2025 Executive Orders Explained

I know that there is a lot of information flying around, but I wanted to make a series with a brief summary of all that is going on right now. As such, here is a breakdown of the rest of Janyary's Executive Orders.

If you found this one first, then you might want to catch up. Here is Part 1.

EO 14173: Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity 1/21/25

This Executive Order eliminates race- and sex-based preferences in federal hiring, contracting, and grants, declaring that Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies violate civil rights laws. It revokes prior executive orders promoting DEI, removes DEI-related mandates from federal agencies, and ends affirmative action in federal contracting. Agencies must enforce anti-discrimination laws in the private sector and identify potential legal actions against DEI practices in corporations, nonprofits, professional associations, and universities. Additionally, the Attorney General and Secretary of Education must issue guidance ensuring compliance with Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard. The order does not affect veteran preferences or First Amendment protections in education.

EO 14174: Revocation of Certain Executive Orders 1/21/25

This Executive Order revokes two COVID-19-related mandates: Executive Order 14042, which required COVID safety protocols for federal contractors, and Executive Order 14043, which mandated COVID-19 vaccination for federal employees.

EO 14175: Designation of Ansar Allah as a Foreign Terrorist Organization 1/22/25

This Executive Order initiates the process to designate Ansar Allah (the Houthis) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) under 8 U.S.C. 1189 due to its Iran-backed attacks on U.S. forces, regional partners, and global maritime trade. The Secretary of State must submit a report within 30 days evaluating the designation and take action within 15 days afterward. Additionally, USAID must review and terminate partnerships with entities that fund or support Ansar Allah. This action aims to eliminate the Houthis' capabilities, disrupt their funding, and protect U.S. interests and allies in the Middle East and Red Sea region.

EO 14176: Declassification of Records Concerning the Assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 1/23/25

This Executive Order mandates the full declassification and public release of all federal records related to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It overturns previous redactions and delays in releasing these documents, citing the public interest and transparency. The Director of National Intelligence and Attorney General must present a plan within 15 days for the release of JFK assassination records and a plan within 45 days for RFK and MLK records. This order ensures the final disclosure of long-withheld government records related to these historic events.

EO 14177: President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology 1/23/25

This Executive Order re-establishes the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) to advance American leadership in critical fields like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and biotechnology. The council will consist of up to 24 members from academia, industry, and government, co-chaired by the Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and the Special Advisor for AI & Crypto. PCAST will advise the President on scientific and technological policy, support national security and economic interests, and provide guidance on innovation and research priorities. The Department of Energy will fund and support PCAST, which will operate for two years unless extended. This order revokes Executive Order 14007 from 2021, restructuring the previous advisory body.

EO 14178: Strengthening American Leadership in Digital Financial Technology 1/23/25

This Executive Order promotes U.S. leadership in digital assets and blockchain while ensuring economic liberty and national security. It supports open blockchain networks, stablecoins, and fair banking access while prohibiting Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) in the U.S. Key actions include revoking Executive Order 14067 (2022) and the Treasury’s Digital Asset Framework, establishing a regulatory working group to oversee digital asset policies, and banning the development of a U.S. CBDC. The order prioritizes innovation, financial sovereignty, and regulatory clarity in digital finance.

EO 14179: Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence 1/23/25

This Executive Order removes barriers to U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence (AI) by revoking Executive Order 14110 (2023) and other restrictive policies. It prioritizes AI innovation free from ideological bias, strengthens economic and national security, and directs officials to develop an AI action plan within 180 days. Agencies must review and rescind policies that hinder AI growth, and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) must revise AI-related memoranda within 60 days to align with this directive.

EO 14180: Council To Assess the Federal Emergency Management Agency 1/24/25

This Executive Order establishes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Review Council to evaluate FEMA’s effectiveness, impartiality, and disaster response efficiency. The Council, composed of federal and non-federal experts, will assess FEMA’s performance over the past four years, compare it with state and private-sector responses, and analyze its role in federal-state disaster coordination. The review will consider potential reforms to FEMA’s structure and operations, including whether it should focus on supporting state-led efforts rather than replacing them. The Council will solicit public input, hold meetings, and submit a report with recommendations within 180 days of its first meeting. The Council will terminate in one year unless extended.

EO 14181: Emergency Measures To Provide Water Resources in California and Improve Disaster Response in Certain Areas 1/24/25

This Executive Order directs emergency measures to enhance water resources in California and improve disaster response. It mandates federal intervention to override state policies that hinder water access, ensuring sufficient resources for firefighting and prevention. Federal agencies must maximize water deliveries, expedite infrastructure projects, and streamline regulations. The order also reviews state mismanagement, ensuring federal funds are used effectively. Additionally, it provides housing relief for wildfire and hurricane victims, accelerates waste removal, and expedites road and bridge repairs in disaster-affected areas, including California and North Carolina.

EO 14182: Enforcing the Hyde Amendment 1/24/25

This Executive Order reinforces the Hyde Amendment, ensuring that federal taxpayer dollars are not used to fund or promote elective abortions. It revokes two previous executive orders that supported federal abortion funding and directs the Office of Management and Budget to issue guidance for compliance.

EO 14183: Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness 1/27/25

This Executive Order prioritizes military readiness and effectiveness by reinforcing strict mental and physical fitness standards for service members. It directs the Department of Defense (DoD) to update policies to exclude individuals with gender dysphoria from military service, citing medical and psychological fitness requirements. The order also revokes Executive Order 14004, which previously allowed transgender individuals to serve openly, and mandates the elimination of gender identity-based pronoun usage within the military. Additionally, it reinforces sex-based designations for facilities like sleeping quarters and restrooms. The DoD and the Coast Guard must update policies and report to the President within 60 days to ensure full implementation.

EO 14184: Reinstating Service Members Discharged Under the Military’s COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate 1/27/25

This Executive Order mandates the reinstatement of service members who were discharged solely for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine, allowing them to return to their former rank with full back pay, benefits, and bonuses. It also provides an option for those who voluntarily left service due to the mandate to return without penalty. The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security must take all necessary actions to implement these policies and report progress within 60 days.

EO 14185: Restoring America’s Fighting Force 1/27/25

This Executive Order eliminates Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs within the Department of Defense and the U.S. Coast Guard, asserting that military hiring and operations should be free of race- and sex-based preferences. It directs the abolition of all DEI offices, mandates an internal review of past DEI initiatives, and prohibits the promotion of divisive concepts, gender ideology, or teachings that America’s founding documents are racist or sexist. The Service Academies and military educational institutions must align with this policy and emphasize American values. The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security must issue implementation guidance within 30 days and submit a report within 180 days on their progress.

EO 14186: The Iron Dome for America 1/27/25

This Executive Order directs the development and deployment of a next-generation missile defense system to protect the U.S. from ballistic, hypersonic, and advanced cruise missile threats. Within 60 days, the Secretary of Defense must submit a comprehensive plan outlining the architecture, funding, and strategic priorities for the system, including space-based interceptors, boost-phase defenses, and non-kinetic capabilities. The order also calls for a review of U.S. and allied theater missile defense to enhance cooperation, technology sharing, and protection for forward-deployed troops and allies. This initiative builds on Reagan-era missile defense goals and aims to deter and defend against foreign aerial attacks while ensuring U.S. strategic security.

EO 14187: Protecting Children From Chemical and Surgical Mutilation 1/28/25

This executive order prohibits federal funding, promotion, or support for gender transition procedures for minors, including puberty blockers, hormone treatments, and surgeries. It directs federal agencies to rescind reliance on WPATH guidance, review medical literature on gender dysphoria, and ensure that federally funded medical institutions end such procedures. The order also blocks TRICARE and federal employee health plans from covering these treatments, strengthens legal protections for whistleblowers, and prioritizes DOJ investigations into fraud and consumer deception related to these medical interventions. Additionally, it calls for new legislation allowing lawsuits against medical providers who perform these procedures on minors and targets states that facilitate parental custody loss over gender identity disputes. Agencies must report progress on implementation within 60 days.

EO 14188: Additional Measures to combat Anti-Semitism 1/29/25

This executive order reaffirms and strengthens measures to combat anti-Semitism, particularly in response to increased incidents following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel. It reinstates Executive Order 13899, which protects Jewish students from discrimination under civil rights laws, and mandates aggressive enforcement against anti-Semitic harassment and violence. Federal agencies must identify and use all available legal tools, including civil rights enforcement and potential criminal actions, to hold perpetrators accountable. The Attorney General and Secretary of Education must review campus anti-Semitism cases, while the Secretaries of State, Education, and Homeland Security will provide guidance on monitoring and reporting foreign nationals involved in such activities, potentially leading to removal actions.

EO 14189: Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday 1/29/25

This executive order establishes Task Force 250 to organize a grand celebration of America’s 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026. Led by the President and Vice President, the task force will coordinate federal agencies, cultural institutions, and the Semiquincentennial Commission to plan events and activities. The order reinstates previous executive orders to build the National Garden of American Heroes, protect monuments from vandalism, and expand the list of historically significant Americans honored. The Department of Defense will provide administrative support, and agencies must submit reports on their plans by March 1, 2025. The task force will terminate on December 31, 2026, unless extended.

EO 14190: Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling 1/29/25

This executive order aims to eliminate radical indoctrination in K-12 education by removing federal funding for programs promoting gender ideology, race-based preferences, and anti-American narratives. It mandates agencies to review and defund curricula that advance these ideologies, strengthen parental rights, and ensure compliance with anti-discrimination laws like Title VI, Title IX, FERPA, and PPRA. The order reinstates the 1776 Commission to promote patriotic education, develop a Presidential 1776 Award, and support initiatives celebrating America’s 250th anniversary in 2026. It also prohibits schools from facilitating social transitions of minors without parental consent and directs federal agencies to enforce laws against unlawful educational practices. The Department of Education and other agencies will prioritize funding for patriotic education programs and enforce the requirement for schools receiving federal funds to hold Constitution Day programs on September 17.

EO 14191: Expanding Educational Freedom and Opportunity for Families 1/29/25

This executive order promotes educational freedom and parental choice by encouraging alternatives to traditional public schools. It highlights poor student performance in government-run schools and supports state-based scholarship programs that allow families to choose the best educational setting for their children. The order directs the Department of Education to issue guidance on using federal funds for school choice initiatives and prioritizing education freedom in discretionary grant programs. It also mandates reviews by the Departments of Education, Labor, Health and Human Services, Defense, and the Interior to explore ways to expand educational opportunities for low-income families, military families, and students eligible for Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools. The goal is to increase competition among schools, improve educational outcomes, and give families more control over their children’s education.

EO 14192: Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation 1/31/25

This executive order aims to reduce regulatory burdens and promote economic growth by implementing a ten-for-one rule, requiring the elimination of at least ten existing regulations for every new regulation issued. It sets a regulatory cap for fiscal year 2025, ensuring that the total cost of regulations is significantly less than zero. Agencies must identify, report, and offset regulatory costs, while the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) oversees compliance, including approving regulations listed in the Unified Regulatory Agenda. Exemptions are provided for national security, agency management, and minimal-cost regulations. The order also revokes recent regulatory guidance and reinstates prior economic review policies to streamline regulatory analysis and enhance efficiency in government rulemaking.