WASHINGTON, D.C March 2, 2025 (V7N) – In a whirlwind start to his second term, President Donald Trump has signed an unprecedented 79 executive orders since returning to the White House on January 20, addressing issues ranging from trade policy to transgender rights.

With a narrow Republican majority in Congress, Trump has relied on executive actions to push through his agenda, tackling key priorities such as immigration, energy policy, and federal bureaucracy reform. According to the Federal Register, no U.S. president has issued so many executive orders so quickly since 1937.

The orders have already sparked legal battles, with at least 16 being challenged in court as of February 27, according to legal analysts at New York University’s Just Security project.

Trump has issued 27 orders related to economic and trade policies. Among them are new tariffs on Canada and Mexico, a 10% levy on Chinese imports, and the declaration of a “national energy emergency” aimed at expanding fossil fuel production. He has also moved aggressively to roll back environmental regulations, calling the push for renewable energy a “scam.” Orders limiting electric vehicle subsidies and supporting plastic over paper straws have also drawn attention.

At least 14 executive orders have addressed gender identity and diversity initiatives, marking a significant rollback of policies enacted by the previous administration. New measures recognize only male and female genders, ban transgender individuals from serving in the military, and impose restrictions on gender transition procedures for minors under 19. Several of these orders are already facing legal challenges.

Affirmative action policies in federal hiring have also been targeted, with Trump signing orders that prohibit race- or gender-based preferences in government employment and the military.

A longtime pillar of Trump’s political agenda, immigration has been the focus of 15 executive orders. One of the most controversial halted refugee admissions, citing security concerns. Another order freezes funding for organizations involved in refugee resettlement—a move that was swiftly blocked by a federal court.

Trump has also signed an order seeking to reinterpret the 14th Amendment, aiming to end automatic citizenship for those born on U.S. soil to non-citizen parents. Legal experts predict a protracted court battle that could reach the conservative-majority Supreme Court.

In a move that has drawn both support and criticism, Trump signed his 77th executive order on Saturday, making English the official language of the United States.

Six of Trump’s orders have expanded the authority of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an office led by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk. One of the latest orders directs DOGE to pursue “the deconstruction of the overbearing and burdensome administrative state.” Musk, known for his aggressive cost-cutting strategies, has become a central figure in Trump’s push to streamline government operations.

Thirteen executive orders have targeted healthcare. Trump’s administration has withdrawn the U.S. from the World Health Organization, reversed policies protecting access to abortion pills, and reinstated military personnel who had been discharged for refusing COVID-19 vaccinations. Additionally, federal funding has been cut for schools requiring COVID-19 vaccinations.

Ten executive orders have addressed technology, including three focused on artificial intelligence and two on cryptocurrencies. Trump has been working closely with Musk, whose companies hold lucrative federal contracts, to shape AI and space exploration policies. Critics have raised concerns over potential conflicts of interest.

While Trump’s sweeping executive actions have been praised by his supporters, they have also ignited intense backlash from civil rights groups, environmental activists, and foreign allies. The legal battles are only beginning, with opponents vowing to challenge what they describe as overreach by the executive branch.

As Trump barrels ahead with his agenda, the political landscape in Washington remains as polarized as ever, with Democrats and some moderate Republicans bracing for further policy clashes in the months ahead.

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