President Trump Sworn into Office, Issues Significant Executive Orders

On Jan. 20, Donald Trump was sworn into office as the 47^th President of the United States. On that day, he issued a record-setting 26 Executive Orders (EOs) to immediately advance his Administration’s policy goals, ranging from immigration and the Paris Climate Agreement to energy and TikTok. Several EOs will significantly impact the public transportation industry, including Orders to impose a regulatory freeze, streamline the environmental review process, and dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

President Trump’s EO on Unleashing American Energy includes several significant provisions. Section 7, regarding Terminating the Green New Deal, requires all agencies to immediately pause disbursement of funds appropriated under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to ensure consistency with the energy policy outlined in the Order. In fact, based on the EO, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) shut down its reimbursement process for several hours on Jan. 21.

APTA was concerned that this Order could halt all public transit, passenger rail, and highway reimbursements under US DOT programs and immediately sought clarification. Moreover, APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas issued the following statement: “We are reaching out to the U.S. Department of Transportation to ensure that President Trump’s Executive Order directing a pause in the disbursement of infrastructure funds does not inadvertently impact formula and competitive grant funds for public transit and passenger rail projects that are subject to binding legal commitments. APTA remains focused on our core mission: supporting the development of robust, efficient public transportation systems across the nation. We are committed to working collaboratively with the Trump Administration—and all stakeholders—to advance key public transportation projects that drive economic growth and benefit all communities.”

On Jan. 21, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a memorandum, Guidance Regarding Section 7 of the Executive Order Unleashing American Energy, that clarified the pause in disbursing funds only applies to funds supporting programs, projects, or activities that may be implicated by the energy policy established in Section 2 of the Order (e.g., eliminating the “electric vehicle (EV) mandate”). As a result, FHWA resumed its reimbursement process. At this point, we are not aware of any direct impact on FTA and FRA reimbursements for the construction of public transit and passenger rail projects.

The EO also streamlines the environmental review process, rescinding a 1977 EO that provided the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) with authority to issue regulations for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Section 5 of the EO directs the Chairman of CEQ to provide guidance on implementing NEPA and propose rescinding CEQ’s NEPA regulations within 30 days.

Finally, the Order rescinds former President Biden’s EOs on Implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Implementation of the Energy and Infrastructure Provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, focused on advancing clean energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and fostering economic opportunity and environmental justice.

President Trump also issued other significant EOs and Presidential Memoranda, including:

Regulatory Freeze Pending Review—This EO prohibits all departments and agencies from proposing or issuing any rule until an official appointed by President Trump reviews and approves the rule. In addition, the Order directs agencies to consider postponing proposed rules or the effective date of final rules for 60 days or longer.

Establishing And Implementing The President’s “Department Of Government Efficiency”—This EO establishes the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to implement the President’s DOGE Agenda by modernizing federal technology and software to maximize governmental efficiency and productivity. Each agency will have a DOGE Team of at least four employees.

Dismantling Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives—
- Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing—This EO directs OMB to coordinate the termination of all diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) mandates, policies, programs, preferences, and activities in the federal government. It also eliminates all DEI, DEIA, and environmental justice offices and positions; equity action plans; equity actions, initiatives, or programs; equity-related grants or contracts; and DEI or DEIA performance requirements for employees, contractors, or grantees.
- Ending Illegal Discrimination And Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity—This EO directs all departments and agencies to terminate all DEI and DEIA-focused preferences, mandates, policies, programs, activities, guidance, regulations, enforcement actions, consent orders, and requirements. It also orders all agencies to combat private-sector DEI preferences, mandates, policies, programs, and activities.

Rescinding Other Biden Administration Executive Orders—The President rescinds a series of other EOs issued by Biden, including advancing racial equity and preventing discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation.

Return to In-Person Work—This Presidential Memorandum directs all departments and agencies to terminate remote work arrangements and require federal employees to return to work in-person at their respective duty stations on a full-time basis. On Jan. 22, the Office of Personnel Management issued a memorandum, Guidance on Presidential Memorandum Return to In-Person Work, recommending that agencies set a target date of approximately 30 days for full compliance with this memorandum.