Military, National Security, and Terrorism

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Military, National Security, and Terrorism EO's (search by title) Application Of Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act To TikTok Memorandum To Resolve The Backlog Of Security Clearances For Executive Office Of The President Personnel Clarifying The Military's Role In Protecting The Territorial Integrity Of The United States Organization Of The National Security Council And Subcommittees Protecting The United States From Foreign Terrorists And Other National Security And Public Safety Threats Designating Cartels And Other Organizations As Foreign Terrorist Organizations And Specially Designated Global Terrorists Initial Rescissions Of Harmful Executive Orders And Actions The Iron Dome For America Prioritizing Military Excellence And Readiness Restoring America's Fighting Force Reinstating Service Members Discharged Under Military's COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate Pausing Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Enforcement To Further American Economic And National Security President Trump Announces The President's Intelligence Advisory Board

Presidential Executive Orders

• Application Of Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act To TikTok

  January 20, 2025 (W.H. Link) - The Executive Order addresses the implementation of the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which prohibits the distribution, maintenance, or updates of applications controlled by foreign adversaries, specifically targeting TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance Ltd., due to national security concerns. The prohibitions became effective on January 19, 2025, one day before the new administration took office.

  Key directives include:

  1. Temporary Non-Enforcement of the Act:

     • The Attorney General is ordered not to enforce the Act for 75 days, allowing the administration to review national security concerns, assess TikTok’s mitigation measures, and explore resolutions to protect security without abruptly shutting down the platform used by 170 million Americans.

     • During this period, no penalties will be imposed for noncompliance with the Act, and this leniency extends to conduct that occurred before the issuance of the order.

  2. Implementation and Guidance:

     • The Attorney General will issue written guidance and letters to relevant entities affirming that no violations occurred during the non-enforcement period and that there is no liability for actions taken before the order.

  3. Preservation of Executive Authority:

     • The Attorney General will ensure that enforcement authority remains solely with the federal government, preventing states or private parties from encroaching on executive powers related to the Act.

• Memorandum To Resolve The Backlog Of Security Clearances For Executive Office Of The President Personnel

  January 20, 2025 (W.H. Link) - The memorandum directs the White House Counsel to grant interim Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearances to designated personnel for up to six months, ensuring immediate access to facilities and technology necessary for their roles. The Counsel is authorized to update the list of personnel and revoke clearances as needed. Additionally, the memorandum specifies that it does not create any enforceable legal rights for individuals or entities.

• Clarifying The Military's Role In Protecting The Territorial Integrity Of The United States

  January 20, 2025 (W.H. Link) - The order emphasizes the President's responsibility to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the United States, particularly along its national borders. It underscores the role of the Armed Forces in addressing threats such as unlawful mass migration, drug trafficking, and human smuggling, declaring a national emergency at the southern border due to these ongoing issues.

  The Secretary of Defense is instructed to revise the Unified Command Plan within 10 days, assigning the U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) the mission to secure borders and repel threats such as migration, drug trafficking, and criminal activities. The order mandates updates to military planning guidance, including:

  • Level 3 planning for border security, with a commander’s estimate due within 30 days.

  • Campaign plans for continuous border security operations.

  • Ongoing assessments of measures to protect U.S. sovereignty from foreign threats and transnational criminal organizations.

• Organization Of The National Security Council And Subcommittees

  January 20, 2025 (W.H. Link) - This Presidential Memorandum outlines the organization of the National Security Council (NSC) and its subcommittees. The memorandum emphasizes the need for adaptive and comprehensive decision-making structures to address complex and evolving national and homeland security threats. It designates the President as the chair of the NSC, with the Vice President, Secretaries of State, Treasury, Defense, Energy, Attorney General, Secretary of the Interior, Chief of Staff to the President, and the National Security Advisor as members. When convened as the Homeland Security Council (HSC), the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Homeland Security Advisor are also included. The National Security Advisor is tasked with setting the agenda, preparing necessary documents, and communicating decisions, while the Homeland Security Advisor assumes these responsibilities when the NSC convenes as the HSC.

• Protecting The United States From Foreign Terrorists And Other National Security And Public Safety Threats

  January 20, 2025 (W.H. Link) - This executive order prioritizes the protection of the United States from foreign terrorists and other national security threats through enhanced vetting, screening, and enforcement measures. The order reestablishes stringent screening standards for all aliens seeking visas, admission, or other immigration benefits, particularly for individuals from nations with identified security risks. Federal agencies, led by the Secretaries of State, Homeland Security, and the Attorney General, are directed to assess global vetting and screening deficiencies and recommend suspensions for nationals of countries unable to meet these standards.

  The order mandates a review of existing visa programs, refugee admissions, and grounds for inadmissibility to ensure they are aligned with national security and public safety goals. Agencies are required to identify and remove individuals who pose risks, evaluate assimilation programs for lawful immigrants, and propose measures to strengthen a unified American identity and adherence to constitutional principles. Within specified timeframes, agencies must report findings and recommendations to the President, focusing on actions needed to address deficiencies and protect the nation.

  The directive emphasizes vigilance against the misuse of immigration programs by foreign actors or nation-states to compromise U.S. interests and safeguard constitutional rights from external threats.

• Designating Cartels And Other Organizations As Foreign Terrorist Organizations And Specially Designated Global Terrorists

  January 20, 2025 (W.H. Link) - This executive order establishes a process to designate international cartels and other transnational organizations, such as Tren de Aragua (TdA) and MS-13, as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) or as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The order highlights the severe national security threats posed by these organizations, including their activities in drug trafficking, violence, infiltration of foreign governments, and quasi-governmental control in parts of Mexico. These threats destabilize the Western Hemisphere and directly endanger the United States' security, citizens, and international interests.

  The order declares a national emergency under IEEPA to address these threats, aiming to eliminate these organizations' presence and operational influence within the U.S. and beyond. The Secretary of State, in coordination with other key federal officials, is tasked with recommending specific designations within 14 days. Concurrently, the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security are directed to prepare operational measures, including invoking the Alien Enemies Act and expediting the removal of individuals linked to these groups. The order underscores the need to protect American territorial integrity and public safety while aligning its implementation with existing laws and resources.

• Initial Rescissions Of Harmful Executive Orders And Actions

  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 14004 of January 25, 2021 (Enabling All Qualified Americans To Serve Their Country in Uniform).

  • Executive Order 14060 of December 15, 2021 (Establishing the United States Council on Transnational Organized Crime).

  • Executive Order 14135 of January 3, 2025 (Providing an Order of Succession Within the Department of Homeland Security).

  • The Presidential Memorandum of January 14, 2025 (Certification of Rescission of Cuba’s Designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism).

  • The Presidential Memorandum of January 14, 2025 (Revocation of National Security Presidential Memorandum 5).

  • Executive Order 14143 of January 16, 2025 (Providing for the Appointment of Alumni of AmeriCorps to the Competitive Service).

  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.

• The Iron Dome For America

  January 27, 2025 (W.H. Link) - The executive order outlines the United States' policy to enhance missile defense capabilities in response to the growing threat of advanced aerial attacks, including ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles. The order emphasizes the importance of deploying a next-generation missile defense shield to protect U.S. citizens and critical infrastructure, deter foreign attacks, and guarantee secure second-strike capabilities. It directs the Department of Defense to submit a comprehensive implementation plan within 60 days, detailing the architecture for defending against a wide range of missile threats and accelerating the deployment of key technologies such as space-based interceptors and non-kinetic capabilities. Additionally, the order calls for a review of theater missile defense initiatives in cooperation with U.S. allies and partners to improve global defense posture. The plan will be funded through collaboration with the Office of Management and Budget, with the goal of integrating these efforts into the 2026 fiscal year budget.

• Prioritizing Military Excellence And Readiness

  January 27, 2025 (W.H. Link) -The executive order focuses on maintaining high standards of readiness, lethality, and cohesion within the United States Armed Forces by restricting the inclusion of individuals with gender dysphoria or those who engage in gender identity practices inconsistent with their biological sex. The order directs the Department of Defense to update medical standards for military service to align with this policy and to eliminate the use of gender-based pronouns that do not reflect an individual's biological sex. It also mandates the implementation of strict regulations regarding the use of gender-specific facilities in the military, ensuring that males and females are not permitted to share sleeping, changing, or bathing areas designated for the opposite sex. Furthermore, the order revokes Executive Order 14004, which had allowed for the inclusion of individuals with gender dysphoria in military service, and requires the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security to take steps to fully comply with the new provisions.

• Restoring America's Fighting Force

  January 27, 2025 (W.H. Link) -The executive order aims to eliminate race- and sex-based preferences and discrimination within the U.S. Armed Forces by abolishing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs that promote such practices. It emphasizes that the military should operate on merit, ensuring that personnel are chosen based on qualifications rather than race or sex. The order mandates the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security to dismantle DEI offices and initiatives that undermine meritocracy, and it prohibits the promotion of divisive, discriminatory, or un-American theories such as "gender ideology" and "divisive concepts" within military institutions. Additionally, it directs an internal review of DEI-related actions and sets requirements for the military to teach a positive view of America and its founding documents. The order further instructs the Secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security to issue guidance and report on implementation within specified timeframes.

• Reinstating Service Members Discharged Under Military's COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate

  January 27, 2025 (W.H. Link) -The executive order addresses the unjust discharge of military service members who refused the COVID-19 vaccine, following the Department of Defense's mandate on August 24, 2021, and its rescindment on January 10, 2023. The order mandates the reinstatement of service members who were discharged solely for refusing the vaccine, allowing them to return to their previous rank, and receive full back pay, benefits, and compensation. It also provides an opportunity for those who voluntarily left or let their service lapse due to the vaccine mandate to return with no impact on their service status or pay. The order directs the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security to implement these actions and report their progress within 60 days, while still allowing for appropriate disciplinary action under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

• Pausing Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Enforcement To Further American Economic And National Security

  February 10, 2025 (W.H. Link) - This executive order revises the enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), arguing that its overreach has harmed U.S. economic competitiveness and foreign policy interests. The administration contends that aggressive FCPA enforcement restricts American companies from securing strategic business advantages in critical sectors such as minerals, infrastructure, and ports, thereby weakening national security. It asserts that the President’s Article II foreign affairs authority should take precedence over excessive regulatory barriers that disadvantage U.S. businesses abroad.

  To address these concerns, the order pauses new FCPA investigations and enforcement actions for 180 days, during which the Attorney General must review and revise enforcement guidelines. Existing cases will also be assessed, with actions taken to restore proper limits on FCPA enforcement. The Attorney General is empowered to issue updated policies prioritizing U.S. foreign policy goals and economic interests, and future FCPA actions must receive direct authorization. The review period may be extended by an additional 180 days if deemed necessary. The order does not create new legal rights but underscores a shift in U.S. policy toward reducing regulatory burdens on American businesses operating internationally while ensuring compliance with existing legal and budgetary constraints.

• President Trump Announces The President's Intelligence Advisory Board

  February, 11 2025 (W.H. Link) - Today, President Donald J. Trump is pleased to announce a distinguished and trusted group of Patriots to serve on the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board (PIAB). These individuals will advise the President on our nation’s most important security challenges and ensure that the Intelligence Community is working to advance the President’s America First agenda. The President’s PIAB appointees represent a broad range of experience and intellect that will help restore integrity to our Intelligence Community. The following individuals have been appointed to the PIAB:
  
  Devin Gerald Nunes, Chair
  Scott Glabe
  Amaryllis Fox Kennedy
  Brad Robert Wenstrup
  Wayne Berman
  Reince Priebus
  Robert O’Brien
  Joshua Lobel
  Sander R. Gerber
  Katie Miller
  Jeremy Katz
  Thomas Ollis Hicks, Jr.

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