By — Lisa Desjardins Lisa Desjardins Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/trumps-day-1-executive-actions Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Trump’s Day 1 executive actions Politics Jan 22, 2025 3:28 PM EDT For more politics coverage and analysis, sign up for Here’s the Deal, our weekly politics newsletter, here. The second Trump administration began with a hefty Day 1, rolling out dozens of executive actions. It is a blizzard of decrees, which we read through overnight. A few are operation matters. Trump made his nominee list official, organized his National Security Council, and allowed his chief counsel to give temporary clearances to a list of people. Most of these are aimed at direct changes in the policy and operations of the United States. One of the largest executive orders rescinds a whopping 78 Biden policies. Several are expected to draw quick court challenges. And many do not provide details for how these will be administered. But Trump is quickly acting to set up his agenda. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. As a reminder: There are different kinds of actions a president can take, including executive orders, proclamations and memorandums. Here’s a quick refresher before we get started. Here are some initial highlights. Border How the Trump administration is setting the groundwork for mass deportations. Video by PBS NewsHour Declared a national emergency at the southern border Directed the U.S. military to prioritize missions around sealing and protecting the U.S. border A series of changes to secure the border: constructing more barriers, relaunching “Remain in Mexico,” ending use of the CBP One app for asylum seekers and others, ending parole for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans Ordered Homeland Security to set up more detention facilities for migrants and establish “Homeland Security Task Forces” in every state to focus on gangs, cartels, and trafficking of drugs and migrants Directed agencies to look into potential travel bans within 60 days Declared an “invasion” at the southern border. This directs that entry by undocumented migrants will be blocked Designated cartels as foreign terrorist organizations Immigration A look at the history of U.S. immigration policies that led to today’s complex system. Video by PBS NewsHour Beginning in 30 days, Trump plans to end birthright citizenship. (Several states have already filed lawsuits challenging the order) Beginning Jan. 27, the U.S. Refugees Admissions Program will be suspended and placed under review Federal workers and buildings Ends work from home. Requires federal workers to be in the office full time “as soon as practicable” Set a hiring freeze for all vacant positions, with the exception of immigration enforcement, national security or public safety Reclassified thousands of workers as political hires, making them easier to fire and hire Directed the firing and replacing of current boards that oversee senior career workers Froze the issuing of all new regulations until a Trump appointee arrives to review Some 52 former national security officials will lose their clearances New federal buildings must follow traditional, classical architecture. The president should be notified of any other designs Flags must fly at full staff on Inauguration Day Department of Justice TikTok ban will not be enforced for 75 days Pardons and commutations granted for nearly every Jan.6 defendant, including most of those convicted of harming police officers. Directs the attorney general to dismiss all pending indictments Directs the DOJ to pursue the death penalty in some specific cases Energy and climate Declared a national energy emergency Sent notice that the U.S. will withdraw from the Paris climate agreement Established that U.S. policy is to encourage energy production on federal lands Rolled back Biden-era emissions standards, which Trump calls the “EV mandate” Temporarily blocked new wind production on the outer continental shelf and calls for a review of wind permits Declares the U.S. will focus on maximizing fossil fuel production in Alaska Gender rights Ordered that only two genders will be recognized by the United States: male and female. New government records and policies must conform Geographical Denali mountain in Alaska must be renamed “Mount McKinley” in the next 30 days The Gulf of Mexico must be renamed “Gulf of America” in the next 30 days Directed agencies to route more water from the Sacramento Basin in California to other parts of the state International The potential impacts of Trump’s decision to withdraw from the World Health Organization. Video by PBS NewsHour Orders the U.S. to withdraw from the World Health Organization Paused all foreign development aid for 90 days End commitments to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s global tax deal DOGE Transformed the current U.S. Digital Service into the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE Speech, facts and law Banned government from encouraging or pressuring social media to evaluate “misinformation.” Launched investigation of the past four years in government in this area Agencies must correct “weaponization” and investigate the past four years of government in this area General goals Agencies must deliver emergency price relief The State Department must have an “America First” policy We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now By — Lisa Desjardins Lisa Desjardins Lisa Desjardins is a correspondent for PBS News Hour, where she covers news from the U.S. Capitol while also traveling across the country to report on how decisions in Washington affect people where they live and work. @LisaDNews
For more politics coverage and analysis, sign up for Here’s the Deal, our weekly politics newsletter, here. The second Trump administration began with a hefty Day 1, rolling out dozens of executive actions. It is a blizzard of decrees, which we read through overnight. A few are operation matters. Trump made his nominee list official, organized his National Security Council, and allowed his chief counsel to give temporary clearances to a list of people. Most of these are aimed at direct changes in the policy and operations of the United States. One of the largest executive orders rescinds a whopping 78 Biden policies. Several are expected to draw quick court challenges. And many do not provide details for how these will be administered. But Trump is quickly acting to set up his agenda. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. As a reminder: There are different kinds of actions a president can take, including executive orders, proclamations and memorandums. Here’s a quick refresher before we get started. Here are some initial highlights. Border How the Trump administration is setting the groundwork for mass deportations. Video by PBS NewsHour Declared a national emergency at the southern border Directed the U.S. military to prioritize missions around sealing and protecting the U.S. border A series of changes to secure the border: constructing more barriers, relaunching “Remain in Mexico,” ending use of the CBP One app for asylum seekers and others, ending parole for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans Ordered Homeland Security to set up more detention facilities for migrants and establish “Homeland Security Task Forces” in every state to focus on gangs, cartels, and trafficking of drugs and migrants Directed agencies to look into potential travel bans within 60 days Declared an “invasion” at the southern border. This directs that entry by undocumented migrants will be blocked Designated cartels as foreign terrorist organizations Immigration A look at the history of U.S. immigration policies that led to today’s complex system. Video by PBS NewsHour Beginning in 30 days, Trump plans to end birthright citizenship. (Several states have already filed lawsuits challenging the order) Beginning Jan. 27, the U.S. Refugees Admissions Program will be suspended and placed under review Federal workers and buildings Ends work from home. Requires federal workers to be in the office full time “as soon as practicable” Set a hiring freeze for all vacant positions, with the exception of immigration enforcement, national security or public safety Reclassified thousands of workers as political hires, making them easier to fire and hire Directed the firing and replacing of current boards that oversee senior career workers Froze the issuing of all new regulations until a Trump appointee arrives to review Some 52 former national security officials will lose their clearances New federal buildings must follow traditional, classical architecture. The president should be notified of any other designs Flags must fly at full staff on Inauguration Day Department of Justice TikTok ban will not be enforced for 75 days Pardons and commutations granted for nearly every Jan.6 defendant, including most of those convicted of harming police officers. Directs the attorney general to dismiss all pending indictments Directs the DOJ to pursue the death penalty in some specific cases Energy and climate Declared a national energy emergency Sent notice that the U.S. will withdraw from the Paris climate agreement Established that U.S. policy is to encourage energy production on federal lands Rolled back Biden-era emissions standards, which Trump calls the “EV mandate” Temporarily blocked new wind production on the outer continental shelf and calls for a review of wind permits Declares the U.S. will focus on maximizing fossil fuel production in Alaska Gender rights Ordered that only two genders will be recognized by the United States: male and female. New government records and policies must conform Geographical Denali mountain in Alaska must be renamed “Mount McKinley” in the next 30 days The Gulf of Mexico must be renamed “Gulf of America” in the next 30 days Directed agencies to route more water from the Sacramento Basin in California to other parts of the state International The potential impacts of Trump’s decision to withdraw from the World Health Organization. Video by PBS NewsHour Orders the U.S. to withdraw from the World Health Organization Paused all foreign development aid for 90 days End commitments to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s global tax deal DOGE Transformed the current U.S. Digital Service into the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE Speech, facts and law Banned government from encouraging or pressuring social media to evaluate “misinformation.” Launched investigation of the past four years in government in this area Agencies must correct “weaponization” and investigate the past four years of government in this area General goals Agencies must deliver emergency price relief The State Department must have an “America First” policy We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now