What’s an Executive Order and Why Do Presidents Use Them So Much?

Every time a new president steps in, we hear the same headline:

📰 “President signs 50+ executive orders on Day One.”

But what is an executive order? Is it a law? Can it be reversed? And how does it really affect us?

🖋️ What Is an Executive Order?

An executive order (EO) is like a set of instructions from the president to federal government agencies.

It’s not a law that Congress votes on—it’s more like a direct order from the top, saying:

“Here’s how I want things to run.”

Presidents use executive orders to:

• Set new policies fast

• Respond to emergencies (like COVID or war)

• Undo or update policies from previous presidents

• Shift priorities across agencies (like education, policing, or the environment)

🏛️ What Executive Orders Can Do:

• Redirect funding (within limits)

• Change immigration or education enforcement

• Ban certain practices (like DEI programs in federal offices)

• Rejoin or withdraw from global agreements (like the Paris Climate Accord)

🚫 What Executive Orders Can’t Do:

• Create brand new laws

• Raise your taxes

• Override the Constitution

• Be used where Congress has already made laws (unless they leave wiggle room)

💡 If a president pushes too far, the courts can strike it down.

📜 Examples You’ve Probably Heard Of:

• Biden:

  • Canceling student loan debt (partially, then reworked)

  • Protecting LGBTQ+ rights in federal agencies

  • Rejoining the Paris Agreement

• Trump:

  • Banning DEI programs and training in the federal government

  • Starting the border wall

  • Banning TikTok (attempted, ongoing legal battle)

🔁 Can the Next President Undo It?

Yes.Executive orders can be reversed just as fast as they’re signed. That’s why we often see presidents:

• Undo the last guy’s orders

• Redo their own if blocked by the courts

• Or update them with new language

💡 It’s like resetting the rules of the game every four years.

🧠 Why It Matters to You:

These orders shape:

• What your child learns in school

• How your job is treated under federal rules

• How your community receives support for healthcare, housing, or disaster aid

Even though it’s not a law, an executive order can impact your life immediately.

Bottom Line:

Executive orders are powerful—but temporary.They show us what a President cares about and how they plan to lead. The more we understand them, the more we can hold leaders accountable—no matter their party.

🔗 Learn More or Track Them:

• Federal Register – All Executive Orders

• USA.gov – What Is an Executive Order?

• Politifact: What Can and Can’t Be Done with an EO