You’ve probably seen the headlines or heard the chatter. It feels like every other day there’s a new "emergency" order coming out of the Oval Office. But if you’re trying to keep track of whether has trump signed any executive orders recently that actually affect your life, you aren't alone. It is a lot to juggle.
As of January 18, 2026, the short answer is: Yes. A ton of them.
Honestly, the pace has been pretty wild. We are looking at a second term that has already surpassed the total volume of his first four years in just twelve months. By the time we hit the first anniversary of his second inauguration, the tally sat at roughly 229 executive orders. That doesn't even count the proclamations or the memoranda which, while technically different, often carry just as much weight in the real world.
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The 2026 Kickoff: What Just Happened?
The year 2026 started with a literal bang. While most people were still recovering from New Year's, the administration was busy drafting. On January 15, 2026, Trump signed a significant order regarding Critical Minerals. It basically tells the Secretary of Commerce to go out and negotiate international deals so we aren't so dependent on China for the stuff that makes our phones and EV batteries work.
But it’s not all high-level trade stuff. Just a day before that, on January 14, he signed an order to establish an emergency board to settle a labor dispute with the Long Island Rail Road. If you commute in New York, that one actually matters.
The Big Ones from the "First Year" (2025)
To understand where we are now, you have to look at the foundation laid last year. It was a blitz.
- The Department of War: One of the most talked-about moves was the executive action "restoring" the Department of War. It’s a rebranding of the Defense Department, but with a much sharper focus on "the warfighter" and a crackdown on defense contractors who are underperforming.
- DOGE and the Bureaucracy: Working alongside the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Trump signed orders to freeze federal hiring and, in a really controversial move, directed the closure of the Department of Education to "return authority to the states."
- Immigration Blitz: This is where the bulk of the "has trump signed any executive orders" searches come from. He reinstated "Remain in Mexico," ended "catch and release," and expanded travel bans to include about 19 different countries by the end of last year.
The "Genesis Mission" and AI
One of the more "sci-fi" orders signed recently is the Genesis Mission. It sounds like a movie title, but it’s basically an executive order that forces federal agencies to pool their data and supercomputing power to create a massive, national AI platform.
The goal? Automating scientific research.
It’s a massive shift. Instead of every department doing its own thing, they are now under a single "American Science and Security Platform." It’s supposed to speed up everything from cancer research to weapons development. Some people love the efficiency; others are kind of freaked out by the centralization of that much data.
Why the Number of Orders is So High
If you compare this to past presidents, the numbers are off the charts. Historically, presidents might sign 30 to 60 orders a year. Trump hit over 220 in 2025 alone.
Why? Because the strategy this time is "Day One, Minute One" for everything.
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Many of these orders are "repeal and replace" actions. He’s using executive power to undo the executive power used by the previous administration. It creates this back-and-forth cycle where the "law of the land" changes based on who is sitting in the chair, rather than what Congress passes. It’s efficient, sure, but it also means a lot of these orders end up in court for months.
A Quick Look at Recent Signings (Winter 2025-2026)
| Date | Order Topic | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 15, 2026 | Critical Minerals | Shifts processing away from China |
| Jan 9, 2026 | Venezuelan Oil | Safeguards revenue for US interests |
| Jan 2, 2026 | Emcore/HieFo Block | Stops a Chinese company from buying a US chip firm |
| Dec 18, 2025 | Space Superiority | Pushes for a lunar outpost by 2030 |
The Legal Reality: Are These "Real" Laws?
Here is the thing people get wrong: an executive order isn't a permanent law. It’s more like a "manager’s directive" to the federal agencies.
If Trump signs an order saying we are withdrawing from an international treaty, the State Department has to start packing bags. But if that order clashes with an existing federal law passed by Congress, the courts can—and often do—step in.
Currently, there are dozens of lawsuits active. The order to "strip birthright citizenship" and the one to "dismantle the Department of Education" are both tied up in legal hell. Just because he signed them doesn't mean they are fully "active" in the way a speed limit is active.
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What You Should Watch For Next
If you're following the has trump signed any executive orders trail, keep your eyes on the "Schedule G" changes. This is an order that aims to reclassify thousands of federal workers so they can be fired more easily. It’s basically the "Drain the Swamp" order in legal text.
If this holds up in court, it will be the biggest change to how the US government functions since the 1880s.
Actionable Steps to Stay Informed
Don't just rely on social media clips. If you want to know what’s actually happening, do this:
- Check the Federal Register: This is the official "daily diary" of the US government. If it’s signed, it has to be published here eventually.
- Follow the "DOGE" Updates: Since many executive orders are now being funneled through the Department of Government Efficiency, their official bulletins often leak the "intent" of an order before it's even signed.
- Monitor State Attorney General News: Most "stays" (stops) on these orders come from state-level lawsuits (like from California or New York). If you see a headline about a "Preliminary Injunction," it means the order is temporarily paused.
The landscape is moving fast. We've seen more executive action in the last twelve months than we usually see in a decade. Keeping a close eye on the specific wording of these documents is the only way to separate the political theater from the actual policy changes.