Trump’s Sweeping First-Day Executive Orders: Immigration, Energy, and Diversity Programs in Focus

On his first day back in the White House, President Donald Trump wasted no time signing a record number of executive orders, addressing key areas of his administration’s agenda. From border security to energy production and federal diversity initiatives, Trump sought to quickly implement his vision for America.

Major Moves on Immigration

At a rally following his swearing-in, Trump signed multiple executive orders aimed at immigration reform, including declaring a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border. Key actions included:

• Border Wall Construction: Resuming the wall’s construction, a hallmark of Trump’s first term.
• Ending Birthright Citizenship: Issuing an order to end automatic citizenship for children born on U.S. soil, a policy widely understood to be protected under the 14th Amendment. The move is expected to face legal challenges.
• “Remain in Mexico” Policy: Reinstating the controversial program requiring asylum seekers to stay in Mexico while their U.S. cases are processed, despite Mexico’s lack of agreement.
• Cartels and Gangs Designated as Terrorist Organizations: Naming MS-13 and Tren de Aragua as foreign terrorist organizations, raising questions about potential military involvement.

“We must stop the invasion of our borders,” Trump said, promising immediate deportations and stricter immigration enforcement.

Targeting Federal Diversity Programs

Trump also took aim at diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives within federal agencies, declaring the need for a “colorblind and merit-based society.” His orders included:

• Defining Two Genders: Mandating federal documents recognize only male and female as gender options, reversing Biden-era policies allowing for a gender-neutral “X” marker.
• Ending Federal Funding for Gender-Transition Healthcare: Halting taxpayer funding for gender-transition procedures.
• Revoking DEI Programs: Eliminating diversity-focused initiatives across government agencies.

Government Efficiency and Workforce Changes

Trump formally established the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), tasked with cutting federal spending. Initially slated to be co-led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, Ramaswamy withdrew to focus on a gubernatorial bid in Ohio. The department’s creation already faces legal challenges over transparency concerns.

Additional actions included:

• Reimplementing “Schedule F”: Stripping job protections for policy-focused federal employees, making them easier to dismiss.
• In-Person Work Requirements: Ordering federal workers to return to physical offices.
• Freezing Federal Hiring: Pausing new hires across agencies.

Energy Policies and Name Changes

Trump declared a “national energy emergency” to streamline bureaucracy for drilling and energy production, including projects in Alaska. Other notable actions:

• Reversing the Paris Climate Agreement: Withdrawing from the treaty, a repeat of his first term’s controversial decision.
• Renaming Denali to Mount McKinley: Returning to the mountain’s pre-Obama-era name, which had sparked debate in Ohio and Alaska.
• Proposing the Gulf of America: Renaming the Gulf of Mexico, though international authority to do so remains unclear.

Security Clearances and Retaliation

Citing delays, Trump granted immediate top-secret security clearances to select White House staffers and revoked clearances from former intelligence officials critical of his administration. Among those targeted were officials who had questioned the Hunter Biden laptop story and Trump’s former national security adviser John Bolton, whom Trump accused of leaking sensitive information in his book.

A Record-Setting Start

Trump’s first-day executive orders far exceeded the number signed by his predecessors, including Joe Biden and Barack Obama. In total, Trump signed over 50 actions, with some reversing Biden-era policies, such as rejoining the World Health Organization and halting the border wall.

“This is the beginning of a complete restoration of America,” Trump said during his inaugural address. “It’s all about common sense.”

Legal battles are expected as Democrats and advocacy groups prepare to challenge several of Trump’s decisions. Nonetheless, the new administration is wasting no time setting its agenda and reigniting political debates across the nation.

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