President Donald Trump has garnered significant global attention since his inauguration on January 20, 2025, just over two weeks ago. In that time, he has signed 45 executive orders, 26 of which were on the first day—a record for any president’s first day.
The executive orders regard a wide variety of subjects like energy, trade, foreign policy, diversity, immigration, civil service, and technology. After four days in office, Time found that almost two-thirds of the executive orders mirrored, or partially mirrored, policy proposals in Project 2025, a 900+ page playbook for a conservative presidency.
The following 25 actions that Trump has taken that concern American citizens and the world alike.
Withdrew from international agreements and organizations like the World Health Organization and the Paris Agreement on climate change.
Withdrew from the United Nations Human Rights Council and United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees.
Declared that there are only two genders, male and female, in an attempt to protect women and shield children from gender ideology.
Pardoned about 1,500 individuals who engaged in the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol, including those who violently attacked law enforcement.
Eliminated federal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) program initiatives, placing DEI hires on leave.
Declared a national energy emergency, suspended environmental regulations in order to expedite energy projects, and wants to review other regulations that hinder production.
Imposed trade tariffs on Colombian, Chinese, Canadian, and Mexican goods, for which the consumer will end up paying.
Created the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, which aims to reduce spending and streamline federal operations. However, this comes with privacy and data security concerns as personal data could be misused by inexperienced employees, operational concerns as they are taking drastic measures to shut down agencies and purge officials, and questionable effectiveness because it is redundant to the Government Accountability Office.
Declared a national emergency at the southern border, initiated mass deportations, made arrangements with seven countries to accept the deportees, revoked policies which limit ICE’s jurisdiction in schools and churches, and reinstated the “Return to Mexico” policy, cutting off those seeking asylum from persecution.
Ordered 10,000 more US troops to the southern border and wants to build 14 new detention facilities in addition to using existing facilities and military bases for detention centers.
Ordered the expansion of Guantanamo Bay, an infamous detention facility in Cuba where US laws do not apply to prisoners, to be used as a detention facility for up to 30,000 detainees.
Designated the cartel and other organizations as terrorist groups.
Through the executive orders, Trump is preparing to fire federal employees and hire civil servants who will be loyal to him.
Banned transgender individuals from serving in the military.
Reversed Affirmative Action, which are procedures designed to end illegal discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
Disbanded the Aviation Security Advisory which provided recommendations for aviation safety and security and fired the head of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
Proposed to acquire Greenland to expand US territory and gain resources, but Denmark will not sell Greenland.
Proposed to reclaim control over the Panama Canal for strategic purposes.
Authorized the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America in order to reclaim American Greatness.
Reversed consumer protection regulations including those related to product safety recalls for public health.
Halted the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report which disseminates public health information and ordered the CDC to retract public research and information about birth control, gender identity, pregnancy, abortion, sexual orientation, sexually transmitted diseases, and more.
Suspended nearly all foreign aid except for military assistance to Israel and Egypt. This cuts off humanitarian programs that provide medicine, food, shelter, and subsistence assistance to millions of people globally.
Ordered the end of “racial indoctrination” in K-12 schooling through education on social justice and racism.
Proposed the “Iron Dome for America” to protect against possible advanced aerial attacks.
