President-elect Donald Trump has made it abundantly clear that he intends to hit the ground running when he returns to the Oval Office on January 20, 2025. Throughout his 2024 campaign, which kicked off in late 2022, Trump has outlined a series of immediate actions he plans to take, targeting issues like border security, economic policy, and education.

Inauguration Day Plans

Trump humorously suggested during a late 2023 speech in Fort Dodge, Iowa, that he might set up a "very tiny little desk" on the 20th stair of the U.S. Capitol to begin signing executive orders right after his inauguration. His ambition for a busy first day might be tempered by the fact that the day of his inauguration will be half over when he takes office at noon, as per the 20th Amendment.

Historical Context of Executive Orders

Executive orders are significant tools for new presidents, akin to federal law in weight, unless they are overturned by Congress, a court, or a subsequent presidential order. For instance, when Joe Biden assumed office in 2021, he signed nine executive orders on his first day, one of which reversed a Trump-era immigration policy. In contrast, on his first day in 2017, Trump signed an executive order focusing on reducing the financial burdens of the Affordable Care Act.

Trump's Immediate Priorities:

1. Border Security and Immigration:

Trump has pledged to close the border on his first day, emphasizing this as his top priority. He plans to initiate the largest deportation program in U.S. history and has discussed actions to enhance border security, including wall construction and increasing Border Patrol numbers.

2. Economic and Energy Policies:

Trump aims to lower living costs by promoting fossil fuel production. He's committed to removing regulations that increase consumer goods costs and has proposed a new cabinet position to focus on reducing living expenses. Additionally, he's promised no taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security, and a temporary cap on credit card interest rates at 10%.

3. Education:

An executive order would cut federal funding for schools promoting what Trump considers inappropriate curricula, including critical race theory and transgender issues. He also plans to ban federal involvement in gender transition procedures for minors, encouraging Congress to legislate against these procedures nationwide.

4. Protection of Free Speech:

Trump has promised an executive order to prevent federal entities from colluding to censor American citizens' speech and to stop federal funding from being used to label domestic speech as misinformation.

5. Dismantling the Bureaucracy:

He aims to reissue an executive order allowing easier removal of certain federal employees, known as "Schedule F," to target what he calls the "deep state." This is part of a broader plan to overhaul departments he believes have been weaponized against political adversaries.

Additional Initiatives:

Reversing Electric Vehicle Mandates: Trump has criticized Biden’s push for electric vehicles, promising to end these mandates to give consumers more choice in vehicle types.

Cultural and Family Values: Trump plans to promote policies that reinforce traditional family roles and gender definitions, aiming to stop what he describes as the "mutilation" of youth through gender transition procedures.

Trump's plans reflect a desire for immediate, significant policy shifts, leveraging executive orders to implement his vision for America, while also signaling his legislative agenda for Congress. However, the execution of these plans would depend on legal, political, and administrative feasibility.