WASHINGTON – On Monday morning, President Donald Trump took the oath of office, marking the start of his second term with a bold and assertive return to power.

The 47th president wasted no time in re-establishing his administration.

He has returned to the White House and immediately began signing a series of executive orders to set his presidency in motion.

His Cabinet is starting to form, with Marco Rubio being swiftly approved as the first member by the Senate on Monday evening.

Trump is not alone in this new phase in Washington. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune are scheduled to meet with the new president on Tuesday as Republican lawmakers begin drafting legislation to support his agenda, all while addressing the narrow margins in both chambers.

Shaping the New Cabinet

Once Trump officially resumed his presidency, he was able to nominate members for his Cabinet, which must be confirmed by the Senate.

The new administration quickly secured a major triumph with Rubio’s unanimous confirmation as Secretary of State, just hours after the inauguration ceremony.

Rubio, who is expected to reflect both his and Trump’s strong stance on defense, mentioned that the new government aims to work towards a ceasefire in Ukraine but acknowledged that the negotiations would be “complicated.”

“Russia’s the aggressor in this conflict, but we need to find a resolution to this war, and that introduces the complexities of foreign policy,” Rubio explained to reporters following the vote. “You may not always have a clear choice between good and bad options; often, it’s about assessing which choice minimizes harm and maintains stability.”

Additional confirmations are anticipated in the coming week to fill positions that will help implement Trump’s objectives. Even some of Trump’s more contentious Cabinet nominees might secure approval.

Pete Hegseth, nominated for Defense Secretary, entered the confirmation stage facing allegations of sexual assault, financial misconduct, and inappropriate behavior at work. During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing last week, Democrats raised these issues sharply.

Yet Republicans offered mainly supportive questions, including from Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, who was once seen as a potential swing voter, suggesting a good chance for Hegseth’s approval in the GOP-dominated chamber. A committee meeting took place on Monday evening, resulting in a 14-13 vote along party lines to advance his nomination.

When asked about concerns regarding Hegseth’s relative inexperience, Armed Services Committee Chair Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., expressed no worries.

“I believe he possesses substantial knowledge, and frankly, we need some significant changes in the Pentagon,” he remarked.

Among the remaining nominees awaiting confirmation scrutiny are Robert F. Kennedy Jr., nominated for Secretary of Health and Human Services, and Tulsi Gabbard, nominated as Director of National Intelligence.

A Surge of Executive Orders

On his first day in office, Trump signed numerous executive orders.

He initiated by halting pending regulations until he gains greater control over the federal government, which he plans to fill in the months to come with political appointees. He also imposed a hiring freeze for federal positions.

He revoked 78 executive orders from President Joe Biden and exited the United States from the Paris climate agreement, an international pact aimed at combating climate change. Additionally, he signed orders to prevent “government censorship of free speech” and combat the “weaponization of the government.”

Upon returning to the White House, he granted pardons to around 1,500 individuals connected to criminal charges from the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot; declared a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border; reformed the constitutional right to birthright citizenship; and classified cartels as “foreign terrorist organizations.”

Like most presidents, Trump is expected to continue issuing executive orders in these early days as it’s the quickest way to advance his governmental goals, especially those linked to his campaign promises.

He has, however, held off on immediately applying tariffs on countries such as China, Canada, and Mexico – a pledge he reiterated during his inaugural address.

“I will start the process of overhauling our trade system immediately to benefit American workers and families,” Trump declared during his inaugural speech. “Instead of taxing our citizens to enrich foreign nations, we will impose tariffs and taxes on other countries to uplift our citizens.”

Congress Charts its Next Steps

With the ceremonial traditions concluded, Congress is set to translate Trump’s agenda into law under the new GOP leadership.

Lawmakers plan to pass measures aimed at restricting migration at the southern border, enhancing domestic energy production, and extending Trump’s tax policies from 2017, alongside introducing new ones.

“Republicans are hard at work on our legislative priorities,” Thune, R-S.D., informed Trump during a speech at the inaugural luncheon Monday. “Among other goals, we focus on extending tax relief for American families, removing burdensome Biden regulations, bolstering our military, and securing the border.”

However, there has been a disconnect between the House and Senate regarding the best way to move the legislation forward. They plan to utilize a process known as “reconciliation,” allowing them to enact laws related to revenue or spending without needing Democratic support in the Senate.

Due to tight margins in the House, its leaders prefer to pass the entire agenda in one comprehensive bill. In contrast, the Senate is inclined to pursue two separate bills that would provide a quick victory on border and energy legislation while allowing more time to address complex tax matters. Both sides have indicated they will attempt to pass one bill and consider switching to two if that approach fails.

Additionally, lawmakers must address the looming debt ceiling, which is projected to be reached on Tuesday. Johnson has proposed raising the debt limit by $1.5 trillion and cutting spending by $2.5 trillion while also advancing Trump’s agenda. Navigating this will be tricky, given the political sensitivities surrounding raising the debt ceiling, especially with many current members having never previously voted for such an increase.

Johnson aims to finalize the package by April. Meanwhile, the majority is working on legislation that aligns with its objectives while seeking Democratic support. On Monday night, the Senate approved the Laken Riley Act, which mandates U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain noncitizens convicted of specific crimes. This is expected to be the first legislation of this Congress.

Trump’s first day back in the White House was action-packed and lasted just under 24 hours. Day two is unlikely to slow down.