Executive Orders are powerful tools used by the President of the United States to manage operations of the federal government. They carry the force of law and do not require congressional approval, although they can be challenged in court or overturned by subsequent presidents. This article takes a closer look at the executive orders signed by President Donald J. Trump in 2021, his final year in office.
The Federal Register serves as the official journal of the federal government of the United States that contains government agency rules, proposed rules, and public notices. It is a reliable source for staying informed about presidential actions, including executive orders. Notably, the Office of the Federal Register (OFR) compiles and maintains disposition tables containing information about Presidential Documents. You can also find information on Presidential actions at the White House website.
In 2021, President Trump signed 14 executive orders, numbered from EO 13971 to EO 13984. These orders covered a diverse range of topics, reflecting the administration's priorities during that period. Here's a brief summary:
EO 13984: Taking Additional Steps To Address the National Emergency With Respect to Significant Malicious Cyber- Enabled Activities: Amended EO 13694, and addressed the ongoing national emergency related to cyber threats.
EO 13983: Revocation of Executive Order 13770: Revoked EO 13770.
EO 13982: Care of Veterans With Service in Uzbekistan: Addressed the healthcare needs of veterans who served in Uzbekistan.
EO 13981: Protecting the United States From Certain Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Focused on safeguarding the nation from potential threats posed by specific unmanned aircraft systems.
EO 13980: Protecting Americans From Overcriminalization Through Regulatory Reform: Aimed to protect Americans from overcriminalization through regulatory reform.
EO 13979: Ensuring Democratic Accountability in Agency Rulemaking: Sought to ensure democratic accountability in the agency rulemaking.
EO 13978: Building the National Garden of American Heroes: Focused on creating a "National Garden of American Heroes."
EO 13977: Protecting Law Enforcement Officers, Judges, Prosecutors, and Their Families: Designed to enhance the protection of law enforcement officers, judges, prosecutors, and their families.
EO 13976: Establishing the Wildland Fire Management Policy Committee: Established a committee to address wildland fire management policies.
EO 13975: Encouraging Buy American Policies for the United States Postal Service: Encouraged the United States Postal service to adopt "Buy American" policies.
EO 13974: Amending Executive Order 13959 Addressing the Threat From Securities Investments That Finance Communist Chinese Military Companies: Amended EO 13959 to address threats from Chinese military companies.
EO 13973: Providing an Order of Succession Within the Environmental Protection Agency: Defined the order of succession within the Environmental Protection Agency.
EO 13972: Promoting Small Modular Reactors for National Defense and Space Exploration: Aimed to promote the use of small modular reactors for national defense and space exploration.
Several key themes emerge from these executive orders such as national security, regulatory reform, and support for specific groups like veterans and law enforcement. Some of these orders were later amended or revoked by subsequent administrations, highlighting the dynamic nature of executive actions. For instance, EO 13980, "Protecting Americans From Overcriminalization Through Regulatory Reform" and EO 13978, "Building the National Garden of American Heroes," were revoked by EO 14029. Conversely, EO 13978 was then reinstated by EO 14189.
The Federal Register provides access to the full text of each executive order in multiple formats, including:
Each executive order's page on the Federal Register includes essential details such as:
The Federal Register is a vital resource for anyone seeking to understand the workings of the U.S. government. The "Using FederalRegister.Gov" guide can help you navigate the site and find the information you need.
President Trump's 2021 executive orders reflect a wide array of policy objectives. By examining these orders through resources like the Federal Register, you can gain insights into the actions and priorities of the executive branch.
