President Trump is signing the 200th executive order of his second term, setting a pace that’s unprecedented in modern history. Here’s what you need to know about Trump’s record-breaking use of executive orders:
The historic milestone
Trump reaches 200 executive orders in just over seven months:
- When Trump signs directive renaming Department of Defense as Department of War on Friday, it will be his 200th executive order in 228 days, or just over seven months, since he returned to White House in January
- Trump has signed more executive orders in his first 228 days than past 16 presidents combined during same point in their presidencies
- Flurry of executive orders eclipses every president in nearly 100 years
- Only President Franklin D. Roosevelt surpassed Trump’s pace, with 200 orders in 153 days
The White House defense
Administration touts effectiveness and implementation of agenda:
- “President Trump is the most effective and hardest-working president in history. By signing executive orders at the highest rate in decades, he has quickly implemented the American people’s agenda to cool inflation, secure the border, and restore peace through strength,” said White House spokesperson Anna Kelly
- Kelly said latest order renaming Defense Department “makes clear that under President Trump our military is about not just defense, but also offense”
- “He is using all tools at his disposal to strengthen our national security, deter threats abroad and Make America Strong Again — just like he promised”
- Administration frames rapid pace as fulfilling campaign promises
The executive order mechanics
Presidential directives carry force of law without congressional approval:
- Executive orders are presidential directives that carry force of law but do not require congressional approval
- While they can go into effect immediately, they can also be undone by future president also issuing executive order
- Trump’s orders have ranged from shrinking government by cutting wasteful spending, bolstering immigration enforcement, imposing tariffs on U.S. trading partners to keeping men out of women’s sports
- Broad scope covers domestic and foreign policy priorities
The modern presidential comparison
No recent president matches Trump’s executive order pace:
- No modern president has issued executive orders at similar pace
- Former Presidents Biden, George H.W. Bush, and Ford never issued 200 executive orders during their single terms in office
- Presidents Obama and George W. Bush both signed their 200th executive orders well into their second terms, taking six years and five years, respectively
- Historians would have to go back to President Reagan to find commander in chief who issued 200 executive orders in single term
The Reagan comparison
Even prolific executive order president took much longer:
- It still took Reagan more than three years and more than 1,300 days in office to reach 200
- During Trump’s first term, he signed total of 220 executive orders
- Current pace suggests Trump could far exceed his first-term total
- Reagan previously considered among most active presidents in using executive orders
The Roosevelt record context
Trump second only to FDR in executive order speed:
- Earlier this year, Trump issued his 100th executive order within his first 100 days
- Shattered Roosevelt’s record of 99 orders within 100 days
- Roosevelt’s faster pace to 200 orders occurred during Great Depression and early World War II period
- Historical context of Roosevelt’s presidency included unprecedented national emergencies
The Department of War renaming
200th order returns to pre-1947 military department name:
- Friday’s directive renaming Department of Defense as Department of War marks symbolic return to historical nomenclature
- Department of War was original name before 1947 reorganization that created Department of Defense
- Change reflects Trump administration’s more aggressive military posture
- Renaming represents both symbolic and practical shift in military department identity
Read more:
• Trump issuing 200th executive order, setting unprecedented pace in modern era
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