How to read an executive order
An executive order is more than its headline. Start with the legal authority it cites, identify the agencies receiving instructions and note whether the language directs a concrete action, orders a review or announces a policy.
Questions to ask
- What statute or constitutional authority is cited?
- Which agency must act?
- What deadline applies?
- Does implementation require a new rule, funding or another decision?
- Has a court paused or limited the action?
The signed text, agency implementation documents and subsequent court filings should be linked together in the same timeline.
Starting source
Federal executive orders are published in the Federal Register’s executive-order collection.