Originally published Feb. 12, 2025, and updated April 29, 2025.
Overview
President Donald Trump promised a dramatic transformation of the federal government during the 2024 election cycle, and he has begun his second term with a staggering number of executive orders designed to remake the executive branch and expand the power of the office.
To learn more about actions the Trump administration is taking or attempting to take, you can begin by watching the segment at the top of this lesson ("Breaking down the first 100 days of Trump's 2nd term and the effects of his agenda" — transcript here). As you watch the video, answer the following questions.
Keep in mind that executive orders are legally-binding written directives signed by the president that instructs the government to take specific actions. They are tied to Article II of the Constitution, which allows the president to “take care that the laws be faithfully executed." Executive orders can be overturned if a court rules them unconstitutional. The Trump administration has issued many executive actions, an umbrella term, which include executive orders, memorandums and other policy directives.
WARM-UP QUESTIONS
- What is an "executive order"?
- How many executive orders did Trump sign in the first 100 days?
- Who did Trump scold in an Oval Office meeting?
- Where has Trump encountered challenges to his immigration policies?
- Why are Trump's actions unusual for the first 100 days of a president's term?
Next, choose from one of the two activities below.
Activity 1
Discuss the difference between executive orders and laws. For context on executive orders, you can use this segment, which aired shortly after Trump took office (you can find a lesson based on the video here.)
You can use the following question to begin the discussion on executive orders — what actions by the Trump administration have the force of law, and which require legislation from Congress to enforce?
Activity 2
Have students choose one of the stories or lessons below based on one or more of the following criteria:
- Which executive action do you think will be most transformational in the U.S.?
- Which executive action do you think is most likely to be reversed in courts, and why?
- Which executive action do you think will impact your own community or life the most?
- Is there something not on the list that the Trump administration has discussed or taken action around that you want to focus on instead?
Have students work in groups to share their choices and summarize each story. Then, have groups share responses with the whole class. Which stories were most chosen by students?
Immigration and citizenship
During his campaign, Trump promised aggressive policies to deport undocumented immigrants and transform immigration and refugee policies. He has also attempted to change long-standing and constitutionally protected birthright citizenship rules.
In March, the administration began revoking legal status for students and others, seemingly for actions such as participating in protests. The administration's policies have met pushback in courts, especially around actions involving deporting migrants to incarcerated in El Salvador based on murky legal authorities. More stories on the administration's actions around immigration can be found here.
Children who are U.S. citizens deported along with foreign-born mothers, attorneys say (April)
Trump administration resumes family detention in immigration crackdown (April)
Visa cancellations and deportations sow panic for international students (April)
Balance of power in focus at federal hearing as Trump’s showdown with judiciary continues (March)
U.S. deports hundreds of Venezuelans to El Salvador under 18th century wartime law (March)
U.S. deporting migrants to Central American stopovers regardless of country of origin (February)
Federal judge puts blocks on Trump’s order to end birthright citizenship (January)
Lesson: The legacy of birthright citizenship in the U.S.
Economy
The Trump administration promised to address inflation and rising costs. Much of the administration's early actions were aimed at slashing federal spending and removing regulations, especially through the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, headed by Elon Musk (see more below).
Trump also promised to introduce large-scale tariffs in an attempt to address trade imbalances and grow manufacturing in the U.S. The announcement of large tariffs across the entire economy in April sent global markets into a tailspin. More stories on the economy can be found here.
U.S. wholesale inflation falls offering possible relief, but trade war threatens to raise prices (April)
Fired federal workers struggling to land new jobs in tightening white-collar sector (April)
How the White House calculated Trump’s sweeping new tariffs (April)
How Trump’s steep tariffs on imported vehicles may affect car prices and the auto industry (March)
Trump says Americans could feel ‘some pain’ as his new tariffs begin to set off a trade war (February)
Lesson: How tariffs impact the economy
Education
The Trump administration has been aggressive in trying to assert control over education in the U.S. for both public and private institutions. It announced the dismantling of the Department of Education in April, and has sought to condition federal money to public and private schools based on meeting the administration's political goals. More stories on the administration and education can be found here.
Judge blocks Trump push to cut public school funding over diversity programs (April)
Harvard sues Trump administration over ‘arbitrary and capricious’ freeze of $2 billion in grants (April)
How college communities are reacting to funding threats, international student arrests (April)
Trump demands admissions overhaul and control of academic department at Columbia University (March)
Schools face deadline to end diversity initiatives under Trump guidelines (February)
Lesson: Different views on Trump administration’s student activist crackdown
Lesson: What's next for the Department of Education after Trump begins effort to eliminate it
Role of the federal government
Some of the first actions of the Trump administration centered on establishing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a special advisory run by Elon Musk with the goal of slashing federal government, including long-established departments and programs such as USAID, the Department of Education and many others.
DOGE's actions and other orders that reshape the federal government have met pushback in courts and by political opposition, since they contradict long-standing law for federal spending and constitutionally-mandated procedure for establishing and funding government programs. You can find more about DOGE and changes to the federal government here.
Utility assistance frozen after Trump administration fires program’s staff (April)
How Trump’s funding freeze is affecting American farmers (March)
EPA plans to cut scientific research, more than 1,000 employees could be fired (March)
Lesson: Trump gives Musk unprecedented access to federal systems
Lesson: Trump’s mass resignation offer creates confusion for federal workers
Criminal enforcement and corruption
President Trump stuck to his promise to pardon those convicted of crimes for actions taken at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The administration has moved to fire all prosecutors and FBI agents associated with investigations of Jan. 6 and install loyalists.
The administration has also moved resources from civil rights enforcement and financial crimes to immigration enforcement. Ahead of his hundredth day, President Trump signed an executive order that suggested the Defense Department may be used in law enforcement. You can find more on criminal enforcement here.
Judge charged with obstructing immigration agents, escalating Trump’s fight with judiciary (April)
Justice Department will disband its team focused on cryptocurrency crimes (April)
Trump directs DOJ to investigate former administration officials who criticized him (April)
Trump administration ends Biden-era task force aimed at seizing Russian oligarchs’ assets (February)
Justice Department drops corruption charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams (February)
Lesson: Trump fires inspectors general across federal agencies
Foreign policy
President Trump's administration has focused on asserting U.S. power and slashing U.S. assistance across the globe. More can be found here.
Trump’s bluster and border arrests cool Canadians’ appetite for U.S. tourism (April)
UN AIDS agency says HIV infections could soar worldwide if U.S. drops support (February)
Trump unleashes chaos by distraction upon the international community (February)
Lesson: Where does U.S. foreign aid go and does it make an impact?
Lesson: World leaders condemn Trump's proposal to take over Gaza
Other actions
Through executive actions, the Trump administration has tried to transform life across the U.S., including an order that attempts to ban medical care for transgender youth, renaming the Gulf of Mexico and more.
Trump signs executive order to establish a White House Faith Office
Trump issues more executive orders targeting immigration and DEI
How possible NIH cuts could threaten future treatment for neurological diseases
Trump signs order banning trans athletes from competing in women’s sports
Extensions and resources
This space will include links to outside sources on Trump's first 100 days, including perspectives of other journalists and scholars. Teachers may also want to have students review this News Hour Classroom lesson from 2017, which examined the first 100 days of Trump's first term.
- Listen to this episode of the Ezra Klein show for a perspective on Trump's goals with his first few weeks. You can also listen to this episode with Yuval Levin.
- See this article from Newsweek on historian Timothy Snyder's comparison of Trump's actions to a coup.
- This collection from Lawfare lists each of Trump's executive actions and their status in courts.
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