By Aaron Miller-
President Joe Biden has signed a series of executive orders on a suite of issues, including Covid-19, the environment, immigration and ethics.
Nine of those executive actions undo significant actions from Donald Trump’s administration, including halting the travel ban from Muslim-majority countries, and ending the declaration of a national emergency used to justify funding construction of a wall on the US-Mexico border.
Biden affirmed his duty as working for the people, opening a full range of doors to talents to work for the people.
Speaking to his appointees, he said history and American fellows will measure him as how diligently they pursue their goals.
He spoke about ”working with dignity”, working to rule out ”systemic racism. President Joe Biden said a lot of people did not realise how widespread systemic racism is.
“The only thing I expect with absolute certitude is honesty and decency,” he said, in a moving speech to his appointees, looking back at him from little squares in a massive video call. “Remember – people don’t work for us. We work for the people … they pay my salary, they pay your salary.
“We have an obligation,” he said.
President Biden also signed an order allowing the United States to re-join the Paris climate agreement and end the Trump administration’s efforts to exclude undocumented immigrants from the census data used to determine how many seats in Congress each state gets.
The president expectedly addressed the Covid-19 pandemic, signing orders to mandate mask wearing and social distancing in federal buildings, and lands, and to create a position of a Covid-19 response coordinator.
The new president also ordered federal agencies to review equity in their existing policies and come up with a plan in 200 days to address inequality in them.
On his first day in office, Biden is expected to sign 17 executive actions – 15 will be executive orders.
As he began signing the orders, Biden said: “I think some of the things we’re going to be doing are bold and vital, and there’s no time to start like today.”
The president’s speech represented a marked departure from the Trump administration, where racism thrived through extremist groups, and white supremacist group.
“These executive actions will make an immediate impact in the lives of so many people in desperate need of help,” Wade Henderson, the interim president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, said in a statement.
“Reversing Trump’s deeply discriminatory Muslim ban, addressing the Covid-19 crisis, preventing evictions and foreclosures, and advancing equity and support for communities of colour and other underserved communities are significant early actions that represent an important first step in charting a new direction for our country.”
President Biden said ”I know you, I know you can do it”. He said I need your help. I will make mistakes, but when I make them, I’m gonna need you to help me correct them”.
Chuck Schumer, the Democratic senator from New York, is now the Senate majority leader, while Mitch McConnell, the Kentucky Republican, is now the minority leader.
Biden’s executive orders must still surmount some obstacles before they are fully implemented. Senate rules require 60 votes to secure new orders.