Trump to Sign Executive Orders on Immigration, Energy, Government Hiring

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Incoming President Donald Trump is preparing to issue a series of executive orders shortly after being sworn into office, using his executive powers to push forward his key priorities dealing with the border, energy and government reform, just hours after taking the oath.

The scope of the orders, which would significantly alter immigration, energy, and government hiring policies, highlights the level of urgency with which Trump and his team aim to implement an expansive agenda.

Stephen Miller, who will be the incoming White House deputy chief of staff for policy, met with a small number of senior Republican leaders over the weekend to discuss the administration's plans. According to the Republican senators briefed on the meeting, these plans include declaring a national emergency along the U.S.-Mexico border, reversing Biden administration policies related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and repealing President Biden's restrictions on drilling for oil in offshore areas and on federal land, Miller informed the lawmakers.

As part of President Trump's efforts to revamp the federal government, part of the plan will involve rewriting the rules for hiring federal employees and implementing a new procedure for terminating others. Trump will once again issue an executive order, known as Schedule F, which he first signed in October 2020 to strip job protections for federal workers; the Republicans said this will be done. The Biden administration had previously put a hold on the order.

His transition team didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

The expected orders will "border-heavy" and aim to reverse the executive orders that Biden implemented in 2021 when he first took office, as confirmed by a Republican with knowledge of the planning.

During the U.S. court proceedings.

Trump also plans to classify cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and restrict entry to the US, likely by imposing a travel ban. The details of any travel ban have not yet been made clear.

Besides the immigration orders focused on the border, advisors to Trump have also been planning immigration raids in several major cities over the first few days of the new administration. According to people who are familiar with the plans, the cities they expect to target include Chicago, Boston, Washington, D.C., Miami, Los Angeles, Denver, New York and San Antonio.

Miller also discussed what he called an "energy-omnibus," with the Trump aide describing a broad-based directive that would declare a national energy emergency, according to one of the Republicans on the call. Trump would also move to end Biden-era restrictions on drilling and policies promoting electric vehicles, while calling for reducing spending on efforts to address climate change.

Michelle Hackman assisted in the writing of this article.

tarini.parti@wsj.com