Executive Orders

Executive Orders of the President of the United States are declarations with the force of law, which can take effect without the intervention of Congress.  They are typically signed, then published on the White House website (usually after several hours), then formally published (usually a few days later) in the Federal Register. (You can read more about executive orders in general in Wex and about distinctions between executive orders, proclamations, and memoranda from the Library of Congress.) Below are recent executive orders we are pointing to in advance of their publication in the Federal Register.

Recent Executive Orders and Presidential Actions - Trump Administration

Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions (Jan. 20, 2025)

The following executive actions are hereby revoked:

Recent Executive Orders - Biden Administration

Executive Order on the Partial Revocation of Executive Order 13961 (Jan. 19, 2025)

... Sections 1, 3, 4, 5, and 7 of Executive Order 13961 of December 7, 2020 (Governance and Integration of Federal Mission Resilience), are hereby revoked.  Sections 2, 6, and 8 of Executive Order 13961 are renumbered as Sections 1, 2, and 3, respectively.  Section 1 of Executive Order 13961, as renumbered, is amended by striking the clause “To achieve this policy, in conjunction” and inserting in its place the words “In conjunction”.  Section 2(b) of Executive Order 13961, as renumbered, is amended by striking the clause “the Executive Committee established in section 3 of this order” and inserting in its place the words “the Restricted Principals Committee described in section 3 of the National Security Memorandum of January 19, 2025 (National Continuity Policy)”....

Executive Order on Helping Left-Behind Communities Make a Comeback (Jan. 19, 2025)

Policy.  Well-designed programs that support local and Tribal leaders in left-behind communities can lead to stronger economic outcomes, strengthen regional assets, and reduce regional inequality.  It is the policy of my Administration to take a whole-of-government approach to defining, coordinating, and increasing the accessibility of existing and future programs that help left-behind communities.... 

Executive Order on Providing for the Appointment of Alumni of AmeriCorps to the Competitive Service (Jan. 16, 2025)

Policy.  The Federal Government benefits from a workforce that can be recruited from the broadest and deepest pools of qualified candidates for merit-based positions.  The issuance of an order granting Non-Competitive Eligibility to certain alumni of programs administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service (operating as AmeriCorps) would be in the best interest of the Federal Government.  AmeriCorps alumni have demonstrated a sustained commitment to public service, have received extensive training and hands-on experience, and have developed leadership, communication, and technical skills that are aligned with the missions of many federal agencies and departments.  It is in the interest of the Federal Government to retain the services of these highly skilled individuals, particularly given that the Federal Government aided them in the acquisition of their skills....

Executive Order on Strengthening and Promoting Innovation in the Nation’s Cybersecurity (Jan. 16, 2025)

Policy.  Adversarial countries and criminals continue to conduct cyber campaigns targeting the United States and Americans, with the People’s Republic of China presenting the most active and persistent cyber threat to United States Government, private sector, and critical infrastructure networks.  These campaigns disrupt the delivery of critical services across the Nation, cost billions of dollars, and undermine Americans’ security and privacy.  More must be done to improve the Nation’s cybersecurity against these threats....

Executive Order on Taking Additional Steps with Respect to the Situation in Syria (Jan. 15, 2025)

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (8 U.S.C. 1182(f)), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, in view of changing circumstances on the ground in Syria and in order to take additional steps with respect to the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13894 of October 14, 2019 (Blocking Property and Suspending Entry of Certain Persons Contributing to the Situation in Syria), hereby order....

Executive Order on Advancing United States Leadership in Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure (Jan. 14, 2025)

Purpose.  Artificial intelligence (AI) is a defining technology of our era.  Recent advancements in AI demonstrate its rapidly growing relevance to national security, including with respect to logistics, military capabilities, intelligence analysis, and cybersecurity.  Building AI in the United States will help prevent adversaries from gaining access to, and using, powerful future systems to the detriment of our military and national security.  It will also enable the United States Government to continue harnessing AI in service of national-security missions while preventing the United States from becoming dependent on other countries’ infrastructure to develop and operate powerful AI tools....

Executive Order on Taking Additional Steps with Respect to the Situation in the Western Balkans (Jan. 8. 2025)

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (IEEPA), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) (NEA), section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (8 U.S.C. 1182(f)), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, in view of events in the Western Balkans, including continued attempts by individuals to challenge the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Western Balkans nations, to undermine post-war agreements and institutions, to engage in significant corruption that erodes the rule of law and trust in democratic governance, and to evade United States Government sanctions, and in order to take additional steps with respect to the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13219 of June 26, 2001 (Blocking Property of Persons Who Threaten International Stabilization Efforts in the Western Balkans), as amended by Executive Order 13304 of May 28, 2003 (Termination of Emergencies With Respect to Yugoslavia and Modification of Executive Order 13219 of June 26, 2001), and expanded in scope by Executive Order 14033 of June 8, 2021 (Blocking Property and Suspending Entry Into the United States of Certain Persons Contributing to the Destabilizing Situation in the Western Balkans), hereby order....

Executive Order on Providing an Order of Succession Within the Department of Homeland Security (Jan. 3, 2025)

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, as amended, 5 U.S.C. 3345 et seq. (the “Act”), it is hereby ordered that: Section 1.  Order of Succession.  Subject to the provisions of section 2 of this order, and to the limitations set forth in the Act, the following officials of the Department of Homeland Security, in the order listed, shall act as and perform the functions and duties of the office of Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) during any period in which the Secretary, the Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, the Under Secretary for Management, and any officers designated by the Secretary pursuant to 6 U.S.C. 113 to act as Secretary have died, resigned, or otherwise become unable to perform the functions and duties of the office of Secretary, until such time as at least one of the officers mentioned above is able to perform the functions and duties of that office....

Executive Order on Providing an Order of Succession Within the Office of Management and Budget (Jan. 3, 2025)

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, as amended, 5 U.S.C. 3345 et seq. (the “Act”), it is hereby ordered that: Section 1.  Order of Succession.  Subject to the provisions of section 2 of this order, and to the limitations set forth in the Act, the following officials of the Office of Management and Budget, in the order listed, shall act as and perform the functions and duties of the office of Director of the Office of Management and Budget (Director) during any period in which both the Director and the Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget have died, resigned, or otherwise become unable to perform the functions and duties of the office of Director....

Executive Order Providing an Order of Succession Within the Department of Justice (Jan. 3, 2025)

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, as amended, 5 U.S.C. 3345 et seq. (the “Act”), it is hereby ordered that: Section 1.  Order of Succession.  Subject to the provisions of section 2 of this order, and to the limitations set forth in the Act, the following officials of the Department of Justice, in the order listed, shall act as and perform the functions and duties of the office of Attorney General during any period in which the Attorney General, the Deputy Attorney General, the Associate Attorney General, and any officers designated by the Attorney General pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 508 to act as Attorney General have died, resigned, or otherwise become unable to perform the functions and duties of the office of Attorney General, until such time as at least one of the officers mentioned above is able to perform the functions and duties of that office....

Executive Order Providing an Order of Succession Within the Department of the Treasury (Jan. 3, 2025)

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, as amended, 5 U.S.C. 3345 et seq. (the “Act”), it is hereby ordered that: Section 1.  Order of Succession.  Subject to the provisions of section 2 of this order, and to the limitations set forth in the Act, the following officials of the Department of the Treasury, in the order listed, shall act as and perform the functions and duties of the office of Secretary of the Treasury (Secretary) during any period in which both the Secretary and the Deputy Secretary of the Treasury have died, resigned, or otherwise become unable to perform the functions and duties of the office of Secretary....

Executive Order Providing an Order of Succession Within the Department of Agriculture (Jan. 3, 2025)

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, as amended, 5 U.S.C. 3345 et seq. (the “Act”), it is hereby ordered that: Section 1.  Order of Succession.  (a)  Subject to the provisions of section 2 of this order, and to the limitations set forth in the Act, the following officials of the Department of Agriculture, in the order listed, shall act as and perform the functions and duties of the office of Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) during any period in which both the Secretary and the Deputy Secretary of Agriculture have died, resigned, or otherwise become unable to perform the functions and duties of the office of Secretary....

Executive Order Providing an Order of Succession Within the Office of the National Cyber Director (Jan. 3, 2025)

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, as amended, 5 U.S.C. 3345 et seq. (the “Act”), it is hereby ordered that:  Section 1.  Order of Succession.  Subject to the provisions of section 2 of this order, and to the limitations set forth in the Act, the following officials of the Office of the National Cyber Director, in the order listed, shall act as and perform the functions and duties of the office of the National Cyber Director (Director) during any period in which the Director has died, resigned, or otherwise become unable to perform the functions and duties of the office of Director.... 

Order Regarding the Proposed Acquisition of United States Steel Corporation by Nippon Steel Corporation (Jan. 3, 2025)

.... Actions Ordered and Authorized.  On the basis of the findings set forth in section 1 of this order, considering the factors set forth in subsection 721(f) of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as appropriate, and pursuant to my authority under applicable law, including section 721, I hereby order that: (a)  The proposed acquisition of U.S. Steel by the Purchasers (Proposed Transaction) is prohibited, and any substantially similar transaction between the Purchasers and U.S. Steel, whether effected directly or indirectly by the Purchasers, through the Purchasers’ shareholders or shareholders’ immediate, intermediate, or ultimate foreign person beneficial owners, or through the Purchasers’ partners, subsidiaries, or affiliates is also prohibited....

Earlier executive orders

We maintain some links to earlier executive orders. These are also published in the Federal Register.

Other Presidential Actions Documents

In addition to executive orders, other presidential actions include notices, memoranda and proclamations. These presidential actions are accessible via the White House website.