Biden Administration | Graphic by Dylan Collison | The Wright State Guardian
President Joe Biden has signed over 36 executive orders on top of several memorandums and proclamations, with the focus of these actions centered on strengthening the U.S. coronavirus response and reversing a number of Trump-era administration policies.
Coronavirus response plan
During his first day in office, Biden passed an executive order to coordinate a government-wide coronavirus response plan. This order includes the creation of the coronavirus response coordinator position. This person serves as an advisor to the president and oversees vaccine and medical supply distribution.
Biden signed another order to establish a coronavirus Health Equity Task Force within the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The task force will address the inequities certain low-income and minority groups face with access to funding and resources to combat their disproportionately high rates of infection. This is part of a larger movement towards addressing inequities in other areas of coronavirus response, including the lack of research and data on the virus’s effects on racial, sexual and gender minorities among other groups.
Other actions in response to the pandemic include a mandatory mask mandate on all federal property and an extension of the current freeze on student loan payments.
Lainey Stephenson, a junior at Wright State University (WSU) and Vice President of Student Athletic Advisory Committee, feels these actions mark a step in the right direction.
“I think the only way we’re going to get back to a new normal is by everyone doing their part,” said Stephenson. “We’re on the right track to getting back to normal.”
Reversing Trump’s administrative actions
Many of Biden’s actions overturn Trump-era regulations. Biden has reversed the transgender military and Muslim travel bans as well as halted funding and construction of the U.S-Mexico border wall.
Per another executive order, the U.S. has reentered the Paris Climate Accord Agreement, an international accord aimed at addressing the negative global impact of climate change. In 2017 Donald Trump removed the U.S. from this agreement, stating it would economically benefit the country.
Justin Sargent, a senior earth and environmental sciences student at WSU, believes Biden’s administration should do more to curb the effects of climate change.
“It’s a step in the right direction, but it’s not near enough,” said Sargent. “We need to do a lot more than signing agreements and signaling we’re going to do better; we have to do better.”
Movement towards racial equity
Along with his reversal of the transgender military ban and Muslim travel ban, Biden is taking further measures to progress social justice. In another executive order, Biden outlines a plan for providing equity and support for racial minorities and those in underserved communities.
Government agencies and departments are being asked to reevaluate their operational standards to eliminate possible barriers for equal opportunity. Federal resources will also be reallocated to assist members of underserved communities.
As a response to anti-Asian discrimination and xenophobia spurred by the coronavirus pandemic, Biden also issued the DHHS to provide guidance on cultural competency and sensitivity. The attorney general has also been directed to prevent hate crimes and discrimination towards Asian-Americans.
Rebekah Wyse, President of Abilities at WSU and Taiwanese American, feels hope knowing action is being taken to cultivate a more unified nation.
“If [Biden] can bring more peace and create less hate, I think we can get a lot more done,” says Weiss. “I’m hoping that Biden can bring that togetherness to our country.”
