Author : Vivek Mishra

Expert Speak Raisina Debates
Published on May 19, 2025

Living up to his campaign promise, Trump has issued a slew of EOs targeting almost all-important areas of governance and policy

Trump’s Executive Orders: A Stocktaking

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Since the time the Trump administration has taken office, American political scientists and scholars have encountered the phrase ‘constitutional crisis’ more than ever before. Executive Orders (EO) and presidential directives are at the heart of that debate. During his first term, President Donald Trump signed 220 EOs. Just a month into his second term, Trump has signed 73 EOs, 23 proclamations and 12 memorandums as of February 20, 2025—108 executive actions in all. Every president since George Washington has signed an EO, and their frequency has increased with modern presidencies. Trump, in his second term, has sped ahead of all presidents in signing the highest number of EOs in the first 100 days.

EOs have always been important in the American political scene, especially in the context of the presidential system, but in the context of the second Trump administration which took office on January 20 this year, it has acquired heightened importance. The legal basis for presidents to issue EOs lies in the Article II of the American Constitution which establishes the Executive branch of the government and vests power in the president to “take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed”. Living up to his campaign promise, President Trump has issued a slew of EOs targeting almost all-important areas of governance and policy, setting a net policy reversal from the Biden administration.

The legal basis for presidents to issue EOs lies in the Article II of the American Constitution which establishes the Executive branch of the government and vests power in the president to “take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed”.

The Trump administration has cited a US Supreme Court ruling to justify the obligation of the Executive to defend the nation’s sovereignty. Increasingly, it is becoming clear that the ‘check and balances’ of the American constitution will kick in and some of the executive actions by president Trump will be challenged in courts, some blocked and some still, implemented. A month into the second Trump presidency, it is perhaps timely to take a stock of the EOs signed and the impact they could have.

Table 1: Trump’s Executive Orders’ Status as of February 20, 2025

UNDER IMPLEMENTATION UNDER LITIGATION BLOCKED BY THE COURT IMPLEMENTED/ EXECUTED (in effect)
Guaranteeing the States Protection Against Invasion
Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness
Designating Cartels And Other Organizations As Foreign Terrorist Organizations And Specially Designated Global Terrorists  
Reforming The Federal Hiring Process And Restoring Merit To Government Service
Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing
Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism And Restoring Biological Truth To The Federal Government
Establishing And Implementing The President’s “Department Of Government Efficiency”
America First Policy Directive To The Secretary Of State
Protecting The United States From Foreign Terrorists And Other National Security And Public Safety Threats  
Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential  
Protecting The American People Against Invasion
The Organization For Economic Co-Operation And Development (Oecd) Global Tax Deal (Global Tax Deal)  
Organization Of The National Security Council And Subcommittees  
Reevaluating And Realigning United States Foreign Aid  
Temporary Withdrawal Of All Areas On The Outer Continental Shelf From Offshore Wind Leasing And Review Of The Federal Government’s Leasing And Permitting Practices For Wind Projects  
Declaring A National Energy Emergency  
Restoring Accountability For Career Senior Executives  
Promoting Beautiful Federal Civic Architecture  
Restoring The Death Penalty And Protecting Public Safety  
Putting People Over Fish: Stopping Radical Environmentalism To Provide Water To Southern California  
Securing Our Borders
Protecting The Meaning And Value Of American Citizenship  
Realigning The United States Refugee Admissions Program  
Unleashing American Energy
Clarifying The Military’s Role In Protecting The Territorial Integrity Of The United States  
America First Trade Policy  
Memorandum To Resolve The Backlog Of Security Clearances For Executive Office Of The President Personnel  
Declaring A National Emergency At The Southern Border Of The United States  
Holding Former Government Officials Accountable For Election Interference And Improper Disclosure Of Sensitive Governmental Information (No concrete public information available yet)
Restoring Accountability To Policy-Influencing Positions Within the Federal Workforce
Withdrawing The United States From The World Health Organization   (Final exit scheduled for January 2026)
Application Of Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act To TikTok
Granting Pardons And Commutation Of Sentences For Certain Offenses Relating To The Events At Or Near The United States Capitol On January 6, 2021
Putting America First In International Environmental Agreements   (America remains officially withdrawn from the Paris Agreement + all U.S. financial commitments made under the UNFCCC have been terminated)
Delivering Emergency Price Relief for American Families and Defeating the Cost-of-Living Crisis
Hiring Freeze
Regulatory Freeze Pending Review
Return to In-Person Work
Ending The Weaponization Of The Federal Government
Restoring Freedom Of Speech And Ending Federal Censorship
Initial Rescissions Of Harmful Executive Orders And Actions
Flying The Flag Of The United States At Full-Staff On Inauguration Day
President Trump Designates Chairmen and Acting Chairman (The administration is expected to continue nominating individuals to fill remaining vacancies and to seek Senate confirmations to solidify its leadership across federal agencies - ongoing confirmation process)
President Trump Announces Cabinet and Cabinet Level Appointments (ongoing confirmation process)
Keeping Americans Safe In Aviation
Ending Illegal Discrimination And Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity
Nominations Transmitted To The Senate (ongoing confirmation process)
Executive Grant Of Clemency For Andrew Zabavsky
Designation Of Ansar Allah As A Foreign Terrorist Organization
Executive Grant Of Clemency For Terence Sutton
Federal Recognition of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina
Strengthening American Leadership in Digital Financial Technology
Declassification of Records Concerning the Assassinations of President John F. Kennedy [As of February 10, 2025, the Archivist has submitted the required declassification plans within the specified timeframes. The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is actively reviewing the remaining classified documents to facilitate their public release]
President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology
Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence
Council To Assess The Federal Emergency Management Agency
Enforcing The Hyde Amendment
Memorandum For The Secretary Of State The Secretary Of Defense The Secretary Of Health And Human Services The Administrator Of The United States Agency For International Development
The Iron Dome For America
Prioritizing Military Excellence And Readiness
Restoring America’s Fighting Force
Reinstating Service Members Discharged Under The Military’s Covid-19 Vaccination Mandate
Protecting Children From Chemical And Surgical Mutilation
Expanding Educational Freedom And Opportunity For Families
Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday
Expanding Migrant Operations Center At Naval Station Guantanamo Bay To Full Capacity
President Donald J. Trump Signed S.5 Into Law
Additional Measures To Combat Anti-Semitism
Immediate Assessment Of Aviation Safety
Imposing Duties To Address The Flow Of Illicit Drugs Across Our Northern Border
Imposing Duties To Address The Situation At Our Southern Border
Imposing Duties To Address The Synthetic Opioid Supply Chain In The People’s Republic Of China
American Heart Month, 2025
Career And Technical Education Month, 2025
A Plan For Establishing A United States Sovereign Wealth Fund
National Security Presidential Memorandum/NSPM-2
Withdrawing the United States from and Ending Funding to Certain United Nations Organizations and Reviewing United States Support to All International Organizations
Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports
Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies
Eradicating Anti-Christian Bias
Imposing Sanctions on the International Criminal Court

Establishment of The White House Faith Office
Addressing Egregious Actions of The Republic of South Africa
Gulf of America Day, 2025
Ending Procurement and Forced Use of Paper Straws

Eliminating the Federal Executive Institute

Pausing Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Enforcement to Further American Economic and National Security

Adjusting Imports of Steel into The United States

Implementing The President’s “Department of Government Efficiency” Workforce Optimization Initiative (Measures are being carried out in stages)
President Trump Announces the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board
Adjusting Imports of Aluminum into The United States

One Voice for America’s Foreign Relations
Establishing the President’s Make America Healthy Again Commission
Establishing the National Energy Dominance Council
Keeping Education Accessible and Ending Covid-19 Vaccine Mandates in Schools
President Trump takes Decisive Action to Deliver Relief to Kentucky (25th February) President Donald J. Trump Approves Kentucky Emergency Declaration (16 February)  
President George Washington’s Birthday, 2025
Radical Transparency about Wasteful Spending
Expanding Access to In Vitro Fertilization
Ensuring Accountability for All Agencies
Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders
President Trump Announces Appointment to Council of Governors
80th Anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima
Ensuring Lawful Governance and Implementing the President’s “Department of Government Efficiency” Deregulatory Initiative
Commencing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy
Defending American Companies and Innovators from Overseas Extortion and Unfair Fines & Penalties The USTR has commenced investigations into DSTs imposed by several countries, assessing their impact on U.S. businesses. The Departments of Treasury and Commerce are reviewing foreign regulations to determine their fairness and alignment with international trade practices.      
America First Investment Policy The policy is actively being implemented with federal agencies working on investment reviews, fast-track processes for allies, and restrictions on PRC investments.
Addressing the Threat to National Security from Imports of Copper
Suspension of Security Clearances and Evaluation of Government Contracts
Making America Healthy Again by Empowering Patients with Clear, Accurate, and Actionable Healthcare Pricing Information
Implementing the President’s “Department of Government Efficiency” Cost Efficiency Initiative
Designating English as the Official Language of The United States
Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production
Addressing The Threat To National Security from Imports of Timber, Lumber
Amendment to Duties to Address the Flow of Illicit Drugs across our Northern Border
Amendment to Duties to Address the Situation at our Southern Border
Honoring Jocelyn Nungaray
Further amendment to Duties Addressing the Synthetic Opioid Supply Chain in the People’s Republic of China
Addressing Risks from Perkins Coie LLP
Amendment to Duties to Address the Flow of Illicit Drugs Across Our Southern Borders
Further Amendment to Duties Addressing the Synthetic Opioid Supply Chain in the People's Republic of China
Establishing the White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup 2026
Establishment of the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and United States Digital Asset Stockpile
Restoring Public Service Loan Forgiveness
U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day, 2025
Nominations Sent to the Senate
Ensuring the Enforcement of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 65(c)
Additional Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions
Addressing Risks from Paul Weiss
Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy
Invocation of the Alien Enemies Act Regarding the Invasion of The United States by Tren De Aragua
Achieving Efficiency Through State and Local Preparedness
Removing Discrimination and Discriminatory Equity Ideology From the Foreign Service
Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities
Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production
Eliminating Waste and Saving Taxpayer Dollars by Consolidating Procurement
Addressing Remedial Action by Paul Weiss
Strengthening the Suitability and Fitness of the Federal Workforce
Stopping Waste, Fraud, and Abuse by Eliminating Information Silos
Rescinding Security Clearances and Access to Classified Information from Specified Individuals
Preventing Abuses of the Legal System and the Federal Court
Greek Independence Day: A National Day of Celebration of Greek and American Democracy, 2025
Imposing Tariffs on Countries Importing Venezuelan Oil
Modernizing Payments To and From America’s Bank Account
Immediate Declassification of Materials Related to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Crossfire Hurricane Investigation
Protecting America’s Bank Account Against Fraud, Waste, and Abuse
Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections
Addressing Risks from Jenner & Block
Executive Grant of Clemency for Devon Archer
Addressing Risks From Wilmerhale
Restoring Truth And Sanity To American History
Exclusions From Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs
Making The District Of Columbia Safe And Beautiful
Establishing The United States Investment Accelerator
Combating Unfair Practices In The Live Entertainment Market
Regulating Imports with a Reciprocal Tariff to Rectify Trade Practices that Contribute to Large and Persistent Annual United States Goods Trade Deficits
Further Amendment To Duties Addressing The Synthetic Opioid Supply Chain In The People’s Republic Of China As Applied To Low-Value Imports
Extending the TikTok Enforcement Delay
Strengthening The Reliability And Security Of The United States Electric Grid
Protecting American Energy From State Overreach
Reinvigorating America’s Beautiful Clean Coal Industry and Amending Executive Order 14241
Amendment To Reciprocal Tariffs And Updated Duties As Applied To Low-Value Imports From The People’s Republic Of China
Maintaining Acceptable Water Pressure In Showerheads
Reforming Foreign Defense Sales To Improve Speed And Accountability
Zero-Based Regulatory Budgeting To Unleash American Energy
Reducing Anti-Competitive Regulatory Barriers
Restoring America’s Maritime Dominance
Modernizing Defense Acquisitions And Spurring Innovation In The Defense Industrial Base
Addressing Risks From Susman Godfrey
Modifying Reciprocal Tariff Rates To Reflect Trading Partner Retaliation And Alignment This EO modifies Executive Order 14257. First, it suspends from 4/10/25 - 7/9/25 country specific ad valorem rates, and instead enforces a 10% rate for all countries (except as otherwise provided). As of 4/10/25, the duty rate for Chinese products is increased to from 84% to 125% for HTSUS and from 90% to 120% for low value imports.
Restoring Common Sense To Federal Procurement
Lowering Drug Prices By Once Again Putting Americans First
Ensuring National Security And Economic Resilience Through Section 232 Actions On Processed Critical Minerals And Derivative Products
Restoring Common Sense To Federal Office Space Management
Ensuring Commercial, Cost-Effective Solutions In Federal Contracts
Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness
Transparency Regarding Foreign Influence At American Universities
Reforming Accreditation To Strengthen Higher Education
Initiative To Promote Excellence And Innovation At Historically Black Colleges And Universities
Preparing Americans For High-Paying Skilled Trade Jobs Of The Future
Reinstating Common Sense School Discipline Policies
Restoring Equality Of Opportunity And Meritocracy
Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education For American Youth
Strengthening Probationary Periods In The Federal Service
Unleashing America’s Offshore Critical Minerals And Resources
Enforcing Commonsense Rules Of The Road For America’s Truck Drivers
Protecting American Communities From Criminal Aliens
Strengthening And Unleashing America’s Law Enforcement To Pursue Criminals And Protect Innocent Citizens
Addressing Certain Tariffs On Imported Articles

Source: Compiled from different sources by Mallaika Thapar, Yuvvraj Singh and Kashvi Chaudhary

Note: The data has been updated as of 1 May 2025.

EOs have been a handy tool for US presidents to enforce the power of the Executive over the other branches of the government. For Trump, in his second term, it could be a contestable path with the other two branches, particularly the Judiciary. With quite a few of the EOs challenged in court and some overturned, it remains to be seen what role the legislature plays in all this. In the end, the EOs cannot replace the Congressional process in lawmaking. If anything, it is the Congress that retains the power to override a presidential veto.

Amidst a flurry of EOs by the Trump administration that may change the quintessential nature of America as a country internally and externally, it will be interesting to see if the checks and balances by the other two branches of the government manage to reign in an Executive on steroids.


Vivek Mishra is Deputy Director – Strategic Studies Programme at the Observer Research Foundation.

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