House Speaker Mike Johnson views the flurry of executive orders that President Trump signed on his first day in office as the official start of the GOP’s legislative agenda and plans to turn some into law.

Mr. Trump’s blistering pace since taking the oath of office on Monday has seen him sign dozens of executive orders targeting policies implemented by his predecessor, along with jump-starting his campaign promise to secure the southern border.

Also in the mix were orders to end birthright citizenship, taking a hatchet to the Biden administration’s energy policy, pardoning or commuting the sentences of those involved in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot on Capitol Hill and cutting back on foreign aid.

Some of his actions have generated legal blowback from labor unions, immigrant rights groups, government watchdogs and a coalition of Democratic state attorneys general.

Mr. Johnson, Louisiana Republican, considered Mr. Trump’s actions as a “reset” from the previous administration.

“I don’t second-guess his decisions on that,” the speaker said. “He’s using his executive authority because desperate times call for desperate measures. Now our role as an Article One branch of the government is to look through legislatively, which of these things will be codified.”

Republicans are eager to install as much of Mr. Trump’s agenda as possible through the filibuster-proof budget reconciliation process, which would let them pass policy that Democrats would likely vote against.

They are still hammering out the finer details of what could be in reconciliation and are committed to extending Mr. Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, securing the border and reestablishing the nation’s energy dominance.

Mr. Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, South Dakota Republican, met with Mr. Trump on Tuesday to hash out the best approach to reconciliation, either cramming policy into one massive bill or opting for two, more streamlined bills, but are still struggling to land on the same page.

How quickly lawmakers get to broader elements of the president’s agenda is up in the air. Mr. Johnson said lawmakers were focused on the reconciliation process and the fast-approaching deadline to fund the government on March 14.

The speaker was also not specific about which executive orders the GOP would look to turn into law, but noted addressing the crisis at the southern border was at the forefront.

“What [the president is] doing is kick-starting what will ultimately be our legislative agenda,” Mr. Johnson said. “You’re going to begin to see that.”

• Alex Miller can be reached at amiller@washingtontimes.com.