President Donald Trump took the oath in the oval office for the second time on Monday, Jan. 20, breaking the record for most signed executive orders on day one. In his inaugural speech he promised “the golden age for America begins now,” but the president is running into legal challenges due to the result of his controversial executive actions. Here is a list of Trump’s five executive orders and how they affect the country.

1. One of Trump’s main executive orders targets immigration, policies such as ending birthright citizenship. Birthright citizenship is protected by the U.S. Constitution regardless of parents immigration status. This executive order would violate the 14th Amendment granting citizenship to all persons “born or naturalized in the U.S.” This particular executive order is facing legal challenges as California along with 21 other democratic state attorneys generals have federal lawsuits against president Trump. Many described the act as unlawful and unconstitutional. 
2. On Jan. 20, Trump pardoned 1,500 people convicted of the crimes on Jan. 6, 2021 at the U.S. capitol granting them “a full, complete and unconditional bargain.” Amongst the rioters were leaders of an extremist group called the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers. Due to these controversial clemency actions they are sparking legal challenges. With many not in favor of the pardon arguing that it lacks justice and accountability.
3. Trump declared a national emergency that would allow the Defense Department to deploy the national guard and military to the border. The reinstatement of executive order “remain in Mexico” program that would require asylum seekers at the southern border to wait in Mexico until their U.S. hearings.
4. The nation’s 47th president signed an executive order ending diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in federal agencies. It is unclear how many employees would be affected. But there is fear of the unknown when it comes to those who are women, minorities, and other groups. Companies such as Walmart and Target have already stopped diversity initiatives and schools have already started to cut funding for DEI programming. Furthermore, Trump issued an executive order revoking the Equal Employment Opportunity rule that was signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965. The program prohibited federal agencies from engaging in discrimination acts against race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation and gender identity.
5. In recent news President Donald Trump has issued a memorandum ordering a pause on federal grants and loans. A U.S. District Judge Loren L. AliKhan blocked the funding freeze for only a few minutes before it was scheduled to take effect. Mass chaos and confusion regarding which federal agencies were going to be impacted by this federal freeze. The federal funding freeze does not apply to student loans and Pell grants according to the Department of Education. Karoline Leavitt, the White House Press secretary stated that the federal assistance and grant programs such as social security benefits, medicare, food stamps welfare would not be affected. Assistance that is going directly to individuals will not be impacted by this pause. The Trump administration said the decision was necessary to ensure all federal agencies are in compliance with Trump’s executive orders. Trump intends to undo progressive steps of transgender rights, environmental justice, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, DEI, efforts. 

Despite being in office less than two weeks, President Trump’s  executive orders and policies has left a lot of the the country wondering how these policies and orders will shape the future.