Executive Orders Signed by Donald Trump in December 2025

Rex Ballard
Dec 23, 2025
5 min read

Trump Signs EO Regarding Medical Marijuana - photo courtesy of www.whitehouse.gov

As of December 22, 2025, President Donald Trump has signed eight executive orders during the month of December. These orders cover a range of topics, including economic security, technology policy, investor protection, national security threats, medical research, federal operations, space exploration, and federal pay adjustments. Below is a chronological list of these orders, including their titles, signing dates, assigned Executive Order (EO) numbers where available (based on Federal Register documentation), and detailed summaries of their objectives and key provisions. The summaries are derived from the official texts and related analyses.

1. Addressing Security Risks from Price Fixing and Anti-Competitive Behavior in the Food Supply Chain

Signing Date: December 6, 2025
EO Number: Not specified in available records
Detailed Summary: This order focuses on protecting national and economic security by addressing anti-competitive practices in the food supply chain, particularly those involving foreign-controlled entities that drive up costs for Americans. It highlights vulnerabilities in sectors like meat processing, seeds, fertilizer, and equipment, where price fixing has led to significant civil settlements. The objective is to investigate and mitigate these threats to ensure an affordable and stable food supply.
Key provisions include:
- Establishing dedicated Food Supply Chain Security Task Forces within the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to probe industries for anti-competitive behavior, evaluate foreign control impacts, and pursue enforcement actions, including criminal proceedings if collusion is found.
- Requiring joint briefings to congressional leaders within 180 and 365 days, with recommendations for legislative action but excluding details on ongoing investigations.
- General provisions ensuring compliance with existing laws, no impairment of agency authorities, and no creation of enforceable rights.

2. Ensuring a National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence

Signing Date: December 11, 2025
EO Number: 14365
Detailed Summary: This order aims to solidify U.S. leadership in AI by creating a unified national framework that minimizes regulatory burdens and preempts conflicting state laws, which are seen as fragmenting innovation and embedding biases (e.g., mandating altered AI outputs for "equity"). It builds on earlier orders like EO 14179 to counter global competitors and foster AI growth without excessive oversight, while protecting areas like child safety.
Key provisions include:
- Directing the Attorney General to form an AI Litigation Task Force within 30 days to challenge inconsistent state laws on grounds like interstate commerce interference or constitutional violations.
- Requiring the Secretary of Commerce to evaluate and publish a list of onerous state AI laws within 90 days, and conditioning federal funding (e.g., under the BEAD Program) on states avoiding or not enforcing such laws.
- Instructing the FCC and FTC to develop preemptive federal standards for AI reporting/disclosures and address deceptive practices, respectively.
- Tasking advisors with preparing legislative recommendations for a uniform federal AI policy, excluding preemption in specified areas like child safety or state procurement.
- General provisions for legal compliance and no new rights.

3. Protecting American Investors from Foreign-Owned and Politically-Motivated Proxy Advisors

Signing Date: December 11, 2025
EO Number: 14366
Detailed Summary: The order seeks to enhance oversight of the proxy advisor industry, dominated by foreign-owned firms (over 90% market share), to ensure accountability, transparency, and focus on investor returns rather than non-pecuniary agendas like DEI and ESG. It addresses conflicts of interest, potential fiduciary breaches, and harms to retirement investments like 401(k)s.
Key provisions include:
- Directing the SEC to review/revise rules inconsistent with the order, enforce anti-fraud laws, consider requiring proxy advisor registration, mandate transparency on methodologies and conflicts, and assess if advisors enable unlawful coordination.
- Instructing the FTC and Attorney General to investigate anticompetitive or deceptive practices under antitrust laws.
- Requiring the Secretary of Labor to revise ERISA regulations for fiduciary standards, assess proxy advisor impacts on plan values, and enhance transparency on DEI/ESG usage.
- General provisions for legal alignment and no enforceable benefits.

4. Designating Fentanyl as a Weapon of Mass Destruction

Signing Date: December 15, 2025
EO Number: 14367
Detailed Summary: This order designates illicit fentanyl and its precursor chemicals as a Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD) due to its lethality (lethal dose of 2 mg), role in hundreds of thousands of overdose deaths, and potential for weaponization by criminal networks or adversaries. The objective is to treat the fentanyl crisis as a national security threat, funding terrorism and eroding domestic stability.
Key provisions include:
- Directing agencies like the DOJ, State, Treasury, Defense (referred to as War), and Homeland Security to pursue investigations, asset targeting, military resource allocation, directive updates, and intelligence-based operations against smuggling networks.
- Defining "illicit fentanyl" and "core precursor chemicals" for clarity.
- General provisions ensuring no impairment of authorities and compliance with laws.

5. Increasing Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research

Signing Date: December 18, 2025
EO Number: Not specified in available records
Detailed Summary: The order promotes expanded research on medical marijuana and CBD to bridge knowledge gaps, improve treatments for conditions like chronic pain, nausea, and anorexia, and address safety risks in current usage (e.g., among seniors and veterans). It supports rescheduling marijuana to Schedule III to acknowledge medical uses and facilitate studies, while regulating hemp-derived products for affordability and safety.
Key provisions include:
- Directing the Attorney General to expedite rescheduling under the CSA, building on prior HHS recommendations and public comments.
- Tasking advisors with collaborating on legislation to revise hemp definitions and establish THC limits for CBD products.
- Requiring HHS and related agencies to develop research models using real-world evidence, focusing on long-term effects in vulnerable groups.
- General provisions for legal compliance.

6. Providing for the Closure of Executive Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government on December 24, 2025, and December 26, 2025

Signing Date: December 18, 2025
EO Number: Not specified in available records
Detailed Summary: This order grants federal employees time off on December 24 and 26, 2025, to celebrate Christmas, closing executive departments and agencies except where essential for national security, defense, or public needs. It ensures pay and leave protections under relevant statutes.
Key provisions include:
- Mandating closures and excusing employees from duty, with agency heads determining exceptions.
- Applying the order to pay/leave statutes like 5 U.S.C. 5546 and 6103(b).
- Directing the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to implement actions.
- General provisions preserving authorities and creating no enforceable rights.

7. Ensuring American Space Superiority

Signing Date: December 18, 2025
EO Number: Not specified in available records
Detailed Summary: The order outlines a bold space policy to achieve U.S. superiority through exploration, security, commercial growth, and advanced capabilities. It revokes prior directives and prioritizes Moon returns by 2028, missile defense prototypes, and economic investments to counter threats and inspire innovation.
Key provisions include:
- Setting timelines for lunar outpost (2030), missile defenses (2028), and $50 billion in investments.
- Directing reforms in acquisitions, ally cooperation, spectrum leadership, nuclear power deployment, and sustainability.
- Assigning implementation to advisors like the APST, with reports and plans due in 60-180 days.
- General provisions for compliance.

8. Adjustments of Certain Rates of Pay

Signing Date: December 18, 2025
EO Number: Not specified in available records
Detailed Summary: This annual order updates pay rates for federal civilian, military, and judicial personnel effective January 2026, superseding the prior year's order. It aims to align compensation with statutory requirements, including potential increases for law enforcement.
Key provisions include:
- Setting schedules for General Schedule, Senior Executive Service, Executive Schedule, uniformed services, and more.
- Authorizing locality pay and up to 3.8% increases for certain civilians.
- Effective dates starting January 1, 2026, or the first pay period thereafter.