Breaking Down All of Trump’s Day 1 Presidential Actions

Breaking Down All of Trump’s Day 1 Presidential Actions

Within just hours of taking office, President Donald Trump wasted no time in enacting several of his campaign pledges, launching a series of presidential directives that spanned a wide range of issues, from immigration to the aesthetics of federal buildings.

On January 20, the White House’s official website documented 46 presidential actions. The initial announcements focused on staffing, detailing Trump’s nominations for his Cabinet and sub-Cabinet positions, along with appointing acting leaders for various government agencies. Beyond these, he issued 26 executive orders, 12 memoranda, and 4 proclamations.

Read More: The Heavy Toll of Trump’s Executive Orders

The distinctions among these forms of presidential actions can sometimes be confusing, and many of them are likely to encounter legal challenges swiftly. Here’s what you need to know.

Legally, the President does not have the authority to create laws; however, he possesses significant power to dictate how federal agencies implement those laws. Although there is no formal definition for executive orders, memoranda, or proclamations, they are generally understood as written directives from the President to government officials and agencies, a practice dating back to George Washington. According to a report from the Congressional Research Service, “the difference between these documents is primarily a matter of form rather than substance.”

The CRS report specifies, “The sole technical distinction is that executive orders and proclamations must be published in the Federal Register, while presidential memoranda are published only when deemed to have ‘general applicability and legal effect’ by the President.”

Historically, executive orders have addressed more contentious issues, while memoranda typically involve routine instructions for federal agencies that require less public attention, according to the CRS.

Proclamations, as noted by the Library of Congress, often deal with private individuals’ activities and are generally ceremonial. They are used to communicate information regarding holidays, commemorations, special observances, trade, and policy, according to the Federal Register.

“Provided they are issued under a valid claim of authority and published, executive orders and presidential memoranda carry the force of law,” asserts another CRS report. However, since they derive from implied authority, it’s crucial to assess the legal foundation for each executive order and memorandum and how the President employs these tools.

The judicial branch can review executive orders, and they can be ratified or overturned by the legislative branch, as highlighted by another CRS report. It also emphasizes that “executive orders can be temporary, as a subsequent President can generally revoke or modify any previous order if they disagree,” a move Trump has openly indicated he plans to undertake regarding many of former President Joe Biden’s actions.

Here are summaries of the executive orders, memoranda, and proclamations Trump issued on January 20.

Proclamation for Flags at Half-Staff

Following the death of former President Jimmy Carter on December 29, President Biden had issued a proclamation for flags to be flown at half-staff for 30 days at all public buildings, including the White House and military installations. Trump, however, expressed his dissatisfaction with this protocol on his Inauguration Day, leading Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and several Republican governors to mandate flags at full-staff on January 20 at the Capitol and state buildings.

As his first official act, Trump released a proclamation titled “Flying The Flag Of The United States At Full-Staff On Inauguration Day,” requiring flags to be flown at full-staff on all Inauguration Days, including that of his own. The proclamation noted that flags could be lowered to half-staff in memory of President Carter after Inauguration Day concluded.

Executive Order to Revoke Previous Orders

Trump enacted an executive order titled “Initial Rescissions Of Harmful Executive Orders And Actions,” which rescinded 78 executive orders and memoranda from the Biden Administration, many of which centered around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts, as well as measures addressing the climate crisis. The order criticized the Biden Administration for allegedly embedding “unpopular, inflationary, illegal, and radical practices” throughout federal agencies.

Executive Order on Free Speech

Trump issued an executive order named “Restoring Freedom Of Speech And Ending Federal Censorship,” asserting that the Biden Administration had “trampled free speech rights” by curbing Americans’ speech on digital platforms under the pretense of combating misinformation. The directive instructs the Attorney General to scrutinize federal policies from the past four years and recommend necessary corrective actions.

Executive Order Addressing Government ‘Weaponization’

In an executive order titled “Ending The Weaponization Of The Federal Government,” Trump directed the Attorney General to “identify and take appropriate action to correct” alleged “politically motivated” law enforcement activities within the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Federal Trade Commission. The order also mandates the Director of National Intelligence to undertake similar actions concerning the intelligence community.

Memorandum to End Remote Work

Trump issued a memorandum titled “Return to In-Person Work,” mandating that federal employees in the executive branch cease all remote work arrangements.

Memorandum Freezing New Regulations

In a memorandum called “Regulatory Freeze Pending Review,” Trump instructed all executive departments and agencies to refrain from proposing any new rules or directives until reviewed and approved by their respective department heads.

Memorandum to Halt Federal Hiring

Trump issued a memorandum titled “Hiring Freeze,” which effectively halts the recruitment of federal civilian employees in the executive branch, starting at noon on January 20. This memorandum includes exceptions for military personnel and roles related to immigration enforcement, national security, or public safety. It also instructs the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to devise a plan within 90 days “to reduce the size of the Federal Government’s workforce through efficiency improvements and attrition,” after which the hiring freeze will be lifted, except for the IRS, where the freeze is indefinite.

Memorandum on Emergency Price Relief

In a memorandum titled “Delivering Emergency Price Relief for American Families and Defeating the Cost-of-Living Crisis,” Trump directed executive departments and agencies to implement measures for “emergency price relief” aimed at reducing housing, healthcare, food, and fuel costs while also creating job opportunities. While specific measures were not detailed, the memorandum calls for the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy to provide status updates every 30 days.

Executive Order to Withdraw from Climate Agreements

Trump announced an executive order titled “Putting America First In International Environmental Agreements,” effectively withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris Agreement, which aims to cut down on carbon emissions. The order also rescinds U.S. involvement in other international climate agreements and any financial commitments related to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, while immediately revoking the U.S. International Climate Finance Plan.

Proclamation Pardoning January 6 Rioters

In a proclamation titled “Granting Pardons And Commutation Of Sentences For Certain Offenses Relating To The Events At Or Near The United States Capitol On January 6, 2021,” Trump pardoned supporters charged in the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, which resulted in injuries to over 100 police officers, with the exception of 14 individuals whose sentences were commuted to time served. He also ordered that all pending indictments related to the January 6 events be dismissed, covering an estimated 1,500 defendants.

Executive Order Delaying TikTok Ban

Trump signed an executive order titled “Application Of Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act To TikTok,” effectively postponing the U.S. ban on the Chinese-owned video-sharing app TikTok for 75 days. This order followed a brief shutdown of the app over the prior weekend.

Read More: Here’s What Happened When India Banned TikTok in 2020

Executive Order to Withdraw from the WHO

Trump enacted an executive order titled “Withdrawing The United States From The World Health Organization,” fulfilling a prior campaign promise. He had advocated for U.S. withdrawal from the health organization towards the end of his first term in 2020, citing its failure in managing the COVID-19 pandemic; however, Biden reversed this decision when he took office in 2021. Reports indicate that this withdrawal could deprive the WHO of approximately $130 million in annual funding from the U.S.

Executive Order on Federal Employment Policies

Trump’s executive order titled “Restoring Accountability To Policy-Influencing Positions Within the Federal Workforce” reinstates and modifies a previous order from his first term while revoking a Biden executive order that made it simpler to hire and fire certain federal employees, emphasizing loyalty.

An addendum states: “Employees in or applicants for Schedule Policy/Career positions are not obligated to personally or politically support the current President or the policies of the current administration. However, they are expected to faithfully implement administration policies to the best of their ability, in accordance with their constitutional oath, and the executive authority vested solely in the President. Noncompliance may result in dismissal.”

Executive Order Revoking Security Clearances

Trump signed an executive order titled “Holding Former Government Officials Accountable For Election Interference And Improper Disclosure Of Sensitive Governmental Information.” This order revokes the security clearances of more than 40 former intelligence officials, including Trump’s previous national security advisor John Bolton, who had publicly commented on the potential Russian involvement in information allegedly from Hunter Biden’s laptop. The directive emphasizes that U.S. policy mandates “the Intelligence Community not engage in partisan politics or be utilized by a political campaign for electioneering purposes,” and prohibits the public disclosure of classified information in memoirs published for profit.

Proclamation Declaring a National Emergency at the Southern Border

In a proclamation titled “Declaring A National Emergency At The Southern Border Of The United States,” Trump declared a national emergency, calling for military resources to assist with border security, including the construction of additional physical barriers and the use of drones.

Memorandum on Resolving Security Clearance Delays

Trump issued a memorandum titled “Memorandum to Resolve the Backlog of Security Clearances for Executive Office of the President Personnel,” instructing the White House counsel to provide the White House Security Office and Acting Chief Security Officer with a list of staff who would be granted interim Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) security clearances for a maximum of six months to address delays in access to the White House complex.

Critics have raised concerns about the lack of transparency in this decision. Journalist Roger Sollenberger commented on X, “The only individuals this would apply to are those who did not qualify for a top-secret clearance. Will the public know who receives these special Trump clearances, or will the list remain private?”

Memorandum on Trade Policy

Trump issued a memorandum titled “America First Trade Policy,” targeting multiple Cabinet secretaries, the U.S. Trade Representative, the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, the Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing, and the director of the Office of Management and Budget. The memorandum asserts the need to address “unfair and unbalanced trade,” directing officials to examine trade and tariff policies, particularly those involving China.

Executive Order on Military Troop Deployment to the Border

Trump signed an executive order titled “Clarifying The Military’s Role In Protecting The Territorial Integrity Of The United States,” which effectively authorizes the U.S. military to develop a plan for deploying troops to the southern border.

Executive Order on Energy Development

In a sweeping executive order titled “Unleashing American Energy,” Trump ordered an immediate review of agency practices that “may hinder” the development of domestic energy resources, particularly focusing on “natural gas, coal, hydropower, biofuels, critical minerals, and nuclear energy.” Agencies are instructed to develop action plans within a month to counter previous regulations that impede energy growth.

The order also revokes 12 regulatory actions from the Biden era related to clean energy initiatives and instructs federal agencies to “immediately pause” the allocation of funds from the Inflation Reduction Act, a Biden-era legislation that provided billions in subsidies for clean energy projects.

Executive Order Suspending Refugee Resettlement

Trump suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program in an executive order titled “Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program.” The suspension is set to commence on January 27 and remains indefinite, tasking the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to provide a report every 90 days regarding the potential resumption of refugee resettlement.

Executive Order Redefining Birthright Citizenship

Trump introduced an executive order titled “Protecting The Meaning And Value of American Citizenship,” which seeks to redefine birthright citizenship, stipulating that it would not apply to individuals born in the U.S. to parents who are neither lawful permanent residents nor citizens at the time of birth. This order is already facing legal challenges as it directly contradicts the established interpretation of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution.

Executive Order on Securing the U.S.-Mexico Border

Trump revoked several immigration policies from the Biden administration, reinstating many of his previous border strategies through a comprehensive executive order titled “Securing Our Borders.” This includes plans for a border wall and reinstating the Remain in Mexico policy (officially known as the Migrant Protection Protocols), which mandates that asylum seekers wait outside the U.S. while their claims are processed. The order also terminates the Biden administration’s CBP One app, which facilitated legal entry, and abolishes the “catch-and-release” practice, promoting increased detention instead.

Under Biden, Trump’s aggressive first-term deportation policy was narrowed to target those convicted of serious crimes, deemed security threats, or caught at the border. The new order, however, calls for criminal charges against and deportation of anyone violating immigration laws, as well as charges against those who enable their unlawful presence in the U.S.

The executive order also abolishes the Biden-era humanitarian parole program that permitted migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to apply for entry authorization into the U.S. for up to two years, contingent upon securing a U.S.-based sponsor and passing specific vetting criteria.

Memorandum on Environmental Protections in California

Trump’s memorandum titled “Putting People Over Fish: Stopping Radical Environmentalism to Provide Water to Southern California” orders the redirection of water from California’s Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta for use elsewhere in the state, overriding environmental safeguards for the Delta’s wildlife. Recently, Trump urged California Governor Gavin Newsom during wildfires in Southern California to “RELEASE THE WATER FROM UP NORTH. MILLIONS OF GALLONS A DAY. WHAT’S TAKING YOU SO LONG?”

Executive Order Expanding the Death Penalty

Trump called for a more aggressive approach to the death penalty with an executive order titled “Restoring The Death Penalty And Protecting Public Safety.” The order instructs the Attorney General to seek the death penalty for all capital offenses and to pursue federal jurisdiction and the death penalty “regardless of other factors for every federal capital crime involving: the murder of a law-enforcement officer; or a capital crime committed by an alien illegally present in this country.” Additionally, it encourages state prosecutors to pursue the death penalty when appropriate and ensures availability of lethal injection drugs for states.

In December, Biden granted commutations to 37 of 40 federal death row inmates, a decision that cannot be undone by Trump.

Memorandum on Classical Architecture for Federal Buildings

A memorandum titled “Promoting Beautiful Federal Civic Architecture” advocates for federal buildings to be designed in a manner that honors “regional, traditional, and classical architectural heritage.” Some have criticized the emphasis on classical architecture as a coded message appealing to a segment of nationalists, a point raised by former deputy director of the Architecture Association, Phineas Harper, in 2020.

Memorandum on Civil Service Accountability

In a memorandum titled “Restoring Accountability for Career Senior Executives,” Trump asserted that career Senior Executive Service officials, who rank just below presidential appointees and have various employment protections, must be accountable to the President. The directive instructs heads of federal agencies to reassign or replace SES members to “optimally” implement Trump’s agenda and ensure accountability.

Executive Order Declaring a National Energy Emergency

Trump signed an executive order titled “Declaring a National Energy Emergency,” citing the need to lower energy costs as a justification for ramping up oil and natural gas production nationwide. The order mandates a review of “obstacles to domestic energy infrastructure” stemming from legal environmental protections, such as the Endangered Species Act.

Memorandum Pausing Wind Energy Projects

In a memorandum named “Temporary Withdrawal of All Areas on the Outer Continental Shelf from Offshore Wind Leasing and Review of the Federal Government’s Leasing and Permitting Practices for Wind Projects,” Trump called for the suspension and review of leasing and permitting for wind energy projects, including halting the Lava Ridge Wind Project in Idaho by Magic Valley Energy. This move aligns with Trump’s previous criticism of renewable energy and his commitment to bolster the oil and natural gas sectors.

Executive Order Pausing U.S. Foreign Aid

Trump signed an executive order titled “Reevaluating And Realigning United States Foreign Aid,” which calls for a 90-day suspension of U.S. foreign development assistance while reviewing the nation’s foreign aid programs. The order states that the “foreign aid industry and bureaucracy are misaligned with American interests and often counter to American values,” although it grants the Secretary of State the authority to waive the pause for specific initiatives. Historically, Republicans have sought cuts to foreign assistance, which typically comprises around 1% of the federal budget, except in extraordinary circumstances like the substantial aid provided to Ukraine.

Memorandum on the National Security Council Structure

In a seemingly administrative memorandum regarding the “Organization of the National Security Council and Subcommittees,” Trump detailed the structure, composition, and objectives of the National Security Council for his administration.

Memorandum on Exiting OECD Global Tax Deal

Trump issued a memorandum titled “The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Global Tax Deal (Global Tax Deal),” effectively withdrawing the U.S. from a significant agreement aimed at establishing a universal corporate minimum tax, which had been ratified by nearly 140 nations. The U.S. had signed this global tax deal in October 2021, aimed at curtailing the competitive reduction of corporate tax rates.

Executive Order Tightening Immigration Laws

An executive order titled “Protecting The American People Against Invasion” establishes a range of policies designed to restrict immigration. These policies include limiting federal funding to so-called sanctuary jurisdictions, allocating resources for additional detention centers, and creating Homeland Security Task Forces in every state to “utilize all available law enforcement tools to faithfully enforce U.S. immigration laws.”

Executive Order Repealing Environmental Protections in Alaska

The executive order “Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential” reverses various restrictions imposed by the Biden Administration on drilling and resource extraction in Alaska, including protections for areas within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, to facilitate oil, gas, and other resource extraction from the state.

Executive Order to Restrict Visas from Certain Countries

Trump’s order titled “Protecting The United States From Foreign Terrorists And Other National Security And Public Safety Threats” intensifies the scrutiny of visa applicants, particularly those from regions or nations deemed security risks, including refugees or stateless individuals. This order echoes the Muslim travel ban from Trump’s initial term, which he has committed to reinstating.

Executive Order Advocating ‘America First’ Foreign Policy

Trump instructed the Secretary of State to align the State Department with his isolationist foreign policy approach that prioritizes “America and American citizens” in an executive order titled “America First Policy Directive To The Secretary Of State.” Trump’s Secretary of State nominee, Marco Rubio, confirmed this stance during his Senate confirmation hearing, stating: “Under President Trump, the top priority of the United States Department of State will be the United States.”

Executive Order Establishing DOGE

Trump signed an executive order titled “Establishing And Implementing The President’s ‘Department Of Government Efficiency’” that renames the U.S. Digital Service to the “Department of Government Efficiency,” an agency Trump controversially pledged to establish with Elon Musk at the helm. The order grants DOGE advisory powers to enhance governmental efficiency and productivity.

However, this non-governmental advisory body faces multiple lawsuits, including one claiming that DOGE violates the Federal Advisory Committee Act, which oversees the accountability of federal advisory committees.

Executive Order Defining Gender and Reducing Transgender Protections

In an executive order titled “Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism And Restoring Biological Truth To The Federal Government,” Trump specified federal definitions of “women” and “girls” as females, and “men” and “boys” as males, asserting that these definitions are biological, binary, and immutable. The order aims to eliminate the promotion of “gender identity” and “gender ideology” from federal policies and communications. It also mandates that imprisoned trans men be held in women’s prisons and trans women in men’s prisons, and calls for agencies to restrict access to “intimate spaces” based on biological sex rather than identity. Additionally, the order initiates the rollback of Biden-era guidelines concerning transgender individuals and gender identity, including specific Title IX protections, instructing the Attorney General to “ensure the freedom to express the binary nature of sex and the right to single-sex spaces in workplaces and federally funded entities governed by the Civil Rights Act of 1964.”

Executive Order to Eliminate DEI Programs

Trump dismantled federal DEI programs through an executive order titled “Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing.” The order mandates the termination of all DEI, accessibility, and environmental justice offices and roles across the federal government.

Executive Order Advocating Merit-Based Federal Hiring

Trump further targeted DEI initiatives with an executive order titled “Reforming The Federal Hiring Process And Restoring Merit To Government Service.” This order prohibits federal hiring practices based on race, sex, or religion, labeling diversity initiatives as “illegal racial discrimination under the guise of ‘equity’ or commitment to the constructed concept of ‘gender identity’ over biological sex.” It stresses the importance of prioritizing “merit” and “skill” in hiring processes.

Executive Order Designating Gangs as Terrorist Organizations

The President categorized drug cartels, the Salvadoran gang MS-13, and the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua as foreign terrorist organizations in an order titled “Designating Cartels And Other Organizations As Foreign Terrorist Organizations And Specially Designated Global Terrorists.” This classification allows the federal government to prosecute supporters of these cartels for providing material support to terrorists, and the Trump administration intends to invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport anyone designated as a terrorist under this order.

Executive Order Renaming Denali and the Gulf of Mexico

In an executive order titled “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness,” Trump instructed the Secretary of the Interior to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and revert Denali—the highest peak in North America—to its previous name, Mount McKinley. Former President Barack Obama had renamed Mount McKinley to Denali in 2015, honoring a request from Alaska to respect the mountain’s significance to Native Alaskans.

Proclamation Declaring an ‘Invasion’ and Restricting Entry into the U.S.

Trump characterized the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border as an “invasion” in an executive order titled “Guaranteeing The States Protection Against Invasion.” Citing the inability to conduct thorough medical and criminal background checks due to the migrant crisis, as well as “emergency tools” within the Immigration and Nationality Act, the proclamation suspends entry by “any alien engaged in the invasion across the southern border of the United States.” It also instructs the Secretary of Homeland Security, Secretary of State, and Attorney General to “take all appropriate action to repel, repatriate, or remove any alien engaged in the invasion across the southern border of the United States.”