President Trump’s Executive Orders—Why?

Introduction

During his first days in office President Trump signed over 50 executive orders.  While new presidents start their terms with executive orders, the extent and direction of President Trump’s orders is “Trumpian!”  All media outlets are talking about the President’s executive orders.  Pundits are speculating on the legality and impact of these directives.  In the following posts I will discuss each executive order, consider why it was signed, present the positives and negatives of each order, and consider the unforeseen consequences good and bad! 

National Energy Emergency

Signed on January 20, this order declares a national energy emergency.  The Trump administration claims that there is an inadequate energy supply and infrastructure, blaming the previous administration.  The order redefines “energy” to include crude oil, natural gas, refined petroleum products, uranium, coal biofuels, geothermal heat, and hydropower.  It excludes wind and solar power.  Federal agencies are directed to use statutory emergency powers to authorize and develop energy projects.  Agencies can claim powers granted through the Defense Production Act and eminent federal domain claims. 

The order directs the Environmental Protection Agency to allow year-round sale of E-15 gasoline.  It also requires that federal agencies consider the environmental impact of energy projects on wildlife and economic costs.

Why?

Candidate Trump regularly made statements degrading wind and solar sources of energy.  He promoted fossil fuel with his “drill baby, drill.”  This order fulfills his promise to his political base.

Positives

The order favors year-long use of E-15 gasoline which supports the farm based ethanol industry.  It also includes apparent safeguards for wildlife.  One could also argue that through the encouragement of exploration of our own natural resources, America will become less reliant on foreign resources.

Negatives

The continued development of new resources increases the rate that these resources are depleted.  There is a limited amount of most of our natural resources, geothermal heat and hydro power being the exceptions.  In addition, the damage to the environment by expanding oil drilling, fracking, and mining cannot be underestimated.  The exclusion of wind and solar from the energy list makes NO sense.  Both are sources of energy that are limitless and are carbon neutral.

Birthright Citizenship

Signed January 20, the Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship does away with citizenship for children born of undocumented immigrants or of immigrants with temporary status. 

Why?

That is a good question! 

Positives

I personally see nothing positive in this executive order.

Negatives

This order is in direct violation of the 14^th Amendment, which states that anyone born or naturalized in the United States and subject to its jurisdiction is a citizen.  In addition, the United States Supreme Court confirmed the amendment in the 1898 case of United States v. Wong Kim Ark.  This order creates two distinct groups, one with citizen rights and another without these rights.  America’s world reputation as a nation that upholds human rights and equality is at stake.

Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) 

This order was signed on January 20.  This order established a new department.  The charge to this new department is to modernize government technology and improve efficiency.  The office will achieve these goals by reducing waste, bloat, and insularity within other government entities.  Using the early retirement mandate, agencies will be able to hire only 1 employee for every 4 that leave government service.  All agencies are required to develop plans for workforce reductions with a focus on reducing diversity initiatives and nonessential functions.  DOGE will work with all agencies to ensure implementation.  The United States Digital Service (USDS) became the United States DOGE Service. This operation will work to implement the President’s 18-month DOGE agenda.  By July 4, 2026, this group will modernize software to improve efficiency of government software, network infrastructure and IT systems.  The group will seek to establish interoperability among government agencies ensuring seamless data sharing. 

Why?

The inefficiency of the federal government, along with bloat, has been a public concern for decades.  Republican legislators have placed government reduction and efficiency at the top of their agenda as well.  There is little doubt that a bureaucracy as large as our federal government has inefficiencies, and media headlines have pointed out government failures.  In signing this executive order, the President delivers on a campaign promise that satisfies his political base and, on the surface, should satisfy other Americans concerned with government waste and inefficiency.

Positives

Given the perception of government inefficiency and waste held by many Americans, this new agency should be welcomed as a positive move. The department could make a difference through efforts to eliminate insularity, duplication of tasks, and in general, wasteful spending.  Standardization of IT throughout the government would likely improve the quality of services. Taxpayers would save money.  The national debt could be reduced. Perhaps trust in the government would be improved.  Fraud might be detected, leading to a more honest government.

Negatives

While the positives are evident, the implementation of the new agency’s’ goals is imperiled by the overly aggressive attack that was initiated by its director.  A velvet glove approach rather than a sledgehammer would have made this new department a partner rather than a demolition machine. Privacy issues have been raised as DOGE demands access to sensitive data, including Social Security numbers, tax records, and medical records.  There are also concerns about DOGE’s unregulated changes to programs already approved by Congress.  Many critics have raised legal issues given what appears to be arbitrary and capricious political control of government payments.  Congress, not the executive branch, was given the power of the purse by the Constitution.  To date, DOGE has announced plans to eliminate thousands of career federal jobs.  Federal agencies have been reduced to almost nothing (USAID, for example).  There are also questions about safeguards to protect sensitive information.  DOGE has personnel who may not have been vetted before given access to secure computing systems.  To be continued!