As people and markets around the world adjust to having Joe Biden as U.S. president, a key factor is what the veteran Democratic politician aims to accomplish without having to work with Congress.
Biden is making use of executive orders that affect health care the energy sector prison stocks and other areas.
Below is a table showing orders that he signed on Jan. 20, his first day in office, as well as other executive actions that have followed or are expected.
Subject | Type of action | Date |
Re-engage with World Health Organization | End withdrawal process | Jan. 20 |
Create position of COVID-19 response coordinator | Executive order | Jan. 20 |
Rejoin Paris climate agreement | Sign an "instrument" | Jan. 20 |
Revoke permit for Keystone XL pipeline, pause energy leasing in ANWR | Executive order | Jan. 20 |
Ask agencies to extend eviction/foreclosure moratoriums | Request | Jan. 20 |
Ask Education Dept. to extend student-loan pause | Request | Jan. 20 |
Launch an initiative to advance racial equity, end "1776 Commission" | Executive order | Jan. 20 |
Revoke order that aims to exclude undocumented immigrants from census | Executive order | Jan. 20 |
Preserve/fortify DACA, which helps "Dreamers" | Memorandum | Jan. 20 |
Require masks/distancing on all federal property and by federal workers | Executive order | Jan. 20 |
Reverse travel ban targeting primarily Muslim countries | Executive order | Jan. 20 |
Stop construction of border wall | Proclamation | Jan. 20 |
Combat discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity | Executive order | Jan. 20 |
Require ethics pledge for executive-branch personnel | Executive order | Jan. 20 |
Modernize and improve regulatory review | Memorandum | Jan. 20 |
End "harsh and extreme immigration enforcement" | Executive order | Jan. 20 |
Extend protection from deportation for Liberians in U.S. | Memorandum | Jan. 20 |
Revoke certain executive orders concerning federal regulation | Executive order | Jan. 20 |
Freeze any new or pending regulations | Memorandum | Jan. 20 |
Fill supply shortfalls in fight vs. COVID-19 with Defense Production Act, other measures | Executive order | Jan. 21 |
Increase FEMA reimbursement to states for National Guard, PPE | Memorandum | Jan. 21 |
Establish "COVID-19 Pandemic Testing Board," expand testing | Executive order | Jan. 21 |
Bolster access to COVID-19 treatments and clinical care | Executive order | Jan. 21 |
Improve collection/analysis of COVID-related data | Executive order | Jan. 21 |
Mount vaccination campaign amid goals such as 100 million shots in 100 days | Directives | Jan. 21 |
Provide guidance on safely reopening schools | Executive order | Jan. 21 |
OSHA guidance for keeping workers safe from COVID-19 | Executive order | Jan. 21 |
Require face masks at airports, other modes of transportation | Executive order | Jan. 21 |
Establish a "COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force" | Executive order | Jan. 21 |
Support international response to COVID-19, "restore U.S. global leadership" | Directive | Jan. 21 |
Ask agencies to boost food aid, improve delivery of stimulus checks | Executive order | Jan. 22 |
Restore collective bargaining power for federal workers | Executive order | Jan. 22 |
Repeal ban on transgender people serving openly in U.S. military | Executive order | Jan. 25 |
Tighten 'Buy American' rules in government procurement | Executive order | Jan. 25 |
Reinstate coronavirus travel restrictions on Brazil, most of Europe | Proclamation | Jan. 25 |
End the Justice Department's use of private prisons | Executive order | Jan. 26 |
Directs HUD to address discriminatory housing practices | Memorandum | Jan. 26 |
Combat racism against Asian-Americans, Pacific Islanders | Memorandum | Jan. 26 |
Directs agencies to engage in consultations with tribal governments | Memorandum | Jan. 26 |
Pause new oil and gas leasing on U.S. lands/waters, elevate climate change as national-security, foreign-policy priority | Executive order | Expected Jan. 27 |
Re-establish President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology | Executive order | Expected Jan. 27 |
Directs agencies to make decisions on best available science, evidence | Memorandum | Expected Jan. 27 |
Reopen Obamacare marketplaces, lower recent barriers to joining Medicaid | TBD | Expected Jan. 28 |
Lift certain restrictions on abortion funding | TBD | Expected Jan. 28 |
End "Remain in Mexico" program aimed at Central American asylum seekers | TBD | Expected Jan. 29 |
Start roll back of "public charge rule," which imposes a wealth test on would-be immigrants | TBD | Expected Jan. 29 |
Create task force to reunite migrant families separated at the border | TBD | Expected Jan. 29 |