Executive Order Weekly Report - Week of June 23, 2025

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This report is only a summary and editorial regarding the executive orders (“EOs”) signed by the Trump Administration during the last week. EOs are not legislation or court opinions. They do not carry the weight of law, and are merely statements of policy within the executive branch. That is not to say they cannot be cited in court or legal pleadings, or aren’t relevant to the application of law, only that they are almost never controlling outside of internal executive branch administration.

EOs are signed and reported on, generally, a week before they are published into the Federal Register. Until such a publication, it can be difficult to know the exact language of the signed EO. For that reason, these reports only include EOs published in the Federal Register. While this can lead to these reports feeling delayed or dated, it is to ensure precision and clarity.

While I am a licensed attorney, this is not paid legal advice.  Nothing in this communication is intended to create an attorney-client relationship.  Unless expressly stated otherwise, nothing contained in this article should be construed as a digital or electronic signature, nor is it intended to reflect an intention to make an agreement by electronic means.

Executive Order 14311 Establishing a White House Office for Special Peace Missions

Signed: 6/30/2025

Published: 7/3/2025

Summary

Section 1 creates the Office for Special Peace Missions. It is to be headed by a Special Envoy for Peace Missions, to be appointed by the President. The Office and Special Envoy are to advance efforts aimed at ending ongoing conflict abroad.

What It Means

There has not been much reporting on this EO yet. This seems to be some kind of diplomatic office, obviously trying to end foreign ongoing conflicts.

Looking Forward

It can’t help but be noticed that at the very least the name reminds one of USAID, an organization that was keenly focused on preventing wars and promoting peace. USAID was also famously dismantled by the Trump administration, and has caused untold harm around the world. It is unlikely that this office will be little more than a virtue signal or platform for photo opportunities to the President’s base.

Executive Order 14312 Providing for the Revocation of Syria Sanctions

Signed: June 30, 2025

Published: July 3, 2025

This EO relies on the International Economic Emergency Powers Act (the “IEEPA”), the National Emergencies Act (the “NEA”), the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003, the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991 (“CBW”), the Caeser Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019, and 3 USC 301.

Summary

Section 1 states that the US is committed to supporting Syria, and has waived sanctions under the Caesar Act for Syria.

Section 2 states that it is the US to support the new Syrian regime, but not all the bad people in the Middle East.

Section 3 states that effective July 1, 2025 the national emergency declared in EO 13338, Blocking Property of Certain Persons and Prohibiting the Export of Certain Goods to Syria, EO 13399, Blocking Property of Additional Persons in Connection With the National Emergency With Respect to Syria, EO 13460, Blocking Property of Additional Persons in Connection With the National Emergency With Respect to Syria, EO 13572, Blocking Property of Certain Persons with Respect to Human Rights Abuses in Syria, EO 13573, Blocking Property of Senior Officials of the Government of Syria, EO 13582, Blocking Property of the Government of Syria and Prohibiting Certain Transactions with Respect to Syria. As the names may imply, they are all regarding sanctions on people and governments within Syria.

Section 4 demands additional steps be taken to hold the regime of Bashar al-Assad accountable. It expands EO 13894, Blocking Property and Suspending Entry of Certain Persons Contributing to the Situation in Syria, to target the former members of the Bashar al-Assad regime with sanctions.

Section 5 orders various executive officials to determine if further steps need to be taken to lift sanctions on Syria.

Section 6 orders the removal of certain regulations that could hamper trade with Syria.

Section 7 waives further sanctions under the CBW.

Section 8 declares al-Nusrah Front a Foreign Terrorist Organization. Abu Muhammad al-Jawlani is also designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.

Section 9 orders the Secretary of State to take steps to advance US policy at the UN to support Syria.

Section 10 orders various executive officials to take all actions needed to support this EO.

What It Means

The recent rise of the new regime in Syria is well discussed in this Pragmatic Papers article. The sanctions removed are largely regarding those that had been imposed in the previous administration.

Looking Forward

The questionable past of the new leader of Syria, and the not yet resolved instability of the nation both make this EO feel premature. President Trump has expressed a desire to “give Syria a chance”. This seems to fly in the face of the reasoning behind America First and his other international policies. The most likely reason for doing this is hoping that the new regime of Syria will join the Abraham Accords. Whether President Trump continues to attempt to charm the new regime, or apply a new Trump branded stick to achieve this is still unclear.