Washington DC (US): Donald Trump has begun his second term as the 47th President of the United States with a series of bold executive actions aimed at reversing key policies of the previous administration. Shortly after taking the oath of office on Monday at the Capitol Rotunda during a high-profile inauguration attended by foreign dignitaries and tech leaders, Trump wasted no time in asserting his agenda.
In front of a cheering crowd at the Capital One Arena in Washington DC, Trump signed eight executive orders, symbolically showcasing his signature and even tossing pens into the crowd. Among his first actions was withdrawing the US from the Paris Climate Agreement, a move that signals his commitment to revisiting environmental policies established under the Biden administration.
One of the key executive orders included the revocation of 78 Biden-era executive actions, which Trump criticised as 'destructive and radical.' He further implemented a freeze on federal hiring, exempting only the military and other essential sectors and ordered all federal employees to return to full-time, in-person work. Additionally, Trump issued a regulatory freeze, ensuring that no new regulations could be enacted until his administration had full control over federal agencies.
Another major focus was on addressing free speech and government accountability. Trump signed an order to restore freedom of speech by preventing censorship and ending what he described as the 'weaponisation of government' against political adversaries. He also directed federal departments to prioritise tackling the cost-of-living crisis, signalling his administration’s intent to address economic challenges faced by Americans.
Trump’s return to the White House marks a remarkable shift in policy direction, with his initial actions setting the tone for his administration. “We’re going to revoke nearly 80 radical executive actions of the previous administration, one of the worst in history,” Trump declared during the signing.
The eight executive orders signed on his first day in office are:
1. Halting 78 Biden-era executive actions.
2. Freezing new federal regulations until further notice.
3. Freezing federal hiring, except for the military and essential sectors.
4. Mandating federal workers’ return to in-person work.
5. Directing agencies to address the cost-of-living crisis.
6. Withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement.
7. Restoring and safeguarding freedom of speech.
8. Ending political weaponization within government agencies.
Withdrawal From WHO
As he did during his first administration, Trump is pulling the US out of the World Health Organization. He also ordered a comprehensive review of US foreign aid spending. Both moves fit into his more isolationist "America First" approach to international affairs.
In more symbolic moves, Trump planned to sign an order renaming the Gulf of Mexico, making it the Gulf of America. The highest mountain in North America, now known as Denali, will revert back to Mount McKinley, its name until President Barack Obama changed it. And Trump signed an order that flags must be at full height at every future Inauguration Day. The order came because former President Jimmy Carter's death had prompted flags to be at half-staff. Trump demanded they be moved up Monday. Another Trump order calls for promoting "Beautiful Federal Civic Architecture."
With these decisive steps, Trump has positioned his second term as a direct challenge to his predecessor’s policies, signalling an era of major political and policy shifts in Washington.
