Commander in Chief: Biden’s first week
As the 46th President of the United States, Joe Biden did not waste time getting to work.
Since Inauguration Day on January 20, Biden has signed dozens of executive orders, mostly focusing on the coronavirus and undoing Trump’s policies.
Signing upwards of 17 executive orders, they included the building stoppage of Trump’s border wall between Mexico and America, stopping the travel ban from majority Muslim countries, and requiring non-citizens to be counted in the census.
Biden’s busy day continued with his move to reenter the Paris Climate Accord, as well as reversing over 100 Trump administration environmental actions.
On top of the executive orders, he has now signed 33 executive actions in only six days. On the coronavirus front, Biden referred to the battle against the virus as a “wartime” activity. His goal is to deliver 100 million vaccines to the American people in his first 100 days, as well as creating a federal mask mandate to attempt to slow the virus’ spread. After Trump’s most recent stimulus package did not deliver the relief people need, Biden is attempting to pass a $1.9 trillion stimulus package through Congress. A travel restriction was also placed on European and South African countries to halt the spread of the COVID-19 variants.
Biden’s administration also reentered the World Health Organization after President Trump had withdrawn earlier last year. It has been hailed as a sound move as the world battles the coronavirus together.
His works on equity, such as reversing the transgender ban from the military, did not go unnoticed, as many celebrated on Twitter. Many see it as the first step in a positive direction for the rights of transgender individuals.
Though Biden has made it clear he is seeking unity, the impeachment of the former president looms over the country. The Articles of Impeachment were delivered to the Senate on Monday, so the drama surrounding that will not disappear anytime soon. Many fear backlash and anger from Republicans, and with a 50/50 split Senate, a divided vote may divide the country.
In his first week alone, Biden has begun to bring America back towards Obama-era policies, and this can be expected to continue throughout his presidency.
https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/25/politics/biden-executive-orders-day-six/index.html
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/01/26/us/biden-trump-impeachment
(Photo by Time Magazine.)
