Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Biden has been president for a week. Here are 100 steps his White House has taken to build a new era

New president hits the ground running with a sweeping set of executive actions, memorandums and policy proposals to shape the next four years

Chris Riotta
New York
Wednesday 27 January 2021 17:29 GMT
Comments
What are the top priorities for Biden's first 100 days?

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

President Joe Biden hit the ground running his first week in the White House, rolling out the core pillars of his policy agenda — from ending the coronavirus pandemic to overturning his predecessor’s legacy — while beginning to swear in his Cabinet, the most diverse in American history.

The new administration immediately unveiled a suite of 17 executive orders on Mr Biden’s first night in the Oval Office, then proceeded to send major proposals on immigration reform and coronavirus relief to Congress. By the end of his first week, the president signed over 30 memorandums and actions. 

Read more:Joe Biden’s first 48 hours as president

The Independent has tracked the new president’s first days in office, highlighting his significant policy reversals, announcements and new actions taken by the administration. The following list will be updated throughout his first 100 days in office.

Here are some of the most notable actions taken by the new White House: 

  1. Rejoined the World Health Organization and announced Dr Anthony Fauci would serve as the head of the US delegation
  2. Ended the previous administration’s travel restrictions on several Muslim majority countries
  3. Swore in nearly 1,000 new administration appointees via Zoom
  4. Cancelled permits for the Keystone XL oil pipeline
  5. Created a new presidential appointee role, the Covid-19 Response Coordinator to assist with national vaccine distribution efforts
  6. 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
  7. Extended the nationwide eviction and foreclosure moratorium until at least the end of March
  8. Strengthened the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program via executive order
  9. Avril Haines confirmed as the first woman to lead USIC as the new director of national intelligence
  10. Rescinded the 1776 Commission, created under the Trump administration to help reshape how public schools teach the history of slavery
  11. Rejoined the Paris Climate Accord via executive order
  12. Reversed components of immigration enforcement expansion under previous administration via executive order
  13. Paused student loans payments and the accruing of interest on all federal student loans until at least the end of September
  14. Ordered a regulatory review at the Office of Management and Budget to undo the previous administration’s regulatory approval process
  15. Halted the construction of new border security installations along the US-Mexico border
  16. Announced new executive orders for school and business reopening plans
  17. Ordered the inclusion of non-US citizens in the Census
  18. Implemented new ethics pledges for executive branch employees
  19. Signed executive order preventing workplace discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation
  20. Extended work authorizations and deportation deferrals for select immigrants until at least June 2022
  21. Attended the Virtual Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service alongside the first lady, vice president and second gentleman
  22. Held the first White House press briefing led by the press secretary, Jen Psaki
  23. Announced new executive orders to expand Covid-19 testing
  24. 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
  25. Implemented White House Covid-19 precautions including mask wearing, frequent testing and new social distancing measures.
  26. Transportation Secretary nominee Pete Buttigieg began nomination hearings with the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation committee
  27. Delivered additional calls for national unity with speeches by president and vice president at inauguration night concert
  28. Created plans to host congressional leaders this week from both parties at the White House
  29. 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”.
  30. Prepared plans to overturn key Trump administration abortion policy restricting funding for overseas abortion providers
  31. Redesigned the White House website to be more inclusive, with language translations and additional accessibility options
  32. Ended the Trump administration’s Migrant Protection Protocols Policy, otherwise known as the Remain in Mexico policy
  33. Sent a comprehensive immigration bill to Congress to further undo the previous administration’s legacy
  34. Placed a moratorium on oil and gas leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
  35. Added gender-neutral pronoun options to the online White House contact form
  36. Fired Trump-appointed labor board general Peter Robb
  37. Established interagency group on societal impact of carbon pollution
  38. Asked Environmental Protection Agency to immediately reconsider methane regulations
  39. Announced intention to revoke transgender military ban
  40. Designated Domestic Policy Council Susan Rice to spearhead “robust, interagency” effort towards “rooting out systemic racism” in federal agencies.
  41. Proposed new Covid-19 national strategy
  42. Encouraged Congress to grant special waiver for defense secretary nominee Lloyd J Austin III
  43. Named acting Cabinet members until nominees slate can ben confirmed
  44. Withdrew previous administration’s order limiting diversity trainings
  45. Ordered federal agencies to develop plans to address “barriers to equal opportunity” in the next 200 days
  46. Suspended all gas development projects at national wildlife monuments
  47. Restructured immigration arrest priorities for ICE
  48. Re-examine federal funding to ensure equitable distribution in communities of color and low income areas
  49. Directed agencies to “consider revising vehicle fuel economic and emissions standards”
  50. Froze all last-minute regulatory actions taken by the previous administration
  51. Stopped referring to immigrants as “aliens” in paperwork and started using the word “non-citizens” instead
  52. New National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan held introductory calls with France, Germany, the UK and Japan stressing the administration’s “intention to strengthen the transatlantic alliance”
  53. Created pathway to $15 national minimum wage via executive order
  54. Promoted expansion of federal workers’ rights vira executive order
  55. Sought to reduce hunger and increase food expansion for needy Americans via executive order
  56. Plans reported to resume processing thousands of stalled visas for select Afghans
  57. Ordered Treasury Department to identify Americans still awaiting stimulus payments
  58. Rescinded Schedule F for federal workers
  59. Included language in executive order encouraging schools to allow transgender athletes in girls’ sports
  60. Signed 10 additional executive orders on Thursday targeting Covid-19 relief, vaccine rollout and further reopening plans
  61. Established the Covid-19 Pandemic Testing Board to focus on expansion of test kits and access
  62. Issued memo directing FEMA to increase federal reimbursement for National Guard costs to states and tribes
  63. Ordered Department of Education and Health and Human Services to create guidance for safe reopening of campuses
  64. Ordered Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to provide guidance for employees on how to reduce risk of exposure to Covid-19
  65. Issued executive order requiring face masks in airports and other certain modes of transportation
  66. Signed directive which “restores US leadership and seeks to support the international health and humanitarian response to the Covid-19 pandemic”
  67. Senate Finance Committee meets to confirm Janet Yellen, who would be the first female Treasury secretary in American history
  68. Announced plans to build a “national resource” making Covid-19 information “easier and more transparent” for Americans during the vaccine rollout
  69. Established preclinical program for expansion of therapeutics in pandemic threats
  70. Invoked Defense Production Act to help increase vaccine supply by 20 per cent nationwide
  71. Issued executive order laying groundwork to require federal workers offer emergency paid leave
  72. Announced plans to roll back three previous order from the Trump administration targeting collective bargaining protections
  73. Senate confirmed Biden’s defense secretary, General Lloyd Austin, after granting waiver, making him the nation’s first black defense secretary
  74. Designated Jessica Rosenworcel to serve as acting FCC chairperson
  75. Began receiving daily intelligence briefings, as well as joint briefings with the vice president on economic recovery efforts
  76. Established a “network of benefit delivery teams” to ensure aid distribution via executive order
  77. Ordered Treasury Department to improve delivery of direct stimulus payments via executive order
  78. Announced a Racial Equality Address which would focus on allocating federal resources to advance fairness and opportunity
  79. Called on Congress to enact common sense gun measures that would ban assault rifles within his first 100 days in office
  80. Issued memorandum urging federal agencies to address xenophobia against Asian-Americans
  81. Secretary of State Antony Blinken sworn in at the State Department
  82. Signed proclamation reinstating coronavirus travel restrictions affecting non-US citizens traveling from Brazil and much of Europe
  83. Began receiving daily intelligence briefings, as well as joint briefings with the vice president on economic recovery efforts
  84. Called for a four year increase in government purchases of US services and products totalling $400 billion
  85. Announced plans to direct ACA insurance marketplaces to reopen
  86. Directed Housing Department to “examine effects of previous administration’s regulatory actions”
  87. Overturned Trump’s ban on transgender troops from serving in the US military 
  88. Added South Africa to list of countries with travel restrictions due to fast-spreading COVID-19 variant
  89. Encouraged additional federal spending on US companies via a “Buy American” executive order
  90. Signed executive order denouncing xenophobia and anti-Asian discrimination
  91. Replaced former White House Physician Sean Conley with Biden’s longtime physician, Dr Kevin O’Connor
  92. Janet Yellen confirmed as Treasury Secretary, first woman to hold the job
  93. Ordered Department of Justice not to renew contracts with private prisons
  94. Ordered FEMA to establish vaccination centers supported by federal funding
  95. Enhanced national analysis of coronavirus data via executive order, expanding the collection, production and sharing of scientific materials across agencies. 
  96. Rescinded 'zero tolerance' border policy memo resulting in family separations
  97. Announced an increase in vaccine distribution by 15 percent to states for first week of February
  98. Ordered 200 million additional coronavirus vaccinations in bid to vaccinate 300 million Americans by end of summer
  99. Signed executive order reaffirming nation’s commitment to tribal sovereignty
  100. Began swearing in the most diverse Cabinet in American history, with four newly-confirmed members including Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, the first woman to hold the job, Lloyd Austin, the nation’s first Black Defense Secretary

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in