Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions
This executive order, titled Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions and signed in January 2025, directs the federal government to roll back a wide range of prior actions from the Biden administration. Its central aim is described as removing “inflationary, illegal, and radical” policies—particularly those tied to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), climate-related regulations, immigration enforcement priorities, and other measures the White House views as flawed or harmful. The order revokes a long list of specific executive orders issued between 2021 and 2024 and directs agency leadership to stop implementing DEI initiatives and to review and potentially rescind or replace related actions. It also tasks the Domestic Policy Council and the National Economic Council with identifying additional actions to rescind or replace within a 45-day window and requires the National Security Advisor to review National Security Memoranda for potential rescission, also with a 45-day deadline. In addition to revoking actions, the order sets out implementation and budgetary caveats, clarifying that revocations must comply with applicable law and appropriations and do not create enforceable rights. The overall effect is to shift federal policy away from the prior administration’s DEI, climate, and related programs and toward a program of rescission and policy realignment intended to “restore common sense” and broaden prosperity, according to the order’s framing.
Key Points
- 1Sec. 2 – Revocation of Orders and Actions: The order revokes a broad roster of executive actions from 2021-2024, including Executive Orders on advancing racial equity, lawful enumerations, COVID-19 response, gender identity discrimination, ethics, climate, immigration policies, voting access, federal regulation, and numerous other issues. The list is extensive and includes dozens of specific executive orders (e.g., E.O. 13985 through E.O. 14143 and related memoranda).
- 2Sec. 3 – Implementation: Heads of federal agencies must end federal implementation of unlawful or radical DEI policies identified in the revocations. The Domestic Policy Council and the National Economic Council must review actions tied to the revoked orders and take steps to rescind, replace, or amend them as appropriate. Within 45 days, they must submit an additional list of orders, memoranda, or proclamations from the prior administration to be rescinded, plus replacement proposals to increase American prosperity.
- 3Sec. 3 – National Security Memoranda Review: The National Security Advisor shall immediately review NSMs issued between January 20, 2021, and January 20, 2025 for potential harm to national security, domestic resilience, or American values, and must recommend rescissions to the President no later than 45 days from the date of the order.
- 4Sec. 4 – General Provisions: The order preserves existing legal authority and budgetary considerations, states that implementation must align with applicable law and appropriations, and clarifies that the order does not create new rights or entitlements enforceable by any party.
- 5Timelines and Scope: The order imposes 45-day deadlines for the DPC/ NEC and the NSA to identify and recommend actions, signaling an expedited rescission and realignment process.