President Biden signs 17 orders to undo Trump’s legacy
President Joe Biden is finalizing 17 executive moves just hours after his inauguration Wednesday, moving faster and more aggressively to dismantle his predecessor’s legacy than any other modern president.
Biden wore a mask while seated behind the Resolute Desk with a stack of orders early Wednesday evening. He said there was “no time to start like today.”
Biden signed three orders on camera for reporters: first creating a mask mandate on federal properties, then an order to address underserved communities and create a standard of equality.
The executive orders ranged from rejoining the Paris agreement on climate change, halting America’s withdrawal from the World Health Organization, revoking Muslim travel ban and stopping immediate construction of Mexico border wall.
We are currently facing four converging crises — COVID-19, the resulting economic crisis, climate change, and racial inequity. Today, President Biden took actions to combat these challenges. pic.twitter.com/091jmvCukk
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 21, 2021
“I’m proud of today’s executive actions, and I’m going to start by keeping the promises I made to the American people. A long way to go. These are just executive actions. They are important, but we’re going to need legislation for lot of the things we’re going to do,”
The president said he will be signing a number of executive over the next several days of the week.
“And I’m going to start today on the compounding crisis of Covid, along with the economic crisis following that, and climate crisis, racial equity issues,” he said.
Here’s a look at the 17 actions Biden took on his first day in office:
Today, President Biden rejoined the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. pic.twitter.com/V4fVV2i2jZ
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 21, 2021
Read Also: Congratulations pours in as Joe Biden is sworn in as US 46th president
| Topic | Reversal | Summary |
| Coronavirus | No | Launches a “100 Days Masking Challenge” asking Americans to wear masks for 100 days. Requires masks and physical distancing in federal buildings, on federal lands and by government contractors, and urges states and local governments to do the same. |
| Coronavirus | Yes | Stops the United States’ withdrawal from the World Health Organization, with Dr. Anthony Fauci becoming the head of the delegation to the WHO |
| Coronavirus | No | Creates the position of Covid-19 Response Coordinator, reporting directly to Biden and managing efforts to produce and distribute vaccines and medical equipment |
| Economy | No | Extends the existing nationwide moratorium on evictions and foreclosures until at least March 31 |
| Economy | No | Extends the existing pause on student loan payments and interest for Americans with federal student loans until at least September 30 |
| Environment | Yes | Rejoins the Paris climate accord, a process that will take 30 days |
| Environment | Yes | Cancels the Keystone XL pipeline and directs agencies to review and reverse more than 100 Trump actions on the environment |
| Equity | Yes | Rescinds the Trump administration’s 1776 Commission, directs agencies to review their actions to ensure racial equity |
| Equity | No | Prevents workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity |
| Census | Yes | Requires non-citizens to be included in the Census and apportionment of congressional representatives |
| Immigration | No | Fortifies DACA after Trump’s efforts to undo protections for undocumented people brought into the country as children |
| Immigration | Yes | Reverses the Trump administration’s restrictions on US entry for passport holders from seven Muslim-majority countries |
| Immigration | Yes | Undoes Trump’s expansion of immigration enforcement within the United States |
| Immigration | Yes | Halts construction of the border wall by terminating the national emergency declaration used to fund it |
| Immigration | No | Extends deferrals of deportation and work authorizations for Liberians with a safe haven in the United States until June 30, 2022 |
| Ethics | No | Requires executive branch appointees to sign an ethics pledge barring them from acting in personal interest and requiring them to uphold the independence of the Department of Justice |
| Regulation | Yes | Directs OMB director to develop recommendations to modernize regulatory review and undoes Trump’s regulatory approval process |
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