Directives Published January 2026
Presidential directives and executive orders issued by the White House in January 2026.
Summary
- 30th Jan 26 * The President ordered the establishment of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington, D.C., directing federal agencies to designate a route and expedite necessary permits and approvals for the race celebrating the nation's 250th anniversary. View
- 29th Jan 26 * A national emergency concerning threats from the Government of Cuba was declared, authorizing the imposition of discretionary tariffs on products originating from countries supplying oil to Cuba. View
- 29th Jan 26 * Established the White House Great American Recovery Initiative co-chaired by HHS and the Senior Advisor for Addiction Recovery to coordinate the federal response to the addiction crisis, mandate evidence-based treatment protocols across agencies, and foster a culture of recovery. View
- 29th Jan 26 * The President proclaimed 2026 as the Year of Celebration and Rededication to honor the 250th anniversary of American independence, urging nationwide patriotic observance and educational efforts. View
- 28th Jan 26 * The President proclaimed January 25 through January 31, 2026, as National School Choice Week, reiterating commitments to parental control over education, expanded tax credits for scholarships, and realignment of federal education policy. View
- 27th Jan 26 * The President issued an order directing FEMA and the SBA to preempt state and local permitting hurdles impeding post-wildfire rebuilding in Los Angeles and mandated audits of prior grant funds to ensure swift recovery. View
- 24th Jan 26 * The President continued the Federal Emergency Management Agency Review Council until March 25, 2026, and designated the Secretary of Homeland Security to execute Presidential functions under the Federal Advisory Committee Act concerning the Council. View
- 21st Jan 26 * Presidential authority was used to mandate federal agencies to restrict the sale of single-family homes to large institutional investors and review anti-competitive practices to increase homeownership opportunities for American families. View
- 21st Jan 26 * The President proclaimed January 20, 2026, as the National Day of Patriotic Devotion to mark one year in office and celebrate the restoration of national sovereignty, safety, and prosperity. View
- 19th Jan 26 * The President proclaimed January 19, 2026, as the Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Holiday, urging citizens to engage in acts of service. View
- 16th Jan 26 * The President proclaimed January 16, 2026, as Religious Freedom Day, encouraging national observance and reaffirming commitments to religious liberty rooted in the Nation's founding principles. View
- 14th Jan 26 * The President imposed a 25 percent ad valorem tariff on specific imported semiconductors and semiconductor equipment based on a Section 232 national security review, while simultaneously directing trade negotiations to adjust import dependency. View
- 14th Jan 26 * Established a second emergency board, appointed by the President, to investigate unresolved labor disputes between the Long Island Rail Road Company and several labor unions. * Directed the Board to select the most reasonable final settlement offer between the parties within a specified timeframe under RLA Section 9A(g). * Ordered the parties to maintain existing working conditions until 60 days after the Board submitted its report. View
- 14th Jan 26 * The President directed joint negotiations between the Secretary of Commerce and the USTR to adjust imports of Processed Critical Minerals and Derivative Products (PCMDPs) after determining current import volumes threatened national security under Section 232. View
- 13th Jan 26 * The President nominated numerous individuals for posts including agency leadership, ambassadorships, U.S. Attorney positions, and Federal Maritime Commissioner roles, requiring Senate confirmation. View
- 10th Jan 26 * The President declared a national emergency and ordered the preservation of Financial Government Deposit Funds belonging to Venezuela from judicial attachment pursuant to presidential authority under IEEPA and NEA. View
- 7th Jan 26 * The President directed executive departments and agencies to initiate immediate withdrawal from numerous international organizations and specific UN entities based on a prior review concluding they are contrary to U.S. interests. View
- 7th Jan 26 The President issued an order directing the Secretary of War to review defense contractors, immediately prohibiting stock buybacks and dividends for underperforming firms until necessary production capacities and priorities are met, and mandating future contract enforcement mechanisms. View
- 5th Jan 26 * The administration submitted numerous nominations for U.S. Attorneys and U.S. District Judges to the Senate for confirmation. View
- 2nd Jan 26 * A Presidential Order prohibited HieFo Corporation, controlled by a Chinese citizen, from retaining its acquisition of EMCORE Corporation assets, mandating divestment under CFIUS jurisdiction due to national security findings. View
Celebrating American Greatness with American Motor Racing
This Presidential Action establishes the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, an INDYCAR street race to be held in Washington, D.C., near the National Mall, in celebration of America's 250th birthday.
The directive mandates that the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Transportation quickly designate a suitable route, expedite all required permits and approvals—potentially classifying the event as a 'special event'—and coordinate road maintenance.
Furthermore, the Secretaries are tasked with facilitating appropriate aerial photography while ensuring government facility security, with all associated publication costs assigned to the Department of the Interior.
The President declared a national emergency, citing the Government of Cuba's alignment with hostile entities like Russia and Iran, hosting foreign intelligence facilities, supporting transnational terrorist groups, and perpetrating human rights abuses against its populace.
Based on this determination, which invokes the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), the order establishes a mechanism to impose additional *ad valorem* tariffs on goods imported from any foreign country that directly or indirectly sells or provides oil to Cuba, with implementation and monitoring delegated primarily to the Secretaries of Commerce and State.
This Presidential Action establishes the White House Great American Recovery Initiative (Initiative) to elevate and coordinate the national response to the addiction crisis, which affects 16.8 percent of the population and costs the United States hundreds of billions annually.
The Initiative will be co-chaired by the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Senior Advisor for Addiction Recovery, comprising numerous cabinet-level officials and agency heads.
Its goals include coordinating federal programs, increasing public awareness of addiction as a chronic disease, advising agencies on integrating prevention, treatment, and recovery support across various systems (healthcare, criminal justice, housing), and consulting with state and community partners to advance a national effort toward recovery.
Year of Celebration and Rededication, 2026
The President issued a Proclamation designating the year 2026 as the "Year of Celebration and Rededication" to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence, tracing the nation's ideals back to the Declaration of Independence and citing historical figures and religious devotion as foundational elements.
The President calls upon all Americans, including homes, schools, businesses, and the military, to observe the year with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities focused on celebrating American history, teaching succeeding generations about the nation's heroes, and renewing dedication to liberty and justice.
National School Choice Week, 2026
This Presidential Proclamation designates January 25 through January 31, 2026, as National School Choice Week, asserting the principle that parents, not bureaucrats, have the right to determine their children's education.
The document outlines the administration's efforts to expand school choice, citing the signing of the 'One Big Beautiful Bill' to create a nationwide education tax credit program accessible to taxpayers supporting scholarship organizations and expanding 529 account use for K-12 education.
Furthermore, it details executive actions supporting state scholarship programs, directing the Secretary of Education to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education, and committing to replacing "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion" agendas with merit-based instruction.
Addressing State and Local Failures to Rebuild Los Angeles After Wildfire Disasters
This Presidential Action asserts that state and local governments in California failed to manage the aftermath of devastating Los Angeles wildfires, causing significant delays in rebuilding despite extensive federal debris removal and financial aid allocation.
The order mandates immediate and decisive federal action to circumvent these perceived state and local bureaucratic obstacles, primarily directing the Secretary of Homeland Security (via FEMA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA) to consider regulations that preempt local permitting processes and replace them with federal self-certification requirements for builders, all while expediting federal reviews under environmental and preservation laws and requiring accountability audits of prior federal grant usage.
This Presidential Action continues the Federal Emergency Management Agency Review Council, which was initially established by Executive Order 14180, until March 25, 2026.
The order delegates the President's functions related to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as they apply to the Council, to the Secretary of Homeland Security to perform in accordance with GSA guidelines.
The action, effective January 24, 2026, also includes standard provisions regarding statutory authority, funding availability, and assurances that the order does not create new enforceable legal rights.
Stopping Wall Street from Competing with Main Street Homebuyers
This Presidential Action, issued under the authority vested in the President, aims to stop large Wall Street institutional investors from outcompeting American families for single-family homes, citing high inflation and interest rates as barriers to the American dream of homeownership.
The order directs several federal agencies, including the Departments of the Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture, and Veterans Affairs, to issue guidance preventing the facilitated purchase or disposal of single-family homes to large institutional investors, promoting sales instead to owner-occupants.
Furthermore, it mandates reviews for anti-competitive effects in local markets and calls for legislative recommendations to codify this policy permanently.