President-elect Donald Trump is scheduled to issue more than 25 executive orders on January 20, his first day in office. According to Reuters, President Trump aims to create a “big story” by using his executive powers to reverse Biden-era policies and solidify his agenda for a second term.
“Americans can count on President Trump to use his executive powers from day one to deliver on the promises he made to the people during his campaign,” Trump spokeswoman Caroline Leavitt told Reuters. The expected volume of executive orders is a far cry from the one Trump signed on Inauguration Day in 2017, and then several more in his first weeks in office.
In contrast, President Joe Biden signed 17 executive orders on the first day of 2021, most of which were aimed at reversing President Trump's policies, as noted by Reuters . Trump's approach this time reflects a more assertive stance, supported by a team of advisers that includes longtime aide and incoming White House deputy chief of policy and homeland security adviser Stephen Miller.
Immigration control
One of the areas that will receive the most attention for reform will be immigration. Trump's new executive order aims to reverse policies enacted by Biden, but Trump has accused Biden of being too lenient on border enforcement.
According to Reuters, President Trump plans to restart construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall and give immigration officials the power to arrest illegal immigrants, including those with no criminal record. It is also expected to send more troops to the southern border.
Perhaps the most controversial move is his plan to abolish birthright citizenship. On Sunday, President Trump told NBC's Meet the Press that the action would be one of his top priorities.
But such a lawsuit would likely face legal challenges, as it would violate the 14th Amendment, which guarantees birthright citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil. The law has historically been a position supported by the Supreme Court.
Reversing the climate change agenda
Another priority of President Trump is energy independence. Following his 2016 campaign slogan, “Drill, baby, drill,” Trump will seek to rescind Biden's climate-focused oil and gas regulations and reignite domestic energy production.
President Trump is likely to issue executive orders that would increase oil and gas drilling, hydraulic fracturing, and other fossil fuel production activities on federal lands. The president-elect has consistently maintained that his administration's goal is to reduce America's dependence on foreign energy sources. As such, energy orders are likely to include federal land-use regulations, offshore drilling restrictions, and lease freezes put in place by the Biden administration.
This anticipated policy push mirrors President Trump's first-term approach, in which he spearheaded a comprehensive rollback of nearly 100 environmental regulations to promote energy independence and economic growth.
culture war
President Trump's blitzkrieg will also have an impact on America's ongoing culture wars.
President Trump intends to reverse federal policy regarding “transgender” public school students, according to sources cited by Reuters. The Biden administration had expanded Title IX protections to cover gender identity. President Trump has harshly criticized these changes, calling them “left-wing indoctrination,” and vowed to strip federal funding from schools that teach critical race theory (CRT).
The administration will also take aim at diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in the federal workforce. According to Reuters, President Trump is preparing an executive order that would ban federal contractors from conducting “diversity training.”
Employment practices in federal agencies
Trump's team is also targeting inefficient hiring practices within federal agencies. According to Reuters, an executive order being developed by the State Department would determine whether hiring decisions are based on “racial or gender-based characteristics rather than ability.” The effort reflects President Trump's broader policy to reform hiring practices for public servants, aiming to prioritize skills and qualifications over other considerations. A notable feature of this plan is the proposed reimplementation of Schedule F, a policy introduced by executive order in October 2020. The policy aims to reclassify certain jobs in the federal government, making it easier to hire and fire employees for policy-related roles. The policy was rescinded by the Biden administration, but President Trump has indicated he intends to reinstate it.
Officials told Reuters the details of the order were still being discussed and it was unclear whether it would be signed on the first day. If implemented, this review could impact hiring and promotion processes at multiple federal agencies.
Demonstrate power with a single stroke of the pen
If successful, President Trump's strategy would represent one of the most aggressive uses of executive power by a U.S. president. Unlike laws, which require Congressional approval, executive orders bypass the legislative process and allow the president to act unilaterally. President Trump's plan to issue more than 25 executive orders on his first day is unprecedented in modern U.S. history, and his plan to quickly reshape policy on immigration, energy, and social issues. It shows intent. This approach reflects a desire for immediate impact and a broader strategy to cement his campaign promises into federal policy.
But the dangers of unilateral presidential action have long been the subject of debate. While executive orders provide the president with tools to take swift and decisive action, they also raise concerns about the balance of power in a constitutional system designed to limit executive overreach. Critics argue that reliance on executive orders circumvents the legislative process and leaves major policy changes open to being reversed by future administrations or subject to legal challenges in federal court. .
The legacy of the executive order is clear. Executive orders allow the president to take decisive action, but not necessarily permanently. The ultimate fate of President Trump's executive order will depend on its legality, the scope for judicial challenge, and whether a future president upholds or repeals the order. So far, President Trump's first day agenda appears poised to bring about one of the most dramatic policy shifts in recent memory. It remains to be seen whether these changes will last beyond his presidential term.
