Washington DC: US President Donald Trump made his historic return to the White House on Monday, poised to implement significant changes through executive orders, his preferred method of enacting policy without congressional approval 'to make US grest again.'

On his first day, he aimed to boost domestic energy production and dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion programs within the federal government. While signing multiple executive orders is a common practice for incoming presidents, there are limitations to what can be accomplished through this mechanism.

What Are Executive Orders?

Executive orders are essentially directives that shape how the federal government operates, instructing agencies or soliciting reports. They often range from minor adjustments, like granting federal employees an extra day off, to major policy decisions, such as Joe Biden's order on artificial intelligence regulations. Additionally, executive orders, along with proclamations and political memoranda, are instrumental for presidents in advancing their agendas when they face congressional obstacles.

Executive orders are a prominent feature of US governance, with several thousand having been issued throughout history, as noted by the American Presidency Project at the University of California, Santa Barbara. While George Washington signed eight, Franklin Delano Roosevelt issued a staggering 3,721.

More recently, during his first term, Trump signed 220 executive orders, compared to Biden's 160 by December 20, 2024. Trump's executive orders often linked to his campaign promises included a federal hiring freeze, a mandate for federal employees to return to offices, and directives targeting federal investigations he claimed discriminated against his supporters. He also suggested halting offshore windmill development.

Trump Signs Executive Orders On Oath Taking Ceremony

On his inauguration day, Trump canceled 78 orders and actions established by Biden, including those that overturned Trump's previous initiatives. The 47th president of the US Donald Trump in the first 12 hours signed “close to 100” executive orders including:

1. Restoring Freedom of Speech and Ending Federal Censorship

2. Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government

3. Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing

4. Declaring a National Energy Emergency

5. Withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO)

6. Securing Our Borders

7. Reversing an Order on Artificial Intelligence Safety

8. Putting America First in International Environmental Agreements (included the Withdrawal from Paris Climate Agreement)

9. Application of Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act to TikTok

10. Restoring Accountability to Policy-Influencing Positions Within the Federal Workforce

11. Designating Cartels as Terrorist Organizations

12. Releasing 1,500 January 6 Prisoners

13. Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions

14. Ending the Weaponization of the Federal Government

15. Holding Former Government Officials Accountable for Election Interference and Improper Disclosure of Sensitive Governmental Information

16. Clarifying the Military’s Role in Protecting the Territorial Integrity of the United States

17. Unleashing American Energy

18. Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program

19. Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship

20.Restoring the Death Penalty and Protecting Public Safety

21. Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid

22. Protecting the American People Against Invasion

23. Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential

24. Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats

25. America First Policy Directive to the Secretary of State

26. Establishing and Implementing the President’s “Department of Government Efficiency”

27. Reforming the Federal Hiring Process and Restoring Merit to Government Service

28. Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness

29. Declaring a National Emergency at the Southern Border of the United States 30. Reinstating the Remain in Mexico Policy

31. Ending Birthright Citizenship for Children of Immigrants

32. Reversing the Family Reunification Task Force 33. Reversing Sanctions on Israeli Settlers

34. Reversing an Order on Artificial Intelligence Safety

35. Reversing the Withdrawal of Cuba’s Designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism

Limits Of Executive Order

However, limits exist on executive orders' power; Congress and the courts can potentially block these actions. While these orders don't need congressional green light and can't be directly annulled by lawmakers, Congress retains the power to impede their implementation through budgetary restrictions or other measures. For instance, Congress revoked a 1992 order by George HW Bush regarding human fetal tissue research by declaring it legally ineffective. Additionally, Congress can restrict funding to agencies, affecting enforcement of order. Legal challenges can arise over alleged overreach, illustrated by the Supreme Court’s ruling against Truman's attempt to seize steel mills during the Korean War, asserting that he lacked congressional authorization.