On his first day as the 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump wasted no time in asserting his authority, signing a slew of executive orders aimed at undoing many of the policies implemented by his predecessor, Joe Biden.
After taking the oath of office and delivering a stirring inaugural address, Trump signed his first executive order at Washington’s Capitol One Arena, mandating that all federal workers return to the office full-time. The new president quickly followed up by signing as many as 80 executive orders, marking a stark departure from Biden’s administration, with significant policy shifts that include withdrawing the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement and the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as implementing a temporary freeze on new federal regulations.
Key Orders Signed by President Trump:
- Crackdown on Birthright Citizenship and Immigration
One of the most controversial orders issued by Trump on his first day in office was a crackdown on birthright citizenship for children born to illegal aliens in the U.S., a move that runs contrary to the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The president also announced plans to enhance vetting and screening procedures for illegal immigrants. Trump stated, “The federal government will not recognize automatic birthright citizenship for children of illegal aliens born in the United States.” - Withdrawal from Paris Agreement and WHO
In a move that mirrored his actions during his first term, President Trump signed orders to declare a national energy emergency and withdraw the U.S. from the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement. Additionally, Trump ordered a halt to Biden’s efforts to protect Arctic lands and U.S. coastal waters from oil drilling, while promoting oil and gas development in Alaska. Trump also pulled the U.S. out of the WHO, citing the agency’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic and alleged political influence from member states, particularly China. - Delay on TikTok Ban
Trump signed an executive order delaying the planned ban on the popular short-video app TikTok by 75 days, extending the deadline for review until April 2025. The ban had been scheduled for January 19, 2025. The order grants Trump the authority to either sell the app or close it, while the U.S. attorney general has been instructed not to enforce the ban during this period. - Pardons for January 6 Rioters
Sticking to one of his campaign promises, Trump signed an order dropping all charges against most of those involved in the January 6 Capitol riots. He expressed outrage over the treatment of those individuals, calling it “outrageous” and cutting short sentences for 14 members of far-right groups, including the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, some of whom had been convicted of seditious conspiracy. - Return to Office for Federal Workers and Freeze on Government Hiring
In a move to reshape the federal workforce, Trump ordered all federal workers to return to the office immediately and imposed a freeze on hiring for all government agencies. “I will implement an immediate regulation freeze, which will stop Biden bureaucrats from continuing to regulate,” Trump declared. He also emphasized that only competent individuals, “faithful to the American public,” would be hired moving forward. - Recognition of Only Two Genders
In a bold executive order, Trump declared that the U.S. government would only recognize two genders – male and female – and that all government-issued identification documents, including passports and visas, would reflect an individual’s biological sex, as opposed to their gender identity. This order effectively reversed several of Biden’s policies promoting racial equity and protections for LGBTQ+ individuals. - Creation of DOGE Advisory Group Led by Elon Musk
Trump also signed an order establishing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an advisory group aimed at cutting back on the size of the U.S. government. Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who leads the group, has been tasked with eliminating entire federal agencies and cutting three-quarters of federal government jobs, a move that has already sparked multiple lawsuits challenging the new department’s operations.
Trump’s first day in office marked a decisive shift in U.S. policy, with the president taking swift action to implement his vision for the country.