Trump’s day-one orders: Saving TikTok, creating DOGE, and ending “censorship”

A roundup of executive orders issued by Trump after his second inauguration.

See full article...

 

[wijanes]

Consider putting "Saving" in quotes, just like "censorship"?

 

[bsbllclown]

So we totally won't see the Trump administration cracking down on Anti Trump speech in social media...yah, i'll believe that when i see it.

 

[Irongrave]

So we totally won't see the Trump administration cracking down on Anti Trump speech in social media...yah, i'll believe that when i see it.

If you want to know how that'll go, look at the definition of "free speech" as shown by Musk's actions on X vs. his words.

 

[Sajuuk]

So we totally won't see the Trump administration cracking down on Anti Trump speech in social media...yah, i'll believe that when i see it.

Who needs the admin to crackdown with friends like these? Maybe the Ars checkers can cover it in the margins between fluffing the doers.

 

[fuzzyfuzzyfungus]

I'm not an advanced constitutional legalmancer; but is it normal for an executive order to literally be "Do not enforce this law; also issue a hall pass saying that the law has not been violated to each violator of the law"?

That seems like it's just asking for trouble both in terms of the Attorney General's capacity as a lawyer (the AG might do it anyway; but I don't think that lawyers are supposed to give blatantly false legal advice just because their boss tells them to; and telling someone that hosting tiktok is not a violation of the don't-host-tiktok act seems like pretty bad advice); and in terms of separation of powers; given the obvious implications of executive vs. legislative branch authority if the executive can de-facto nullify any legislative act just by refusing to enforce it.

 

[H2O Rip]

It still greatly depresses me that the majority of the American people either wanted this, or didn't care enough to stop it. I don't think people realize how much damage is going to be done to the govt in the coming months.
The inmates are truly running the asylum now.

 

[fancysunrise]

But toward the end of the text, "energy" is defined in a way that excludes wind and solar.

Right, so the opposite of choice and energy security. Rather, just funneling taxpayer money to the oil donors to fulfill the promises he made while soliciting their monetary and rhetorical support for his election, and to make his cronies money, as he said he would. At the expense of everyone else.

The "free speech thing" is pretty important and pretty backwards. These wads are banning books left and right, banning literal words, re-writing inconvenient science, or removing decades of work from publication (like he did the first time) and firing people who actually do their jobs and whistle blowers, while empowering massive censorship and fake posts on the now quasi-state media platforms "Truth Social" and "X".

It would be nice if we actually had some actual free speech. We're going to have to fight to protect it from them.

 

[msawzall]

The whole Tiktok thing reminded me of the 1980 October Surprise when Reagan's campaign negotiated with Iranian leaders to release hostages only after the Carter/Reagan election.

The more times change, the more they stay the same.

 

[Rick C.]

What's the point of pushing for critical minerals if they won't be used for renewable energy deployment or EVs. Hint: That's what industry intends to use them for.

 

[Kazper]

So we totally won't see the Trump administration cracking down on Anti Trump speech in social media...yah, i'll believe that when i see it.

The admittedly clever point here being that they won't need to do that through proper channels like Biden did. Trump can just make announcements and they will self-censor.

 

[Selethorme]

One of the most prominent efforts is to do away with the emissions waivers, allowed under the Clean Air Act, which enable states like California to set stricter rules than the federal government. The Supreme Court recently declined to even consider an attempt to challenge these waivers. Yet as part of an attack on electric vehicles, the administration is adopting a policy of "terminating, where appropriate, state emissions waivers that function to limit sales of gasoline-powered automobiles."

This kind of thing is really what's going to be telling about what remains of our democracy. Those waivers are by law. Executive orders cannot override law unless we allow them to through inaction.

 

[fancysunrise]

It still greatly depresses me that the majority of the American people either wanted this, or didn't care enough to stop it. I don't think people realize how much damage is going to be done to the govt in the coming months.
The inmates are truly running the asylum now.

The whole culture is in an unhinged malaise. People don't even seem to know what they're hearing and saying.

 

[TheNinja]

I'm no expert in US law and Constitution but I'm pretty sure he violated at least one Constitution amendment and at least 3 laws. Not to mention the direct attack on the autonomy of California in a very hypocritical way.

And that before mentioning attacks against minorities and the rocket bozo doing the nazi salute.

Fun start.

 

[wingfire]

We're already pumping enough oil. Exxon and others aren't going to all of a sudden start drilling in Alaska. There isn't enough demand for the oil. And they sure as shit aren't going to want the price to drop just because the President says, "start drilling".

 

[jonah]

Great summary, if depressing.

Can we please make a resolution to only cover things Trump actually does, rather than all the drivel that he spews from his mouth hole?

 

[gosand]

The order goes on to say that federal government employees and officials are prohibited from "engag[ing] in or facilitat[ing] any conduct that would unconstitutionally abridge the free speech of any American citizen."

So this means Elon Musk, right? Right?!

grabs popcorn

 

[msawzall]

This kind of thing is really what's going to be telling about what remains of our democracy. Those waivers are by law. Executive orders cannot override law unless we allow them to through inaction.

Congress and the courts: "Inaction, you say? Hold our beers."

 

[mpfaff]

I'm not an advanced constitutional legalmancer; but is it normal for an executive order to literally be "Do not enforce this law; also issue a hall pass saying that the law has not been violated to each violator of the law"?

That seems like it's just asking for trouble both in terms of the Attorney General's capacity as a lawyer (the AG might do it anyway; but I don't think that lawyers are supposed to give blatantly false legal advice just because their boss tells them to; and telling someone that hosting tiktok is not a violation of the don't-host-tiktok act seems like pretty bad advice); and in terms of separation of powers; given the obvious implications of executive vs. legislative branch authority if the executive can de-facto nullify any legislative act just by refusing to enforce it.

It only matters if someone cares. The Supreme Court determined the only way to take legal action against a President for what they did as President is impeachment. This President sent an angry mob to Congress and they voted to acquit. Trump has carte blanche to do whatever he likes, no one will do anything about it because the Republican Party is his owned property and the Democrats lost ground.

 

[jeffwaldo]

Thank you for the factual reporting. There's a lot going on, and while I don't love what's happening, it's nice having an article highlighting tech-related policy changes without editorialization. Happy to continue supporting Ars and the great work y'all are doing.
Thank you.

 

[Purpleivan]

So, things that for all reasonable definitions is finite and needs extraction from the ground, before refining, and finally being burnt to power generators, to produce electricity, it's "energy".

If it's for all reasonable definitions of unlimited supply, and can be simply converted directly to electricity, it's not "energy".

Got it.

 

[msawzall]

So this means Elon Musk, right? Right?!

grabs popcorn

As Elon is the smartest man alive, he knows what free speech is and can never abridge the free speech of others.

 

[Snark218]

So it’s the United States Department of Government Efficiency Service.

Fucking incredible

 

[DerHabbo]

I've gotta take some solace in the fact that this man is very old and out of shape and will likely asphyxiate himself on a Big Mac before his term in office is over. There's nothing more satisfying than outliving your political enemies. Just as Strom Thurmond. Oh, wait, you can't, he's dead.

 

[Stinkles]

Free speech? Like being critical of US's support of Israel's genocide of Palestinians? Oh no not those. Which ones? Oh you know the ones

 

[Pishaw]

What the American people wanted is finally here.

I cannot wait for Trump to burn this country to the fucking ground. For the Trumpies to lose their homes and farms and everything they have ever had. For when gas is 12 dollars a gallon. A chicken costs 20 dollars. The complete and total destruction of the United States. This is what you wanted, and I hope it fucking hurts.

Then you can blame Obama.

 

[nzeid]

Trump said in November that DOGE "will pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies." Yesterday's executive order said the department will focus on "modernizing Federal technology and software to maximize governmental efficiency and productivity."

What. This is an admission that renaming the United States Digital Service changed nothing.

 

[Snark218]

Thank you for the factual reporting. There's a lot going on, and while I don't love what's happening, it's nice having an article highlighting tech-related policy changes without editorialization. Happy to continue supporting Ars and the great work y'all are doing.
Thank you.

It’s so weird that people think not editorializing or having a viewpoint is the core goal of journalism.

 

[Jon Smythe]

Lawyers and Law firms are going to get very rich in the next four years...

 

[darwinosx]

Cutting down on government by creating another government department. Makes about as much sense as anything else the orange criminal traitor says or does.
This country is going to be plundered in ways we cannot image yet and his voters will suffer more than anyone. Kind of looking forward to that part of it.
I was in a restaurant this morning and a bunch of older guys (I'm an older guy btw) were doing a bible study wearing...trump hats...the mind reels.

 

[rayer]

I've gotta take some solace in the fact that this man is very old and out of shape and will likely asphyxiate himself on a Big Mac before his term in office is over. There's nothing more satisfying than outliving your political enemies. Just as Strom Thurmond. Oh, wait, you can't, he's dead.

I've been hoping for that for years now but fate has decided to be cruel and make me wait until after the damage is done

 

[jezra]

While running for office, POTUS promised to do a lot of shitty things on day one; and he kept his promise. I certainly don't like the POTUS, but I commend him for keeping his promises. I feel soiled.

Hopefully a challenger in 2028 does more than promise to be 'not trump'. If the midterms result in Centrists and Center-Left politicians getting elected, than I will have some hope. If it is just more of the same 'vote for me, I'm sponsored by the same corporations but I'm not the far-right' then I can sadly foresee Vance-Trump jr. keeping the shitball rolling :/

 

[Granadico]

The US needs a Nuremberg Trials esque campaign for all these lawyers and politicians who blatantly disregard the law or their jobs/positions for Trump. It's crazy that he's trying to use EOs as basically royal decrees and expect everyone to just follow them. The first go around there were basically endless lawsuits that dragged on and on over how the hell to handle the contradictions; I'm not so confident it'll be that easy this time (and it wasn't even easy last time).

I'd like to say I'll enjoy the last of my "clean" Los Angeles air but maybe I should just get used to how terrible it is from the wildfires.

 

[darwinosx]

What the American people wanted is finally here.

I cannot wait for Trump to burn this country to the fucking ground. For the Trumpies to lose their homes and farms and everything they have ever had. For when gas is 12 dollars a gallon. A chicken costs 20 dollars. The complete and total destruction of the United States. This is what you wanted, and I hope it fucking hurts.

Then you can blame Obama.

What a little over half the electorate wanted in reality....notice his comment about musk and voting machines in Pennsylvania..maybe not a little over the half the electorate at all.

 

[msawzall]

Cutting down on government by creating another government department. Makes about as much sense as anything else the orange criminal traitor says or does.
This country is going to be plundered in ways we cannot image yet and his voters will suffer more than anyone. Kind of looking forward to that part of it.
I was in a restaurant this morning and a bunch of older guys (I'm an older guy btw) were doing a bible study wearing...trump hats...the mind reels.

Shoulda took a picture. That is like the perfect meme.

 

[Ken Fisher]

Great summary, if depressing.

Can we please make a resolution to only cover things Trump actually does, rather than all the drivel that he spews from his mouth hole?

Yes, that's the plan. I believe that 90% of the things he says (or his new acolyte class of worshippers say) is just meant to distract and agitate people out of the process.

 

[darwinosx]

It’s so weird that people think not editorializing or having a viewpoint is the core goal of journalism.

What they really mean is you didn't say anything that hurt my snowflake fee fees.