President-elect Donald Trump plans to issue more than 25 executive orders on January 20, his first day in office. According to Reuters, Trump aims to make a “big splash” by wielding his executive authority to reverse Biden-era policies and solidify his second-term agenda.
“The American people can bank on President Trump using his executive power on day one to deliver on the promises he made to them on the campaign trail,” Trump spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told Reuters. The projected volume of executive orders marks a stark departure from Trump’s 2017 inauguration, during which he signed only one, followed by a handful more in the first weeks of his presidency.
By contrast, President Joe Biden signed 17 executive orders on his first day in 2021, most aimed at undoing Trump’s policies, as mentioned by Reuters. Trump’s approach this time reflects a more aggressive posture, aided by a team of advisors, including longtime aide and incoming White House deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security advisor Stephen Miller.
Immigration Crackdown
One of the most high-profile areas of reform will be immigration. Trump’s new slate of executive orders will aim to roll back policies enacted by Biden, whom Trump accuses of being too lenient on border enforcement.
According to Reuters, Trump plans to restart construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall and grant immigration officers broader authority to arrest illegal immigrants, including those without criminal records. He is also expected to send more troops to the southern border.
Perhaps the most controversial move is his plan to end birthright citizenship. On Sunday, Trump told NBC’s Meet the Press that this action would be one of his first priorities.
However, such an action would likely face legal challenges as it allegedly conflicts with the 14th Amendment, which most people say guarantees birthright citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil, a position historically upheld by the Supreme Court.
Reversing Climate Agenda
Another priority for Trump is energy independence. In keeping with his 2016 campaign slogan, “Drill, baby, drill,” Trump will aim to reignite domestic energy production, reversing Biden’s climate-focused restrictions on oil and gas.
Trump would likely issue executive orders to increase oil and gas drilling, fracking, and other fossil-fuel production activities on federal lands. The president-elect had been consistent in claiming that his administration’s goal would be reducing U.S. dependence on foreign energy sources. Therefore, the energy orders will likely target federal land use regulations, offshore drilling restrictions, and leasing freezes introduced by the Biden administration.
This prospected policy push mirrors Trump’s first-term approach, during which he spearheaded a comprehensive rollback of nearly 100 environmental regulations in an effort to promote energy independence and economic growth.
Culture War
Trump’s executive order blitz will also wade into the ongoing U.S. culture wars.
Trump intends to roll back federal policies regarding “transgender” public-school students, according to sources quoted by Reuters. The Biden administration had expanded Title IX protections to cover gender identity. Trump has sharply criticized these changes, calling them “left-wing indoctrination,” and vowed to strip federal funding from schools that teach critical race theory (CRT).
His administration will also take aim at diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in the federal workforce. According to Reuters, Trump is preparing an executive order that would prohibit federal contractors from conducting “diversity training.”
Hiring Practices at Federal Agencies
Trump’s team is also targeting ineffective hiring practices within federal agencies. According to Reuters, an executive order under development for the State Department would seek to determine whether any hiring decisions were based on “race or gender-based characteristics rather than merit.” This initiative reflects Trump’s broader agenda to reform civil service employment practices, aiming to prioritize skills and qualifications over other considerations. A notable aspect of this plan is the proposed reimplementation of “Schedule F,” a policy introduced via executive order in October 2020. This policy sought to reclassify certain federal positions, making it easier to hire and remove employees in policy-related roles. Although the policy was rescinded by the Biden administration, Trump has indicated intentions to revive it.
Sources told Reuters that the details of this order are still being debated, and it is unclear if it will be signed on Day One. If implemented, the review could impact hiring and promotion processes at multiple federal agencies.
Power at the Stroke of a Pen
If successful, Trump’s strategy would represent one of the most assertive uses of executive authority by any U.S. president. Unlike legislation, which requires Congressional approval, executive orders allow presidents to act unilaterally, bypassing the legislative process. Trump’s plan to issue more than 25 executive orders on Day One — a scale previously unseen in modern U.S. history — signals his intent to swiftly reshape policy on immigration, energy, and social issues. This approach reflects a desire for immediate impact and a broader strategy to cement his campaign promises into federal policy.
However, the dangers of unilateral presidential actions have long been a subject of debate. While executive orders provide presidents with a tool for 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, leaving major policy changes vulnerable to reversal by future administrations or legal challenges in federal courts.
The legacy of executive orders is clear: They enable presidents to act decisively, but not always durably. The ultimate fate of Trump’s executive orders will depend on their legality, the scope of judicial challenges, and the willingness of future presidents to maintain or dismantle them. For now, Trump’s Day One agenda appears poised to deliver one of the most dramatic policy shifts in recent memory. Whether these changes will endure beyond his presidency remains to be seen.
