Biden Gets to Work with Executive Actions

President Biden Spends First Day in Office Overturning Trump Era Decisions

President Joseph R. Biden Jr. wasted no time in his push to reverse decisions made during the Trump presidency. Shortly after his inauguration, Biden got to work signing a number of executive actions. The efforts had a broad focus, dealing with matters like the pandemic, immigration, the climate crisis, and more.

By the end of the day, Biden introduced two action items and signed a whopping 15 executive orders.

Immigration

President Biden made impactful moves in immigration. Ending one of Trump’s most notorious orders, Biden signed an executive action calling for an end to the “Muslim Ban.” During Trump’s time in office, this ban restricted United States-bound travel from more than a dozen Muslim-majority countries.

Continuing the work he helped President Obama begin years ago, Biden signed an additional executive order for Dreamers. The order calls on Congress to pave the way for an eight-year path to citizenship for DACA participants.

President Biden also provided protection for Liberian immigrants, defending those living in the United States from deportation.

The administration is also planning to offer new guidance to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials to put an end to the Trump administration’s family separation policy.

Finally, President Biden is revoking Trump’s declaration of national emergency from 2018 and halting construction of the US-Mexico border wall.

COVID-19 Orders

President Biden stayed true to his campaign promise of tackling the pandemic from the moment he stepped foot in office. He issued a mask mandate, making it compulsory to wear a mask in federal buildings and during interstate travel.

Biden also added a position within his administration for a Directorate for Global Health Security and Biodefense – a position that existed during his vice presidency with President Obama.

President Biden also prepared the United States to formally rejoin the World Health Organization.

Climate

Cognizant of his responsibility as a world leader, President Biden took action to commit to the goal of combating the climate crisis by rejoining the Paris climate accords.

He signed an additional climate-focused order that will prohibit private companies from drilling for oil or gas on federal lands. This immediately halts the Keystone XL pipeline construction.

Financial Disparities

Biden signed two orders to provide financial relief to families impacted by the pandemic. These actions:

1. Order the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with three federal departments, to extend moratoriums on foreclosures and evictions through March 31, 2021
2. Freeze student loan debt collection through September 30, 2021

Race and Inequality

President Biden signed three executive orders addressing racial inequality in the United States. These executive actions accomplish the following:

1. Reverse a Trump-era order instructing census workers not to count undocumented immigrants living in the United States
2. Order the federal government to reevaluate how resources are allocated, paying close attention to any evidence of racial inequities
3. Extends federal workplace sex discrimination protections to LGBTQ+ Americans

Government Ethics

With the Trump administration having caused great damage to the public’s trust in the government, President Biden is making strategic moves in attempt to reverse the harm done. He signed an executive order requiring everyone in his administration to sign an ethics pledge.