Donald Trump has issued a number of executive orders on everything from immigration, climate and diversity after being sworn in as America’s 47th president.
Republicans quickly began to use their new power to sign into executive actions, presidential memoranda and executive orders on many important policy issues.
Executive orders carry the weight of law but can be overturned by successive presidents or courts. Many may face legal challenges.
It is common for presidents to sign dozens of executive actions when they take office, but US media reports that Trump intends to sign as many as 200 on his first day – which could exceed the number issued by many past presidents at one time.
Here are the policy changes Trump intends to make within hours of taking office.
Immigration and the border
A national emergency at the border
In the Oval Office at the White House, Trump signed an executive order declaring a national emergency on the southern border. “That’s huge,” Trump said at the signing.
He also designated criminal organizations as terrorist organizations, and directed automatic citizenship for the US-born children of illegal immigrants.
Trump also signed an executive order to suspend the US refugee resettlement program for four months, although the text of the orders was not immediately available.
TikTok
Future ban
In the Oval Office of the White House, Trump signed an executive order delaying the implementation of a law banning the Chinese-owned social media platform TikTok for 75 days.
TikTok accepted Trump’s promises this time around and restored US services after shutting them down briefly before his inauguration.
Trump had said his order would give TikTok’s parent company more time to find a US partner to buy a majority stake, but the details of the order he signed are unclear.
Asked what the act does after signing it, Trump says it gives him the right to “sell it or close it”.
The new president once supported the ban, but indicated that he had withdrawn his stance after his campaign videos attracted billions of views.
Reversing Biden’s policies
The Biden era rules
One of the first orders Trump signed as part of his second term was a document that repealed nearly 80 Biden-era laws. Trump did not elaborate on what the rules entail.
Controlling snow
Trump signed an executive order that prevents any federal agency from issuing any new regulations until the Trump administration takes full control of the government.
Government reform
Doge and Elon Musk
Trump signed an order to create the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) – a new advisory body aimed at reducing government costs. It is expected to be led by Elon Musk.
A reporter asked Trump if Musk, the head of Tesla and SpaceX, would have an office in the White House
Trump says Musk will get an office of about 20 employees in the new organization.
Stop in state employment
Trump signed an executive order halting any new federal hiring — except for the US military and a few other branches — until the Trump administration takes full control of the government.
Government employees returning to office
Trump signed a document that mandates that federal employees must work in the office and are not allowed to work from home.
Research
Trump signed an executive order “mandating the restoration of free speech and curbing government surveillance”. No details were immediately available about what the order does.
The order directs the attorney general to investigate the activities of officials at agencies such as the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Federal Trade Commission during the previous administration.
Political persecution
The new US president signed a document that sought to end “weapons of government against political enemies”. No details were immediately available on the order.
The economy
Dealing with inflation
He signed an executive order asking all US federal departments and agencies to address the cost of living for Americans.
The details of the document and how each department is tasked with investigating the matter are unclear.
Weather and energy
Exit the Paris Agreement (again)
As part of a raft of directives, Trump signed a withdrawal from the Paris climate accord – a landmark international agreement designed to limit global warming.
It was among the first nine documents Trump signed after his inauguration.
Trump has declared a national energy emergency, promising to fill strategic oil reserves. He also said the US would end leasing wind farms and withdraw what he called the “electric car mandate”.
Trump first withdrew from the Paris accord in 2017, before Biden re-instated it in 2021.
Along with signing the withdrawal from this agreement, Trump also signed a letter to be sent to the United Nations explaining the withdrawal.
Chaos in the Capitol
1,500 people who attacked the US Capitol were pardoned
In the Oval Office, Trump announced that he is granting amnesty to about 1,500 of his supporters who were arrested in the US Capitol protest in 2021.
Trump has repeatedly referred to those arrested in the riot as “captives” and has said he is willing to pardon many of them.
More than 1,500 people have been arrested in connection with the riot. At least 600 have been charged with assaulting or obstructing government officials.
Condemnation of Sworn, Proud Boys
Trump also commuted the sentences of members of the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys, far-right groups, who were convicted of conspiracy related to the violence at the Capitol.
Source link
