International Relations
Presidential Executive Orders
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January 20, 2025 (W.H. Link) - The executive order withdraws the United States from the Paris Agreement. It emphasizes balancing economic growth and environmental protection while prioritizing American interests. The order asserts that the United States has historically achieved economic and environmental goals without undue restrictions on the private sector and aims to make this approach a model for other nations. The order critiques international agreements for imposing burdens on the U.S. economy and directing taxpayer funds to countries that do not merit financial assistance.
The order also rescinds the U.S. International Climate Finance Plan and halts any financial commitments made under these agreements. Federal departments and agencies are tasked with revoking policies associated with the climate finance plan and ensuring future international energy agreements prioritize economic efficiency, American prosperity, and fiscal restraint.
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January 20, 2025 (W.H. Link) - The executive order provides notice that the United States has decided to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO) due to concerns about its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, lack of necessary reforms, susceptibility to political influence, and disproportionate financial demands on the U.S. compared to other nations.
Key actions include:
Revocation of Reinstatement:
The 2021 letter reversing the U.S. withdrawal from the WHO is revoked, signaling the U.S.’s intention to proceed with withdrawal.
Executive Order 13987, which directed U.S. leadership in global health and pandemic response, is also revoked.
Reorganization and Funding Halt:
The National Security Council will establish new structures to protect public health and biosecurity.
The Secretary of State and the Office of Management and Budget will halt U.S. funding and resource transfers to the WHO, recall U.S. personnel working with the organization, and identify alternative partners to take on essential health initiatives.
Policy Reassessment:
The Director of the White House Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy will replace the 2024 U.S. Global Health Security Strategy with a new framework.
Notification and Negotiations:
The Secretary of State will inform the United Nations and WHO leadership of the withdrawal.
The U.S. will cease participation in negotiations related to the WHO Pandemic Agreement and amendments to the International Health Regulations, and actions from these agreements will not bind the U.S.
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January 20, 2025 (W.H. Link) - This executive order directs that U.S. foreign policy prioritize core American interests and adopt an "America First" approach, focusing on the well-being of the nation and its citizens. The Secretary of State is instructed to align the Department of State’s policies, programs, personnel, and operations with this directive. Implementation must comply with applicable laws, budgetary constraints, and the authority of other agencies.
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January 20, 2025 (W.H. Link) - The executive order mandates a 90-day pause on new obligations and disbursements of U.S. foreign development assistance funds to allow for a comprehensive review of these programs. The reviews, conducted by relevant department and agency heads under State Department guidelines and with oversight by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), aim to assess program efficiency and alignment with U.S. foreign policy. Based on review findings, officials will determine whether to continue, modify, or terminate each program. Foreign assistance can resume during the 90-day period if reviewed and approved by the Secretary of State and OMB. The Secretary of State also retains authority to waive the pause for specific programs. The order underscores the requirement for U.S. foreign aid to fully align with presidential foreign policy priorities.
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January 20, 2025 (W.H. Link) - On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump issued a memorandum declaring that the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Global Tax Deal holds no force or effect within the United States without Congressional approval. He directed the Secretary of the Treasury and the U.S. Trade Representative to identify foreign tax practices that are extraterritorial or disproportionately affect American companies and to develop protective measures in response.
This action effectively withdraws the U.S. from the 2021 OECD-brokered agreement, which established a global minimum corporate tax rate of 15%. President Trump's decision may lead to increased taxes on foreign businesses operating in the U.S. or heightened tariffs on countries enforcing the OECD tax rules, potentially escalating international tax disputes.
The withdrawal has significant implications for multinational corporations, particularly U.S.-based tech giants, as it may prompt other nations to impose additional taxes on these companies. This move could undermine multilateral efforts to create a fair international tax system and may lead to retaliatory measures from affected countries.
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January 20, 2025 (W.H. Link) - The order asserts that the previous administration implemented unpopular and harmful practices, including embedding "diversity, equity, and inclusion" (DEI) into Federal institutions, which it claims undermines merit and equality. It criticizes open border policies for straining resources and climate policies for driving inflation and overregulation. Relevant executive orders revoked include:
Executive Order 14022 of April 1, 2021 (Termination of Emergency With Respect to the International Criminal Court).
Executive Order 14089 of December 13, 2022 (Establishing the President’s Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement in the United States).
Executive Order 14115 of February 1, 2024 (Imposing Certain Sanctions on Persons Undermining Peace, Security, and Stability in the West Bank).
The Presidential Memorandum of January 3, 2025 (Designation of Officials of the United States Agency for Global Media to Act as Chief Executive Officer).
The Presidential Memorandum of January 3, 2025 (Designation of Officials of the United States Agency for International Development to Act as Administrator).
The order mandates the immediate termination of Federal implementation of "unlawful and radical DEI ideology" by agency heads (SEE RELATED EXECUTIVE ORDER). It further directs the Directors of the Domestic Policy Council (DPC) and National Economic Council (NEC) to review actions taken under previous administration directives, recommending within 45 days which should be rescinded, replaced, or amended to "enhance American prosperity." Additionally, the National Security Advisor (NSA) must review all National Security Memoranda (NSMs) issued between January 20, 2021, and January 20, 2025, to identify any harm to national security, domestic resilience, or American values, and provide recommendations for rescission within the same timeframe.
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February 3, 2025 (W.H. Link) - This Executive Order directs a reassessment of U.S. participation in and funding of certain United Nations (UN) bodies, citing concerns that these organizations act contrary to U.S. interests, promote anti-Semitism, and protect human rights violators. The order specifically calls out the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). It alleges that UNRWA has been infiltrated by members of terrorist organizations and that some of its employees were involved in the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. Additionally, the order criticizes the UNHRC for shielding human rights abusers and UNESCO for its failure to reform and persistent anti-Israel bias.
As a result, the U.S. will withdraw from the UNHRC and will not seek election to it. The Secretary of State will also lead a review of U.S. membership in UNESCO, specifically evaluating whether the organization aligns with American interests and policies. Funding for UNRWA will be completely halted, and the U.S. will withhold its financial contributions to the UNHRC. Additionally, a broader review of all international intergovernmental organizations, treaties, and conventions involving the U.S. will be conducted to determine whether they align with national interests. Findings from this review will be reported to the President with recommendations on potential withdrawals. Finally, the order instructs the Secretary of State to notify the UN leadership that the U.S. will not fund or cover arrears for UNRWA or the UNHRC in 2025.
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February 6, 2025 (W.H. Link) - This executive order declares a national emergency in response to actions by the International Criminal Court (ICC), which it claims has illegitimately targeted U.S. and Israeli officials, including issuing arrest warrants for Israeli leaders. The order argues that the ICC lacks jurisdiction over the United States and Israel, as neither country is a party to the Rome Statute. It contends that the ICC's actions threaten U.S. sovereignty, endanger military personnel, and undermine national security. The order invokes the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and other legal authorities to impose sanctions and travel bans on ICC officials, employees, and agents, as well as their immediate family members, restricting their entry into the United States and blocking their property and financial assets.
Additionally, the order directs federal agencies, including the Departments of State and Treasury, to enforce these sanctions and provide reports on individuals to be included in the restrictions. It prohibits transactions with blocked individuals and suspends the entry of certain foreign nationals associated with the ICC. The order also empowers the Secretary of the Treasury to implement necessary regulations and requires periodic reports to Congress. It emphasizes that these measures align with existing laws and do not create new legal rights. The order reinforces U.S. opposition to ICC jurisdiction over American and allied personnel, asserting that accountability for war crimes should be pursued through sovereign national systems rather than an international tribunal.
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February 7, 2025 (W.H. Link) - This executive order responds to South Africa’s Expropriation Act 13 of 2024, which it claims allows the South African government to seize agricultural property from ethnic minority Afrikaners without compensation. The order condemns this law as part of a broader pattern of racial discrimination in employment, education, and business, as well as increasing violence against certain landowners. Additionally, it criticizes South Africa’s foreign policy positions, particularly its accusations against Israel at the International Court of Justice and its strengthening ties with Iran, which the order argues undermine U.S. national security interests and those of its allies.
As a result, the order establishes a U.S. policy of withholding aid and assistance to South Africa until such practices cease. It also directs federal agencies, including USAID, to immediately halt any aid programs benefiting the South African government unless deemed essential by agency heads. Furthermore, the order prioritizes humanitarian relief and resettlement opportunities for Afrikaners facing racial discrimination, instructing the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security to develop a plan for their resettlement in the United States Refugee Admissions Program. The order ensures compliance with legal and budgetary constraints and clarifies that it does not create new legal rights.
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February 12, 2025 (W.H. Link) - This executive order reaffirms the President’s constitutional authority over foreign policy and directs the Secretary of State to ensure that all personnel charged with foreign policy implementation faithfully execute the President’s directives. It establishes new procedures for personnel discipline and reforms within the Foreign Service to strengthen accountability, recruitment, evaluation, and training.
The Secretary of State gains sole discretion in determining personnel actions for Foreign Service members, Civil Service employees, and other staff who fail to align with the President’s foreign policy agenda. This includes the ability to discipline or separate employees when deemed necessary. Additionally, the Secretary must revise or replace the Foreign Affairs Manual and related guidance to align with these policy objectives.
To further enforce adherence, the Secretary is tasked with implementing reforms in recruitment, retention, and performance evaluations to build a Foreign Service workforce committed to executing the administration’s foreign policy goals. The Secretary has exclusive discretion in exercising and delegating these responsibilities.
This order reinforces strict alignment between the Department of State and presidential policy, ensuring that U.S. diplomatic efforts remain consistent with executive priorities while maintaining compliance with applicable laws.