President-elect Trump is reportedly planning to sign at least 25 executive orders immediately upon assuming office.
Reuters reports that President-elect Donald Trump intends to issue over 25 executive orders on his first day, significantly altering various government policies. Sources close to Trump told the agency he aims for a decisive start, exceeding the scale and speed of his first term’s actions. Additional orders are expected in the following days and weeks.
“The American people can count on President Trump using his executive authority from day one to fulfill his campaign promises,” Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt stated to Reuters on Wednesday.
Executive orders are presidential directives guiding government operations within constitutional limits. President Biden initiated his term in 2021 with 17 such orders, primarily reversing Trump’s policies.
According to Reuters, initial orders will target immigration enforcement, including restarting the border wall construction project with Mexico. While this might face opposition from Democratic-led states, federal court rulings under the Biden administration affirmed the federal government’s sole authority on immigration matters.
One planned order would terminate birthright citizenship, currently granted based on the 14th Amendment’s interpretation. Trump’s aides assured Reuters the administration will defend this legally.
Other anticipated orders aim to reverse the Biden administration’s emphasis on “equity,” including transgender policies, racial preferences, and mandatory “diversity training” for federal contractors.
A State Department transition team source described an executive order reviewing hiring practices, prioritizing merit over identity-based selection.
Stephen Miller, recently named Trump’s deputy chief of staff for policy, is reportedly overseeing the executive order process. The measures reportedly draw from drafts by think tanks like the America First Policy Institute, the Conservative Partnership Institute, and the Heritage Foundation.
Many of Trump’s first-term executive orders faced legal challenges from Democrats. Although most were ultimately upheld, the delays hindered their implementation before Biden’s inauguration.