WASHINGTON – In a dramatic turn of events, U.S. President Donald J. Trump has announced that he is voiding dozens of executive orders, proclamations and directives issued by his predecessor Joe Biden — on the grounds that they were signed using an “autopen,” a mechanical device that reproduces a signature. Trump declared that any document executed via autopen under Biden’s presidency is “terminated” and “of no further force or effect.”
In a post on his social media platform, Trump alleged that around 92 percent of Biden-era orders used autopen signatures and accused Biden’s inner circle of “operating the autopen illegally,” hinting that any claim by Biden of personal approval could lead to perjury charges.
Legal Legacy and Deep Controversy
The autopen — a device that mimics a person’s handwritten signature in real ink — is not a new tool in Washington. For decades, U.S. presidents have used it when away from the White House or needing to sign multiple official documents quickly.
A 2005 opinion from the U.S. Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel affirmed that a president’s approval is what validates official documents — not the physical act of signing. That legal stance has allowed past presidents, including Barack Obama and even Trump himself, to employ the autopen.
According to experts, what truly matters is the president’s intent and his authorization for a document — whether signed by hand or via autopen. The longstanding practice, they argue, does not differentiate between the two methods in terms of legality.
Legal and Political Fallout Expected
Legal analysts have widely dismissed Trump’s sweeping move as fraught with constitutional and judicial problems. Many warn that attempts to retroactively nullify executive orders could lead to prolonged litigation, institutional chaos, and severe policy disruption.
One senior former U.S. attorney said autopen-signed documents remain valid so long as the president authorised them — meaning Trump’s claim that they are automatically void may not hold up in court.
Impacts Reach Far Beyond Washington
The development has stirred global concern. Dozens of Biden-era policies — on climate, trade, immigration, foreign aid, and security — may now be under threat of nullification, creating uncertainty for international partners and foreign governments that rely on U.S. commitments. For countries like Pakistan, which maintain diplomatic and strategic ties with the U.S., the unpredictability could complicate ongoing cooperation frameworks.
Critics argue that this move is less about legal technicalities and more about political theatre — a deliberate attempt to delegitimise Biden’s legacy and cast doubt on democratic norms of governance.
What Comes Next: Court Battles, Policy Chaos or Political Showdown?
As Washington braces for fallout, legal experts expect a wave of lawsuits challenging the repeal of autopen-signed orders. Meanwhile, federal agencies face the arduous task of determining which policies remain enforceable and which must be rewritten — a process that could disrupt everything from environmental regulations to immigration rules.
At its core, the controversy raises fundamental questions about the nature of executive power, the validity of long-established administrative practices, and whether a change of administration should erase decades of precedent with the stroke of a pen — or an autopen.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.