Emergency Power Executive Order Data and Methodology

This dataset measures the use of executive emergency powers through an “emergency-power executive order” metric.

The dataset includes every executive order since 2000 that contains the word “emergency” or “emergencies” issued through January 20, 2026 (one year into President Trump’s second term). Each executive order was individually reviewed to determine whether it qualified as an “invocation of emergency powers.” Orders were counted if they (1) declared a national emergency, (2) invoked substantive statutory emergency authorities, and/or (3) directed cabinet-level officials to invoke such authorities. In close or ambiguous cases, the dataset errs on the side of under-inclusion to ensure the metric captures only clear invocations of emergency authority.

Executive orders were excluded if they used the word “emergency” in unrelated contexts, including emergency preparedness planning, medical care, and administrative references to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), among others.

To calculate the final “emergency-power executive order” total, executive orders that terminated, rescinded, or paused previously invoked emergency declarations or emergency authorities were subtracted from the “invocation of emergency powers” total.

This metric does not capture emergency powers exercised through other instruments, such as proclamations or agency actions. Nor does it capture executive orders that may invoke substantive statutory emergency authorities but do not use the word “emergency” or “emergencies” in the text of the order. It therefore likely understates total emergency-powers usage. The metric is instead intended to function as a simple, verifiable, and easily comparable proxy for emergency-powers usage across presidential administrations.

To download the executive order dataset in Excel format, please click here.

Data Source: Federal Register, Document Search, https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/search (last retrieved Jan. 27, 2026) (search: (“emergency” | “emergencies”); filters: “Presidential Document” and “Executive Order”)).