The COVID Diaries – 272 21st January
The Independent newspaper has published a list of things Joe Biden’s administration has done in the whirwind first 24 hours of his presidency:
- Rejoined the World Health Organization and announced Dr. Anthony Fauci would serve as the head of the US delegation
- Ended the previous administration’s travel restrictions on several Muslim majority countries
- Swore in nearly 1,000 new administration appointees via Zoom
- Cancelled permits for the Keystone XL oil pipeline
- Created a new presidential appointee role, the COVID-19 Response Coordinator to assist with national vaccine distribution efforts
- Launched the “100 Days Mask Challenge,” including an executive order mandating mask wearing on federal grounds and encouraging Americans to wear masks for 100 days
- Extended the nationwide eviction and foreclosure moratorium until at least the end of March
- Strengthened the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program via executive order
- Avril Haines confirmed as the first woman to lead USIC as the new director of national intelligence
- Rescinded the 1776 Commission, created under the Trump administration to help reshape how public schools teach the history of slavery
- Rejoined the Paris Climate Accord via executive order
- Reversed components of immigration enforcement expansion under previous administration via executive order
- Paused student loans payments and the accruing of interest on all federal student loans until at least the end of September
- Ordered a regulatory review at the Office of Management and Budget to undo the previous administration’s regulatory approval process
- Halted the construction of new border security installations along the US-Mexico border
- Announced new executive orders for school and business reopening plans
- Ordered the inclusion of non-US citizens in the Census
- Implemented new ethics pledges for executive branch employees
- Signed executive order preventing workplace discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation
- Extended work authorizations and deportation deferrals for select immigrants until at least June 2022
- Attended the Virtual Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service alongside the first lady, vice president and second gentleman
- Held the first White House press briefing led by Press Secretary Jen Psaki
- Announced new executive orders to expand Covid-19 testing
- Renovated the Oval Office, replacing interior decorations and adding a bust of Latino civil rights leader Cesar Chavez, as well as a portrait of Benjamin Franklin
- Implemented White House Covid-19 precautions including mask wearing, frequent testing and new social distancing measures.
- Transportation Secretary nominee Pete Buttigieg began nomination hearings with the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation committee
- Delivered additional calls for national unity with speeches by president and vice president at inauguration night concert
- Created plans to host congressional leaders this week from both parties at the White House
- Scheduled themed days for the next week to focus on specific policy priorities, including “economic relief,” “Buy America,” “Equity,” “Climate,” “Health Care,” “Immigration” and “Restoring America’s Place in the World.”
- Prepared plans to overturn key Trump administration abortion policy restricting funding for overseas abortion providers
- Redesigned the White House website to be more inclusive, with language translations and additional accessibility options
- Ended the Trump administration’s Migrant Protection Protocols Policy, otherwise known as the Remain in Mexico policy
- Sent a comprehensive immigration bill to Congress to further undo the previous administration’s legacy
- Placed a moratorium on oil and gas leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
- Added gender-neutral pronoun options to the online White House contact form
- Fired Trump-appointed labor board general Peter Robb
- Established interagency group on societal impact of carbon pollution
- Asked Environmental Protection Agency to immediately reconsider methane regulations
- Announced intention to revoke transgender military ban
- Designated Domestic Policy Council Susan Rice to spearhead “robust, interagency” effort towards “rooting out systemic racism” in federal agencies.
- Proposed new Covid-19 national strategy
- Encouraged Congress to grant special waiver for Defense Secretary nominee Lloyd J. Austin III
- Named acting Cabinet members until nominees slate can ben confirmed