DateIssued:March14,2025
Topic:EconomicOpportunity,EnvironmentalJustice,Health,LGBTQIssues
Thisactionoverturnssixexecutiveorders,fivepresidential memorandums,fivepresidentialdeterminations,andtwonational securitymemorandumsimplementedbyformerPresidentJoeBiden.
Theactionrepealspresidentialactionsthatcoverawiderangeofissues, fromincreasedworkerprotectionsandexpandedfundingforclean energytopreparationforfuturepandemicsandadvocacyforLGBTQ rightsaroundtheworld.
Thisactionoverturns18presidentialactionsfromtheBiden Administration.Theactionbringsthetallyto96totalrescinded presidentialactions,asPresidentTrumpoverturned78executiveactions frompreviousadministrationsduringhisfirstweekinoffice.
TheactionstakeseffectimmediatelyasthePresidenthasunilateral authoritytorescindexecutiveactions.
HOWDOESTHISIMPACTBLACKCOMMUNITIES?
TheexecutiveordersthatPresidentTrumprescindedaffectworker protections,cleanenergy,andLGBTQissues.Oftheexecutiveactionslisted withinthisaction,thetenoutlinedbelowhavethemostconsequentialpolicy implicationsforBlackAmericans.
ExecutiveOrder#13994:EnsuringaData-DrivenResponsetoCOVID-19and FutureHigh-ConsequencePublicHealthThreats
PresidentBidensignedthisexecutiveorderonJanuary21,2021,atthe heightoftheCOVID-19pandemic.Theorderorganizedthefederal government’sresponsetoCOVID-19,encouragedinformationsharing betweenresearchersworkingonCOVID-19treatments,andinstructed federalagenciestocreateanationalsystemforpublichealthdatathat wouldassistinmonitoringfuturepandemics.In2020,BlackAmericans hadthehighestCOVID-19mortalityratesofanyethnicgroup,which systemicinequitiesexacerbated.Byrescindingthisexecutiveorderinthe midstofariseinbirdflucasesandameaslesoutbreak,theTrump AdministrationisleavingBlackAmericansvulnerabletopotentiallyfatal diseases.
AdvancingtheHumanRightsofLesbian,Gay,Bisexual,Transgender, Queer,andIntersexPersonsAroundtheWorld
PresidentBidensignedthisNationalSecurityMemorandum(NSM)on February4,2021.ThememoestablishedLGBTQ+rightsasakeyprinciple ofAmericandiplomacyandapointofglobaladvocacyforthenational securitycommunity.ThereareoveronemillionBlackLGBTQ+adultsinthe UnitedStates,buthomosexualityisillegalinmorethan30countries aroundtheworld.ByrepealingthisNSM,PresidentTrumphasremoved thesafeguardsforLGBTQ+Americanswhotravelabroad.Organizations thatsupportLGBTQ+communitieshaverampeduptheirfundraising efforts,concernedthatthismaybepartofalargersignalbytheTrump AdministrationthattheUnitedStatesisnotalliedwiththeglobalLGBTQ+ community,whichincludesmillionsofBlackpeople.
ExecutiveOrder#14026:IncreasingtheMinimumWageforFederal Contractors
PresidentJoeBidensignedthisexecutiveorderonApril27,2021.Theorder increasedtheminimumwageforfederalcontractorsto$15perhourwith ayearlyraisetoaccommodateinflation.Whenthepolicywasfirst enacted,theBiden-Harrisadministrationpredictedthatitwouldincrease thepayofmorethan300,000workers.Byrepealingthisexecutiveorder, theTrumpAdministrationwillreducethehourlywagesofthousandsof BlackAmericans.Inthelongterm,eliminatingthecompetitivepay structuremaydisincentivizecontractorsfromworkingwiththefederal government.
PresidentialDeterminations2022-15,2022-16,2022-17,and2022-18
PresidentBidenissuedthesepresidentialdeterminationsonJune6,2022. Inthedeterminations,heorderedtheSecretaryofEnergytouseSection 303oftheDefenseProductionActof1950tomanufacturesustainable energyproductsdomestically,frominsulationforhomestoelectricheat pumps.ThisdirectivewasapartoftheGreenNewDealpolicyagenda thatDemocratsproposedtoaddressenvironmentalracismandbuild climateresilienceacrosstheUnitedStates.Byrescindingtheseexecutive actions,theTrumpAdministrationissignalingthatitwillnotusefederal resourcestoaddressclimatechange,whichdisproportionatelyimpacts communitiesofcolor.
ExecutiveOrder#14081:AdvancingBiotechnologyandBiomanufacturing InnovationforaSustainable,Safe,andSecureAmericanBioeconomy
PresidentBidensignedthisexecutiveorderonSeptember12,2022.The orderinitiatedtheBidenAdministration’sinvestmentinthebiotechnology fieldinthewakeoftheCOVID-19pandemicandoutlinedthefederal government’scommitmenttoequityandsustainabilitywhencontracting withcompaniestosupportthebioeconomy.Byrescindingthisorder, PresidentTrumpcontinueshisattackondiversity,equity,andinclusion effortsattheexpenseofinnovationandadiversefederalworkforce.
ExecutiveOrder#14119:ScalingandExpandingtheUseofRegistered ApprenticeshipsinIndustriesandtheFederalGovernmentandPromoting Labor-ManagementForums
PresidentBidensignedthisexecutiveorderonMarch6,2024.Theorder createdaRegisteredApprenticeshipInteragencyWorkingGroup,whose missionwastoprovideapathwayforpeoplewithoutacollegedegreeto attaingovernmentjobsthroughpaidapprenticeships.In2023,only35%of Blackadultshadanassociate’sdegreeorhighereducationalattainment. Byrescindingthisorder,PresidentTrumpisrestrictingopportunitiesfor Americanswhohavenotattendedcollegetoworkinthefederal government,whichincludesnearlytwo-thirdsofBlackadults.
ExecutiveOrder#14126:InvestinginAmericaandInvestinginAmerican Workers
PresidentJoeBidensignedthisexecutiveorderonSeptember6,2024.The orderprovidedguidanceonfundingallocationfortheCreatingHelpful IncentivestoProduceSemiconductors(CHIPS)andScienceAct,which authorized$280milliontobuildsemiconductorsdomestically,andthe InflationReductionAct(IRA),whichoutlinedaplanforcleanenergyand infrastructureinnovation.Theorderdirectedtheagencieswho implementedbothpiecesoflegislationtoprioritizefundingprojectsthat woulduseunionlaboranddemonstrateacommitmenttoworker’srights. Blackworkershavethehighestunionizationratesinthecountry,andby repealingthisexecutiveorder,PresidentTrumpispunishingcompanies thatallowtheiremployeestoorganizeandadvocateforfairwagesand workingconditions,whichdisproportionatelyimpactsBlackworkers.
CongressionalBlackCaucus(CBC)membersarepushingtopass legislationthatcodifiessomeoftheworkerprotectionsthatPresident Trumpeliminatedinthisexecutiveorder.OnMarch5,2025,
Rep.Bobby ScottandHouseMinorityLeaderHakeemJeffriesintroducedtheRichard L.TrumkaProtectingtheRighttoOrganize(PRO)Act,whichencourages workerstounionizeandholdscorporationsaccountableforprotecting workers’rights.Thebillhasgarneredsupportfrommorethan50CBC members.
Rep.BobbyScott:“Unionsareessentialforbuildingastrongmiddle classandimprovingthelivesofworkersandfamilies.Regrettably,for toolong,workershavesufferedfromanti-unionattacksandtoothless laborlawsthatunderminedtheirrighttoformaunion.Asahistoric numberofAmericansputtheirsupportbehindlaborunions,Congress hasanurgentresponsibilitytoensurethatworkerscanjoinaunion andnegotiateforhigherpay,betterbenefits,andsaferworkplaces.” FullStatement
TheCBChasadvocatedforenergyefficiencyandhasalsoemphasized theimportanceofinterventionsthatreducepollutioninmarginalized communities.In2022,theCBCendorsedboththeInfrastructure InvestmentandJobsActandtheIRA.FormerCBCChair
Rep.Steven Horsfordissuedthefollowingstatementafterdiscussingthelegislation withBidenAdministrationofficialsin2023:
“Thehistoricinfrastructurepackageisinvestingbillionsacrossthe countrytocreategoodunionjobs,growoursmallbusinesses,and protectourcommunitiesfromclimatechange.Ourdiscussionwith MitchLandrieufocusedonhowtheBipartisanInfrastructureLawwill createamoreequitableandjustfutureforallfamilies,especiallyBlack Americans.WewanttoensurethateverypartoftheAdministration involvedwiththedeploymentofthesefundsiskeepingafocusonthe localimpact,thelocaljobcreation,andthelocalinvestment.Working togetherwecanmakesurethishistoricinvestmentalsomeansthat transformationalchangefortheAmericanpeopleisontheway.”Full