Directives Published June 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
- 3rd Jun 26 * The President directed comprehensive reforms to customs enforcement by increasing IOR accountability, restricting foreign IOR access to informal entry, mandating supply chain disclosures, and establishing enhanced vetting and penalty standards. View
- 3rd Jun 26 * The order implemented Schedule Policy/Career in the excepted service, amending civil service regulations and executive orders to facilitate the transfer and management of policy-influencing federal positions. View
- 2nd Jun 26 * The President ordered the enhancement of governmental cyber defenses, established protocols for monitoring advanced AI models, and prioritized enforcement against criminal misuse of artificial intelligence. View
- 2nd Jun 26 * Adjusted Section 232 tariffs on aluminum, steel, and copper imports by creating targeted duty reductions for certain derivative products like agricultural equipment, expanding covered items, and lowering the domestic content requirement threshold. View
- 1st Jun 26 * The President transmitted numerous nominations for ambassadorships and domestic posts to the Senate for confirmation and simultaneously withdrew one prior nomination. View
This Presidential Action mandates comprehensive reforms to U.S. customs enforcement, asserting that stronger measures are crucial for national security, foreign policy, and the economy.
The order directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to revise regulations within 180 days to enforce higher accountability standards for Importers of Record (IORs), including requiring tangible domestic assets or increased bonding, mandating detailed disclosure of ownership and supply chain data, and imposing stricter rules for foreign IORs, such as prohibiting their use of informal entry.
Furthermore, the action targets enhanced enforcement penalties for noncompliance, streamlined disposal of illegal imports, and established vetting procedures to ensure all parties involved in importing maintain 'good standing' with Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
This Presidential Action orders the implementation of Schedule Policy/Career within the excepted service for policy-influencing federal positions, citing the need to enhance accountability for employees in roles critical to the President's agenda.
The order amends numerous Civil Service Rules and previous Executive Orders, specifically detailing how existing policy-determining positions will be transferred into this new schedule, while also directing agencies to establish recognition programs, and mandating transparent notification procedures for affected employees.
This Presidential Action establishes a national policy focused on maintaining U.S. leadership in Artificial Intelligence (AI) by simultaneously encouraging innovation and strengthening national security against evolving AI-related threats.
The action directs various departments, including War, Homeland Security, and the Treasury, to immediately upgrade federal system cyber defenses, prioritize the defense of National Security Systems, and establish a voluntary information-sharing arrangement with AI developers regarding "covered frontier models" to assess potential risks before public release.
Furthermore, the Attorney General is tasked with prioritizing the criminal prosecution of individuals who misuse AI to illegally access or damage computer systems.
Further Adjusting the Tariff Regimes for Imports of Aluminum, Steel, and Copper into the United States
This Presidential Proclamation formally modifies the existing Section 232 tariff regimes imposed on imports of aluminum, steel, and copper, as established in prior proclamations, based on recommendations from the Secretary of Commerce regarding national security concerns and domestic economic impacts.
The modifications introduce a temporarily reduced 15 percent ad valorem duty for specific derivative products, including agricultural equipment and residential HVAC systems, while also extending coverage to products like aluminum lithographic plates and steel racks to prevent circumvention.
Furthermore, the proclamation lowers the threshold for a product to qualify as 'entirely' made of American metals from 95 percent to 85 percent to incentivize domestic sourcing.
Nominations and Withdrawal Sent to the Senate
The document formally announces a series of nominations sent by the President to the Senate for their advice and consent, primarily comprising individuals designated for ambassadorships across numerous countries, key domestic roles such as U.S. Attorneys and leadership positions within the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of State, and regulatory bodies like the International Trade Commission and the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Additionally, the President formally withdrew one prior nomination for a U.S. Marshal position.