WOW! This has been a pretty historic start to a new Presidential term – to say the very least. The start of Trump’s second term has been marked by a flurry of executive orders aimed at fundamentally reshaping the government and American life.
The beginning of President Donald Trump’s second term has been marked by a flurry of executive orders aimed at fundamentally reshaping the government, America’s place on the global stage and the day-to-day lives of people in the country.
Trump has signed more than 50 executive orders as of Thursday 2/6, the most in a president’s first 100 days in more than 40 years.
The orders, which Trump critics say greatly exceed his constitutional authority, range from tariffs on Mexico, China and Canada, to pauses on foreign aid and crackdowns on illegal immigration to bans on transgender people serving in the military and the use of federal funds for gender-affirming medical care for minors.
Here is an overview of Trump’s executive orders in his first 18(!!) days in office.
Trump’s executive orders (1/20/2025 – 2/6/2025) –
Foreign Affairs
- America First Policy: Aligns the State Department with an “America First” approach.
- Paris Agreement Exit: Begins withdrawal from the international climate pact.
- WHO Withdrawal: Stops U.S. funding and participation in the World Health Organization.
- Foreign Aid Review: Pauses and reassesses U.S. foreign assistance.
- UN Human Rights Council Exit: Ends U.S. participation and funding in related programs.
- Houthi Terrorist Designation: Reclassifies Ansar Allah (Houthis) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
Immigration & Border Security
- Military Role in Border Security: Orders the military to help seal the border.
- Border Security Measures: Calls for a physical border wall, ends “catch and release,” and tightens asylum rules.
- Refugee Program Suspension: Halts refugee resettlement pending review.
- Birthright Citizenship Restrictions: Blocks citizenship for children born to undocumented parents (currently facing legal challenges).
- Terrorism Vetting for Foreign Nationals: Expands vetting for visas and immigration.
Government & Policy Reforms
- Federal Workforce Changes: Reinstates “Schedule F,” making it easier to fire certain federal employees.
- Ending DEI in Government: Eliminates all diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
- Election Interference Investigation: Revokes security clearances of former officials linked to Hunter Biden laptop claims.
- Federal Hiring Reforms: Emphasizes merit-based hiring, eliminating racial or gender preferences.
Culture & Social Policies
- Gender Policy Reversal: Recognizes only two sexes, bans gender-related DEI programs, and restricts gender-affirming care funding.
- Protecting Female Sports: Bars transgender women from competing in women’s sports.
- Restoring Historical Names: Reverts “Denali” to “Mount McKinley” and renames the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.”
- Banning Federal Censorship: Prohibits government influence over social media content.
- Anti-Semitism Measures: Strengthens government actions against anti-Semitic harassment.
Crime & Law Enforcement
- Cartels as Terrorist Organizations: Labels groups like MS-13 as terrorist organizations.
- Restoring the Death Penalty: Ensures capital punishment for certain crimes, including those by undocumented immigrants.
Defense & National Security
- Military Readiness Policies: Bars transgender individuals from military service and ends DEI initiatives in the military.
- “Iron Dome for America”: Calls for a missile defense shield.
- Reinstating Unvaccinated Troops: Restores rank and pay for troops dismissed over vaccine refusal.
Energy & Environment
- National Energy Emergency: Expands energy projects and fuel sales.
- Alaska Resource Development: Accelerates oil and gas extraction in Alaska.
- Rolling Back Green Regulations: Ends EV incentives, weakens appliance efficiency standards, and removes emissions rules.
Trade & Economy
- Tariffs on China & Mexico: Imposes duties on imports to combat fentanyl trafficking and illegal immigration (some later paused).
- Sovereign Wealth Fund Plan: Calls for a national fund to reduce tax burdens and enhance economic security.
- Deregulation Initiative: Orders agencies to eliminate ten regulations for every new one.
Education
- Patriotic Education Revival: Re-establishes the 1776 Commission to counter “radical indoctrination.”
- School Choice Expansion: Directs the Education Department to prioritize school choice programs.
Healthcare & Abortion
- Abortion Policy Reversal: Revokes Biden’s orders expanding abortion access and related federal protections.
- Enforcing the Hyde Amendment: Prevents federal funding for abortion-related services.