WASHINGTON – President-elect Donald Trump is preparing to issue more than 25 executive orders and directives on his first day in office, Jan. 20, aiming to enact swift changes on immigration, energy, and education policies, according to sources familiar with the plans.
The ambitious slate of Day One actions is part of Trump’s strategy to make a bold statement of executive power, exceeding the scale and speed of his first term. Trump issued only a few executive orders on his first day in office in 2017, but this time he intends to take more aggressive steps, aligning his approach with that of President Joe Biden, who issued 17 executive orders on his first day in 2021.
“The American people can bank on President Trump using his executive power on day one to deliver on the promises he made to them on the campaign trail,” Trump spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said.
Focus on Immigration and Border Policies
The first wave of orders is expected to prioritize reversing Biden’s border policies. Trump plans to empower immigration officers to arrest individuals without criminal records, deploy more troops to the U.S.-Mexico border, and resume construction of the border wall, according to three sources familiar with draft orders.
The orders will also target energy production, fulfilling Trump’s campaign promises to expand drilling and fracking under his “drill, baby, drill” mantra.
Other Policy Initiatives
Trump’s Day One agenda includes controversial moves to restrict birthright citizenship, cut federal funding to schools teaching critical race theory, and roll back anti-discrimination protections for transgender students. He has also vowed to curtail diversity training programs among federal contractors and scrutinize race or gender-based hiring practices within federal agencies.
Coordinated Effort
The initiative is being led by Stephen Miller, a long-time Trump adviser, with input from conservative think tanks such as the America First Policy Institute, the Conservative Partnership Institute, and the Heritage Foundation. While the orders are being coordinated across various locations, including Trump’s base in Palm Beach, Florida, and think tanks in Washington, some details may still evolve before Jan. 20.
Legal and Logistical Challenges
Trump’s advisers acknowledge that some executive actions could face court challenges or require additional legislation or agency regulations to implement fully. Nevertheless, the team is determined to push forward, with additional orders planned in the days and weeks following inauguration.
Trump’s aggressive approach reflects his commitment to fulfilling campaign promises and setting the tone for his presidency. “He wants to make a big splash,” said a source familiar with the plans.