WASHINGTON _ President Donald Trump aims to deliver quickly on his promise to break from the progressive policies of President Barack Obama. But the first official acts of his presidency were the signing of routine paperwork.
In a ceremonial office of the Capitol shortly after he took the oath Friday, Trump took the first steps to fill out his administration by signing papers nominating candidates for Cabinet positions.
He also signed legislation that allows his pick to lead the Pentagon, retired Gen. James Mattis, to serve. The new law grants a waiver from the requirement that the defense secretary, typically civilian, be retired from military duty for seven years; Mattis retired in 2013.
Trump also signed a proclamation declaring a national day of patriotism, according to incoming White House press secretary Sean Spicer.
Trump advisers have promised a flurry of other activity in the administration's earliest days, with the new president eager to fulfill his campaign promises.
Officials have devised a "Day One, a Day 100 and a Day 200 action plan," Vice President Mike Pence told reporters this week.
"There's a historic change coming," Spicer promised Thursday.
Trump campaigned on several pledges of what he intended to do on "Day One" of his administration. Early clues about his top priorities came Friday on the updated White House website, including a commitment to reverse Obama's climate plans, pursue tax reform, enhance law enforcement and the military and withdraw from a major Pacific Rim trade pact that had been an Obama administration priority.
Trump's most significant plans will require cooperation from Congress. But Obama's own aggressive use of presidential authorities also provides Trump a path to quickly reverse course.
The Republican-controlled Senate was scheduled to convene Friday afternoon, when leaders hope to begin voting to approve Trump's Cabinet nominations. Mattis and retired Gen. John Kelly, nominee to lead the Department of Homeland Security, were most likely to win swift confirmation. The Senate also likely will debate on Rep. Mike Pompeo's nomination to head the CIA.
In 2009, six of Obama's Cabinet picks were confirmed on Inauguration Day _ all unanimously, when Democrats had a strong majority in the Senate.
But Democrats who bitterly oppose some of the Trump nominees now no longer hold the power to block them, only to delay them. In 2013, when the party still held the majority, Democrats moved to change longstanding Senate rules and allow most nominees to advance by a simple majority vote.
Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., the minority leader, said the performance of many of Trump's Cabinet choices during confirmation hearings have only deepened many Democrats' concerns.
"The more we learned about these nominees, the more important a thorough and fair process became. And the more it became clear Republicans were simply trying to jam through these nominees, out of sight of the American people," he said this week.
Spicer said it was Democrats who were not acting in good faith to "ensure a continuity of government."
"These were people that are highly qualified, that were considered 'consensus candidates' prior to a few weeks ago," he said.
