In recent weeks, former President Donald Trump has made a series of significant executive orders aimed at reshaping various aspects of American life. These orders cover a broad range of topics, from energy policies and national security to health care and military readiness. This article will break down the key executive orders Trump has issued and their potential effects on American citizens. For those interested in immigration policy, please note that Trump’s stance and decisions on immigration are covered in a separate article on The Legal Pad, which delves into the latest developments in this critical area.
Economy:
- “Unleashing American Energy”
It lays out a policy to promote “true consumer choice” by removing regulations that favor electric vehicles, as well as safeguarding the “freedom to choose” among household appliances, where President Trump has long criticized efficiency requirements. It immediately reverses a number of Biden-era environmental orders and calls for a freeze on the disbursement of some congressionally allocated funds.
Meaning: The government would remove some rules that make electric vehicles (EVs) and energy-efficient appliances more attractive or affordable. - “Declaring a National Energy Emergency.”
This order says that inadequate energy production poses an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to the U.S. It directs agencies to identify emergency authorities — expansions of the executive branch’s powers available in times of crisis — that could facilitate energy projects, like leasing land for oil and gas production or building pipelines. Notably, solar and wind power are excluded from the definition of “energy.”
Meaning: This order says the U.S. faces a major energy shortage and that the government needs to take quick action to boost energy production.
Foreign Policy:
- “America’s first policy directive to the Secretary of State.”
This order directs the Secretary of State to issue State Department guidance advancing “America First” foreign policy through the agency’s policies, programs, personnel, and operations. The directive cites the need for championing the interests of American citizens above all else. It does not describe specific programs or policies that would meet this purpose.
Meaning: The U.S. would prioritize American interests in its foreign policy, putting Americans first in decisions, but it doesn’t specify how exactly this would be done. - “Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid”
This executive order immediately places a 90-day pause on foreign aid or assistance to U.S. allies while the administration evaluates current aid programs. During this time, agencies will determine whether to resume, modify or cease foreign assistance programs at the end of the freeze.
Meaning: The U.S. will temporarily stop giving foreign aid to other countries while reviewing the effectiveness of those programs. It could lead to changes in how the U.S. interacts with its allies. - “Designation of Ansar Allah as a Foreign Terrorist”
Following a Jan. 20 executive order, President Trump began designating certain transnational organizations as terrorist groups. In this order, Trump aims to designate Ansar Allah — also known as the Houthis — as a “Foreign Terrorist Organization,” citing previous attacks on the United States military and U.S. allies.
Meaning: The U.S. would officially label the Houthis as a terrorist group, which could lead to more military action or sanctions against them, affecting both the U.S. and its allies.
National Security:
- “The Iron Dome for America”
This order seeks to deploy a “next-generation missile defense shield” to defend the U.S. against aerial attacks.
Meaning: The U.S. would develop a new missile defense system to protect against threats from missiles or aerial attacks, improving national security. - “Restoring America’s Fighting Force.”
This order states that the U.S. Armed Forces “should operate free from any preference based on race or sex.” It abolishes DEI offices and programs in the Defense Department and the Department of Homeland Security. It prohibits promotion of “divisive concepts,” including that “America’s founding documents are racist or sexist.”
Meaning: The military and Homeland Security agencies would focus solely on performance, removing programs designed to address diversity and inclusion, and promoting a more traditional approach to military readiness. - “Prioritizing military excellence and readiness”
This order contends that service members with “gender dysphoria” and those with “shifting pronoun usage or use of pronouns that inaccurately reflect an individual’s sex” are unfit to serve in the military.
Meaning: It would disqualify people who havegender dysphoria or use non-traditional pronouns from serving in the military, focusing strictly on traditional service member qualifications. - “Reinstating Service Members Discharged Under the Military’s COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate.”
This order permits the reinstatement of service members who were discharged for refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine during the pandemic. Those service members would return to their former rank “and receive full back pay, benefits, bonus payments or compensation.”
Meaning: Former military members who were dismissed for not getting vaccinated can return to their positions, receive back pay, and be compensated for lost benefits.
Health:
- “Withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization.”
This order begins the process of withdrawing from the World Health Organization, or WHO. It also rescinds a prior executive order, signed by former President Joe Biden, that coordinated the federal government’s COVID-19 response efforts and implemented processes to respond to emerging pandemics.
Meaning: The U.S. would stop its participation in the WHO, reducing international cooperation on global health issues and limiting U.S. involvement in future pandemic responses. - “Enforcing the Hyde Amendment.”
This executive order reinforces Congress’ Hyde Amendment, which prohibits the use of federal dollars to cover abortion and related health care, with limited exceptions. Most notably, the order rescinds two of Biden’s 2022 executive orders, which sought avenues to expand access to reproductive and emergency health care after the Supreme Court overturned the right to abortion as guaranteed by Roe v. Wade.
Meaning: The government would strictly limit federal funding for abortion services, especially affecting low-income individuals who rely on federal health programs for care.
Miscellaneous:
- “Initial Recissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions.”
This order rescinds 78 executive actions signed by Biden, including several public health regulations. It also revoked an order promoting voter registration and a census order that could clear a path for reshaping election maps.
Meaning: This cancels many of the actions taken by the previous administration, possibly making it harder for people to access health services and participate in voter registration. - “Declassification of Records Concerning The Assassination of John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”
This order states it is in the national interest to “release all records related to these assassinations without delay.” More records will be released in addition to previous records relating to former President John F. Kennedy that were released with redactions in 2017.
Meaning: The government will release previously secret documents about the assassinations of key figures in U.S. history, allowing the public to access more information about these events.
Source: https://www.npr.org/2025/01/28/nx-s1-5276293/trump-executive-orders
