From the White House website – titles provided by the Trump Administration:
GULF OF AMERICA DAY, 2025
It was Feb. 9, 2025. “I call upon public officials and all the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.”
ENDING PROCUREMENT AND FORCED USE OF PAPER STRAWS
The order prohibits federal agencies from procuring paper straws and demand their removal from agency buildings.
Agencies must eliminate any policies that discourage plastic straw use that were created under Executive Order 14057. Within 45 days, the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy must create a “National Strategy to End the Use of Paper Straws” that:
- Eliminates anti-plastic straw policies in the executive branch
- Addresses contracts with entities (including states) that restrict plastic straws
- Identifies other tools to implement this policy nationwide
ELIMINATING THE FEDERAL EXECUTIVE INSTITUTE
Created by President Lyndon B. Johnson, the institute provided leadership training. The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall take all necessary steps to eliminate the Federal Executive Institute in accordance with applicable law.
PAUSING FOREIGN CORRUPT PRACTICES ACT ENFORCEMENT TO FURTHER AMERICAN ECONOMIC AND NATIONAL SECURITY
The order establishes a 180-day review period during which the Attorney General must:
- Stop starting new FCPA investigations/enforcement actions (unless specific exceptions are made)
- Review all existing FCPA cases and adjust them to ensure proper enforcement boundaries
Create updated guidelines that:
- Support the President’s constitutional authority in foreign affairs
- Prioritize American interests and economic competitiveness
- Ensure efficient use of law enforcement resources
Key additional points: The Attorney General can extend the review for another 180 days if needed.
After new guidelines are issued all FCPA actions must follow these new guidelines
- Each investigation/enforcement action requires specific Attorney General authorization
- The Attorney General must evaluate if remedial measures are needed for past FCPA actions
- The Attorney General can either take appropriate remedial actions directly or recommend actions to the President
ADJUSTING IMPORTS OF STEEL INTO THE UNITED STATES
Read here.
IMPLEMENTING THE PRESIDENT’S “DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY” WORKFORCE OPTIMIZATION INITIATIVE
The order establishes major changes to federal government employment practices with the goal of reducing bureaucracy and increasing efficiency. Here are the key provisions:
- Implements a “4-to-1” hiring ratio – agencies can only hire one new employee for every four who leave, with exceptions for public safety, immigration enforcement, and law enforcement roles.
- Creates new hiring oversight through “DOGE” (Department of Government Efficiency):
- Agencies must consult with DOGE Team Leads on new career appointments
- DOGE Team Leads can block vacancy filling unless overruled by Agency Heads
- Monthly hiring reports required to USDS (United States DOGE Service) Administrator
- Mandates preparation for large-scale Reductions in Force (RIFs), prioritizing:
- Non-statutorily mandated offices
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives
- Programs suspended or closed by the administration
- Non-essential positions during government shutdowns
- Requires OPM to expand suitability criteria for federal employment to include:
- Tax compliance
- Citizenship requirements
- Nondisclosure agreement compliance
- Proper handling of government resources
- Orders agencies to evaluate their structure and submit reports on:
- Statutorily required components
- Potential eliminations or consolidations
- Implementation progress (within 240 days)
The order excludes military personnel and allows exemptions for national security, homeland security, and public safety positions. Agency heads and the OPM Director can grant additional exemptions when necessary.
PRESIDENT TRUMP ANNOUNCES THE PRESIDENT’S INTELLIGENCE ADVISORY BOARD
The following individuals have been appointed to the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board (PIAB):
Devin Gerald Nunes, Chair
Scott Glabe
Amaryllis Fox Kennedy
Brad Robert Wenstrup
Wayne Berman
Reince Priebus
Robert O’Brien
Joshua Lobel
Sander R. Gerber
Katie Miller
Jeremy Katz
Thomas Ollis Hicks, Jr.
ADJUSTING IMPORTS OF ALUMINUM INTO THE UNITED STATES
Read here.
NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE
Gary Andres, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Daniel Aronowitz, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Labor.
James Baehr, of Louisiana, to be General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs.
Kirsten Baesler, of North Dakota, to be Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
Joseph Barloon, of Maryland, to be a Deputy United States Trade Representative (Geneva Office), with the rank of Ambassador.
Benjamin Black, of New York, to be Chief Executive Officer of the United States International Development Finance Corporation.
Kevin Cabrera, of Florida, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Panama.
Sean Cairncross, of Minnesota, to be National Cyber Director.
Gustav Chiarello III, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Tyler Clarkson, of Virginia, to be General Counsel of the Department of Agriculture.
Jason De Sena Trennert, of New York, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.
Thomas DiNanno, of Florida, to be Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security.
Sean Donahue, of Florida, to be an Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
David Eisner, of New York, to be an Assistant Secretary of Energy.
David Fogel, of Connecticut, to be Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Director General of the United States and Foreign Commercial Service.
George Glass, of Oregon, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Japan.
Jonathan Gould, of Virginia, to be Comptroller of the Currency for a term of five years.
Catherine Hanson, of South Carolina, to be Chief Financial Officer, Environmental Protection Agency.
Landon Heid, of Missouri, to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce.
Peter Hoekstra, of Michigan, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Canada.
Allison Hooker, of Georgia, to be an Under Secretary of State (Political Affairs).
Mike Huckabee, of Arkansas, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the State of Israel.
John Hurley, of California, to be Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Crimes.
Scott Hutchins, of Indiana, to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Education, and Economics.
Ronald Johnson, of Florida, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the United Mexican States.
Taylor Jordan, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce.
Paul Kapur, of California, to be Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs.
David Keeling, of Kentucky, to be an Assistant Secretary of Labor.
Nicholas Kent, of Virginia, to be Under Secretary of Education.
Joseph Kent, of Washington, to be Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
Jessica Kramer, of Wisconsin, to be an Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
Charles Kushner, of New York, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the French Republic, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Principality of Monaco.
Henry Mack III, of Florida, to be an Assistant Secretary of Labor.
Ned Mamula, of Pennsylvania, to be Director of the United States Geological Survey.
Jennifer Mascott, of Maryland, to be General Counsel, Department of Education.
Jonathan McKernan, of Tennessee, to be Director, Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection for a term of five years.
Jonathan Morrison, of California, to be Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Brian Morrissey, Jr., of Virginia, to be General Counsel for the Department of the Treasury.
Brian Nesvik, of Wyoming, to be Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
Kevin O’Farrell, of Florida, to be Assistant Secretary for Career, Technical, and Adult Education, Department of Education.
Caleb Orr, of Texas, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Economic and Business Affairs).
Wayne Palmer, of Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health.
Luke Pettit, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.
Tina Pierce, of Idaho, to be Chief Financial Officer, Department of Energy.
Chris Pratt, of Utah, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Political-Military Affairs).
Brian Quintenz, of Ohio, to be Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
Brian Quintenz, of Ohio, to be a Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission for a term expiring April 13, 2029.
David Rader, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce.
Joel Rayburn, of Oklahoma, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Near Eastern Affairs).
Kimberly Richey, of Texas, to be Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Department of Education.
Mary Riley, of the District of Columbia, to be Assistant Secretary for Legislation and Congressional Affairs, Department of Education.
Audrey Robertson, of Colorado, to be an Assistant Secretary of Energy (Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy).
Sarah Rogers, of New York, to be Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy.
Reed Rubinstein, of Maryland, to be Legal Adviser of the Department of State.
Kathleen Sgamma, of Colorado, to be Director of the Bureau of Land Management.
Warren Stephens, of Arkansas, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Michael Stuart, of West Virginia, to be General Counsel of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Aaron Szabo, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
Richard Topping, of Ohio, to be Chief Financial Officer, Department of Veterans Affairs.
Craig Trainor, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
Olivia Trusty, of Maryland, to be a Member of the Federal Communications Commission for the remainder of the term expiring June 30, 2025.
Olivia Trusty, of Maryland, to be a Member of the Federal Communications Commission for a term of five years from July 1, 2025. (Reappointment)
Matthew Whitaker, of Iowa, to be United States Permanent Representative on the Council of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, with the rank and status of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.
WITHDRAWAL SENT TO THE SENATE:
Luke Petit, of Washington, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.
ONE VOICE FOR AMERICA’S FOREIGN RELATIONS
Section 1 (Purpose) establishes that:
- The President has constitutional authority over foreign policy under Article II
- The Secretary of State and subordinate officials help implement this policy
- The Secretary needs to maintain a high-quality workforce to effectively carry out these duties
Section 2 (Policy) outlines that:
- All officers/employees must implement foreign policy under the President’s direction
- Failing to faithfully implement policy can result in discipline including termination
- Agency personnel procedures must ensure faithful implementation of presidential policies
Section 3 (Definitions) provides legal definitions for:
- Department, Foreign Service, Service, and Secretary (per 22 USC 3902)
- Members of the Foreign Service (per 22 USC 3903)
- Civil Service employees (U.S. citizens working in the Department, excluding Foreign Service)
- Other staff (locally employed staff, agents, and special Government employees)
Section 4 (Election of Procedures) states that:
- The Secretary can take personnel action when warranted by performance/conduct
- For Secretary-appointed officials, the Secretary takes appropriate action under presidential supervision
- For President-appointed officials, the Secretary makes preliminary determinations about referring matters to the President
- These determinations are at the Secretary’s sole discretion
Section 5 (Foreign Service Reform) directs the Secretary to:
- Reform the Foreign Service to ensure faithful implementation of presidential foreign policy
- Implement reforms in recruiting, performance evaluation, retention standards, and Foreign Service Institute programs
- Revise or replace the Foreign Affairs Manual and related guidance
- Exercise sole discretion in delegating these responsibilities and establishing procedures
ESTABLISHING THE PRESIDENT’S MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN COMMISSION
The order establishes a new health initiative with several major components:
- Federal Policy Direction
– Establishes a policy to combat rising health challenges including mental health disorders, obesity, diabetes, and chronic diseases
– Mandates transparency in federally funded health research
– Emphasizes working with farmers to improve food quality
– Calls for expanded treatment options and insurance coverage supporting prevention
- Make America Healthy Again Commission
– Creates a new commission chaired by the Secretary of Health and Human Services
– Includes 14+ high-level officials from various agencies and departments
– Initial focus is specifically on childhood chronic disease
- Commission Responsibilities
– Study causes of childhood chronic disease including diet, toxic exposure, medical treatments, environmental factors, and corporate influence
– Produce two major deliverables:
* “Make Our Children Healthy Again Assessment” (within 100 days)
* “Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy” (within 180 days)
- Key Assessment Requirements
– Compare US childhood chronic disease rates with other countries
– Evaluate threats from medications, food ingredients, and chemical exposures
– Assess the use of various psychiatric medications
– Review existing health programs and data
– Establish new frameworks for transparency and ethical review
– Eliminate undue industry influence
ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL ENERGY DOMINANCE COUNCIL
The order establishes the National Energy Dominance Council (NEDC) within the Executive Office of the President. Here are the key points:
Leadership and Structure:
– The Secretary of the Interior chairs the Council, with the Secretary of Energy serving as Vice Chair
– The Council includes 18 specified members, including various Cabinet secretaries, agency heads, and presidential advisors
– Additional members may be designated by the President
Main Functions:
- Advise the President on:
– Maximizing energy production for “energy dominance”
– Improving energy-related permitting and processes
– Facilitating private sector energy partnerships
– Identifying ways to reduce energy costs
- Develop a National Energy Dominance Strategy focusing on:
– Reducing regulations (“cutting red tape”)
– Enhancing private sector investments
– Promoting innovation
- Within 100 days, the Council must:
– Recommend a plan to raise national awareness about energy dominance
– Identify actions agencies can take to increase energy production
– Review critical energy markets
– Advise on private sector investment incentives
– Consult with state, local, and tribal governments
Notable Requirements:
– The Council must coordinate with various Presidential assistants for economic, domestic, and national security policy
– All agencies must cooperate with the Council and provide requested information
– The Council Chair (Secretary of the Interior) becomes a standing member of the National Security Council
KEEPING EDUCATION ACCESSIBLE AND ENDING COVID-19 VACCINE MANDATES IN SCHOOLS
The order has two main components:
- The Education Secretary must issue guidelines to schools at all levels (elementary through higher education) about their legal obligations regarding:
- Parental authority
- Religious freedom
- Disability accommodations
- Equal protection under law These guidelines specifically relate to COVID-19 school mandates.
- Within 90 days, the Education Secretary, working with Health and Human Services, must provide a plan to end coercive COVID-19 school mandates. This plan needs to include:
- A list of discretionary federal funding (grants and contracts) going to non-compliant schools
- Details on how federal agencies can prevent and rescind funding from non-compliant schools
- Any necessary proposed legislation
RECIPROCAL TRADE AND TARIFFS
The memorandum outlines the “Fair and Reciprocal Plan” aimed at addressing trade deficits and unfair trade practices. Here are the key points:
The plan’s main purpose is to counter non-reciprocal trading arrangements by establishing equivalent reciprocal tariffs with trading partners. It will examine all U.S. trading relationships for:
- Tariffs on U.S. products
- Unfair taxes, including value-added taxes
- Non-tariff barriers and harmful practices affecting U.S. businesses
- Currency manipulation and wage suppression
- Any other practices that limit market access or fair competition
The implementation process involves:
- Multiple federal agencies conducting investigations into harm from non-reciprocal trade arrangements
- Submission of a report detailing proposed remedies for each trading partner
- The Office of Management and Budget assessing fiscal impacts within 180 days
PRESIDENT TRUMP ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENTS TO THE WHITE HOUSE OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS
Jordan Cox will serve as Special Assistant to the President in the White House Office of Legislative Affairs for the U.S. House of Representatives. Prior to this role, he worked as Executive Director of Political Operations for House Republican Chief Deputy Whip Guy Reschenthaler.
Andrew (Drew) Dziedzic: Drew Dziedzic will serve as Special Assistant to the President in the White House Office of Legislative Affairs for the U.S. Senate. Prior to joining the White House, he served as Legislative Director for Sen. Eric Schmitt (MO).
Taylor LaJoie: Taylor LaJoie will serve as Special Assistant to the President in the White House Office of Legislative Affairs for the U.S. Senate. He has worked on Capitol Hill in a variety of legislative roles, including Senior Legislative Assistant to then-Senator JD Vance (OH), as well as Legislative Director in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Natalie McIntyre: Natalie McIntyre will serve as the Special Assistant to the President in the White House Office of Legislative Affairs for the U.S. Senate. Previously, Natalie was the Legislative Director for Senator Bill Hagerty (TN). Prior to joining the Senator’s office, she was the Deputy to the Associate Director for Legislative Affairs at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) during the first Trump Administration. She previously served as the Senior Policy Advisor and White House Liaison at the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
Jack Rosemond: Jack Rosemond will serve as Special Assistant to the President in the White House Office of Legislative Affairs for the U.S. House of Representatives. Prior to joining the White House, he served as Senior Advisor to Chairman Jason Smith (MO) at the House Ways and Means Committee, where he previously held the position of Director of Member Services.
Stephen Siao: Stephen Siao will serve as Special Assistant to the President in the White House Office of Legislative Affairs for the U.S. House of Representatives. He most recently served as Staff Director of the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security and as Chief of Staff to U.S. Congressman Mark Green (TN).
About the Office of Legislative Affairs:The Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA) reports to Assistant to the President and White House Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair. The Office is managed by Deputy Assistant to the President and OLA Director James Braid. Braid has three OLA Deputy Directors, Deputy Assistants to the President Jay Fields (internal lead), Jeff Freeland (House lead), and Pace McMullan (Senate lead). White House Legislative Affairs Liaisons are commissioned as Special Assistants to the President and report up to the Deputy OLA Director that leads their respective portfolios.
NEWS REPORTS
Reuters: Six senior Justice Department officials, including Manhattan’s top federal prosecutor, resigned yesterday rather than comply with a Justice Department order to dismiss corruption charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams.
Washington Post: As layoffs swept the bureaucracy, thousands of workers “were laid off in messages delivered through prerecorded videos and on group calls. Some were ordered to leave the building within 30 minutes. Others were told they would be formally fired by emails, which never arrived.”
WP: Trump was installed as the chair, succeeding David Rubenstein, and some upcoming shows vanished from the lineup.
AXIOS: U.S. agents arrested more than 21,000 unauthorized immigrants in November as President Biden’s term wound down — a pace the Trump administration doesn’t appear to be matching in its first month despite its crackdown.Trump’s team has stopped giving daily ICE updates since Feb. 4. The administration also isn’t releasing details on arrests by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents.
AP: The Trump administration intensified efforts to downsize the federal workforce Thursday, ordering agencies to lay off probationary employees without civil service protection. This could affect hundreds of thousands of workers.
AP: A federal judge temporarily blocked Trump’s recent executive order aimed at restricting gender-affirming health care for transgender people under age 19.
NYT: Trump said Wednesday that he had a “lengthy and highly productive phone call” with Putin, characterizing it as the beginning of a negotiation to end the war in Ukraine
AP: A federal research agency that tracks the progress of America’s students is being hit with almost $900 million in cuts after Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency found no need for much of its work. It’s unclear to what degree the Education Department’s Institute of Education Sciences will continue to exist after Musk’s team slashed scores of contracts.
NYT: The Associated Press accused the White House of violating the First Amendment and called on the Trump administration to stop blocking its reporters from press events
WSJ: Republicans are making one of the first efforts to restore a food-aid program run by USAID. The farm-state lawmakers are trying to save the $1.8 billion Food for Peace program that buys U.S.-grown food with proposed legislation to transfer the program to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which now funds it but doesn’t run it.
WSJ: The Trump administration’s plan to force federal employees back to the office threatens the power of organized labor to protect government workers.
WSJ: Trump is steamrolling critics by flooding the zone. The president’s strategy is to show he’s eager to keep promises, contrast himself with former President Joe Biden and disrupt Washington more than he did in his first term, report Alex Leary, Josh Dawsey and Tarini Parti. The rapid pace, crafted to make it hard for controversies to linger before the next attention-grabbing move, has frustrated some Republican allies. Yet it has also put critics on their back foot—and entertained the MAGA base with viral moments. Trump has enjoyed high approval ratings in his first weeks, though he risks fatiguing Americans.
WSJ: House Republicans released the first blueprint for their “one big, beautiful bill.” The measure—which would increase the federal debt limit by $4 trillion— would cut taxes by a maximum of $4.5 trillion, reduce spending and provide money for border enforcement.
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