Staff Reports
House Speaker Mike Johnson is treating President Trump’s inaugural flurry of executive orders as the launch pad for the GOP’s legislative agenda, a welcome sign for conservatives tired of the previous administration’s policies. Within hours of taking office, Trump signed a barrage of executive orders aimed squarely at undoing the legacy of his predecessor and putting his campaign promises back on track, particularly in securing the southern border.
Trump’s aggressive move included ending birthright citizenship, which has always been a controversial topic in the immigration debate, while also taking a meat cleaver to the current administration’s energy policies. He even threw a lifeline to those facing legal troubles related to the January 6 Capitol riot, along with reallocating foreign aid that many felt was better spent at home. This whirlwind of action certainly sent a message to labor unions, immigrant rights groups, and a coalition of Democratic state attorneys general— the gloves are off.
Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, sees Trump’s swift actions as a necessary reset for the country. He’s not one to question Trump’s authority, suggesting that desperate times call for desperate measures, and the executive orders are just the beginning. The real work ahead involves figuring out which of those orders can be codified into law. It’s no secret that Republicans are licking their chops at the idea of pushing Trump’s policies into legislation using the filibuster-proof budget reconciliation process—because why not sidestep the drama and move straight to action?
Speaker Mike Johnson says Trump’s executive orders kick-started GOP agenda, plans to codify somehttps://t.co/hNjYnt5ckj pic.twitter.com/PV91HtSMNZ
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) January 23, 2025
As discussions between Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune take place, the strategy for this legislative poker game is still being hashed out. The Republicans are weighing their options: should they package everything into one big bill or break it down into two? It seems they are wrestling with more than just policies; they’re also trying to nail down the best tactical approach to actually getting things done. The ticking clock toward the March 14 deadline to fund the government only adds to the urgency.
While the specifics of which executive orders they will push through remain vague, securing the southern border is definitely at the top of the priority list. As Johnson puts it, Trump’s recent wave of orders is just the kick-start to what will eventually evolve into a broader legislative agenda, signaling a robust response from a GOP that is clearly back in the driver’s seat. Expect to see a lot more action in the coming days as the party rallies behind its mission to restore conservative values and policies.
