A closer look at Trump’s sweeping executive orders on immigration, energy, and federal bureaucracy on Day One

By isabelle // 2025-01-23

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Trump signed executive orders on immigration, energy, climate and federal bureaucracy, declaring a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border and restarting border wall construction.
He ended birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants, reinstated the “Remain in Mexico” policy, and designated drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.
Trump rolled back Biden-era climate policies, withdrew from the Paris Agreement, and prioritized U.S. energy production, including oil and gas drilling.
He restricted transgender rights, ended federal diversity programs, and mandated federal employees return to the office, threatening dismissals for noncompliance.

President Donald Trump signed a flurry of executive orders on his first day back in office, delivering on key campaign promises and signaling a dramatic shift in U.S. policy on immigration, energy, climate, and federal bureaucracy. The orders mark the beginning of what Trump called the “complete restoration of America.” The sweeping actions, which included declaring a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border, rolling back Biden-era climate regulations, and ending diversity programs in federal agencies, were met with cheers from supporters and immediate legal challenges from critics. Trump’s aggressive approach, described by one Republican strategist as “shock and awe,” underscores his determination to reshape the nation’s policies and fulfill his pledge to put America first.

Immigration overhaul: A crackdown on illegal entry

Trump wasted no time addressing one of his signature campaign issues: immigration. He declared a national emergency at the southern border, ordering the deployment of U.S. troops to support immigration enforcement and restarting construction of the border wall, a project halted by the Biden administration. In a controversial move, Trump signed an executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants, a policy rooted in the 14th Amendment. “The federal government will not recognize automatic birthright citizenship for children of illegal aliens born in the United States,” an administration official stated. The order is expected to face swift legal challenges, as critics argue it violates the Constitution. Trump also reinstated the “Remain in Mexico” policy, requiring asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their claims are processed. Additionally, he designated drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, a move aimed at curbing the flow of fentanyl and other opioids into the U.S.

Energy and climate

In a significant blow to the Biden administration’s climate policies, Trump declared a national energy emergency to “unleash affordable and reliable American energy.” He signed orders to boost oil and gas production, including in Alaska, and revoked Biden’s pause on liquefied natural gas exports. Trump also withdrew the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement for the second time, fulfilling a campaign promise to prioritize American energy independence over global climate commitments. “We will drill, baby, drill,” Trump declared, tying his energy policies to efforts to combat inflation and lower energy costs for American families.

Transgender rights and diversity programs

Trump took aim at transgender rights and diversity initiatives, signing an order that recognizes only two sexes — male and female — on all federal documents. The order also ends taxpayer-funded gender-affirming care and restricts transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports. In another move, Trump terminated diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs within the federal government, calling them “radical and wasteful.” The order directs agencies to identify and eliminate such programs, a move Trump said would restore merit-based policies.

Streamlining government

Trump also targeted the federal workforce, signing an order requiring thousands of federal employees to return to the office, ending work-from-home arrangements that expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic. “If federal workers refuse to return to the office, they’re going to be dismissed,” Trump warned in December. Additionally, he reimplemented “Schedule F,” an executive order that strips job protections from nonpolitical career officials, making it easier to fire federal employees. The move is part of Trump’s broader effort to reduce the size of the federal bureaucracy. President Trump’s first day in office was marked by a whirlwind of executive actions that signaled a dramatic departure from the policies of his predecessor. From cracking down on illegal immigration to rolling back climate regulations and reshaping federal bureaucracy, Trump delivered on his promise to take swift and decisive action. While his orders were celebrated by supporters as a return to common-sense governance, they also drew immediate legal challenges and criticism from opponents who argue they undermine constitutional rights and environmental protections. As Trump begins his second term, his administration is poised to reshape the nation’s policies in ways that will reverberate for years to come. Sources for this article include: TheRightScoop.com FoxNews.com NBCNews.com