Do presidential executive orders always have the force of law?
Executive orders by a U.S. president have the force of law--unless they are challenged because they deal with matters not clearly delegated to the executive branch by the Constitution or Congress.
Every president since Washington has used executive orders. Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama each issued between 250 and 300 during their tenures. As of Aug. 11, President Trump has signed 179. Opponents of a particular order may challenge it in court. President Truman's 1952 order taking over the steel business to block a strike was blocked by the Supreme Court.
Orders that redirect federal funds may clash with Congress' Constitutional "power of the purse." A Trump order on Aug. 8 extending unemployment payments enacted by Congress in March drew criticism from Democratic legislative leaders, but it's unclear if they will challenge it.