Directives Published January 2026
Directive Watch is your source for clear, concise explanation of Presidential directives and executive orders issued by the White House.
We break down the technical legal jargon of each directive, explaining in plain language what it means and its potential impact.
Summary
- 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
Establishing a Second Emergency Board to Investigate Disputes Between the Long Island Rail Road Company and Certain of its Employees Represented by Certain Labor Organizations
This Presidential Action establishes a second emergency board, effective January 16, 2026, to investigate ongoing and unresolved labor disputes between the Long Island Rail Road Company and five specific labor organizations, pursuant to Section 9A of the Railway Labor Act (RLA).
The order mandates that the parties submit final settlement offers within 30 days of the Board's creation, after which the Board must select the most reasonable offer.
Furthermore, it requires all parties to maintain existing employment conditions until 60 days following the Board's report submission to the President.
Adjusting Imports of Processed Critical Minerals and Their Derivative Products into the United States
This Presidential Proclamation announces a finding, based on a report from the Secretary of Commerce under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, that imports of Processed Critical Minerals and their Derivative Products (PCMDPs) threaten U.S. national security due to excessive foreign reliance, supply chain insecurity, and domestic production decline. The President concurs with the finding and directs the Secretary of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative to jointly negotiate agreements with trading partners to adjust these imports, specifying that if satisfactory agreements are not reached within 180 days, alternative remedies like tariffs or minimum import prices may be considered.
Nominations Sent to the Senate
- Foreign Policy
- Healthcare
- Economy
- Defense
- Immigration
- Energy
- Labor
- Infrastructure
- Science
- Trade
- Justice
- Housing
- Agriculture
This document provides a compilation of numerous individuals nominated by the President to various high-level federal positions, including roles within executive departments, independent agencies, ambassadorships, and U.S. Attorney offices.
The listings specify the nominee's name, their proposed role, the agency or location, and often denote whether the appointment is to fill an expired term, a vacancy, or a newly created position, detailing the necessary Senate confirmation required for these appointments to take effect.
Safeguarding Venezuelan Oil Revenue for the Good of the American and Venezuelan People
This Presidential Action, issued under the authority granted by IEEPA and the NEA, declares a national emergency to safeguard "Foreign Government Deposit Funds" held by the U.S. Treasury on behalf of the Government of Venezuela from attachment or other judicial processes.
The President finds that allowing such process would materially harm U.S. national security and foreign policy by interfering with stability efforts in Venezuela and stemming threats like illegal immigration and narcotics flow.
The order directs the Secretary of the Treasury to hold these funds solely in a custodial capacity, under the direction of the Secretary of State, for public or diplomatic purposes, expressly overriding any previous executive orders affecting these specific funds.
Withdrawing the United States from International Organizations, Conventions, and Treaties that Are Contrary to the Interests of the United States
This Presidential Memorandum directs all executive departments and agencies to immediately begin the process of withdrawing the United States from membership, participation in, or funding for a long list of specific non-UN and United Nations organizations, and related bodies.
This directive stems from the Secretary of State's review, completed under Executive Order 14199, which identified these groups as contrary to the interests of the United States, with the Secretary of State tasked to provide further implementation guidance.
This Presidential Action, issued by the authority vested in the President, aims to revitalize the defense industrial base by compelling major defense contractors to prioritize warfighter capability and readiness over investor returns.
The action immediately prohibits underperforming contractors from issuing stock buybacks or dividends until they meet required standards for timely and quality production.
It directs the Secretary of War to review and identify non-compliant contractors, mandate remediation plans, enforce stricter contract provisions regarding executive compensation and production metrics, and consult on trade advocacy consequences, while also prompting the SEC to review stock buyback regulations.
This document, categorized under Presidential Actions, lists several nominations sent to the Senate for confirmation, primarily consisting of appointments for United States Attorneys for various districts and nominations for United States District Judges across several states.
Regarding the Acquisition of Certain Assets of Emcore Corporation by Hiefo Corporation
The document is a Presidential Order issued under the authority of the Defense Production Act, prohibiting HieFo Corporation, which is controlled by a citizen of the People's Republic of China, from retaining its acquisition of EMCORE Corporation's digital chip assets, deemed a threat to U.S. national security.
The order mandates that HieFo must divest all interests and rights in the acquired assets within 180 days under the supervision and verification of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), while immediately restricting access to the assets and related technical information until the divestment is complete.