Trump expands executive action pace with 11 September orders spanning agriculture to technology

President Trump issued 11 executive orders during September 2026, bringing his second-term total to 288 and his all-time total across both terms to 508. The orders addressed diverse policy areas including livestock, the Defense Production Act, veterans benefits, water quality, visa programs, and artificial intelligence. Trump issued significantly more orders this month than in August and maintains a higher annual average of 173 orders per year in his second term compared to his first term rate of 55.

President Trump's executive action output has escalated notably during his second term, with September marking a particularly active month. The 11 orders issued last month covered a broad spectrum of policy domains, from agricultural and labor matters to technology and national security frameworks. This pace reflects a significant departure from his first-term approach, with his current annual average nearly tripling the rate he maintained between 2017 and 2021.

Comparing Trump's executive output to historical precedent reveals his prolific use of this presidential authority. Among modern presidents since 1981, his second-term average substantially exceeds peers, positioning him as a high-volume issuer of executive directives. However, historical context shows earlier presidents, particularly Franklin D. Roosevelt during the New Deal era, issued orders at far greater rates relative to their time in office.