Biden’s Executive Orders

By Emma Diamond

After only being in the White House nine days, President Biden has already signed more than forty Executive Orders. Below is an organized recap of many of these orders and the action they take in America.

The Environment & Climate Change:

1. “Paris Climate Agreement” 
   1. This executive order rejoins the United States into the Paris Climate Accord. The accord is an international agreement that was signed in 2015 to combat climate change.
2. ‘Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad.’
   1. This executive order instructs the secretary of the interior not to enter new oil and natural gas leases on public lands or offshore waters. It ensures that climate change is being considered with national security and forign policy.
3. ‘Executive Order on Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis.’
   1. This executive order reverses more than one hundred of the actions that Trump took on the environment. It also cancels the Keystone XL pipeline.
4. ‘Executive Order on Establishing President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.’
   1.  This executive order puts the Council of Advisors on Science and Technology back in place. This team will help Biden with policy relating to science and technology.

Descrimination & Systemic Issues:

1. ‘Executive Order On Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government.’
   1. This executive order reversed Trump’s 1776 Commission. In December of 2020, Trump established this commission in order to ensure that “patriotic history” is taught in public schools. Trump explained that a “twisted web of lies” was being taught regarding systemic racism. Biden’s order overturned this commission.
2. ‘Executive Order on Enabling All Qualified Americans to Serve Their Country in Uniform.’ 
   1. This executive order enables transgender Americans to serve in the military. This overturns Trump’s action to prohibit them from doing so.
3. ‘Executive Order on Reforming Our Incarceration System to Eliminate the Use of Privately Operated Criminal Detention Facilities.’ 
   1. This executive o instructs the attorney general to halt federal contracts with private prisons. 
4. ‘Memorandum on Tribal Consultation and Strengthening Nation-to-Nation Relationships.’
   1. This executive order ensures that the federal government is having discussions and making important connections with Tribal governments.
5. ‘Executive Order on Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation.’ 
   1. This executive order ensures that Americans are not being discriminated against in the workplace for their gender identity or sexual orientation.

Immigration:

1. ‘Proclamation on Ending Discriminatory Bans on Entry to the United States.’
   1. This executive order reversed the “Muslim Ban” that Trump implimented during his time in office. It stops restrictions on US entry for passport holders from seven Muslim-majority countries.
2. ‘Proclamation on the Termination of Emergency with Respect to the Southern Border of the United States and Redirection of Funds Diverted to Border Wall Construction.’
   1. This executive order immediately stops the construction of Trump’s wall on the border of Mexico and the United States. It ends the national emergency that creates the budget for the wall.
3. ‘Preserving and Fortifying Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.’
   1. This Executive Order expands DACA by undoing Trump’s actions to try to diminish protections for undocumented immigrants that are brought into the United States as minors.
4. ‘Executive Order on Ensuring a Lawful and Accurate Enumeration and Apportionment Pursuant to the Decennial Census.’

1. This executive order stops the census from asking about citizenship. This ensures that undocumented immigrants are counted.

Covid-19:

1. ‘Executive Order on Ensuring an Equitable Pandemic Response and Recovery.’ 
   1. This executive order establishes the COVID-19 Federal Health Equity Task Force in order to ensure the response to the pandemic is as equitable as possible.
2. ‘Create More Vaccination Sites.’
   1. This executive order instructs FEMA to make community vaccination centers that are supported by the federal government.
3. ‘Memorandum to Extend Federal Support to Governors’ Use of the National Guard to Respond to COVID-19 and to Increase Reimbursement and Other Assistance Provided to States.’
   1. This executive order instructs the Federal Emergency Management Agency to increase the amount of money that states are receiving to pay for the emergency supplies and the National Guard. 
4. ‘Executive Order on Protecting the Federal Workforce and Requiring Mask-Wearing.’
   1. This executive order requires all people in federal buildings and on federal land to wear masks. It also begins the “100 Day Mask Challenge,” which asks Americans to wear masks for 100 days.

The Economy:

1. ‘Executive Order on Economic Relief Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic.’ 
   1. Calls for financial assistance for people who are unemployed, unable to buy food, or did not get a stimulus check.
2. ‘Pausing Federal Student Loan Payments.’
   1. This executive order extends the pause on student loan payments until at least September 30th.

Biden has made many actions in the short time he has been in office. Hopefully, he will continue to create meaningful change throughout his presidency. 

Sources:

https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/29/politics/biden-executive-orders-climate-health-care-coronavirus-immigration/index.html