Week 1: Biden administration makes up for lost time
Image: Photo by U.S. Embassy Jerusalem on Flickr
Just one week into the Biden presidency, the new administration has been keen to erase Donald Trump’s legacy. In his brief time in office, President Joe Biden has signed 21 executive orders, as well as unveil major legislative proposals. But how significant has this first week been?
COVID-19 Crisis
President Biden’s administration promptly rejoined the World Health Organisation, announcing that Dr. Anthony Fauci would lead the U.S. delegation. This is a significant departure from President Trump’s criticism of both the WHO and Fauci, and a rejection of anti-expert rhetoric.
As well as instituting a nationwide mask mandate, Biden also created the role of Covid-19 Response Coordinator, tasked with assisting the rollout of the U.S. vaccination program. This comes as the administration ordered 200 million more doses of the coronavirus vaccine, pledging to vaccinate 300 million Americans by the end of the summer - now including Vice President Kamala Harris.
Additionally, the president has further suspended student loan and rent payments, and extended the moratorium on evictions.
Climate Change
Most notably, the Biden administration rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement on 20th January, in one of the first executive orders the president signed. This signals that Biden not only wants to follow the rules agreed by other nations - rejecting Trump’s ‘America First’ rhetoric - but also that the climate crisis is a top priority of the new administration.
Biden has ordered a pause on oil and gas drilling leases on federal lands and water, ‘to the extent possible.’ The position of National Climate Advisor has also been created to lead climate policy at the White House, and federal agencies are being instructed to prepare for changes in their mode of operation with regards to climate change.
Image: Photo by Samuel Corum on Getty Images
Immigration
Biden has sought to eradicate the nativist approach of President Trump, immediately revoking the ban on foreign nationals from seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the U.S. This was a campaign promise, but restoring faith in the American Dream will be a long-term project for the new president.
The Department of Homeland Security has also been advised to strengthen the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals legislation (DACA), protecting undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children from deportation. Furthermore, construction of the wall on the Southern border with Mexico has been halted, with the promise of funding previously dedicated to the project being redistributed elsewhere. This is particularly notable as a shift from the Trump administration - one of the former president’s election-winning promises is being immediately unraveled.
However, these directions can all be undone by future presidents, just as Biden is undoing the executive orders of President Trump. Creating lasting legislation will come from Congress - and even with a majority in the House of Representatives and the Senate, Democrats will be looking for Republican cooperation.
