Incoming Biden: Instant Changes

Article I

What Joe Biden has promised to do on “Day One” and in his first 100 days as president

Incoming White House chief of staff Ron Klain distributed a memo Saturday that reiterated Mr. Biden’s intention to fulfill several of his promises — some geared toward immediate action to arrest the surging coronavirus pandemic, some to roll back the actions taken by President Trump in the last four years, and others to address problems that have persisted over several administrations.

The initiatives include around a dozen of executive actions he can enact alone as president on the first day in office, January 20. Here are a few of the highlights: 

Responding to COVID-19

Issue mask mandate on federal property and inter-state travel;

Extend nationwide restrictions on home evictions and foreclosures; 

Continue to pause student loan payments;

Push for passage of $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief legislative package announced last week.  

Overturning Trump actions 

Rejoin the Paris climate agreement;

End so-called “Muslim ban” on travel, which in 2017 restricted travel and immigration to the U.S. from Syria, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen, before adding Eritrea, Nigeria, Myanmar, Kyrgyzstan, and Tanzania in 2020. 

Day-one promises

COVID-19 response: Rejoin the World Health Organization; 

Immigration: Send bill to Congress “for legislative immigration reform that will modernize our immigration system and give nearly 11 million undocumented immigrants a roadmap to citizenship;”

Climate change: Sign executive order to formulate plan to achieve 100% clean energy economy and net-zero emissions by 2050; 

Transgender rights: Repeal transgender military ban enacted by President Trump; Mr. Biden would also restore Obama-era guidance for transgender students in schools, to protect “students’ access to sports, bathrooms, and locker rooms in accordance with their gender identity;” and

Environment: Enact an executive order “to conserve 30% of America’s lands and waters by 2030.”  

First 100 days 

Mr. Biden will be relying on Congress to approve many of the initiatives he aims to accomplish for his first 100 days, which could potentially be difficult, even with the slight majority that will be held by Democrats. Here are some of those promises:

Economic recovery: Initiate “Build Back Better” economic recovery plan in February, during a joint session of Congress. Released during the general election, the plan called for spending trillions on American-made products, health services and infrastructure updates.

Climate: Organize a “climate world summit” to push world leaders to more aggressively tackle climate change, specifically addressing global shipping and aviation emissions. This is one of the priorities Mr. Biden has established that does not require congressional approval. The new president also promised to “pressure” China to stop subsidizing coal and “outsourcing” pollution.  

Repealing tax cuts: In order to pay for many of these wish list items, Mr. Biden said he would fight for the repeal of the 2017 tax cuts, which would require action by Congress. He argued that the tax cuts favored wealthy Americans.

Guns: After the FBI studies “loopholes” in the gun background check system, Mr. Biden said he would ask Congress to close the “loopholes” and also repeal liability protection for gun manufacturers, which would allow Americans to sue the gun industry if a gun is used in a crime. Biden also said he wants to “restructure” federal agencies that oversee gun laws. 

Violence: As a senator, Mr. Biden authored the Violence Against Women Act in 1994 to offer more protections for women. This legislation needs to be signed into law again. Biden said one key effort in the update would include greater protections for transgender women.  

Equality: Push to passthe “Equality Act,” a bill to add more protections for LGBT Americans.