Taxes

Trump’s proposal seeks to generally reduce the tax rates required of most Americans, while also reducing the number of loopholes and deductions available to the wealthy.

First, it calls for a simplification of the tax brackets by establishing three brackets, (instead of the current seven): 12, 25 and 33 percent. Trump’s plan would also cut taxes on businesses.

Second, Trump would increase the standard deduction from $6,300 to $15,000 so that single Americans making below that number would pay nothing in federal income tax.

Third, Trump’s plan would completely repeal the estate tax, but tax capital gains — usually gains from investments — at death.

(Costs: $4,500 billion over 10 years, Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget)

Trade

Trump himself has often pointed to the North American Free Trade Agreement as a factor leading to the death of the American manufacturing industry. As a result, he has called for a renegotiation of NAFTA or, as a last result, withdrawal from the treaty. He has also called for a withdrawal from the yet-unratified Trans-Pacific Partnership.

In addition, Trump has claimed aggressive trade behavior on the part of China, including currency manipulation and illegal export subsidies. His plan outlines the need to bring a case against China before the World Trade Organization for these practices, and otherwise “use every lawful presidential power to remedy trade disputes [with China],” according to his platform.

(Costs unclear)

Immigration

The Trump campaign has a hardline stance on immigration, especially that of undocumented immigrants from Mexico. Most notably, the campaign calls for the construction of a wall, for which Mexico will pay, on the southern border of the U.S. Earlier in the election season, Trump called for the deportation of all undocumented immigrants, but has since changed that to the deportation of all “criminal aliens.”

The campaign also calls for the termination of two of President Barack Obama’s executive orders: Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which gives legal status to undocumented immigrants who arrived in the United States before 16 years of age, and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents, which exempts the parents of American citizens or lawful permanent residents from deportation.

In December 2015, Trump’s campaign released a statement calling for a “total and complete shutdown of Muslims” immigrating to the U.S., but has since shifted that stance; since Trump’s Ohio address regarding Islamic extremism in August 2016, the campaign now calls for a temporary suspension of immigration from regions of the world that “have a history of exporting terrorism.” The campaign also opposes allowing Syrian refugees into the U.S.

Health care

Trump’s campaign has called for the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, calling instead for several free-market reforms to health care policy.

First, the campaign aims to remove economic barriers, by allowing easier entry into the health care market on the part of business, allowing health care companies to sell plans across state borders, and allowing easier importation of prescription drugs into the United States.

Second, the campaign wants to allow tax deductions on more aspects of personal health care. This involves allowing individuals to set up a tax-free Health Savings Account, and allowing individuals to deduct payments towards health insurance premiums.

Third, the campaign calls for issuing block grants for state health care spending, so that local governments decide how to allocate money.

(Costs: $50 billion over 10 years, Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget)

Education

Trump’s campaign has not published a detailed plan for reducing the cost of higher education nationwide. It has, however, acknowledged the issue, and has declared it will pursue reforms requiring colleges and universities to reduce costs in “good faith.”

Trump has instead offered revisions to current school choice policy. His campaign has published plans calling for the reallocation of $20 billion per year to a voucher program that allows parents to use their tax money on a private school education. The plan would require additional contribution of state funds towards the vouchers.

(Budget neutral, Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget)

National Defense

Trump has called for a general expansion of the U.S. military in order to face emergent threats such as ISIS.

The campaign calls for U.S. generals to immediately draft a plan to “defeat and destroy ISIS,” according to an address Trump gave to a Philadelphia audience in September 2016.

Trump has not been forthcoming about the details of his ISIS plan — in an interview with the Washington Post Editorial Board, he cited the importance of being “unpredictable” in handling foreign policy. Trump’s campaign does, however, call for increased production of weapons and equipment, as well as an increase in the number of U.S. troops.

(Costs: $450 billion over 10 years, Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget)