One of Trump’s primary focuses has been unraveling Biden’s climate and environmental legacy, which he has often criticized as overly restrictive and economically burdensome. On his first day, January 20, 2025, Trump signed approximately 200 executive actions, many targeting Biden’s environmental policies. A key action was withdrawing the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement for the second time, citing it as an “unfair economic burden” on American industries. This move reverses Biden’s executive order rejoining the agreement on January 20, 2021, and signals a rejection of international climate commitments aimed at limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
Trump declared a national energy emergency, a historic first, to expedite energy production by suspending certain environmental regulations and fast-tracking permits for oil, gas, and mining projects. This included reversing Biden’s ban on offshore drilling across 625 million acres of federal waters and lifting restrictions on oil and gas leasing in the Arctic, notably in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). An executive order also resumed processing export permit applications for new liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects, which Biden had paused to assess environmental impacts. Additionally, Trump imposed a moratorium on offshore wind leasing and halted new wind and solar permits on federal lands for 60 days, arguing these projects degrade natural landscapes and fail to prioritize American consumers.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under Administrator Lee Zeldin, announced 31 deregulatory actions on March 12, 2025, described as the “most consequential day of deregulation in U.S. history.” These included reconsidering Biden’s Clean Power Plan 2.0, methane emission regulations for oil and gas industries, and the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, which imposed costs on energy producers. The EPA also rolled back vehicle emission standards encouraging electric vehicle (EV) adoption, ended the “Good Neighbor Plan” expanding federal air quality rules, and terminated environmental justice (EJ) and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. Other reversals targeted Biden’s regulations on particulate matter, hazardous air pollutants, and the “Social Cost of Carbon” metric used to assess climate policy impacts
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) issued new oil and gas leases, including 6,259 acres in New Mexico by February 1, 2025, and approved the Nevada North Lithium Exploration Project on March 5, 2025, to boost domestic mineral production. The Department of the Interior also extended the Spring Creek Mine’s operational life in Montana by 16 years, supporting coal production. These actions contrast with Biden’s efforts to limit coal leasing and reduce fossil fuel dependency.
Immigration has been a cornerstone of Trump’s agenda, with significant reversals of Biden’s policies. On January 20, 2025, Trump issued executive orders barring asylum for new arrivals at the southern border, suspending the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, and declaring migrant crossings a national emergency to unlock funding for border wall construction without Congressional approval. He reinstated the “Remain in Mexico” policy, requiring asylum seekers to wait in Mexico during case reviews, and moved to end birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants, a constitutionally contentious action facing legal challenges.
Trump also reversed Biden’s directives to rebuild the refugee program and improve legal immigration processes. For instance, Executive Order 14010, which established a framework for managing migration across North and Central America, and Executive Order 14011, which created a task force to reunite families separated at the border, were rescinded. Additionally, Trump’s administration expanded Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations and considered designating cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. These actions aim to tighten border security and reduce immigration inflows, aligning with Trump’s campaign promises but sparking lawsuits from groups like the American Civil Liberties Union.
Trump’s executive actions have systematically dismantled Biden’s civil rights and equity initiatives. On January 20, 2025, he rescinded Executive Order 13985, which advanced racial equity in federal operations, and Executive Order 13988, which protected against discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation. The White House Gender Policy Council, established by Biden to promote gender equality, was dissolved, and DEI programs across federal agencies were terminated. Trump also signed an order recognizing only two sexes, male and female, impacting policies like transgender protections in federal prisons and military service.
Other reversals include Executive Order 14019, which supported voting access initiatives, and Executive Order 14074, which introduced police reform measures. Programs addressing hate crimes, systemic racism, and equity for marginalized groups, such as Asian Americans and Native Hawaiians, were also eliminated. These moves reflect Trump’s rejection of what he calls “radical ideology” but have drawn criticism for undermining protections for vulnerable communities.
Trump targeted Biden’s healthcare and pandemic-related policies, rescinding orders that expanded Medicaid, lowered prescription drug costs, and enhanced COVID-19 response coordination. For example, Executive Order 14009, which strengthened the Affordable Care Act, and Executive Order 14087, which capped out-of-pocket drug costs, were eliminated. Federal COVID-19 testing, vaccine distribution, and worker safety protocols were scaled back, and mandates for federal employee vaccinations were dropped. These actions align with Trump’s push to reduce federal healthcare spending but risk reducing access for millions, as warned by Biden’s White House.
Trump implemented a federal hiring freeze (except for military, immigration enforcement, and public safety roles) and restored Schedule F, a category reducing job protections for federal workers, making it easier to fire career civil servants. He ended remote work policies, mandating in-person work for federal employees, and halted new regulations until reviewed by his appointees. Trump also revoked ethics requirements for executive branch personnel and restructured advisory bodies like the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
On cultural issues, Trump issued symbolic orders, such as protecting free speech (already enshrined in the First Amendment), ensuring lethal injection drug supplies for federal executions, and renaming Mount Denali and the Gulf of Mexico. He also pardoned or commuted sentences for nearly all January 6, 2021, Capitol riot defendants, including high-profile figures like Jacob Chansley [HLJ podcast Ep308} and Enrique Tarrio, a move criticized by Democrats as “un-American” but defended by Trump as correcting government weaponization.
Beyond domestic policy, Trump withdrew from the World Health Organization, paused foreign aid for three months to align with his “America First” agenda, and initiated reviews of trade agreements like the USMCA and China’s 2020 trade deal compliance. He also delayed a TikTok ban for 75 days to assess national security risks, balancing his base’s concerns with the platform’s 170 million American users.
While Trump’s executive actions dominate, Republicans in Congress have supported his agenda, passing bills like H.R. 26 to protect hydraulic fracturing and overturning Biden’s methane emission fees. However, major legislative reversals, like repealing the Inflation Reduction Act, face challenges due to locked-in funding and political resistance, as warned by Biden’s team. Over $643 billion in clean energy and infrastructure grants are obligated, making them difficult to claw back.
Trump’s actions reflect a deliberate strategy to erase Biden’s legacy, but they face legal, economic, and social hurdles. Environmental rollbacks risk exacerbating climate change, with critics warning of increased emissions and natural disasters. Immigration policies are tied up Engaging in court battles, and civil rights reversals have sparked accusations of discrimination. Economically, while Trump promises lower energy costs, experts doubt the feasibility due to global market dynamics.
In total, Trump’s first 200 days have seen the rescission of over 97 Biden executive actions (78 on day one, 19 later), alongside new policies prioritizing energy production, border security, and cultural conservatism. These moves fulfill campaign promises but set the stage for epic legal and political battles.
Editorial comments expressed in this column are the sole opinion of the writer.
