Autopen Cancellations

On Friday, President Trump announced that he is canceling all Executive Orders signed via autopen while President Biden was in office.  

Presidents have been going mechanical for their John Hancocks since Truman but primarily for unofficial/commemorative things (think: letters or memorabilia). A George W-era DOJ opinion says autopens are valid for legislation if the president authorizes it, but Trump claims Biden was “not involved in the autopen process” and that staffers used it without his knowledge to sign executive orders and pardons. 

Former President Biden has previously insisted he authorized everything signed with his Go Go Gadget pen.

It is unclear how many of Biden’s 162 executive orders were signed via autopen (Trump says 92%), but policies potentially headed to the Trash folder include environmental justice actions, prescription drug cost measures, and limits on AI development and use.

Verse to consider whether you’re signing executive orders or signing Christmas cards… “Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable ​— ​if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy ​— ​dwell on these things. Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.”
Philippians 4:8-9 (CSB) (read full passage)