On the day of his second inauguration, President Donald Trump wasted no time in signing a slew of executive orders aimed at repealing policies implemented by the Biden-Harris administration across various sectors. These executive orders touch on issues such as transgender ideology, freedom of speech, the southern border, energy independence, and the regulation of government bureaucracies.
Among the measures, Trump began by signing an executive order to repeal 78 Biden-era executive orders, covering a multitude of subjects. This includes ending policies prohibiting oil drilling on the continental shelf, terminating the Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, and reinstating Cuba on the list of state sponsors of terrorism.
An order titled “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government” repeals policies that allowed transgender individuals to access women’s spaces, including on the sports field and in prisons. The order strictly defines a woman and a man in biological terms.
Other executive orders address issues such as wokeness, censorship, safeguarding freedom of speech, and preventing the abuse of government powers. One specifically focuses on securing the southern border and addressing the challenges posed by illegal immigration.
Trump also used executive orders to lower prices and promote U.S. energy independence. He declared a national energy emergency, aimed at unleashing American energy and prioritizing America’s energy resources. This included ending regulations that restricted the generation of reliable and affordable electricity, thus facilitating oil pipeline construction across the country.
On global governance, Trump also rolled back America’s engagement. He announced plans to withdraw from international agreements such as the Paris Climate Agreement and membership of the World Health Organization. He also underlined America’s prioritization in trade policies and foreign aid allocation.
In addition to these, Trump signed further executive orders concerning architecture, re-naming geographical features, and pardoning protestors related to the events at the Capitol on January 6, 2021.