On Jan. 20, 2025, Donald Trump became the 47th president of the United States. After taking the oath of office, President Trump began signing executive orders pardoning Jan. 6 defendants, implementing Schedule F to reclassify civil servants as political appointees, declaring a national emergency at the border, and more.
Executive actions related to national security and foreign policy can be found in the searchable table below, along with related documents, Lawfare analysis of the orders, and the legal challenges against them. We will continue to add to this page as events unfold.
Executive Orders
Lawfare Analysis
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Lawfare Live: The Trials of the Trump Administration, May 15
Join the Lawfare team at 4 pm ET for a discussion of the litigation surrounding the Trump administration. -
Law and the Iran War, After the First 60 Days
The War Powers Resolution hasn’t been rendered irrelevant. Its relevance is just beginning. -
Lawfare Daily: An Insider’s Account of the Trump Administration’s Dismantling of USAID
Nicholas Enrich discusses his experience within USAID as DOGE dismantled it from the inside. -
Lawfare Live: The Trials of the Trump Administration, May 1
Join the Lawfare team at 4 pm ET for a discussion of the litigation surrounding the Trump administration. -
What Does the Correspondents Dinner Have to Do With Trump’s Ballroom Project?
The case may test just how far national security deference by the courts to the executive can stretch. -
Racial Animus Claims May Play a Key Role in the TPS Cases
In the Temporary Protected Status cases at the High Court, reviewability is disputed. But the equal protection claims will likely survive.
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Documents
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Trump Signs Order ‘Strengthening and Unleashing America’s Law Enforcement’
The executive order directs the attorney general to “maximize the use of federal resources,” including “military and national security assets,” to “aggressively police crime.” -
Trump Signs Executive Order Imposing ‘Reciprocal’ Tariffs
The order imposes a 10 percent tariff on all U.S. imports and additional reciprocal tariffs on approximately 56 countries as well as the EU. -
White House Releases Order on Rescinding ‘Unlawful’ Regulations
The executive order directs agencies to work closely with DOGE, limiting “the overbearing and burdensome administrative state.” -
Trump Signs Order Shuttering Four Government Entities
The order also terminates the Presidential Management Fellows Program and several committees across various agencies. -
Executive Order on ‘Ensuring Accountability for All Agencies’
The order expands presidential oversight of agencies and asserts “authoritative interpretation” of executive branch law by the president. -
Trump Signs Executive Order to Reshape the U.S. Foreign Service
The order directs the secretary of state to reform recruiting, performance, evaluation, retention, and other diplomatic service standards.
This page was created by Anna Hickey.