A look at executive orders President Donald Trump has signed
(NewsNation) — President Donald Trump wasted no time in carrying out his White House agenda with a series of executive orders ranging from securing the U.S.-Mexico border and the ban on TikTok to pushing economic policies designed to prioritize American interests.
By signing 26 executive orders during his first day in office alone, Trump put himself on pace to rank among the fastest-acting presidents during his first 100 days in office.
In addition to curbing the flow of migrants entering the U.S. illegally, Trump has vowed to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs within the government and to establish the Department of Government Efficiency.
An executive order is a signed statement about how the president wants the federal government managed. They can come as instructions to federal agencies or requests for reports.
Here’s a look at the executive orders that Trump has signed thus far:
- Border
- Economy
- Diversity and Inclusion
- Energy
- Department of Government Efficiency
- Technology
- Assassination files declassified
- Name changes
- Flag
- Federal reform
- Abortion
- Military
Security of the US-Mexico border
Trump declares a national emergency at the southern border
This order helps the secretary of defense quickly and seamlessly deploy members of armed forces to the border and free up more federal resources.
Trump ends ‘catch-and-release’ of migrants
Trump signed an executive order ending the federal program that allowed immigrants who entered the country illegally to remain in the country as long as they were in the process of asylum.
‘Remain in Mexico‘
As part of his executive order related to securing the nation’s borders, Trump reinstated the “Remain in Mexico” policy, which requires asylum-seekers to stay in Mexico until their claims are processed.
Trump resumes border wall construction
Under the order, work on the southern border wall that began under Trump’s watch during his first administration resumed immediately to curb encounters between migrants and border agents and officers.
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Trump designated cartels as global terrorists
Under this order, certain international cartels and other criminal organizations will be designated foreign terrorist organizations or global terrorists.
Trump suspends refugee resettlement for 4 months
Trump will “suspend refugee resettlement” for four months as part of a broader effort to “immediately end the migrant invasion of America.”
Trump changes definition of birthright citizenship
Trump’s executive order changed the definition of birthright citizenship and declared that no government department or agency will issue citizenship documents to children whose parents do not meet specific guidelines regarding their own citizenship.
Trump signs order to deploy military to border
The president’s executive order authorized military troops to be sent to the U.S.-Mexico border to repel “forms of invasion, including unlawful mass migration, drug trafficking and human smuggling and trafficking,” along with other criminal activities.
Trump orders enhanced border vetting and screening
Under this order, Trump tightened the vetting and screening of migrants entering the country.
The economy
‘America first’ foreign policy
Trump signed an executive order calling for the secretary of state to issue guidance bringing the department’s policies, programs and personnel in line with a policy that puts “America first.”
Trump suspends US foreign assistance for 90 days, pending reviews
Trump signed an executive order temporarily suspending U.S. foreign assistance programs for 90 days, pending reviews to determine whether they are aligned with his policy goals.
Promoting American leadership in digital, financial technology
Trump’s executive order creates a cryptocurrency working group that is expected to advise on digital asset policy, work with Congress on crypto legislation and establish a bitcoin reserve.
Diversity and inclusion
Trump signed an executive order ending funding for DEI programs in the government and directed the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Personnel Management to end “illegal mandates and preferences.”
Trump limits definitions of gender identity
The order directs federal agencies to use sex, not gender, in federal policies and documents. The order will also limit the choice of gender identification to sexes assigned at birth.
Military
Trump’s executive order reinstates military service members who were dismissed for refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine and issues them full back pay and benefits and reinstates military members to their former rank.
The president signed an executive order that bans transgendered service members and that orders that all Department of Defense medical standards be updated to “ensure they prioritize readiness and lethality”. The order also ends the use of “invented and identity-based pronouns” within the Department of Defense.
Trump’s executive order eliminates the military’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs, which comes after the president previously ordered all DEI programs across the government to be done away with. The order eliminates race and sex-based discrimination within the armed forces and bans sex-based preferences within the military, Department of Defense or Department of Homeland Security.
Trump’s executive order called for the construction of a missile defense shield that could protect the United States against long-range attacks. The order states that the “next-generation” defense shield would protect the nation against ballistic, hypersonic advanced cruise missiles and other advanced aerial attacks. The order calls for the Iron Dome For America to be built, referring to Israel’s system of protecting itself from attacks.
Energy
Trump’s executive order declared an “energy emergency” that ends leases to wind farms and what Trump referred to as former President Joe Biden’s electric car mandate.
Trump ordered the U.S. to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement for the second time as part of an initiative to put America first in international environmental agreements.
Trump’s executive order opened up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to oil drilling and eased the regulatory burdens on oil and natural gas production.
Department of Government Efficiency
Trump’s executive order establishes the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which will be overseen by tech billionaire Elon Musk.
Technology
TikTok ban
Trump’s executive order keeps TikTok operating for 75 days, a relief to many of the social media platform’s users, even as national security questions persist.
Artificial intelligence
Trump’s executive order sets out to sustain and enhance America’s global AI dominance “in order to promote human flourishing, economic competitiveness and national security.”
Declassified assassination files around JFK, RFK and MLK
Trump signed an executive order mandating the declassification of files related to the assassinations of former President John F. Kennedy, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
Name changes
Trump’s executive order renames the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America” and changes Alaskan peak Denali back to Mount McKinley, after the name was changed in 2015.
Flying the US flag on Inauguration Day
Trump signed an executive order directing flags be flown at full height for this Inauguration Day and all those in the future. Biden had ordered flags to be flown at half-staff following the death of former President Jimmy Carter.
Federal reform
Trump signed an executive order immediately halting government censorship and enduring free speech.
Trump’s executive order implemented a government regulation and hiring freeze.
The president signed an order directing federal agencies to maintain records branded as political persecutions to expose instances of abuse of power.
Trump’s executive order revoked the security clearance of former officials who asserted accusations about Hunter Biden’s laptop were false.
Trump signed an executive order reinstating the death penalty for those who commit the “most heinous crimes.”
An executive order reinstates and amends a prior policy that reclassifies certain federal positions with policy-making authority.
Trump signed an executive order establishing the Federal Emergency Management Agency Review Council, which will advise the president on the ability of FEMA to capably and impartially address disasters happening within the U.S.
Trump reinstates the “Mexico City Policy”
This order puts into effect the “Mexico City Policy,” referred to as the “global gag rule” by opponents. It bars foreign nongovernmental organizations from receiving U.S. funding if they perform, counsel or provide information on abortions.
First introduced in the second Reagan administration, the policy has been rescinded by every Democratic president and reinstated by every Republican president since, The Hill reports.
Abortion
Trump enforces Hyde Amendment
The president’s order would ban the use of any federal dollars on abortions. The executive order also rescinds two of the Biden administration’s actions aimed at increasing access to abortions following the fall of Roe v. Wade.
Liberation of Auschwitz Anniversary
Trump signed an executive action declaring January 27, 2025, as a National Day of Remembrance in conjunction with the 80th anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz. Trump called on Americans to observe the day with ceremonies, programs and prayers commemorating the victims of the Holocaust and honoring their sacrifices.
NewsNation’s Safia Samee Ali, Damita Menezes, Anna Kutz and Steph Whiteside contributed to this story
