Full List of Donald Trump's Executive Orders Signed in First Week
Published Jan 20, 2025
President Donald Trump ordered the declassification of files related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in his latest round of executive orders Thursday.
During his first week in office, Trump signed a flurry of executive orders enacting his conservative agenda, quickly fulfilling campaign promises with several immigration-related executive orders, ending diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, and orders related to the economy and energy production.
Among other things, the president withdrew from the landmark Paris Agreement, rescinded 78 Biden-era executive actions and implemented a federal hiring freeze.
Follow updates on Trump's executive orders here.
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Declassification of JFK Files
The order says that "the continued redaction and withholding of information from records pertaining to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy is not consistent with the public interest and the release of these records is long overdue."
The order requires the director of national intelligence and attorney general, along with the assistant to the president for national security affairs and counsel to the president, to present a plan within 15 days for the "full and complete records" related to the assassination.
They will then have 45 days to present plans on the release of information on the assassinations of assassinations of Senator Robert F. Kennedy and the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., according to the order.
"More than 50 years after the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Federal Government has not released to the public all of its records related to those events. Their families and the American people deserve transparency and truth. It is in the national interest to finally release all records related to these assassinations without delay," the order says.
Technology
Trump also on Thursday issued two executive orders dealing with technology.
The first order creates an AI action plan, as well as a review of an AI executive order issued by President Joe Biden in 2023 that implemented some AI safety measures. The order is intended to "certain existing AI policies and directives that act as barriers to American AI innovation."
"The United States has long been at the forefront of artificial intelligence (AI) innovation, driven by the strength of our free markets, world-class research institutions, and entrepreneurial spirit. To maintain this leadership, we must develop AI systems that are free from ideological bias or engineered social agendas," the order says.
A second order would create a cryptocurrency working group that will "propose a Federal regulatory framework governing the issuance and operation of digital assets, including stablecoins, in the United States."
Designating Ansar Allah Terrorist Group
On Wednesday, Trump issued an order designating Ansar Allah, commonly known as the Houthis, as a foreign terrorist organization.
The order says that the U.S. will work with allies "to eliminate Ansar Allah's capabilities and operations, deprive it of resources, and thereby end its attacks on U.S. personnel and civilians, U.S. partners, and maritime shipping in the Red Sea.
"The Houthis' activities threaten the security of American civilians and personnel in the Middle East, the safety of our closest regional partners, and the stability of global maritime trade."
The order will require the State Department and the administrator of the United States Agency for International Development to review United Nations partners, nongovernmental organizations and contractors through which USAID works in Yemen. The purpose of this review is to identify and end contracts with entities that have made payments to Ansar Allah members or criticized efforts to counter the organization.
On First Full Day, Trump Targets DEI Initiatives
Trump issued two executive orders rolling back DEI programs in the federal government on Tuesday.
The first order required the secretary of transportation and Federal Aviation Administration to end DEI initiatives and "immediately return to non-discriminatory, merit-based hiring."
"Illegal and discriminatory diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) hiring, including on the basis of race, sex, disability, or any other criteria other than the safety of airline passengers and overall job excellence, competency, and qualification, harms all Americans, who deserve to fly with confidence," Trump wrote in a statement.
The second executive order he signed on Tuesday ordered agencies to "terminate all discriminatory and illegal preferences, mandates, policies, programs, activities, guidance, regulations, enforcement actions, consent orders, and requirements" and "enforce our longstanding civil-rights laws and to combat illegal private-sector DEI preferences, mandates, policies, programs, and activities."
It revoked four executive orders that dealt with addressing environmental justice and government initiatives to promote diversity in the federal workforce. Trump's order required federal contractors to also comply with the civil rights laws.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also confirmed on X that all federal employees serving in DEI positions are being placed on paid leave by the end of the day on Wednesday as part of Trump's plans to roll back these programs.
Trump's First Orders Appoint Cabinet-Level Officials
Trump signed his first few executive orders before the inaugural luncheon Monday afternoon. The orders appointed dozens of Cabinet-level officials and acting officials across the government, pending Senate confirmation of Trump's Cabinet nominees. Officials who were appointed in acting capacities via executive orders include:
James McHenry as acting attorney general.
Robert Salesses as acting Secretary of Defense.
Dorothy Fink as acting Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Benjamine Huffman as acting Secretary of Homeland Security.
Mark Averill as acting Secretary of the Army.
Tom Sylvester as acting CIA director.
Mark Uyeda as acting chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Andrew Ferguson as chairman of the Federal Trade Commission.
Trump officials also immediately shut down a Biden-era Customs and Border Protection app that allowed migrants to apply to legally enter the U.S. by seeking asylum.
Trump signed a number of other executive actions at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., where he addressed supporters in the late afternoon. The actions he signed included:
The rescission of 78 Biden-era executive orders, actions and memoranda.
A regulatory freeze preventing bureaucrats from issuing any more regulations until "we have full control" of the government.
A freeze on all federal hiring except in the military and a number of other excluded categories.
A requirement that federal workers return to full-time, in-person work.
Directing agencies to address Americans' cost-of-living "crisis."
Withdrawing from the Paris Agreement and informing the United Nations of the U.S.'s withdrawal from the landmark climate treaty.
A directive to the federal government "ordering the restoration of freedom of speech and preventing government censorship of free speech going forward."
A directive to the federal government "ending the weaponization of government against the political adversaries of the previous administration, as we've seen."
Trump then headed to the White House, where one of the first things he did was pardon more than 1,500 people convicted in connection to the deadly January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
Many of Trump's campaign promises may be able to be implemented by executive order, but others will require support from Congress.
Republicans have a majority in the House and Senate, but their slim House majority and the existence of the Senate filibuster mean Trump will need cooperation from at least some Democratic lawmakers to pass parts of his agenda.
Many of these orders are likely to face legal challenges over the coming months, as liberal groups and watchdog organizations have pledged to sue the Trump administration over some of the president's campaign pledges.
Immigration
Trump signed an executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship. The order will almost certainly face legal challenges, since birthright citizenship is enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.
He also signed an order designating Mexican drug cartels and some other organizations to be foreign terrorist organizations.
He also declared a national emergency at the southern border, allowing him to use federal funding to construct a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border without congressional approval.
"That's a big one," Trump said while signing the order. "People have wanted to do this for years."
He also reinstated the "Remain in Mexico" policy, which required asylum seekers to stay in Mexico while their cases go through courts in the U.S. And he suspended the Refugee Admission Program "until such time as the further entry into the United States of refugees aligns with the interests of the United States."
Immigration, Trump's signature issue, will be a focal point of several executive orders, especially his first few weeks in office. He promised mass deportations starting the first day of his administration, though these efforts are also likely to be challenged in court.
Climate and Drilling
The president signed a number of executive orders withdrawing the United States from key agreements and agencies.
"I'm immediately withdrawing from the one-sided Paris Climate Accord ripoff," Trump said Monday at the Capital One Arena. "The United States will not sabotage our own industries while China pollutes with impunity."
He also withdrew the U.S. from the World Health Organization, which will deprive the organization of millions of dollars in funding.
Trump issued another order declaring a "national energy emergency," which could allow him to unilaterally bypass certain environmental regulations.
Tariffs and Taxes
Trump fulfilled his campaign promise to impose steep tariffs on countries like Canada and Mexico, saying that as of February 1, there will be a 25 percent tariff on imports from both countries.
He also signed an executive order saying that a global minimum corporate tax deal supported by the Biden administration and negotiated with over 100 countries has "no force or effect" in the U.S. without an act of Congress.
Trump signed a pair of executive orders to boost oil and gas drilling. One order seeks to drill in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and National Petroleum Reserve.
The second orders a review of policies that "burden the development of domestic energy resources," and eliminates the Biden-era "'electric vehicle (EV) mandate.'"
TikTok
On the social media front, the president signed an executive order extending the deadline for TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, to divest from the app, just one day after a law requiring its ban took effect.
The app went offline in the U.S. for a few hours late Saturday but became available again after the company announced that it believed Trump would block the ban from taking effect. Trump's executive order gave ByteDance an additional 90 days to divest from TikTok to avoid a ban on the app.
Transgender Rights and DEI Efforts
The president also signed an executive order that could significantly curtail transgender rights, which Trump and Republicans made a focal point of their campaigns.
In one executive order, Trump said his administration will use "clear and accurate language and policies that recognize women are biologically female, and men are biologically male."
"It is the policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female," the executive order said. "These sexes are not changeable and are grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality."
The president also signed an executive order gutting federal programs aimed at improving diversity, equity and inclusion in the workforce, describing them as "wasteful," "illegal and immoral."
Trump directed the White House budget office and the Justice Department to "coordinate the termination of all discriminatory programs, including illegal DEI and 'diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility' (DEIA) mandates, policies, programs, preferences, and activities in the Federal Government, under whatever name they appear."
The executive order marks a massive victory for conservative and right-wing activists, who have argued that DEI programs unfairly discriminate against those who are deserving of certain jobs and school placements. Advocates of DEI policies, meanwhile, argue that having a diverse and inclusive environment helps attract more talent, fosters creativity and enhances overall performance.
Renaming Gulf of Mexico and Other 'America First' Priorities
The 47th president signed an order renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.
He also reverted the name of Mount Denali, the highest mountain in North America, to Mount McKinley. The peak was called Mount McKinley until then-President Barack Obama changed it in 2015 to Denali, the traditional Athabascan name, in all federal documents.
Trump made these changes to "honor American greatness," the executive order said.
The president also signed an order directing the secretary of state to "champion core American interests and always put America and American citizens first."
In another executive action, Trump ordered agencies responsible for the U.S.'s foreign development assistance programs to "immediately pause new obligations and disbursements of development assistance funds" pending reviews of the programs, which must be conducted within 90 days.
"It is the policy of United States that no further United States foreign assistance shall be disbursed in a manner that is not fully aligned with the foreign policy of the President of the United States," the order said.
Creating DOGE
Trump officially created the long-anticipated Department of Government Efficiency on Monday evening. He did so by changing the name of the United States Digital Service—created in 2014 by Obama—to the "United States DOGE Service."
DOGE will "oversee a substantial reduction in the size and scope of government" and operate "within the" U.S. government, Semafor reported earlier, citing a fact sheet it had viewed.
Trump announced the creation of DOGE shortly after winning the 2024 election. The department will be led by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.
According to Semafor, "DOGE will work with the Office of Management and Budget and all agencies to shrink the federal workforce, federal spending, and federal regulatory burdens."
But the president faces an uphill battle to creating the new department, as evidenced by a lawsuit filed minutes after he was inaugurated, alleging that DOGE violates federal transparency rules.
Security Clearances
Trump signed two executive actions relating to security clearances.
One would allow White House staffers to obtain top secret security clearances without having to go through the traditional vetting process.
The other revokes security clearances for 50 people who signed a letter saying that a news story about Hunter Biden's laptop was part of a Russian disinformation campaign.
Flags on Inauguration Day
Trump issued a proclamation ordering that all U.S. flags be flown at full-staff on "this and all future Inauguration Days."
The action came after Trump publicly complained that flags would be flown at half-staff during his inauguration to pay tribute to late President Jimmy Carter, who died on December 29 at his home in Georgia.
"In any event, because of the death of President Jimmy Carter, the Flag may, for the first time ever during an Inauguration of a future President, be at half mast," Trump wrote on Truth Social earlier this month. "Nobody wants to see this, and no American can be happy about it."
It is customary for flags to fly at half-staff for 30 days after the death of a president or former president.
How Many Executive Orders Did Trump Sign During His First Week in 2017?
Trump allies have signaled that he could sign up to 100 executive orders on his first day in office, which would be the highest number any president has signed on their first day.
Up until the last few decades, presidents typically signed few or no executive orders in their first week or day in office.
Trump signed one order on Inauguration Day 2017 and four others in the week that followed.
