Executive breakdown

A brief overview of Trump’s 2025 presidential directives

Erin Liu and Alan Tai • March 6, 2025

With the executive authority given to the president by the Constitution, they are able to establish and guide policies in the country by issuing presidential directives. For reasons ranging from their controversial nature to their drastic and widespread impact, 14 of the 74 executive orders and two of the 14 proclamations President Donald Trump signed in his first term are particularly notable.

Trump’s presidential directives

EXECUTIVE ORDER 14151: ENDING RADICAL AND WASTEFUL GOVERNMENT DEI PROGRAMS AND PREFERENCING

Rescinds all federal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives, claiming the programs are “illegal and immoral discrimination”

EXECUTIVE ORDER 14155: WITHDRAWING THE UNITED STATES FROM THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

Gives notice* of the U.S. withdrawal from the WHO, a second attempt at the action from President Trump after his initial effort was reversed by former President Biden before it could take effect

*Formal withdrawal from WHO requires a one-year notice

EXECUTIVE ORDER 14156: DECLARING A NATIONAL ENERGY EMERGENCY

Expedites development of domestic energy resources, with a focus on fossil fuels and nuclear energy

EXECUTIVE ORDER 14160: PROTECTING THE MEANING AND VALUE OF AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP

Ends birthright citizenship for children of non-citizens and undocumented immigrants 30 days after the order is issued

Federal judges from the states of Maryland, Washington, New Hampshire and Massachusetts have all issued injunctions on this order, citing conflicts with the Constitution and its 14th Amendment

EXECUTIVE ORDER 14162: PUTTING AMERICA FIRST IN INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL AGREEMENTS

Withdraws the U.S. from the Paris Agreement and revokes the U.S. International Climate Finance Plan, limiting the country’s financial contributions to international environmental agreements

EXECUTIVE ORDER 14169: REEVALUATING AND REALIGNING UNITED STATES FOREIGN AID

Pauses all U.S. foreign development assistance for 90 days to assess its compliance with U.S. foreign policy and alignment with “American values”

EXECUTIVE ORDER 14171: RESTORING ACCOUNTABILITY TO POLICY-INFLUENCING POSITIONS WITHIN THE FEDERAL WORKFORCE

Reinstates Schedule Policy/Career (formerly Schedule F under EO 13957, signed by President Trump in 2020), a new federal classification system that gives the President more power to fire and hire federal employees involved in the creation of policies

Created as a method to improve accountability and efficiency in the federal government

EXECUTIVE ORDER 14172: RESTORING NAMES THAT HONOR AMERICAN GREATNESS

Renames Denali to Mount McKinley and the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, promoting patriotism

EXECUTIVE ORDERS 14193, 14194 AND 14195: IMPOSING DUTIES ON CANADA, MEXICO AND CHINA

Establishes a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico and a 10% tariff on imports from China as an effort to reduce drug trafficking from these nations

Following the issuing of these orders, Canada and Mexico came to an agreement with the U.S. for a 30-day delay in tariff implementation by increasing border security, while China retaliated with counter-tariffs

EXECUTIVE ORDER 14201: KEEPING MEN OUT OF WOMEN'S SPORTS

Bans transgender athletes, specifically trans women in women’s sports, following definitions of the two sexes established in EO 14168

PROCLAMATION 10886: DECLARING A NATIONAL EMERGENCY AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER OF THE UNITED STATES

Declares a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border, directing the deployment of additional military resources to control the region

PROCLAMATION 10887: GRANTING PARDONS AND COMMUTATION OF SENTENCES FOR CERTAIN OFFENSES RELATING TO THE EVENTS AT OR NEAR THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL ON JANUARY 6, 2021

Reduces the sentences of 14 individuals and completely pardons all others who were convicted during the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol

About the Contributors

Erin Liu, Staff Writer

Erin Liu is currently a sophomore and staff writer for El Estoque. In her free time, she enjoys playing the violin or erhu, painting and coming up with names for pets she’ll never own.

Alan Tai, Editor-in-Chief

Alan is currently a senior and an Editor-in-Chief for El Estoque. He is an active member of MV Speech & Debate and enjoys exploring technology. In his free time, he plays video games, messes with people and scours the internet for random topics that pique his interest.