Trump issued five executive orders in May, matching April for second-fewest in his second term

President Donald Trump (R) issued five executive orders in May. That number ties with April's total for the second-fewest executive orders issued in any month so far in his second term.

The May orders concerned sanctions, financial systems, federal lands, and vaccines. Click here to read more about each order.

As of June 1, Trump has issued 263 executive orders in his second term.

Trump issued 46 executive orders in January 2025, more than in any other month of his second term so far. Trump issued the fewest executive orders in his second term in October 2025, when he issued one.

Among all U.S. presidents, Trump has issued the 10th-most executive orders, with 483 orders across his two terms in office as of June 1. Franklin D. Roosevelt (D) issued the most of all U.S. presidents, with a total of 3,721 executive orders during his time in office. William Henry Harrison (Whig) issued the fewest, having issued none during his one month in office. Three presidents issued only one executive order each: James Madison (Democratic-Republican), James Monroe (Democratic-Republican), and John Adams (Federalist).

Trump has issued executive orders at an average rate of 197 per year in his second term — the highest average among the seven presidents who have held office since 1981. In his first term, Trump averaged 55 executive orders per year, the second-highest in that time. Joe Biden (D) averaged 41 per year, the third-fewest in that time. Franklin D. Roosevelt (D) issued 307 executive orders per year on average, the most of all U.S. presidents.

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