Biden issued 162 executive orders between 2021–25, along with hundreds of memos and notices. Trump, who had already overturned around 80 orders shortly after taking office in January, now threatens several key policies, including:
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EO 14087: Lowering prescription drug prices and regulating pharmaceutical companies
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EO 14096: Environmental justice initiatives protecting vulnerable communities
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EO 14110: Regulation of artificial intelligence, including risk management and ethical standards
Experts note that verifying signatures on such a large volume of documents would be challenging, and it is unclear which authority would authenticate them.
Autopen Use in US Presidencies
The autopen has been used since the early 1800s, starting with Thomas Jefferson. Presidents Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Clinton, Obama, and Trump himself have all used the device for routine document signing. Trump claims that autopens should only be used with direct presidential approval—a condition he argues was not met under Biden.
An autopen digitally reproduces a handwritten signature and applies it mechanically to documents. While it looks identical to a manually signed paper, the process is automated and allows for high-volume signing without the president’s physical presence.
Political Reactions and Legal Context
Trump’s announcement has received support from Republican leaders, including House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer and the Heritage Foundation-backed Oversight Project. A report from the House Oversight Committee in October raised concerns about autopen use during Biden’s presidency but offered no conclusive evidence.
Biden has repeatedly denied claims that staff signed orders without his approval, calling them “ridiculous and false.” Legal experts point out that while a sitting president can revoke many previous executive orders, clemency decisions, pardons, and commutations generally cannot be undone. Past US Department of Justice opinions also state that autopen-signed documents are legally valid.
Trump has previously targeted Biden’s use of the autopen multiple times, posting memes and declaring certain autopen-signed orders “null and void,” though these claims remain legally contentious.
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