Before President Donald Trump’s inauguration, Republican Senator John Barrasso from Wyoming predicted a “shock and awe” approach with executive orders.

Barrasso remarked on CBS News’ “Face the Nation” that there would be “a blizzard of executive orders affecting the economy and border policies.”

Trump certainly delivered.

On his first day, he rolled out around 200 executive actions. While this number appears excessive and potentially an overreach of executive power, such actions are not unprecedented in our modern presidential history.

Contemporary presidents have increasingly relied on executive powers to implement their agendas, and former President Joe Biden significantly escalated this approach. In his initial 100 days, Biden issued numerous orders and actions that challenged the limits of presidential power, many of which reversed Trump’s policies, particularly those related to immigration and borders.

In response, it’s not surprising that Trump rescinded nearly 80 of Biden’s directives as one of his first actions in office.

Why is there this growing dependence on executive authority?

“This country is deeply divided on numerous issues, reflected in Congress, making it incredibly challenging to pass legislation,” explained Hans von Spakovsky, a senior legal fellow at The Heritage Foundation. “Additionally, the expansion of the executive branch has extended its influence into various areas of American lives, businesses, and professions.”

While presidents have the right to guide their administrations’ policies, the ongoing flip-flop of executive orders is neither sustainable nor beneficial for the country.

Trump Should Collaborate with Congress

Trump begins his second term with a Republican-controlled Congress. Although the GOP holds a slim majority, the president has an opportunity to create lasting change by encouraging lawmakers to transform many of his initial executive actions into law.

This is the course of action he should take.

Presidents wield extensive authority, as granted by the Constitution or Congress, to determine executive branch policy. However, as evidenced in the past eight years, such orders can be just as easily reversed as they are enacted.

For example, in his “Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions,” Trump justified his cancellation of Biden’s orders by stating: “The previous administration has embedded deeply unpopular, inflationary, illegal, and radical practices within every agency and office of the Federal Government. The concept of ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ (DEI) has corrupted our institutions, replacing the principles of hard work, merit, and equality with a divisive hierarchy. Policies to open the borders have jeopardized American safety and depleted resources meant for the benefit of citizens. Climate extremism has led to rampant inflation and imposed burdensome regulations on businesses.”

Trump’s assertions hold weight, and they align with the voters’ mandate when they elected him.

However, he must put in the effort to get Congress to act as well.

Biden Exceeded His Authority. Trump Should Steer Clear of That Pitfall.

During Biden’s presidency, I often criticized him for exceeding his presidential powers, whether related to COVID-19 or student loans. The courts also took action against many of his initiatives.

Just because Biden took these steps doesn’t imply Trump should follow suit. In reality, Trump should choose to uphold higher standards.

Nonetheless, Trump also issued concerning executive orders recently, including delaying the TikTok ban and addressing birthright citizenship.

The TikTok ban was legislated by Congress, signed into law by Biden, and upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, raising questions about Trump’s legal grounds to reverse it.

Birthright citizenship is a constitutional guarantee, and while Trump aims to deter illegal immigration, he cannot infringe on these fundamental rights.

Furthermore, Trump’s reliance on “national emergencies” is disheartening. He declared a national emergency at the southern border (a move he also made in his first term) and similarly declared an energy emergency.

These emergency declarations allow him to take swift action without congressional approval. However, this approach closely mirrors Biden’s reliance on extending the COVID-19 related “national emergency” declaration, which extended for longer than necessary to utilize his executive powers.

Trump has a four-year window to solidify his legacy. I acknowledge the urgency to act, but relying on presidential decrees is not the right path forward.

Ingrid Jacques is a columnist for News. Connect with her on X, formerly Twitter: @Ingrid_Jacques