When Donald Trump walked into the Oval Office for his second term in January 2025, he didn't just bring a pen. He brought a stack of papers that basically upended the federal government within 48 hours. If you’re trying to keep track of what executive orders did Trump sign, honestly, it’s a lot. People often think executive orders are just suggestions. They aren't. They have the force of law, and this time around, the "Day One" blitz was more like a "Year One" siege.
The numbers are staggering. In 2025 alone, the tally hit 225 orders. Compare that to the 220 he signed during his entire first four-year term. It’s a massive jump. He’s used these documents to bypass a slow-moving Congress and fundamentally change how America functions—from the border to the classroom.
The Border Blitz and the Invasion Order
Right out of the gate, the most famous (or infamous, depending on who you ask) was Executive Order 14159. It’s titled "Protecting the American People Against Invasion." It didn’t just talk about the border; it declared a national emergency.
This order did a few big things quickly:
- It effectively shut down asylum claims at the southern border.
- It reinstated the "Remain in Mexico" policy.
- It directed the military to assist in border security.
The goal was clear: stop the flow. But it went deeper. Another order, EO 14160, took a swing at birthright citizenship. That one is tied up in courts right now because, well, the 14th Amendment is a pretty big hurdle. He basically told federal agencies to stop issuing documents like Social Security cards to children born in the U.S. if their parents are undocumented. You can imagine the legal chaos that caused.
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DOGE and the War on Bureaucracy
You've probably heard of DOGE. No, not the cryptocurrency. The Department of Government Efficiency. Established by EO 14158, this wasn't just a catchy name. It was a directive to gut what Trump calls the "Deep State."
The order basically mandates a massive audit of every federal agency. Trump’s logic? The government is too big and too slow. He even signed EO 14170 to change how federal employees are hired and fired. It’s basically "Schedule F" on steroids. It reclassifies tens of thousands of career civil servants as "at-will" employees. Basically, if they aren't on board with the administration's vision, they can be let go. No long disciplinary process. No red tape.
The Energy Emergency and "Drill, Baby, Drill"
Energy was another Day One priority. EO 14157 declared a "National Energy Emergency." This wasn't because we ran out of gas. It was a legal maneuver to fast-track permits for oil and gas drilling.
He revoked a bunch of Biden-era climate rules in one fell swoop. The order specifically targeted the EPA, telling them to stop enforcing certain emissions standards for power plants. It also greenlit new pipelines that had been stalled for years. Honestly, the environmental groups had their lawsuits ready before the ink was even dry.
The Cultural Shift: Education and "Woke" AI
Education got hit hard too. One of the most controversial moves was the executive order to dismantle the Department of Education (EO 14191). Now, a president can’t just delete a department—Congress has to do that—but he can order his Secretary, Linda McMahon, to start moving the furniture. He’s trying to shift all that power back to the states.
Then there’s the AI stuff. EO 14212, "Preventing Woke AI in the Federal Government," is a weird one but very "Trump." It requires any AI model used by the government to be "ideologically neutral." It basically bans "diversity, equity, and inclusion" (DEI) training for algorithms.
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Trade, Tariffs, and the China Strategy
If you think the first term was heavy on tariffs, the second term is a whole different level. Trump signed a series of orders—like EO 14194 and 14195—imposing massive duties on imports. We’re talking 25% to 60% on goods from China and even tariffs on Canada to stop the flow of fentanyl.
These orders aren't just about money. They're about leverage. He’s used them to force countries back to the negotiating table. For example, EO 14360 modified tariffs on Chinese agricultural products after a new deal was struck in late 2025. It’s a "carrot and stick" approach, but the stick is usually way bigger.
Why This Matters for You
It's easy to get lost in the numbers—EO 14161, 14369, 14202. But these documents change your daily life. They affect the price of your groceries (tariffs), the security of your job (Schedule F), and even what your kids learn in school.
Trump’s use of executive power in 2025 and 2026 has been about speed. He learned from his first term that the "system" is built to resist. This time, he used the pen to try and break the system’s resistance before it could even start.
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Actionable Insights
If you're trying to stay ahead of these changes, here’s what you should actually do:
- Watch the Courts: Many of these orders, especially the ones on birthright citizenship and transgender rights (like EO 14183), are currently stayed by federal judges. Don't assume an order is "active" just because it was signed.
- Check the Federal Register: If you want the raw text without the media spin, go to
federalregister.gov. It’s dry, but it’s the only way to see exactly what was ordered. - Monitor Trade News: If you own a business or invest, the tariff orders (14193, 14194) are the ones that will hit your wallet first. These can change with a single signature, as we saw with the China amendments in February 2025.
- Follow DOGE Reports: The Department of Government Efficiency is releasing "transparency reports" on federal spending. If you’re a government contractor or work in a federal-adjacent field, these are your early warning system for budget cuts.
The reality of what executive orders did Trump sign is that they represent a massive shift toward "Unitary Executive" theory. He’s taking as much power as the law (and sometimes more than the law) allows. Whether you think that’s a "rescue mission" for America or a "power grab" doesn't change the fact that the pen is moving faster than ever.