WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden is finalizing 17 executive moves just hours after his inauguration Wednesday (Thursday in the Philippines), moving faster and more aggressively to dismantle his predecessor’s legacy than any other modern president.
Biden is signing a flurry of executive orders, memorandums and directives to agencies, his first steps to address the coronavirus pandemic and undo some of former President Donald Trump’s signature policies.
“There’s no time to start like today,” Biden told reporters. “I’m going to start by keeping the promises I made to the American people.”
With the stroke of a pen, Biden reversed several of Trump’s attempts to withdraw from international agreements, beginning the process of rejoining the Paris climate accord and halting the US’ departure from the World Health Organization – where Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease expert, will lead the US delegation.
His first action was to impose a mask mandate on federal property, a break in approach to dealing with the pandemic from Trump, who repeatedly downplayed the virus. Biden also installed a coronavirus response coordinator to oversee the White House’s efforts to distribute vaccines and medical supplies. (CNN)
