wasteful and unnecessary.” On November 3, 2023, two attempts to eradicate federal funding for the arts and humanities in the Fiscal Year 2024 Interior Appropriations were defeated. Many Republicans believe private and philanthropic organizations should fund art.