On Inauguration Day, President Donald Trump signed over 20 executive orders and actions, marking a historic move as the most by any U.S. president on their first day in office.

These directives addressed a variety of issues, including granting pardons and sentence commutations for individuals involved in the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, attempting to halt a ban on TikTok, and withdrawing from the World Health Organization.

He began his presidency by reversing 78 executive orders from his predecessor, Joe Biden. These included measures aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, protecting federal lands from oil drilling, and lowering prescription drug prices.

Trump’s actions also targeted immigration, economic policy, environmental regulations, and gender identity, reflecting many of his promised initiatives for his first day.

According to research from the American Presidency Project at the University of California, Santa Barbara, most previous presidents did not issue executive orders during their inaugural day.

Six of Trump’s executive orders were focused on immigration. In a national border emergency declaration, his administration announced plans to use military resources to combat illegal immigration, tackle transnational gangs and drug trafficking, and fulfill his promise of mass deportations for undocumented immigrants.

Many of Trump’s orders will affect federal government operations and its employees. He issued an executive order mandating department heads to require federal workers to return to their workplaces full-time immediately, while allowing for some exemptions.

Additionally, Trump declared that the federal government recognizes only two genders—male and female.

The enforcement of this policy will fall to various agencies, including the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security, impacting documents like passports and visas, as stated by officials from the incoming administration.

Understanding Executive Orders

Presidents frequently utilize executive orders to create councils and commissions, establish broad policies regarding hiring or spending, or grant federal employees a holiday.

These orders are numbered and can be found in the Federal Register. The numbering of executive orders began in 1907 by the Department of State, according to the American Presidency Project.

Executive orders can be revoked or modified through congressional action, court rulings, or new executive orders.

CONTRIBUTING Lauren Villagran, Elizabeth Weise, Gregory Korte, YSL News