President Donald Trump is set to hit the ground running with a series of executive orders designed to implement his top priorities within hours of taking office. The orders will focus on government reform, energy, immigration, and border security, signaling the new administration’s aggressive approach to advancing its ambitious agenda.
The scope of these executive orders demonstrates how swiftly the Trump administration plans to reshape policies introduced under President Biden. From government hiring practices to energy production and immigration enforcement, the planned actions aim to bring significant changes to federal governance.
Reshaping Federal Government Policies
One key focus of Trump’s agenda is overhauling the federal government’s hiring and firing processes. The president-elect plans to reinstate Schedule F, an executive order he initially issued in October 2020, which removes job protections for federal workers and streamlines the process for firing employees. The Biden administration had blocked this order, but Trump’s team intends to revive it to push through government reforms quickly.
Stephen Miller, Trump’s deputy chief of staff for policy, recently briefed top Republican leaders on the administration’s plans. According to sources familiar with the briefing, Trump’s orders will prioritize reversing Biden-era directives on diversity, equity, and inclusion while focusing on creating a more “merit-based” government workforce.
Declaring a Border Emergency
Immigration and border security are at the forefront of Trump’s first-day actions. The president-elect is expected to declare a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border, unlocking additional Pentagon resources to address the situation. This move is expected to pave the way for troop deployments and infrastructure construction along the southern border.
As part of his border strategy, Trump plans to relaunch the Remain in Mexico policy, which requires asylum seekers at the southern border to stay in Mexican border cities while awaiting U.S. court proceedings. Additionally, he intends to label drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and enforce a travel ban on specific groups. However, the details of how the travel ban will operate remain unclear.
Nationwide Immigration Raids Planned
The Trump administration is reportedly organizing immigration enforcement raids in several major cities during its early days in office. Cities likely to be targeted include Chicago, Boston, Washington, D.C., Miami, Los Angeles, Denver, New York, and San Antonio. While the exact scope of these operations is still being finalized, the focus will be on individuals with criminal records or outstanding deportation orders.
“These orders, which bypass Congress, are expected to be border-heavy and aimed at undoing many of President Biden’s executive actions,” a Republican familiar with the plans told the Wall Street Journal.
Energy Policies: A National Energy Emergency
Energy policy is another major pillar of Trump’s agenda. According to Miller, the administration will issue an “energy omnibus” executive order that will declare a national energy emergency. This directive aims to boost energy production and lift restrictions imposed by the Biden administration on drilling on federal land, offshore drilling, and policies promoting electric vehicles.
Trump also intends to reduce funding for climate change initiatives and redirect resources toward expanding energy infrastructure to meet growing demands driven by rapid technological advancements, including artificial intelligence.
Speaking at the Capital One Arena on Sunday, Trump emphasized the importance of energy production for the nation’s future. “We’re going to be using our emergency powers to allow countries, entrepreneurs, and people with a lot of money to build big plants—AI plants,” he said. “We need double the energy that we already have, and it’s going to end up being more than that.”
Reversing Biden-Era Policies
One of the central themes of Trump’s executive orders is the reversal of key Biden-era policies. For example, the administration plans to rescind restrictions on energy production and remove directives related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. These changes reflect Trump’s commitment to reducing federal oversight in favor of expanding economic and industrial activity.
Miller’s briefing to Republican leaders highlights the administration’s determination to execute these plans swiftly and effectively. By leveraging executive authority, Trump aims to bypass Congress and implement his vision for America’s future immediately.