Who’s signed the most executive orders?
An executive order is a presidential action that directs federal agencies on how to operate. It carries the same effect as a law, provided it is within constitutional powers. Executive orders can also amend or revoke prior orders, allowing presidents to undo those of their predecessors. Let’s break them down by commander-in-chief.
- The 10 most recent presidents, all of whom completed at least one full term, signed an average of 270 executive orders. Those who served two terms signed an average of 332 executive orders, while presidents who served one signed about 207.
- Jimmy Carter, a single-term president, had the highest annual average of executive orders: 80. Barack Obama, who served two terms, signed the fewest per year: 35.
- Ronald Reagan signed the most executive orders of the recent two-term presidents: 381 from 1981 to 1989. However, the record for most signed overall is Donald Trump, with 472 between his non-consecutive terms. He has signed 252 executive orders so far in his second term: 225 in 2025, and 27 as of March 26, 2026.
- The White House reports that Trump signed 26 executive orders on the first day of his second term. (In 2017, on the first day of his first term, he signed one.) Before then, the most executive orders signed on a first day were by Joe Biden, who signed nine.
Top health risks for people 65 and older
It might sound counterintuitive, but mortality data can help shape how we live. It can show researchers, doctors, and the public how we’re faring in addressing health issues such as heart disease and cancer. So here are the most common causes of death for older Americans, trends over time, and (the few) differences by state.
- In 2024, the leading causes of death for people 65 and older were heart disease (916.7 deaths per 100,000 people), cancer (769.9), cerebrovascular disease (237.7), and chronic lower respiratory diseases (207.0).
- These were also the top four causes of death for older adults in 2000. However, fewer people were dying from them in 2024 than in 2000. Death rates from heart disease were down 45.9% since 2000, from cerebrovascular disease down 43.8%, from cancer down 31.3%, and from chronic lower respiratory disease down 31.9%.
- Nationwide, Alzheimer’s disease, the fifth most common cause of death in 2024, was the exception. Death rates from Alzheimer’s among seniors increased 33.7% from 2000 to 2024. (Note: This is the crude death rate.)
- In 2024, heart disease was the top cause of death for people 65 and older in 45 states and Washington, DC. Cancer was the leading cause in Alaska, Colorado, Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington.
- For more about causes of death for people of all ages, explore the metrics here.
10 years of the Government 10-K
As the shareholders in this democracy, taxpayers deserve transparency in government spending. The Securities and Exchange Commission requires public companies to file a Form 10-K annually to detail financial activity, including risk. While the government has no such obligation, we believe Americans are entitled to these insights at the federal, state, and local levels — so we compiled the Government 10-K.
This in-depth accounting provides insight into the collection, spending, and outcomes of taxpayer dollars. Have the people been well served by their governments? That’s up to you. Dive into the data and see for yourself.
Data behind the news
Senators have introduced legislation to use taxpayer dollars instead of private funding to build the White House ballroom. We’ve compared the scale and funding sources of past White House renovations.
The Secretary of Defenseappeared before the House and Senate Armed Services Committees last week. Or is it the Secretary of War?
Hope you studied over spring break! It’s time for the weekly fact quiz.
One last fact
Petroleum was the nation’s most-consumed energy sourcein 2024, accounting for 37.5% of energy consumption. Natural gas was second at 36.3%. Together, these sources fueled nearly three-quarters of the country’s energy needs.
The remaining energy consumption was from nuclear power, coal, and renewable energy, each at around 8% or 9%.
A correction
We cited the wrong city last week when describing US population growth, and we regret the error. With a net increase of 1.78 million people, Phoenix would have been a much more accurate comparison. Thank you for trusting us with the facts.
