<a class="post__byline-name-unhyphenated" href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/author/lisa-desjardins" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/Person" itemprop="author"> <span itemprop="name">Lisa Desjardins</span> </a> <a class="post__byline-name-hyphenated" href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/author/lisa-desjardins"> Lisa Desjardins </a> <br>Leave your feedback<br>For more politics coverage and analysis, sign up for Here’s the Deal, our weekly politics newsletter, <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/newsletters">here.</a><br>The second Trump administration began with a hefty Day 1, rolling out dozens of executive actions.<br>It is a blizzard of decrees, which we read through overnight.<br>A few are operation matters. Trump made his nominee list official, organized his <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/organization-of-the-national-security-council-and-subcommittees/">National Security Council</a>, and allowed his chief counsel to <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/memorandum-to-resolve-the-backlog-of-security-clearances-for-executive-office-of-the-president-personnel/">give temporary clearances</a> to a list of people. <br>Most of these are aimed at direct changes in the policy and operations of the United States. One of the largest executive orders <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/initial-rescissions-of-harmful-executive-orders-and-actions/">rescinds a whopping 78 Biden policies.</a><br>Several are expected to draw quick court challenges. And many do not provide details for how these will be administered. But Trump is quickly acting to set up his agenda.<br>Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else.<br>Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm.<br><strong>As a reminder:</strong> There are different kinds of actions a president can take, including executive orders, proclamations and memorandums. Here’s a <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/cheat-sheet-executive-orders-memorandums-proclamations">quick refresher</a> before we get started.<br>Here are some initial highlights.<br><iframe title="How the Trump administration is setting the groundwork for mass deportations" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/meISivX05nw?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /> <em>How the Trump administration is setting the groundwork for mass deportations. Video by PBS NewsHour</em><br><iframe title="A look at the history of U.S. immigration policies that led to today's complex system" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lfHwLTzGfm0?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /> <em>A look at the history of U.S. immigration policies that led to today’s complex system. Video by PBS NewsHour</em><br><iframe title="The potential impacts of Trump's decision to withdraw from the World Health Organization" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EdD97SDpzZ0?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /> <em>The potential impacts of Trump’s decision to withdraw from the World Health Organization. Video by PBS NewsHour</em><br> <svg class="svg"><use xlink:href="#arrow-left"></use></svg><span>Left:</span> President Donald Trump takes a question during a Jan. 21 news conference at the White House. Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images <br><span>By</span> Eric Tucker, Associated Press<br><span>By</span> Eric Tucker, Associated Press<br><span>By</span> Joseph Krauss, Associated Press<br><span>By</span> Joshua Barajas<br><span>By</span> Julie Percha<br> <a class="post__byline-name-unhyphenated" href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/author/lisa-desjardins" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/Person" itemprop="author"> <span itemprop="name">Lisa Desjardins</span> </a> <a class="post__byline-name-hyphenated" href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/author/lisa-desjardins"> Lisa Desjardins </a> <br>Lisa Desjardins is a correspondent for PBS News Hour, where she covers news from the U.S. Capitol while also traveling across the country to report on how decisions in Washington affect people where they live and work.<br> <span>Support Provided By:</span> <a href="https://help.pbs.org/support/solutions/articles/5000677869" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Learn more</a> <br>Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else.<br>Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm.<br> <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics">Politics</a> <span>Jan 21</span> <br>© 1996 - 2025 NewsHour Productions LLC. All Rights Reserved.<br>PBS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.<br>Sections<br>About<br>Stay Connected<br>Subscribe to Here's the Deal with Lisa Desjardins<br>Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm.<br>Learn more about Friends of the News Hour.<br>Support for News Hour Provided By<br><br><a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMid0FVX3lxTFB4eEN1RXZYQUNpblVndFZEbll0eUl4bkV1c3ZOd1kyOGNOaWt5MGlpYThHYVlyWmZ2S245SjRycExpOUZIRFpPNW81N3g0UUtIUW5kcnoxa3F4SXBveVMxTkkxME1FdE43UEwxeURlbHFna1JGTVFn?oc=5">source</a>
