Johnson Says He Plans To Have The House Codify Trump’s Executive Orders
In a move that underscores the long-term ambitions of congressional Republicans, House Speaker Mike Johnson announced Thursday that GOP lawmakers will work to codify President Donald Trump’s executive orders, ensuring that future administrations cannot easily dismantle his sweeping policy agenda. Johnson made the announcement at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), emphasizing the importance of cementing Trump’s directives into law.
Since taking office for a second term, Trump has issued an astonishing 108 executive actions in just four weeks, including 73 executive orders—an aggressive pace that signals his determination to reshape the federal government’s role in immigration, education, federal spending, and cultural policies. Johnson highlighted that Congress will take the unprecedented step of systematically codifying many of these orders into law, preventing future presidents from simply reversing them with the stroke of a pen.
Among Trump’s most impactful executive actions are those related to immigration and border security. On his very first day back in the White House, he signed 11 executive orders addressing the ongoing crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border.
These actions declared a national emergency, revoked birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants, reinstated the Trump-era Remain in Mexico policy, and formally ended the controversial catch-and-release practice. These sweeping measures mark a stark departure from the previous administration’s approach to immigration enforcement.
Beyond immigration, Trump’s executive orders have also taken direct aim at left-leaning federal policies. His orders instructed the Office of Management and Budget to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, directed federal agencies to recognize only two biological sexes, and withdrew the United States from the Paris Climate Accord—a move aimed at rolling back Biden-era environmental regulations.
In another major policy shift, Trump created the Department of Government Efficiency, an agency tasked with eliminating wasteful spending across the federal government. Within weeks, this newly established department reported $55 million in savings.
Among its early actions, it dismantled the U.S. Agency of International Development, citing its history of funding left-wing causes, and uncovered significant misuse of taxpayer money within the Federal Employment Management Agency (FEMA). The agency found that FEMA officials had allocated $59 million to house illegal immigrants in luxury hotels—an expenditure that led to the dismissal of four employees.
One of Trump’s most widely discussed executive actions came on February 5, when he signed an order prohibiting biological men from competing in women’s sports. This directive effectively overturned efforts by the Department of Education, under former President Joe Biden, to redefine Title IX protections to include gender identity.
With this order, Trump reasserted his administration’s commitment to maintaining gender-based distinctions in sports, a move widely supported by conservative lawmakers and women’s advocacy groups.