President Donald Trump signed a plethora of executive orders within his first few weeks back in office. During his inaugural address, Trump said these orders would “begin the complete restoration of America and the restoration of common sense.”
From immigration to climate change to pushing back on DEI efforts, Trump started his second term aiming to advance his agenda and reverse many of Biden’s administration policies. The following is a non-comprehensive list of some of Trump’s top orders, in no particular order.
Transgender rights, gender and medical access
A number of Trump’s new executive orders target transgender people and medical care, seeking to change how we discuss and classify gender as well as placing age limitations on gender-affirming care.
The day he was inaugurated, Trump signed an order to remove any messages and funding of “gender ideology” in the federal government and to make it official U.S. policy to recognize only two sexes: male and female. This order was effective immediately on Jan. 20.
Trump signed another executive order to eliminate “gender radicalism” in the military and aims to remove transgender troops from the military on Jan. 27. The order suggests these individuals do not align with the military policy of “high standards for troop readiness, lethality, cohesion, honesty, humility, uniformity, and integrity.” A report on how to implement the order is due within 30 days of it being signed, with a due date of Feb. 26.
Trump signed an executive order titled “Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation” on Jan. 28. The order states that individuals under the age of 19 are not allowed to receive gender-affirming care. This includes things such as use of sex hormones like estrogen or androgen, puberty blockers and any surgical procedures that transform appearance or alter sexual organs.
Targeting diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives
Several of Trump’s new orders also aim to roll back on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts, many of which were instated by Biden during his presidency.
One order intends to put an end to DEI programs in the federal government. Several government agencies have been ordered to list all their employees involved in DEI and other social justice-related positions. Agencies must take action within 60 days of the order’s installation, a deadline of March 21.
Trump took another shot at DEI on Jan. 21. He claims many institutions have taken on “immoral race- and sex- based preferences under the guise of so-called ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ (DEI).” The order rolls back several previous orders involved in anti-discrimination and equity matters. Notably, it revokes former President Lyndon B. Johnson’s executive order 11246, which prohibits employers from discriminating based on race, sex, religion and so on.
Mass deportation and anti-immigration actions
Trump signed a number of orders revising immigration policy and gutting asylum at the US-Mexico border. These orders are a reflection of the Trump Administration’s push toward mass deportations and strict immigration policy.
An order titled “Securing Our Borders” aims to reshape how immigrants are able to enter the country. It requires the immediate removal of undocumented migrants and increased law enforcement at the southern border.
The order also seeks to end the use of CBP One, an app commonly used by immigrants seeking asylum in America. It calls for the termination of parole programs that allow individuals facing humanitarian crises to temporarily live in the U.S. and reinstates Migrant Protection Protocols that require those seeking asylum to wait in Mexico until the date of their hearings in America.
Trump also signed an order to end birthright citizenship on Jan. 20, the principle stating that people born in the U.S. are citizens at birth. The order was challenged almost immediately in over 20 states, including Illinois, as they sued to block the order the following day. Federal judge John Coughenour blocked the order temporarily calling it “blatantly unconstitutional.” The order is still undergoing legal processes.
The president signed several other orders: to enhance vetting and screening processes for those attempting to enter the US; to seek the death penalty for crimes committed by undocumented migrants; and freeze the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, now only admitting refugees on a case-by-case basis.
Rollback on climate efforts
Two orders Trump signed concern the environment and undo many climate efforts by the Biden Administration.
Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement, which means that the U.S. will not follow the agreement’s guidelines to cut greenhouse gas emissions in an attempt to curb climate change. While signing the order on stage the day of his inauguration, he called the agreement the “unfair, one-sided Paris climate accord rip-off.” This is Trump’s second time leaving the Paris climate agreement – he also took the U.S. out in 2017 during his first term.
Another order establishes a U.S. policy to “maximize the development and production of natural resources” in Alaska. It rolls back on Biden’s restrictions on oil drilling and mining. Rather than a focus on protecting the environment, the order prioritizes developing natural resources such as gas and oil.
The Trump administration has shown a clear focus on upending many of the policies implemented by former President Joe Biden and on changing the way the country approaches subjects like gender, DEI, immigration and the environment. With some of these orders being effective immediately and others being protested and challenged in courts, the U.S. is in an intense period of change.
