President Donald Trump started his second administration with a blitz of policy actions to reorient the U.S. government.
His executive orders cover issues that range from trade, immigration and U.S. foreign aid to demographic diversity, civil rights and the hiring of federal workers. Some have an immediate policy impact. Others are more symbolic. And some already are being challenged by federal lawsuits.
In total, the Republican president鈥檚 sweeping actions reflect many of his campaign promises and determination to concentrate executive branch power in the West Wing, while moving the country sharply rightward.
Here is a comprehensive look at Trump鈥檚 directives so far in his first three days:
Immigration and U.S. borders
鈥 Designate an 鈥渋nvasion across the southern border of the United States,鈥 a so, Trump says, his Cabinet 鈥渟hall take appropriate action to repel, repatriate or remove any alien engaged in the invasion.鈥
鈥 Allow U.S. to act as immigration and border enforcement officers as part of Trump's . Trump鈥檚 order covers the Ready Reserve and National Guard, military property that could be used as detention space, ground and air transport vehicles and 鈥渙ther logistics services in support of civilian-controlled law enforcement operations.鈥 The Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 has historically limited use of military personnel in domestic law enforcement actions. Trump鈥檚 orders frame migrant flow as a national security threat, which he reasons justifies his military orders as commander in chief.
鈥 Stop and suspend the U.S. Refugee Admission Program effective Jan. 27, 2025, pending a 90-day review and recommendations from Homeland Security, the State Department and others.
鈥 Redefine under the 14th Amendment. A Trump order asserts that a child born in the U.S. is not a citizen if 1) the mother does not have legal immigration status or is in the country legally but only temporarily and 2) the father is not a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. The order forbids U.S. agencies from issuing any document recognizing such a child as a citizen or accept any state document recognizing citizenship. This order is already in federal court.
鈥 Prioritize continued construction of a wall and 鈥渙ther barriers鈥 along the U.S.-Mexico border.
鈥 Direct the attorney general and Homeland Security secretary to create Homeland Security Task Forces in all 50 states, comprising of state and local law enforcement charged with 鈥渆nding the presence of criminal cartels, foreign gangs, and transnational criminal organizations.鈥
鈥 Give the Homeland Security secretary wide latitude to establish agreements with individual state and local law enforcement agencies, 鈥渢o the maximum extent permitted by law,鈥 that empower those non-federal officials to act as federal immigration officers.
鈥 Require collection of from immigration detainees under a 2005 federal law.
鈥 Forbid so-called 鈥渃atch-and-release鈥 鈥 which allows some migrants to remain in the U.S. while awaiting their immigration court proceedings 鈥 in favor of detention and deportation of anyone in the U.S. illegally.
鈥 Direct Homeland Security to immediately devote resources and secure contractors 鈥渢o construct, operate, control, or use facilities to detain removable aliens.鈥
鈥 End so-called 鈥減arole programs鈥 (often referred to as 鈥渇amily reunification鈥) that allow family members of certain citizens and permanent-resident immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela to come to the U.S. while their visa applications are still pending.
鈥 Require a review of all cases for all immigrants now in the U.S. under 鈥淭emporary Protected Status,鈥 with the stated intent of 鈥渆nsuring ... that such designations are appropriately limited in scope鈥 and last the minimum amount of time 鈥渘ecessary to fulfill the textual requirement鈥 of federal law.
鈥 Revert to vetting and screening standards used during Trump鈥檚 first term for any person seeking a visa or 鈥渋mmigration benefit of any kind鈥 and apply the standard visa vetting procedures to 鈥渁ny refugee or stateless individual鈥 seeking admission.
鈥 Repeal a Biden order requiring planning for the effects of climate change on world migration patterns.
鈥 Direct the secretary of state and U.S. diplomats effectively to threaten sanctions against any nation seen as reluctant to accept and facilitate the return of its citizens the U.S. deports.
鈥 Direct the State Department, Homeland Security and others to review and recommend changes to vetting for visas and produce a report to the president within 60 days. The order calls for identifying countries 鈥渇or which vetting and screening information is so deficient as to warrant a partial or full suspension鈥 of admission to the U.S. for their citizens.
鈥 Direct the attorney general and others to deny federal money to 鈥渟o-called 鈥榮anctuary鈥欌 cities the with federal immigration enforcement, with the caveat that the Trump administration pursues action 鈥渢o the maximum extent possible under the law.鈥
鈥 Pause distribution of federal money to non-governmental organizations 鈥渟upporting or providing services, either directly or indirectly, to removable or illegal aliens鈥 pending reviews and audits to identify any operations that may 鈥減romote or facilitate violations of our immigration laws.鈥
鈥 Designate international cartels as 鈥淔oreign Terrorist Organizations鈥 or 鈥淪pecially Designated Global Terrorists鈥 under existing federal law. The order triggers the to combat cartels and their members.
鈥 Require, within 30 days, the attorney general, secretary of state and others to 鈥渆valuate the adequacy of programs designed to ensure the proper assimilation of lawful immigrants into the United States, and recommend any additional measures ... that promote a unified American identity.鈥
International trade, business and the economy
鈥 Broadly direct all executive agencies to tailor their policies to reduce consumer prices. Trump wants a progress report from a top White House economic adviser every 30 days.
鈥 Direct the treasury and commerce secretaries, U.S trade representative and others to examine causes of U.S. trade deficits, identify unfair trade practices and make recommendations, potentially including 鈥渁 global supplemental tariff.鈥
鈥 Begin review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, Trump鈥檚 first-administration rewrite of NAFTA, with an eye to a renegotiation in 2026 or sooner. Trump said he plans as of Feb. 1, but he has not signed such executive actions so far.
鈥 Begin of an 鈥淓xternal Revenue Service to collect tariffs, duties and other foreign trade-related revenues.鈥
鈥 Begin review of U.S. trade dealings with China to consider new or increased tariffs. As a candidate, as high as 60%.
鈥 Order review of into the U.S., specifically from Canada, Mexico and China, and make recommendations, including potential tariffs and sanctions.
鈥 Direct the commerce and trade secretaries and the U.S. trade representative to consolidate multiple reviews and assessments. Trump ordered consolidated reports by April 1.
鈥 Suspend U.S. participation in the Global Tax Deal, an international agreement intended to set a minimum corporate tax globally to prevent multinational corporations from avoiding taxation altogether.
鈥 Pause for 75 days, specifically barring the attorney general from enforcing the law Congress passed in 2024 to allow the new administration to assess national security concerns and seek a potential American buyer for the popular digital platform.
鈥 Bar U.S. government officials from pushing social media companies to combat misinformation and disinformation. Trump鈥檚 order states that such previous efforts 鈥渋nfringed on the constitutionally protected speech rights of American citizens鈥 and 鈥渁dvanced the Government鈥檚 preferred narrative about significant matters of public debate.鈥
Climate, energy and the environment
鈥 , which committed nations to . The order blocks transfer of U.S. funds previously obligated to the International Climate Finance Plan.
鈥 Declare a 鈥渘ational energy emergency.鈥 This is both a symbolic measure reflecting Trump鈥檚 promise of energy expansion but also specifically urges federal use of eminent domain and the Defense Production Act, measures that allow the government to commandeer private land and resources to produce goods deemed to be a national necessity.
鈥 Compel the Army Corps of Engineers to use 鈥渢o the fullest extent possible鈥 its emergency permitting provisions to speed energy projects and urge all agencies to use similar emergency procedures that expedite or bypass permitting processes under the Endangered Species Act or other federal laws that protect wildlife.
鈥 Eliminate Biden policies intended to encourage 鈥 part of Trump鈥檚 effort to limit non-fossil fuel energy sectors.
鈥 Require all agencies within 30 days to submit to the White House Office of Management and Budget their plans to eliminate regulations and rules deemed 鈥渂urdensome鈥 to domestic energy production and consumption, 鈥渨ith particular attention to oil, natural gas, coal, hydropower, biofuels, critical mineral, and nuclear energy.鈥
鈥 Repeal multiple Biden orders and memoranda regarding climate change, including guidelines for implementing climate-related provisions of the ; an effort to assess financial risks of not combating climate change; and establishment of a President鈥檚 Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
鈥 Streamline other fossil fuel extraction in Alaska with a command to 鈥渞escind, revoke, revise, amend, defer or grant exemptions from any and all鈥 regulatory actions relevant in the state. Specifically, Trump is restoring any suspended fossil fuel leases within the .
鈥 Deny a pending U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service request to create an indigenous sacred site within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
鈥 Restore first Trump administration rules on hunting and trapping in national preserves in Alaska. Order the Interior Department to align federal rules on hunting and fishing in Alaska with rules for state-government lands.
鈥 Roll back other Biden era limits or regulations on fossil fuel extraction on federal lands.
鈥 Make the Outer Continental Shelf ineligible for wind energy leases 鈥 another limitation on non-fossil fuel development.
鈥 Reengage a legal and regulatory battle with California state government over water routes from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Trump wants to override fish and wildlife protection efforts to route more of the water to the Central Valley and Southern California.
Diversity, transgender rights and civil rights
鈥 Give executive branch departments and agencies diversity, equity and inclusion programs, including all 鈥渃hief diversity officer鈥 jobs, 鈥渆quity action plans鈥 and 鈥渆nvironmental justice鈥 positions. Require departments and agencies to give the White House Office of Management and Budget an accounting of previous DEI efforts, including names of relevant DEI contractors and DEI grant recipients.
鈥 A separate OMB memo effectively put all federal DEI officers on immediate leave pending their elimination.
鈥 Repeal several Biden-era directives on racial and ethnic equity and LGBTQ rights. They included orders intending to ensure equitable distribution of federal money based on the 2020 census; preventing government discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation and specifically encouraging inclusion in school settings; White House educational initiatives for Native Americans, Hispanics and Black Americans; and an order expressly allowing transgender persons to serve in the military.
鈥 Require that the U.S. government only 鈥 male and female 鈥 on passports, visas, Global Entry cards and all other forms and documents, and in all programs and communications.
鈥 Mandate that all federal civil rights law and labor law be interpreted and enforced with the understanding that 鈥溾榮ex鈥 is not a synonym for and does not include the concept of 鈥榞ender identity.鈥欌
鈥 Dissolve the White House Gender Policy Council and repeal Department of Education guidelines on Title IX concerning transgender rights and various documents advising schools on how to support and protect LGBTQ persons.
鈥 Forbid federal money, including grants, from being used to 鈥減romote gender ideology鈥 and direct the attorney general and Homeland Security secretary to 鈥渆nsure that males are not detained in women鈥檚 prisons or housed in women鈥檚 detention centers.鈥
Federal workers and government structure
鈥 Establish the under the Executive Office of the President until July 4, 2026. This is the entity led by , the world鈥檚 richest man, and is charged with recommending cuts in federal programs and spending.
鈥 Require each agency head to establish their own DOGE team of at least four people to work with .
鈥 Freeze federal hiring, with exceptions 鈥 notably immigration and border enforcement posts and U.S. military jobs, plus a generic exception for to 鈥渕aintain essential services.鈥 The directive also does not apply to top presidential political appointees. The action bars contracting with outside labor to circumvent the hiring freeze.
鈥 Block new federal rules and regulations in all agencies where Trump鈥檚 appointed agency chief is not yet on the job to approve new edicts. The White House Office of Budget and Management can override the ban in emergency situations.
鈥 Require all federal workers to return full-time to in-person work.
鈥 Direct reviews across the Executive Branch of 鈥渃areer senior executive service鈥 officials and effectively make it easier to fire, demote or reassign those federal employees 鈥 generally the highest-ranking civil service employees whose jobs historically have been protected through administration changes. 鈥淏ecause SES officials wield significant government authority, they must serve at the pleasure of the president,鈥 Trump鈥檚 memoranda states.
鈥 Make it easier to fire federal workers by reinstituting an executive order from the first Trump administration, which was later repealed under Biden. The latest Trump policy adds provisions that state that federal employees and applicants 鈥渁re not required to personally or politically support the current president鈥 but must 鈥渇aithfully implement administration policies,鈥 understanding that 鈥渇ailure to do so is grounds for dismissal.鈥
鈥 Require a 鈥淔ederal Hiring Plan鈥 within 120 days to set new standards for hiring federal workers. The order prioritizes 鈥渞ecruitment of individuals ... passionate about the ideals of our American republic鈥 and preventing 鈥渢he hiring of individuals based on their race, sex or religion,鈥 while also blocking those 鈥渨ho are unwilling to defend the Constitution or to faithfully serve in the Executive Branch.鈥
鈥 Formally nominate Cabinet and sub-Cabinet officers and name many acting Cabinet officers, agency chiefs and commission chairs as Trump nominees await Senate confirmation.
Health care
鈥 Repeal Biden directives intended to make it easier to enroll in Medicaid services, secure insurance coverage under the and lower prescription drug costs. The Trump action, however, does not actually repeal the Biden-era , Medicare's $2,000 annual out-of-pocket cap on prescription drugs or Medicare's ability to negotiate drug pricing. Those policies remain enforced by federal statutes passed by Congress.
鈥 Repeal multiple Biden orders and directives on COVID-19.
鈥 Withdraw the U.S. , direct the White House Office of Management and Budget to stop future transfers of U.S. money to WHO and order the secretary of state to end negotiations on the WHO Pandemic Agreement.
鈥 Order the secretary of state and OMB director to identify 鈥渃redible and transparent United States and international partners鈥 to replace the U.S. relationship with WHO.
Foreign policy, national security and 鈥楢merica First鈥
鈥 Cancel Biden-era sanctions on far-right Israeli groups and individuals . Biden鈥檚 order had frozen U.S. assets and barred Americans from dealing with Israelis covered by his order.
鈥 Direct Secretary of State to issue guidance to put all State Department 鈥減olitics, programs, personnel and operations in line with an America First foreign policy, which puts America and its interests first.鈥
鈥 Define the membership and establish operating procedures for the .
鈥 Pause all U.S. foreign development aid pending reviews of 鈥渆fficiencies and consistency鈥 with administration aims, to be conducted within 90 days by relevant agency heads 鈥渦nder guidelines鈥 from Rubio the White House Office of Management and Budget. Rubio can lift the freeze for any program.
鈥 Immediately grant six-month security clearances to certain administration officials whose background checks are pending. The White House counsel determines which aides get the temporary clearance.
Nationalism
鈥 in Alaska. The change for North America鈥檚 tallest peak recognizes William McKinley, the 25th U.S. president, whom Trump has praised for economic leadership and expanding U.S. territory through the Spanish-American War. President had in 2015 renamed the mountain Denali 鈥 what native tribes called it historically. Trump鈥檚 order did not change the name of the surrounding Denali National Park and Reserve.
鈥 Require Trump鈥檚 personal approval of new architectural and design standards for federal buildings so the president can ensure federal structures 鈥渞espect regional, traditional, and classical architectural heritage in order to uplift and beautify public spaces and ennoble the United States.鈥
鈥 Order that on Inauguration Day. The immediate effect was to countermand Biden鈥檚 traditional 30-day order lowering flags as a mourning tribute to former President , who died Dec. 29, 2024. Trump鈥檚 order returned flags on federal installations to half-staff on Jan. 21, through the end of the Carter mourning period.
Death penalty and crime
鈥 Direct the attorney general to explore whether to life imprisonment by Biden can be charged and tried with capital crimes in state courts.
鈥 Direct the attorney general to 鈥渢ake all necessary and lawful action鈥 to supply states with adequate drugs to carry out lethal injection.
鈥 Direct the attorney general to seek reversals of U.S. Supreme Court precedents that limit application of the death penalty in state and federal jurisdictions.
鈥 In a symbolic gesture, direct the attorney general to 鈥渆ncourage state attorneys general and district attorneys鈥 to pursue the death penalty in all possible cases.
The Capitol riot and 2020 campaign redux
鈥 Commute the sentences and grant full pardons to for their roles in the Jan. 6, 2021, attacks on the U.S. Capitol as Congress convened to certify Biden鈥檚 victory over Trump in the 2020 election.
鈥 Order the attorney general and others to review all agencies鈥 investigative and enforcement actions during Biden鈥檚 tenure to identify what Trump describes as 鈥渨eaponization of the federal government鈥 against his supporters. The directive identifies the Justice Department, Federal Trade Commission, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the intelligence community. It requires a report to the president on the findings, with recommended 鈥渞emedial actions.鈥
鈥 Direct the attorney general to investigate U.S. government dealings with social media platforms during Biden鈥檚 tenure and make 鈥渞ecommendations for appropriate remedial actions鈥 in response to what Trump frames as censorship efforts.
鈥 of 50 people Trump accuses of aiding Biden鈥檚 2020 campaign via their collective public statement about a laptop that belonged to Biden鈥檚 son, Hunter Biden. The list includes former top intelligence officials James Clapper, Michael Hayden and Leon Panetta, along with Trump鈥檚 onetime National Security Adviser John Bolton.
鈥 Direct the director of national intelligence and CIA director to submit a report within 90 days with recommendations for additional 鈥渄isciplinary action鈥 and how to 鈥減revent the Intelligence Community or anyone who works for or within it from inappropriately influencing domestic elections.鈥
Bill Barrow, The Associated Press
