Donald Trump returned to the White House for a second term and wasted no time making significant changes. On his first day back in office, Trump signed a record-breaking number of executive orders and made several high-profile personnel changes.
Firings and Replacements
Trump has already dismissed several key figures from the previous administration. Among those fired are:
- Brian Hook: Former Iran envoy, dismissed from the Wilson Center.
- Gen. Mark Milley: Former chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also removed from the National Infrastructure Advisory Council.
- José Andrés: Celebrity chef and humanitarian, removed from the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition.
- Keisha Lance Bottoms: Former mayor of Atlanta, removed from the President’s Export Council.
- Adm. Linda Fagan: Former Coast Guard Commandant, removed from her position.
Additionally, Trump has made changes within the Department of Homeland Security, firing the heads of the Transportation Security Administration.
Retirements
Several officials have also retired during Donald Trump’s first day, including:
- John Bolton, Former National Security Adviser, retired after a contentious tenure.
- Jim Clapper, Former Director of National Intelligence, retired after years of service.
- John Brennan, Former CIA Director, retired after a long career in intelligence.
Women in Sports
Trump has also taken steps to promote women in sports, including:
- Increased funding for women’s sports programs: A significant increase in federal funding for women’s sports programs at the high school and collegiate levels.
- Support for women’s professional leagues: Initiatives to support and expand professional women’s sports leagues, including basketball, soccer, and tennis.
- Promotion of gender equality in sports: Executive orders to promote gender equality and ensure equal opportunities for women in all sports.
- Prohibiting transgender women in women’s sports: An executive order banning transgender women from participating in women’s sports
DEI Actions
Trump has taken significant steps to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. His administration has:
- Ended affirmative action in federal contracting: An executive order revoking previous orders and curtailing DEI programs by federal contractors and grant recipients.
- Placed DEI staff on paid leave: Directed all federal DEI staff to be put on paid leave and eventually laid off.
- Canceled DEI-related training and contracts.
- Investigated private companies: Leveraged the Justice Department to investigate private companies pursuing DEI training and hiring practices.
Border Security
Trump has made border security a top priority, implementing several key actions:
- Declared a national emergency at the southern border: This allows for increased military presence and resources to build a border wall.
- Deployed armed forces and National Guard: Directed the Department of Defense to deploy troops to the border.
- Ended ‘Catch and Release’: Reinstated the “Remain in Mexico” policy, requiring asylum seekers to wait in Mexico for their hearings.
- Shut down CBP One app: Canceled appointments for asylum seekers at the border.
- Limited birthright citizenship: An executive order to end automatic citizenship for children born in the U.S. to parents without legal status.
Several Environmental actions were taken during Donald Trump’s first day. Here are some key actions:
Environmental Actions
- Rollback of Environmental Regulations: Trump reinstated and expanded deregulation efforts, particularly targeting Biden-era environmental policies. This included halting offshore wind projects and rolling back plant regulations.
- Energy Industry Deregulation: Trump focused on deregulating the fossil fuel industry, repealing several environmental regulations to promote economic growth over environmental concerns.
- Withdrawal from the Paris Climate Treaty: A letter to the United Nations indicating the U.S. withdrawal.
These actions reflect Trump’s administration’s focus on deregulation and prioritizing economic growth, often at the expense of environmental and social considerations.
Executive Actions
Trump has signed over 200 executive actions on his first day alone, including:
- Rescinding Biden-era actions: Trump has rescinded 78 executive actions, orders, and memoranda from the Biden administration.
- Regulatory freeze: A freeze on issuing new federal regulations pending review.
- Federal hiring freeze: A freeze on all federal government hiring.
- Return to in-person work: A memo requiring all federal workers to return to in-person work.
- Withdrawal from the Paris Climate Treaty: A letter to the United Nations indicating the U.S. withdrawal.
- Ending federal censorship: An executive order to restore “freedom of speech” to federal employees.
- Review of law enforcement activities: An order directing the review of law enforcement activities during Biden’s presidency.
- Pardons for Jan. 6 defendants: A sweeping series of pardons for individuals charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
- Delaying the TikTok ban: An executive order to postpone the ban of TikTok for 75 days.
- Withdrawal from the World Health Organization: An order pulling the U.S. out of the WHO.
- Reinstating Cuba on the state sponsors of terrorism list: An order reinstating Cuba on the list.
Trump’s return to the presidency has been marked by swift and decisive actions, signaling a significant shift in policy and personnel from the previous administration. As his second term unfolds, seeing how these changes impact the country and the world will be interesting.
