Trump Announces Executive Actions for Day One

By Yousef Saba, Politico

22 November 16

 

resident-elect Donald Trump released a recorded video message to the nation Monday evening, in which he outlined several executive actions he plans to take on his first day in office.

“I am going to issue our notification of intent to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership,” Trump began, vowing to withdraw from the trade agreement with 11 other countries that was pushed by President Barack Obama. Trump said he will instead negotiate bilateral trade deals that “bring jobs and industry” back to the country.

Trump also promised to "cancel job-killing restrictions on the production of American energy — including shale energy and clean coal,” though he did not specify which restrictions he planned to eliminate. This step would create "many millions of high-paying jobs," he said.

Trump vowed to “formulate a rule which says that for every one new regulation, two old regulations must be eliminated,” repeating a proposal he made near the end of the election.

Notably absent from Trump’s announcement: His campaign promise to build a wall along America's southern border with Mexico. He did say, however, that he would "direct the Department of Labor to investigate all abuses of visa programs that undercut the American worker."

Trump also promised to instruct the Pentagon and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to "develop a comprehensive plan to protect America’s vital infrastructure from cyberattacks, and all other form of attacks."

Trump said he would impose a five-year ban on government officials becoming lobbyists, and a lifetime ban for lobbying on behalf of foreign governments. He made no mention of his previous proposal to introduce term limits for members of Congress.

Trump also made no mention of the Affordable Care Act, after repeatedly vowing to repeal and replace it. In a recent interview with The Wall Street Journal, the president-elect said he was considering retaining portions of the law.

Also missing: Any calls to Congress to take action on Trump's policies. Trump's team has been in touch with the offices of House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell legislative priorities, but he made no mention of either congressional leader.

Trump said he would "provide more updates in the coming days."