On his first day back in office, US President Donald Trump wasted no time in issuing a wave of executive orders to reverse many policies enacted by his predecessor, President Joe Biden. These actions marked a strong shift away from Biden’s administration on crucial issues like immigration, the environment, and diversity initiatives.
Trump focused on undoing Biden’s significant domestic policies, particularly those aimed at tackling climate change and reforming immigration. In his address on Monday evening, Trump announced the revocation of nearly 80 executive orders he deemed “disruptive and radical,” many of which had reshaped the federal government’s approach to issues such as the refugee program and the use of private prisons.
One of Trump’s key orders froze federal hiring, with exceptions for military personnel and roles linked to immigration enforcement, national security, and public safety. He also reintroduced the Schedule F category for federal workers, removing job protections for civil servants.
In immigration, Trump took swift action to limit asylum for new arrivals at the southern border and pursued the controversial goal of ending birthright citizenship for children born to undocumented immigrants, a right guaranteed by the 14th Amendment.
The president also made moves to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion programs across the federal government, defining gender strictly as male or female and rescinding protections for transgender individuals in federal prisons.
In terms of trade and energy, Trump directed federal agencies to investigate trade practices, including trade deficits and unfair currency manipulation, and examine the flow of migrants and drugs from neighboring countries. He also withdrew the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement and took steps to address national security concerns regarding TikTok, a platform with 170 million American users.
