Biden outlines 'Day One' agenda of executive actions to undo some Trump decisions

In his first hours as president, Joe Biden plans to take executive action to roll back one of the most controversial decisions of his predecessor and address the raging coronavirus pandemic, his incoming chief of staff said Saturday (Jan 16).

The opening salvo would herald a 10-day blitz of executive actions as Biden seeks to do something swiftly to redirect the country in the wake of Donald Trump's presidency without looking forward to Congress.

On Wednesday, following his inauguration, Biden will end Trump's restriction on immigration to the US from some Muslim-majority countries, proceed to rejoin the Paris climate accord and mandate mask-wearing on federal property and during interstate travel. Those are among roughly twelve actions Biden will need on his first day in the White House, his incoming chief of staff, Ron Klain, said in a memo to senior staff.

“These executive actions will deliver relief to the an incredible number of Americans that are struggling when confronted with these crises,” Klain said in the memo. “President-elect Biden will need action - not merely to reverse the gravest damages of the Trump administration - but also to start out moving our country forward.”

“Full achievement” of Biden’s goals will demand Congress to do something, Klain said, like the US$1.9 trillion virus relief bill he outlined on Thursday. Klain said that Biden would also propose a comprehensive immigration reform bill to lawmakers on his first day in office.

The next day, Thursday, Klain said Biden would sign orders related to the COVID-19 outbreak targeted at reopening schools and businesses and expanding virus testing. The next day, Friday, will dsicover action on providing economic relief to those suffering the financial costs of the pandemic.

In the next week, Klain said, Biden would take additional actions associated with criminal justice reform, climate change and immigration - including a directive to speed the reuniting of families separated at the US-Mexico border under Trump’s policies.

Incoming presidents traditionally move swiftly to sign a range of executive actions when they take office. Trump did the same, but he found a lot of his orders challenged and even rejected by courts.

Klain maintained that Biden should not suffer similar issues, saying “the legal theory in it is well-founded and represents a restoration of a proper, constitutional role for the President.”