Speaker Johnson says Trump’s executive orders kick-started GOP agenda, plans to codify some

House Speaker Mike Johnson views the flurry of executive orders that President Trump signed on his first day in office as the official start of the GOP’s legislative agenda and plans to turn some into law. 

Mr. Trump’s blistering pace since taking the oath of office on Monday has seen him sign dozens of executive orders targeting policies implemented by his predecessor, along with jump-starting his campaign promise to secure the southern border.

Also in the mix were orders to end birthright citizenship, taking a hatchet to the Biden administration’s energy policy, pardoning or commuting the sentences of those involved in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol and cutting back on foreign aid.

Some of his actions have generated legal blowback from labor unions, immigrant rights groups, government watchdogs and a coalition of Democratic state attorneys general. 

Mr. Johnson, Louisiana Republican, considers Mr. Trump’s actions as a “reset” from the Biden administration. 

“I don’t second-guess his decisions on that,” the speaker said. “He’s using his executive authority because desperate times call for desperate measures. Now our role as an Article One branch of the government is to look through legislatively, which of these things will be codified.”

Lawmakers are particularly in favor of turning into law Mr. Trump’s slew of orders surrounding border security or tweaks to immigration policy. 

Rep. Nathaniel Moran, Texas Republican, told The Washington Times that he wants to turn as much of the House’s stalled immigration and border security bill from two years ago, which borrowed heavily from Mr. Trump’s policies during his first stint in the White House, to be codified. 

In particular, he wants to see a return of the president’s previous “remain in Mexico” policy, which he reinstituted through executive action this week. 

“Migrant protocols are extremely important to codify,” Mr. Moran said. “Because what I think what America wants, what business wants long term, and there’s several others than just that, they want surety.” 

Others do not want to repeat history by having another administration come in and undo those same border policies. 

Rep. John Rutherford, Florida Republican, said Republicans made “the mistake” of not codifying many of the policies ushered in with executive action during Mr. Trump’s first stint in office.

“We never codified it, and then you saw Biden came in the first day, and undid everything,” Mr. Rutherford said. “So I think, particularly at the border, all of those executive orders, we need to codify them as soon as possible.”

While Republicans largely support most if not all of Mr. Trump’s executive orders, some did raise questions about his move to give TikTok a 75-day extension after the deadline passed last weekend for the company’s Chinese owner, Bytedance, to divest or sell the app.

“I’m totally conflicted on that,” said Rep. Andy Biggs, Arizona Republican. “I mean, we hear it’s a national security issue, and then we hear it’s not a national security issue. I would really like to know more about it. I’m okay with him doing his 75-day extension of time to let him try to sell it.”

Meanwhile, lawmakers are eager to install as much of Mr. Trump’s agenda as possible through the filibuster-proof budget reconciliation process, which would let them pass policy that Democrats would likely vote against.

They are still hammering out the finer details of what could be in reconciliation and are committed to extending Mr. Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, securing the border and reestablishing the nation’s energy dominance.

Mr. Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, South Dakota Republican, met with Mr. Trump on Tuesday to hash out the best approach to reconciliation, either cramming policy into one massive bill or opting for two more streamlined bills, but are still struggling to agree on a tactic.

How quickly lawmakers get to broader elements of the president’s agenda is up in the air. Mr. Johnson said lawmakers were focused on the reconciliation process and the fast-approaching deadline to fund the government by March 14.

The speaker was also not specific about which executive orders the GOP would look to turn into law, but noted addressing the crisis at the southern border was at the forefront.

“What [the president is] doing is kick-starting what will ultimately be our legislative agenda,” Mr. Johnson said. “You’re going to begin to see that.”