_WHAT’S HAPPENING_
Since President Trump’s first week in office, it can be counted on one hand how many times his pen has graced any congressionally passed bills.
At the start of his second term, the president signed the Laken Riley Act into law — a major piece of Republican legislation. Congress, however, seems to move too slowly for Trump, and rarely takes up major bills. Instead, he has opted for over 100 executive orders this term, all of which are designed to further his preferred policies — for now.
_THE FACTS_
President Trump has signed five pieces of legislation since taking office in January: the Laken Riley Act, a government funding bill, and three resolutions to eliminate Biden-era regulations.
There are currently over 5,000 bills and resolutions pending for a vote.
GovTrack, a bill-tracking site, estimates that only around seven percent will become law.
One reason for the lack of action is the increasing use of the filibuster. Via a process called filing cloture, a single senator can block any bill that lacks 60 votes.
Another is the rejection of unanimous consent. Democrats forced hours of debate on Trump’s cabinet nominees, delaying legislative work.
President Trump has advanced his priorities with executive orders, signing them at a faster pace than any modern president.
Trump’s orders are sometimes small in scope, such as removing the security clearances of past officials, but also involve massive changes to American policy, including ending birthright citizenship and imposing global tariffs.
Federal courts have blocked many of these orders, and some Republicans are uncomfortable with the executive taking such sweeping action.
Trump has also used executive action to roll back former President Joe Biden’s agenda, using a single order from mid-March to revoke 18 Biden orders.
_INSIGHTS_
Unlike most presidents coming into the White House, Trump has only four years to push through his agenda, likely explaining his reliance on executive orders.
Because Congress has handed over so much authority to the executive branch — like how the Deep State now shapes national policy — President Trump has broad legal room to maneuver. His tariffs, for instance, are permitted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, signed into law by President Jimmy Carter.
With the filibuster being used to block most bills, Republicans could rely almost entirely on the reconciliation package to pass Trump-backed priorities. But with strict rules on what can be included, many recent Trump orders may not ultimately become law, leaving them vulnerable to rescission after 2028.
