Convicted Felon Reoccupies White House and Breaks the Law via Barrage of Day 1 Executive Orders
Plus, Pete Hegseth's domestic abuse, Trump begins the purge, ICE plans mass raids in churches and schools, and Judge Cannon blocks classified documents report
Convicted Felon Reoccupies White House and Breaks the Law via Barrage of Day 1 Executive Orders
Well, it’s official. A convicted felon and man who orchestrated a coup on the United States reoccupied the White House. Excellent work, American voters.
I wrote on Monday that Trump’s barrage of Day 1 executive orders would put Project 2025 into motion and test whatever guardrails are left of U.S. Democracy. Since Trump is so predictable and because the Heritage Foundation published the authoritarian agenda in advance, none of this should be a surprise.
And yet some of these executive actions are shocking because they are brutalistic to an extreme. When it comes to the Trump regime, the cruelty is the point and they are prepared to industrialize enacting pain and destruction on a mass scale.
I don’t have any words of wisdom or levity to offer here. All I can note is that knowledge is power and so is never allowing them to convince you that it’s too late or not worth fighting against.
Their strategy is to flood the zone to overwhelm us all. Their achilles heel is that they’re arrogant enough to believe Americans will fold and that their agenda is resistance-proof. They are under the impression they won.
There is power in being underestimated and misunderstood. It’s up to us as a collective to recognize this and use it to our advantage.
There’s a lot so I’ve just highlighted the cliff notes from all of Monday’s executive orders. You’ll notice that some are longer than others and that’s because some EO’s had a LOT of detail that shouldn’t be overlooked.
Here’s what’s included in Trump’s Day 1 “America First” executive orders:
Pro-Kremlin policy to break from the United Nations
U.S withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement again (Trump directed a U.S. exit in his first term)
U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization again (Trump began this process in his first term)
Ordered a 90-day pause on U.S. foreign aid and directed agency heads to determine whether to continue, modify, or cease existing foreign assistance programs.
Tariff and Taxation Wars
Directed the secretaries of Commerce and the Treasury to review the U.S. trade policy, including existing trade agreements, and to provide recommendations on tariffs and other appropriate measures against “unfair trade practices” and the illicit flow of fentanyl from Canada, Mexico, and China. He also instructed them to consult with the Secretary of Homeland Security about creating a new agency to extort trade partners, which will be named the External Revenue Service. The thing about this is only Congress has the authority to create new agencies.
Ordered U.S. withdrawal from OECD Global Tax Deal, an agreement negotiated by the Biden administration in which 140 countries adopted a 15% global corporate minimum tax. Directed the Treasury Secretary and U.S. ambassador to the OECD to notify the council that the agreement has “no force or effect within the United States” unless adopted by Congress and to investigate countries that have or plan to tax American companies. The Treasury Secretary must submit a “list of options for protective measures or other actions” in response to existing or pending tax rules or non-compliance within 60 days.
Weaponizing the government for retribution against political enemies
Sweeping pardons of all J6 participants and commuted sentences for Proud Boys and Oath Keepers members
Ordered the Attorney General to investigate the Biden administration’s agencies that “exercis[ed] civil or criminal enforcement authority,” including the DOJ, SEC, and FTC. The ODNI is also directed to investigate the activity of intelligence agencies over the past 4 years. Both must provide “recommendations for appropriate remedial actions” to Trump, but no deadline is listed.
In a separate order, Trump directed the Attorney General to investigate the Biden administration’s efforts to combat misinformation and to provide recommendations for appropriate action to correct past misconduct related to censorship.
Revoked 78 executive orders by President Biden and directed the Director of the Domestic Policy Council (DPC) and the Director of the National Economic Council (NEC) to submit a list of additional executive actions that should be overturned within 45 days. In addition, the National Security Advisor (NSA) must submit a list of National Security Memoranda to be rescinded.
(Note the EO’s revoked include protections from sex, gender identity, and race-based discrimination; voting rights and anti-gerrymandering; federal prison and judicial reform; COVID-19 economic relief; reducing prescription prices; combatting transnational organized crime; family reunification policy; offshore oil bans; AI regulations; and promoting the arts and humanities.)
Revoked security clearances for 50 retired, deceased (LOL) and current intelligence community officials for alleged “election interference” in coordination with the Biden Presidential campaign. He also ordered the ODNI to investigate intelligence agencies and submit a report within 90 days that details additional inappropriate activity and provides recommendations for preventing election interference and disciplinary action.
Ordered immediate Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information security clearances for a secret list of personnel for up to 6 months. He also granted the White House Counsel the authority to supplement the list as they see fit.
Make America do Capital Punishment Again
Ordered that federal capital punishment be reinstated and authorized the AG to pursue federal jurisdiction and seek the death penalty for crimes involving murder of a law enforcement officer and any capital crime committed by an undocumented immigrant. It also directs the AG to re-charge the 37 death row inmates pardoned by President Biden and detain them “in conditions consistent with the monstrosity of their crimes and the threats they pose.” In addition, the AG is ordered to pursue the reversal of Supreme Court precedents that limit capital punishment.
MAGA’s Draconian Solution to the Immigration “Problem”
Ordered federal agencies to violate the U.S. Constitution by not abiding by the 14th Amendment that grants birth-right citizenship. The executive branch does not have the authority to undo a Constitutional amendment. Only Congress has the authority to repeal amendments by two-thirds majority vote, which would then need to be ratified by three-fourths of U.S. states.
Revoked President Biden’s executive actions on immigration policy. Authorized the Secretary of Homeland Security to direct the heads of ICE, CBP, and CIS to prosecute, impose financial penalities, and remove all immigrants who enter unlawfully and to jointly establish with the AG Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTFs) nationwide. The Secretary is also authorized to sanction countries who do not accept or delay verification of foreign nationals. In coordination with the AG, the Secretary is authorized to deny states access to Federal funds and pursue civil and criminal action against local and state officials who do not comply. Both officials are also directed to review all contracts and grants providing federal funding to NGO’s that provide services to immigrants, pause funding, and terminate agreements that are determined to be waste, fraud, or in violation of the law, as well as charge organizations for reimbursement.
Declared an invasion at the U.S.-Mexico border and suspended entry of undocumented immigrants under the Immigration and Nationality Act who are determined to be participants of the “invasion” and who pose public health and safety risks. Ordered that all immigrants seeking entry into the U.S. must provide documentation of medical and criminal history and background information to federal officials. Note that it is a “show me your papers” directive.
In a separate order, declared a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border invoking the National Emergencies Act to deploy the U.S. Armed Forces, including the National Guard, and gave the Secretary of Homeland Security the authority to allocate “appropriate detention space.” The Defense Secretary and DHS Secretary are also authorized to construct physical barriers along the border and to conduct use of force measures to stop immigrants from entering the U.S. Both agencies are exempt from FAA and FCC rules to counter unmanned aerial systems, as well as from laws that govern human rights violations. The secretaries must submit a report within 90 days that includes recommendations for necessary actions, “including whether to invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807.”
In a separate order, Trump directed the Secretary of Homeland Security to hold all immigrants “on suspicion of violating Federal or State law” until they are deported and to pursue criminal charges against detainees and the coyotes (aka smugglers). The agency head is authorized to terminate CBP One app and the refugee resettlement and parole program for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans.
Directed the Defense Secretary to submit a revised Unified Command Plan within 10 days that outlines a “level 3 planning requirement for USNORTHCOM to seal U.S. borders and maintain U.S. sovereignty.”
Suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) and granted authority to the Secretary of State and Secretary of Homeland Security to jointly admit refugees on a case-by-case basis. The officials must submit a report within 90 days (and every 90 days after) that determines whether the program should resume or not.
Re-instated the visa-issuing process from Trump’s first term and directed the Secretary of State, AG, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and ODNI to jointly submit within 60 days a list of countries for partial or full suspension from the program, as well as a list of admitted individuals from these nations and detailed activities since their arrival.
Designated international cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and directed the Secretary of State to consult with the AG, ODNI, and Treasury and Homeland Security secretaries to submit a list of cartels for such designation within 14 days. The AG and Homeland Secretary are also directed to prepare for any future decision by Trump to invoke the Alien Enemies Act “in relation to the existence of any qualifying invasion or predatory incursion.”
Legalized Discrimination
Revoked civil rights protections and recognition of LGBTQ community by ordering the U.S. Government to only recognize two biological sexes and redefines the term “gender identity” as “gender ideology.” Directed the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security and the OPM to require that government-issued ID’s (passports, visas, and Global Entry cards) accurately reflect the holder’s sex at birth and to terminate federal funding of gender ideology.
Rescinded the Biden administration’s DEI and environmental justice policies and directed the AG and the heads of the OMB and OPM to review and revise existing federal employment practices, union contracts, and training programs to ensure compliance. Within 60 days, these officials must terminate teams, positions, and contractors serving under these policies.
Broligarchy Before Laws
Directed the Attorney General to not enforce the TikTok ban law for 75 days. Note that the Biden administration did not enforce the law when it went into effect.
An Unrestrained Capitalist Economy
Directed federal agencies to freeze regulatory policy. This includes canceling pending regulatory actions, postponing rules that have not taken effect, and halting any new regulatory efforts until the OMB director reviews materials.
In a separate order, Trump disbanded the American Climate Corps, terminated the Green New Deal, and directed the OMB and National Economic Council to end regulatory action of the energy sector and reversing the Biden administration’s climate change policy within 30 days. The officials must coordinate with the AG to seek delays, holds, or appropriate relief in pending litigation.
Directed federal agencies to implement deregulatory policies as a solution to the U.S. cost-of-living crisis (note the vague and confusing wording is intentional).
Declared a national energy emergency, authorizing the Energy Secretary, the EPA administrator, and the Interior Secretary to use federal eminent domain authorities, emergency Army Corps permitting provisions, and the Defense Production Act to expedite and facilitate national energy supply projects in and through the West Coast, Northeast, and Alaska.
Ordered a temporary withdrawal from offshore wind projects and directed the Secretary of the Interior to review whether existing leases should be terminated or amended and submit recommendations with no provided deadline. The agency head must also issue a moratorium on all rights and activities of Magic Valley Energy and cease issuing new or renewed approvals, rights, permits, and leases for wind projects. The Energy Secretary, EPA administrator, and Interior Secretary are also directed to submit a report with recommendations for removing defunct and idle windmills.
Directed the secretaries of Energy, the Interior, Commerce, the Army, and others to rescind, amend, and grant exemptions to the environmental and energy policies in Alaska enacted by the Biden administration and to prioritize Liquified Natural Gas development on state and federal lands. Also ordered the reinstatement of executive actions from his first term and a review of Interior Department guidance on Alaska Native lands to determine whether actions protecting native lands should be revoked. Denied the pending request to establish an indigenous sacred site in the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Project 2025 Agenda Roll Out
Ordered a federal hiring freeze again for 90 days to reduce the federal workforce and weed out “useless and overpaid DEI activists” in government (Trump ordered a 79-day freeze in his first term)
In a separate order, demanded the federal hiring process to be overhauled and directed the heads of the OMB, OPM, and DOGE/USDS, and Trump’s Domestic Policy advisor to share and implement a Federal Hiring Plan with agency heads within 120 days.
Ordered an in-person work requirement for government employees.
Reinstated Schedule F policy to fire federal employees for insubordination, including “resisting and undermining the policies and directives of their executive leadership,” and “poor performance” or other at-will causes.
Directed the OMB and OPM to issue Career Senior Executive Services performance plans within 30 days. Agency heads must implement the plans, replace existing Executive Resources Boards with new or interim noncareer chairs and a majority of noncareer members, and replace existing Performance Review Board members with loyalists “committed to full enforcement” of the plan.
Reinstated an organizational chart that merges the National Security Council with the Homeland Security Council. Most notably, this new administrative makeup demotes the ODNI, CIA director, and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, designating the intelligence community and the U.S. armed forces as non-voting advisors to the council.
Directed the Secretary of State to issue guidance for the State Department to implement an America First foreign policy.
Ordered the U.S. Digital Service (USDS) renamed as the U.S. DOGE Service. Note that DOGE stands for Department of Government Efficiency, which was made up by Trump’s billionaire co-president Elon Musk. Also note that the executive branch doesn’t have the authority to establish new agencies, so renaming an existing agency and embedding a new one within it is Trump’s attempt to skirt the law.
Directed agency heads to review and replace current members on the Board on Geographic Names with loyalists and ordered the Interior Secretary to rename Mount Denali as Mount McKinley and the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America within 30 days. Note that only Congress has the authority to establish such designations, which Trump acknowledges in the order. Still, he authorizes the Board to use all approved names in federal documents without Congressional approval.
Just petty and vain
Ordered flags flown at full-staff for the inauguration ceremony and all future inauguration days. Ordered that flags be returned to half-staff on Tuesday to honor the death of President Jimmy Carter.
Directed the General Services Administrator to coordinate with federal agencies to submit recommendations for federal building designs within 60 days. Note that Trump issued this same EO in his first term.
In addition to posting his nominations for cabinet positions and a list of sub-cabinet appointments, Trump listed who will serve as acting directors until his nominees are confirmed. The list of agency leadership is also published on the White House website.
That’s all for now! Headlines from Monday, Tuesday, and a few from Wednesday are below.
Headlines
Hours after the GOP-controlled Senate Armed Services Committee advanced Pete Hegseth’s nomination for Defense secretary, Hegseth’s former sister-in-law submitted an affidavit with the Senate that alleges the former Fox
Newspropaganda network host and Army Veteran domestically abused his second wife. In what appears to be the same strategy used to cover up evidence to confirm an unfit man for a position of power, Danielle Hegseth wrote that she shared these allegations with an FBI agent in a Dec. 30, 2024 interview as part of a background investigation into Trump’s nominee. But the FBI and Trump’s transition team failed to share that information with the ranking chairs of the Committee before the hearings. She also stated that she shared more details about Hegseth’s volatile behavior with the FBI after he testified at his Senate hearing.It’s worth noting that Hegseth’s attorney is Trump’s former personal lawyer, Tim Parlatore, who represented Trump during the DOJ’s efforts to retrieve stolen classified documents from Mar-a-Lago.
Trump’s acting DHS secretary authorizes mass raids that violate right to privacy
On Tuesday, Trump’s acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Benjamin Huffman, confirmed that he authorized U.S. immigration authorities to conduct raids at churches, hospitals, and schools. These locations were previously designated off-limits, but Trump rescinded it on Monday.
Trump revokes security detail for former National Security advisor John Bolton
On Tuesday, Trump terminated his former NatSec advisor’s security detail, one day after revoking John Bolton’s security clearance, alongside 49 other former senior national security officials. Bolton has had a security detail since December 2021 as Iran seeks revenge against Trump and senior administration officials for assassinating senior Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in January 2020.
Trump removes U.S. Coast Guard Commandant for not being a loyalist
On Tuesday, Acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamin Huffman confirmed that he had fired U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Linda Lee Fagan, the first female uniformed leader of an armed forces branch. An unnamed official told Reuters the decision was made because Fagan had an "excessive" focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). It’s more likely that she did not take the Trump loyalty pledge that is demanded of all federal employees under the Trump regime.
Trump begins purge of Presidential appointees as part of Project 2025 agenda
On Tuesday, Trump made a big show of dismissing 4 Presidential appointees, including former Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley from the National Infrastructure Advisory Council, celebrity chef and humanitarian José Andrés from the President’s Council on Sports, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms from the President’s Export Council, and his first administration’s special envoy to Iran, Brian Hook, from the Wilson Center for Scholars. Andres and Bottoms responded that they had resigned from their posts, which were effective prior to Trump’s reoccupation. Trump also stated that he plans to fire an additional 1,000+ appointees of President Biden who are not loyal to MAGA.
Trump’s National Security advisor suspends 160 career aides under loyalty directive
On Wednesday, Trump’s National Security advisor and former Florida GOP Rep. Mike Waltz summoned 160 NatSec Council detailees for an all-staff meeting and informed them they are no longer needed to report to the White House until further notice. Some confirmed their White House emails were shut off despite being asked to remain available to directors. Waltz told Breitbart that it’s part of the incoming regime’s policy that personnel be “100 percent aligned with the president’s agenda.”
Trump’s DOJ reassigns 20 senior career officials under loyalty directive
On Tuesday, the Justice Department shuffled agents in multiple divisions, including a veteran deputy assistant AG in the NatSec division who supervised the investigation into the classified documents case. The DOJ did not comment on why they are conducting non-standard reassignments, but it is a sign that it is part of Trump’s loyalty purge and retribution against those involved in his criminal cases.
Trump’s Acting DHS Secretary abruptly disbands department advisory boards
On Monday, Trump’s acting DHS secretary terminated all existing advisory committee memberships within the agency, including the CSRB, which operates under CISA. The board was investigating the Chinese government-linked Salt Typhoon hacks on 9 U.S. telcommunications companies and it’s not likely the inquiry will resume. Other advisory panels that were dismissed include those focused on issues including natural disaster and emergency preparedness, critical infrastructure, AI, and cybersecurity.
Trump issues executive orders reversing non-discriminatory hiring practices
On Tuesday, Trump issued two related executive orders that rescind the United State’s landmark policy on non-discriminatory hiring practices. In a sweeping order to bind both federal and private sector recruitment, Trump rescinded the Civil Rights era executive action by President Lyndon B. Johnson that established Equal Employment Opportunity and another by President Bill Clinton in 1994 that directed federal resources to address environmental justice. He also revoked additional protective executive actions by Presidents Obama and Biden and directed agency heads to issue guidance to departments, as well as enforce compliance by the private sector. The AG is authorized to investigate and pursue civil action against companies, including large non-profit organizations and foundations, state and local bar and medical associations, and universities that do not comply.
In a separate order, Trump directed the Transportation Secretary and the Federal Aviation Administrator to end the department’s existing DEI policy and conduct performance reviews to purge employees.
In a 14-page order on Tuesday, Trump’s personal judge protected Donald Trump by withholding Special Counsel Jack Smith’s report on Trump’s actions in stealing and retaining classified documents from Congressional review. She wrote that by allowing House and Senate Judiciary Committee chairmen to see the report, the likelihood of “public dissemination of all or part of Volume II” was strong. In other words, she doesn’t trust Congress to keep evidence of Trump’s crimes secret. She also claimed that Congress hasn’t subpoenaed or requested to review the report and found that the DOJ “offers no valid justification” for releasing any information in an ongoing criminal proceeding as it “presents a substantial and unacceptable risk of prejudice to Defendants.”