History of Executive order in Timeline

Executive orders in the United States are directives issued by the President to manage the operations of the federal government. Rooted in Article Two of the Constitution, these orders leverage the President's executive and enforcement authority, allowing discretion in law enforcement and management of the executive branch. While the President issues them, their legal basis lies in constitutional or congressional law. Federal agencies typically propose executive orders before the President issues them.

January 2009: Obama revokes Executive Order 13233

In January 2009, President Barack Obama revoked Executive Order 13233, which had been issued by President George W. Bush in 2001 and restricted public access to the papers of former presidents.

January 28, 2017: Federal Court Stays Part of Trump's Executive Order

On January 28, 2017, a federal court stayed part of President Donald Trump's executive order Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States, which temporarily banned entry to the US of citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries, including for permanent residents.

June 26, 2018: Supreme Court Upholds Trump's Executive Order in Trump v. Hawaii

On June 26, 2018, the US Supreme Court overturned the lower court order in Trump v. Hawaii and affirmed that the executive order was within the president's constitutional authority.

2021: Biden issues 42 executive orders

In 2021, President Joe Biden issued 42 executive orders in the first 100 days of his presidency, more than any other president since Harry Truman.

April 16, 2025: Trump issued 124 executive orders in 86 days.

As of April 16, 2025, Donald Trump surpassed Franklin Roosevelt (who issued 99 executive orders in his first 100 days in office); Donald Trump had issued 124 executive orders in just 86 days in office.