Trump Reverses Several Biden Policies on First Day Back in Office

President Donald Trump signed several executive orders on his first day back in office and reversedkey policies from Joe Biden’s administration. Trump targeted initiatives on climate change, healthcare, immigration, artificial intelligence, and federal government operations.

One of his first actions was to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement, arguing it harmed American industries while allowing countries like China to pollute freely. He called the deal a “one-sided rip-off” and directed the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations to submit a formal withdrawal notice. This is the second time Trump has pulled the U.S. out of the agreement, following a similar move during his first term.

He also cancelled multiple Biden-era executive orders, including:

• Executive Order 14008: Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad.
• Executive Order 14009: Strengthening Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act.
• Executive Order 14010: Addressing the Causes of Migration.
• Executive Order 13988: Preventing Discrimination Based on Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation.
• Executive Order 14069: Promoting Pay Equity and Transparency in Federal Contracting.
• Executive Order 14099: Ending Federal COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements.

Trump also introduced stricter immigration measures, including an order limiting birthright citizenship. Under the new rule, children born in the U.S. will not receive citizenship if one parent was unlawfully present in the country or if neither parent was a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.

In healthcare, Trump withdrew the U.S. from the World Health Organization (WHO), criticising its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. The withdrawal cuts approximately $130 million in U.S. funding, leaving a significant gap in global health programmes.

On energy, he lifted a moratorium on issuing new permits for liquefied natural gas exports. This decision allows the Energy Department to resume processing applications, a policy change Trump said would strengthen the U.S. economy and energy independence.

In technology, Trump rescinded Biden’s executive order on artificial intelligence. This halted requirements for AI developers to conduct safety testing and share transparency reports with the federal government. It also shut down the U.S. AI Safety Institute, which was tasked with setting guidelines for responsible AI use.

Trump also lifted sanctions on violent Israeli settlers in the West Bank. The sanctions, imposed by Biden, targeted settlers involved in attacks on Palestinians. The decision has drawn criticism from rights groups.

In one of his most controversial moves, Trump pardoned 1,500 people convicted for their involvement in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack: the executive order granted full, unconditional pardons to those convicted of crimes related to the riots. As Trump begins his second term, these actions mark a significant rollback of Biden’s policies.

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Mayowa Durosinmi

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M. Durosinmi is a West Africa Weekly investigative reporter covering Politics, Human Rights, Health, and Security in West Africa and the Sahel Region

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