Comprehensive Review of Executive Orders Signed by Trump

A Comprehensive Review of All Executive Orders Signed by President Trump as the 45th President of the United States

(STL.News) During his tenure as the 45th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump signed 220 executive orders (EOs) spanning various policy areas.  These executive orders reflected his administration’s priorities on immigration, economic policies, deregulation, healthcare, foreign relations, and national security.  Below is a comprehensive breakdown of the key executive orders that shaped the Trump presidency from 2017 to 2021.  Again, to make it clear, this is discussing President Trump’s first term as the 45th President of the United States.

Immigration Policies

One of the most controversial aspects of President Trump’s tenure was his stance on immigration. Some of his most debated executive orders include:

• Executive Order 13769 (2017) – Commonly known as the “Travel Ban,” this EO restricted entry into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries, including Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.  This order faced multiple legal challenges and was later revised.
• Executive Order 13780 (2017) – A revision of the initial travel ban, this order excluded Iraq from the list of restricted countries and adjusted the scope of the travel restrictions.
• Executive Order 13815 (2017) – Limited refugee admissions and imposed stricter vetting measures on individuals seeking asylum in the U.S.
• Executive Order 13841 (2018) – Addressed family separations at the U.S.-Mexico border following significant public outcry over the administration’s “zero tolerance” immigration policy.
• Executive Order 13936 (2020) – Revoked Hong Kong’s special status under U.S. immigration laws in response to China’s increasing control over the territory.

Economic and Trade Policies

Trump’s economic policies were primarily focused on reducing regulations, reshaping trade agreements, and encouraging domestic production.  Key executive orders included:

• Executive Order 13772 (2017) – Established core principles for the financial regulatory system, aiming to roll back elements of the Dodd-Frank Act.
• Executive Order 13777 (2017) – Directed federal agencies to identify and eliminate unnecessary regulations to reduce bureaucratic red tape.
• Executive Order 13807 (2017) – Streamlined the environmental review process for infrastructure projects to promote economic growth.
• Executive Order 13844 (2018) – Allowed employers to offer health reimbursement arrangements as an alternative to traditional health insurance.
• Executive Order 13924 (2020) – Focused on deregulation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, enabling agencies to bypass specific regulatory requirements.

Healthcare and Social Policy

The Trump administration took various steps to alter healthcare policies, many of which were aimed at reducing government intervention and increasing private sector involvement:

• Executive Order 13765 (2017) – Marked the first step toward repealing the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), allowing agencies to waive or delay its implementation.
• Executive Order 13877 (2019) – Focused on improving price transparency in healthcare by requiring hospitals and insurers to disclose costs upfront.
• Executive Order 13950 (2020) – Banned federal agencies and contractors from conducting certain types of diversity and racial sensitivity training, which the Biden administration later revoked.
• Executive Order 13991 (2021) – Addressed the COVID-19 pandemic by requiring masks on federal property and encouraging social distancing measures.

Foreign Policy and National Security

Trump’s executive orders also played a crucial role in shaping America’s global posture, military strategies, and cybersecurity policies:

• Executive Order 13769 (2017) – The aforementioned travel ban had significant implications for foreign policy and international relations.
• Executive Order 13848 (2018) – Imposed sanctions on foreign entities found interfering in U.S. elections.
• Executive Order 13873 (2019) – Prohibited U.S. companies from using telecommunications equipment from foreign adversaries, notably targeting Huawei and China’s influence in 5G networks.
• Executive Order 13928 (2020) – Authorized sanctions against International Criminal Court (ICC) officials investigating alleged war crimes by U.S. troops.
• Executive Order 13942 (2020) – Banned transactions with the Chinese-owned app TikTok due to national security concerns.

Environmental and Energy Policies

While Trump’s policies generally leaned toward deregulation, his executive orders significantly impacted environmental regulations:

• Executive Order 13783 (2017) – Directed the rollback of the Obama-era Clean Power Plan to promote domestic energy production.
• Executive Order 13834 (2018) – Promoted efficient federal energy use and reduced government environmental impact.
• Executive Order 13868 (2019) – Encouraged energy infrastructure development, including oil and gas pipelines.
• Executive Order 13990 (2021) – Rescinded multiple Trump-era environmental policies in one of the final executive actions of his presidency.

Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement

Trump’s executive orders also shaped criminal justice reform and policing policies:

• Executive Order 13809 (2017) – Reversed an Obama-era policy that restricted the transfer of surplus military equipment to local law enforcement agencies.
• Executive Order 13896 (2019) – Created the Commission on Law Enforcement to study crime trends and policing strategies.
• Executive Order 13929 (2020) – Addressed police reform by promoting best practices and federal oversight following the death of George Floyd.

COVID-19 Response Orders

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a wave of executive orders aimed at mitigating the crisis:

• Executive Order 13910 (2020) – Prevented hoarding and price gouging of essential medical supplies.
• Executive Order 13922 (2020) – Used the Defense Production Act to expand domestic production of medical equipment.
• Executive Order 13935 (2020) – Encouraged U.S. firms to move pharmaceutical production out of China and back to the U.S.

Conclusion

President Trump’s executive orders left a lasting impact on U.S. policy, reshaping immigration, trade, healthcare, national security, and more.  While some of his EOs were reversed or altered by the Biden administration, they reflected his administration’s commitment to conservative principles and deregulation.

As executive orders bypass congressional approval, they remain a powerful tool for presidential policymaking.  However, they are also subject to legal challenges and reversals by subsequent administrations, highlighting the dynamic nature of executive authority in the U.S. government.

CLICK to read about the Executive Orders that President Trump has signed during his second term as the 47th President of the United States.