Joe Biden signs 30 executive orders in three days
In just three days after taking the Oval Office, United States President Joe Biden signed a record 30 executive orders, at least 10 of which reversed the policies of his predecessor Donald Trump. A chunk of the remaining orders was signed to control the raging coronavirus pandemic in the country as well as fix the battered economy. Here's more on this.
On immigration, Biden signed an order that halts the construction of the infamous wall along the US-Mexico border. Moreover, this order also says that the Democratic administration will probe into the legality of using federal money to fund the construction. He has also reversed Trump's ban levied on visitors from seven Muslim-majority nations. Another order revokes Trump's plan to not include undocumented immigrants in Census.
Another order linked to immigration rescinded Trump's policy of "expanding immigration agencies." This means that agencies could now issue fresh policies, making immigration easier. Notably, Trump pushed to put an end to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which helped Dreamers (immigrants who arrived in the US as kids). Departing from this tone, one of Biden's executive orders said that DACA has to be "preserved and fortified."
As far as the coronavirus crisis is concerned, which hit the country the hardest claiming over 400,000 lives, Biden decided that snapping ties with World Health Organization (WHO) isn't the best idea. So, he signed an executive order reversing this decision as well. Trump remained furious at WHO last year alleging that the body was lenient toward China, the epicenter of the outbreak.
Reversing another of Trump's policies regarding climate change, Biden signed an order re-joining the Paris Agreement. The ex-President snapped ties as he felt the US was being treated unfairly. He also canceled the $9 billion Keystone XL pipeline project. Moreover, Biden directed agencies to review and reverse over 100 actions of Trump that are linked to the environment.
To promote racial equity, the new commander-in-chief revoked the 1776 Commission report, which intended to promote "patriotic education" in schools. This policy of the Trump administration was slammed by experts, some of whom claimed that the ex-President wanted to erase America's cruel history about racial injustice. On the economy, Biden laid the foundation for $15 minimum wage and restored protections for federal workers.
Biden also undid the regulatory approval process of his predecessor and directed the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) director to frame recommendations to "modernize regulatory review." The 78-year-old had earlier said he wouldn't waste time. He also assured Americans that the pandemic would be defeated. "Let me be clear - things will continue to get worse before they get better," he underlined.
