America First Policy Directive to the Secretary of State
Signed: January 20, 2025
Published: January 29, 2025
Document Number: 2025-01952
📋Summary
This executive order directs the Secretary of State to align the State Department’s policies and operations with an “America First” approach to foreign policy, prioritizing U.S. interests and American citizens. It primarily affects the Department of State, including its programs, staff, and day-to-day operations, and indirectly influences how the United States conducts diplomacy abroad. The key action required is for the Secretary of State to issue guidance as soon as practicable to bring departmental policies, programs, personnel, and operations into line with this directive. It also states that the order does not change existing legal authorities, must be carried out within available funding and applicable law, and does not create enforceable legal rights for the public.
💼Business Impact
This order is a high-level directive to realign State Department programs toward “America First,” so businesses most exposed are exporters/importers, multinationals, government contractors tied to diplomacy/foreign assistance, and highly regulated cross-border sectors (defense/aerospace, energy, tech/telecom, logistics, and NGOs/professional services working overseas). Expect potential shifts in sanctions/enforcement priorities, export controls, visa/consular processing emphasis, and eligibility rules for State-funded programs or overseas contracting—creating both compliance risk (more restrictive country/party screening, contract clauses, reporting) and opportunities (re-prioritized markets, new procurement or support for U.S. firms). Immediate actions: monitor State Department guidance and country-specific policy changes, stress-test your supply chain and customer base for higher sanctions/export-control exposure, and update trade compliance and contracting playbooks (screening, end-use/end-user checks, and government contract representations) before committing to new cross-border deals.
Full Text
Executive Order 14150 of January 20, 2025
America First Policy Directive to the Secretary of State
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:
Section 1 . Purpose. From this day forward, the foreign policy of the United States shall champion core American interests and always put America and American citizens first.
Sec. 2 . Policy. As soon as practicable, the Secretary of State shall issue guidance bringing the Department of State's policies, programs, personnel, and operations in line with an America First foreign policy, which puts America and its interests first.
Sec. 3 . General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
THE WHITE HOUSE,
January 20, 2025.