Trump executive orders said to include declaring national emergency on border, energy
President-elect Donald Trump said he will sign around 100 executive orders within hours after taking office on Monday, focusing on revoking “dozens of destructive and radical executive actions of the Biden administration,” he declared at a “Victory Rally” in Washington D.C. on the eve of his inauguration.
Stephen Miller, Trump’s incoming deputy chief of staff for policy, on Sunday briefed some senior GOP leaders on the upcoming actions aimed at immigration, energy, tariffs and government hiring, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Immigration
Trump is planning to declare a national emergency on the U.S.-Mexico border, which would unlock additional Pentagon funding to tackle immigration. He also plans to classify drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, and is expected to reinstate the “Remain in Mexico” policy that requires migrants seeking asylum to stay in Mexico during their U.S. court proceedings.
Trump’s advisers have reportedly been planning immigration raids in several major cities across the nation, including Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles, New York and San Antonio.
Energy
Trump is planning to declare a national energy emergency. While it’s not clear how the emergency declaration would be used, Bloomberg reported that it would unlock special powers over crude transportation and electricity generation.
It would mark a major shift in Washington, where environmentalists have for years been pressuring Biden to declare a climate emergency, using the proclamation to halt oil exports and, even, potentially, blunt domestic flows of crude.
Trump to declare national energy emergency, unlocking new powers; Bloomberg, January 20th
The president-elect will terminate Biden-era restrictions on oil and gas drilling offshore and on federal land, lift a moratorium on new licenses to export LNG, and roll back vehicle tailpipe emissions and electric vehicle policies.
Trade tariffs
Trump advisers have been looking at gradually introducing tariffs targeting key sectors related to energy and defense. But some have advocated for implementing a high tariff on all U.S. imports from day one.
Trump could use the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to implement tariffs quickly, the Financial Times reported. His team is also reportedly exploring using Section 232 authorities of the Trade Expansion Act to boost tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.
Government reform
Trump is planning to rewrite hiring rules for federal employees and create a new process for layoffs. He also eyes bringing back Schedule F, which eliminates job protections for federal workers.
The president-elect previously signed the order during his first term, but it had been blocked by the Biden administration.