BridgeGW Brings Together College Democrats and Republicans for Bipartisan Event on Key Executive Action
This month, students at the BridgeUSA chapter at George Washington University (BridgeGW) hosted a bipartisan discussion on some of the most pressing political developments of the year: President Donald Trump’s executive orders and their impact on key industries.
Since his second-term inauguration on January 20, 2025, President Trump has signed 73 executive orders, addressing topics such as immigration policy, DEI initiatives, trade tariffs, and the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). These orders have sparked nationwide debate, further polarizing the political landscape. At a time when conversations about executive actions often devolve into partisan gridlock, BridgeGW provided a platform for open, solutions-driven dialogue.
To foster meaningful discussion, BridgeGW partnered with George Washington University’s College Democrats and College Republicans, two of the largest political student organizations on campus. The event brought together 64 students from across the political spectrum, resulting in a dynamic exchange of ideas on recent presidential policy and governance—an event that exemplified BridgeUSA’s mission to promote constructive discourse on college campuses.
“It exceeded expectations,” said Jacoby Sypher, president of BridgeGW and a senior at George Washington University. “The level of substantive discussion, respectful disagreement, and intellectual curiosity was exactly what BridgeGW strives for. I was especially impressed by students’ willingness to tackle complex constitutional and policy issues rather than resorting to partisan soundbites.”
Despite being rescheduled due to snowy weather, the event was one of BridgeGW’s largest. Discussions were so engaging that attendees voted to extend the event by 30 minutes, reinforcing the demand for more respectful, student-led conversations on national issues.
“What stood out most was the civility. Despite controversial topics, students remained engaged and constructive,” said Sypher. “The fact that they wanted to extend the discussion by 30 minutes highlights the demand for this kind of dialogue, not just at GW but on campuses nationwide. This event reaffirmed that cross-partisan engagement isn’t just possible—it’s vital for the health of our democracy.”
As the largest political organizations at GWU, the College Republicans and College Democrats played a critical role in representing voices across the aisle on these policy decisions. By co-hosting with these groups, BridgeGW demonstrated how students with strong political ideologies can engage in productive discourse.
“Involving partisan groups elevated the discussion. We intentionally included students with strong political views rather than just moderates or the politically disengaged,” said Sypher.
This approach worked. Despite heated debates on gender policy and immigration reform, students engaged respectfully, proving that ideological diversity strengthens political conversations and sparks intellectual debate rather than hinders it.
While BridgeGW had previously collaborated with GW’s College Republicans, this event marked the first time they partnered with both major campus political groups together. The choice to focus on Trump’s executive orders reflected students’ strong interest in discussing real-world policy changes in an academic setting, but not having a space to do so.
During the event, students discussed birthright citizenship, which sparked a deep dive into constitutional law. They also discussed tariffs, which brought out shared concern from participants about the harm to consumers. However, the most surprising breakthrough was in the discussion on the creation of DOGE.
Despite current controversy surrounding DOGE, students from both conservative and liberal backgrounds largely agreed on the need for government efficiency. However, they voiced differing opinions on how it should be implemented, raising concerns about constitutional implications and accountability.
“It showed that even on polarizing topics, students could find areas of agreement while recognizing valid concerns,” said Sypher.
By creating a space for students to engage in bipartisan discussions on major government policies, BridgeGW continues to uphold BridgeUSA’s core mission of promoting constructive discourse and engagement among the next generation of leaders.
“The most important conversations aren’t happening at the protests—they’re happening in spaces where people with different views actually engage with one another. BridgeGW provides that space, where students can move beyond slogans and debate real policy, constitutional principles, and the human impact of these decisions.”
As political polarization continues to rise on college campuses and beyond, BridgeUSA remains committed to empowering students with the tools to navigate political differences through open dialogue, understanding and respect. Events like this one at George Washington University demonstrate how cross-partisan engagement is not only possible—but essential—for the future of democracy.