President Donald Trump has wasted no time in implementing his agenda through a series of executive orders since taking office for his second term on January 20, 2025. These orders cover a wide range of policy areas, from immigration and border security to healthcare and federal employment. Here’s a detailed look at the key executive actions taken so far:

Immigration and Border Security

Trump has made immigration a centerpiece of his policy agenda, signing several orders aimed at restricting immigration and enhancing border security:

• National Emergency Declaration: Trump declared a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border, vowing to deploy troops to the region, including the National Guard. He also instructed the secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security to construct additional border barriers[1].
• Suspension of Refugee Admissions: The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program resettlements have been suspended “until such time as the further entry into the United States of refugees aligns with the interests of the United States.” The Department of Homeland Security will report back within 90 days on whether resuming refugee entries would be in America’s interests[1].
• Targeting International Cartels: Trump designated certain international cartels and organizations, such as Tren de Aragua and MS-13, as foreign terrorist organizations and announced plans to invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to target them[1].
• Aggressive Interior Enforcement: An executive order titled “Protecting the American People Against Invasion” outlines sweeping changes to immigration enforcement policy, establishing a framework for mass deportation[2].
• Military Involvement in Border Security: Trump signed an order formalizing the use of the military in immigration enforcement by modifying the Unified Command Plan for the United States Northern Command to include “seal[ing] the borders”[2].
• Suspension of Entry for Certain Aliens: Through a proclamation, Trump suspended the physical entry of aliens engaged in what he termed an “invasion” of the United States through the southern border[6].

Energy and Environment

Trump’s executive actions in this area aim to boost domestic energy production and roll back environmental protections:

• National Energy Emergency: Trump declared a “national energy emergency,” ordering expedited, deregulated drilling[1].
• Alaska Energy Production: One order specifically targets energy production in Alaska, rescinding former President Biden’s protections around the state’s coastal areas[1].
• Offshore Wind Leasing Pause: Trump paused offshore wind leasing in federal waters and ordered a review of federal wind leasing[1].
• Paris Climate Agreement Withdrawal: Trump signed an order withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement. This marks the second time Trump has pulled the U.S. out of the pact, as Biden had rejoined during his term[1].

Healthcare

Several executive orders target healthcare policies, particularly focusing on reversing Biden-era initiatives:

• Affordable Care Act (ACA) Changes: Trump rescinded former President Biden’s order that extended enrollment periods for ACA plans in most states and granted additional funding for third parties aiding enrollment[3].
• Drug Pricing Policies: An order rolled back policies aimed at limiting drug spending by Medicaid and Medicare. This included rescinding an executive order that asked the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) to consider new payment and healthcare models to limit drug spending[3].
• World Health Organization Withdrawal: Trump signed an order pulling the U.S. from the World Health Organization, citing the organization’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and other global health crises[1].

Federal Employment and Civil Service

Trump has taken several actions affecting federal workers and the structure of the civil service:

• Schedule F Reinstatement: Trump reestablished “Schedule F” (now called “Schedule Policy/Career”), which could make it easier to fire civil servants deemed disloyal. This order could strip employment protections from thousands of federal employees[1][4].
• Return to Office Work: Trump required a full-time return to in-office work for federal employees[1][7].
• Federal Hiring Freeze: A hiring freeze was ordered on government positions, with exceptions for the military, immigration enforcement, national security, or public safety[1][7].
• Elimination of DEI Programs: Trump ordered the termination of what he called “discriminatory and illegal” preferences, policies, programs, and guidance related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives[1].

Other Significant Actions

• January 6 Pardons: Trump pardoned the vast majority of Jan. 6 defendants charged with participating in the Capitol riot and commuted the sentences of 14 others[1].
• TikTok Ban Extension: The TikTok ban was suspended for 75 days[1].
• Renaming Geographic Features: Trump ordered the renaming of Denali to Mount McKinley and the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America[1].
• Federal Architecture: An order was signed declaring that federal buildings should “respect regional, traditional, and classical architectural heritage”[1].
• Security Clearance Revocations: Trump revoked security clearances of his former national security adviser, John Bolton, and former intelligence officials who signed a letter discrediting the Hunter Biden laptop story[1].

Implications and Challenges

Many of these executive orders are likely to face legal challenges. The aggressive expansion of executive power, particularly in areas like immigration enforcement and civil service reform, may lead to constitutional questions and court battles[4].

The immigration orders, in particular, represent a significant shift in policy. The expansion of expedited removal and the emphasis on detention could have far-reaching impacts on due process and access to legal representation for immigrants[9].

In the healthcare sector, the rollback of ACA enrollment support and changes to drug pricing policies could affect millions of Americans’ access to healthcare and prescription drugs[3][10].

The reinstatement of Schedule F (now Schedule Policy/Career) could dramatically reshape the federal workforce, potentially politicizing traditionally non-partisan civil service positions[4].

Conclusion

President Trump’s executive orders in the first days of his second term represent a sweeping effort to implement his policy agenda across multiple fronts. From immigration and energy policy to healthcare and federal employment, these orders signal significant changes in how the federal government operates and interacts with the American public.

Many of these actions are likely to face legal challenges and will require further regulatory action to fully implement. As the administration moves forward, the full impact of these executive orders will become clearer, shaping the policy landscape for the next four years and potentially beyond.

It’s important for citizens, policymakers, and stakeholders across various sectors to stay informed about these changes and understand their potential implications. As always, the implementation and long-term effects of these executive orders will depend on a complex interplay of legal, political, and practical factors in the coming months and years.

Citations:

Citation [1]
Citation [2]
Citation [3]
Citation [4]
Citation [5]
Citation [6]
Citation [7]
Citation [8]
Citation [9]
Citation [10]https://www.axios.com/2025/01/21/president-donald-trump-executive-orders-list,https://immigrationforum.org/article/trumps-executive-actions-escalating-immigration-enforcement-and-mass-deportation/,https://www.maynardnexsen.com/publication-president-trumps-latest-executive-orders-impacting-health-care,https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/president-trump-and-the-civil-service–day-1,https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/after-day-one-high-level-analysis-trumps-first-executive-actions,https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/01/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-protects-the-states-and-the-american-people-by-closing-the-border-to-illegals-via-proclamation/,https://www.foley.com/insights/publications/2025/01/trump-orders-hiring-freeze-return-work-federal-employees/,https://www.politico.com/interactives/2025/trump-executive-orders-project-2025/,https://www.vera.org/explainers/trumps-week-one-orders-on-immigration-law-explained,https://healthlaw.org/president-trumps-day-one-actions-threaten-medicaid-and-the-aca/