A flurry of orders

US President Donald Trump on Monday issued a flurry of executive orders and directives as he sought to put his stamp on his new administration on matters ranging from energy to criminal pardons and keeping TikTok open in the US.

Here's a look at some of Trump's initial actions and upcoming plans:

・ Government efficiency

Trump signed an executive action to create an advisory group called the Department of Government Efficiency, aimed at carrying out dramatic cuts to the US government, attracting immediate lawsuits challenging its operations. The group, dubbed "DOGE", is being run by Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy was a co-chair but has left to run for elected office, Trump spokeswoman Anna Kelly said.

・ Targeting the 'deep state'

The president signed a document "ending weaponization" of government against political opponents. The order directs the attorney general to investigate the activities of the federal government over the last four years, including at the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Federal Trade Commission during the prior administration.

It said the government will "identify and take appropriate action to correct past misconduct by the federal government related to the weaponization of law enforcement and the weaponization of the intelligence community."

・ Renaming

Trump signed an executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico the "Gulf of America "hours after taking the oath of office.

Trump claimed that the water body "has long been an integral asset to our once burgeoning nation and has remained an indelible part of America".

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said at a news conference on Jan 8: "Obviously, the Gulf of Mexico is recognized by the United Nations … but why don't we call this 'Mexican America'?"

Trump also called for North America's tallest peak — Denali in Alaska — to be renamed Mount McKinley, reviving an idea he'd floated years ago and drawing a rebuke from Alaska's Republican senior senator.

・ Undoing Biden moves

At a rally at a sports arena, Trump revoked 78 executive actions of the previous administration.

"I'll revoke nearly 80 destructive and radical executive actions of the previous administration," the US president said.

Trump also said he would sign an order directing every agency to preserve all records pertaining to "political persecutions" under the Joe Biden administration.

・ Death penalty

Trump signed a sweeping execution order on the death penalty that directs the attorney general to "take all necessary and lawful action" to ensure that states have enough lethal injection drugs to carry out executions.

Agencies - Xinhua