What Did Joe Biden Do Today?
January 16, 2025 Recap
President Biden issued a memorandum establishing the U.S. administration’s approach to implementing updated air toxic standards for ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions from commercial sterilization facilities, as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued on April 5, 2024. These standards aim to reduce EtO emissions associated with cancer risks, particularly for vulnerable populations, while safeguarding the supply of sterilized medical products essential to public health. The policy balances the critical need to protect communities from hazardous air pollutants by ensuring the uninterrupted availability of medical devices and pharmaceuticals.
To address potential challenges with compliance, the memorandum outlines a process for granting temporary Presidential exemptions (up to two years) to facilities that demonstrate an inability to meet the compliance deadline due to factors beyond their control, such as technology unavailability or supply chain disruptions. Facilities seeking an exemption must provide evidence of due diligence, specific barriers to compliance, and a detailed plan for achieving compliance as soon as feasible. In consultation with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the EPA Administrator will review exemption requests, recommend action to the President, and ensure public transparency by disclosing approved exemptions and reporting to Congress.
The memorandum also directs federal agencies to advance efforts to reduce reliance on EtO by spurring innovation in alternative sterilization methods and strengthening the resilience of the medical supply chain. Within two years, HHS is tasked with submitting a progress report on steps taken to minimize EtO exposure and develop safer alternatives. Finally, the memorandum emphasizes compliance with existing laws and transparency by publishing this directive in the Federal Register. Through this approach, the administration seeks to achieve significant public health protections while minimizing disruptions to critical medical supplies.
President Biden issued an Executive Order on Strengthening and Promoting Innovation in the Nation’s Cybersecurity, which outlines comprehensive measures to enhance the United States' cybersecurity against persistent threats, particularly those from adversarial nations such as China. It builds on prior initiatives like Executive Order 14028 and the National Cybersecurity Strategy to improve accountability, secure software and cloud systems, and promote innovation. Key actions include enforcing secure software development practices, enhancing federal systems with phishing-resistant authentication and threat detection, and requiring compliance with cybersecurity standards in supply chains and government contracts. The special focus is on protecting open-source software, securing federal communication and cloud systems, and adapting to threats against space and critical infrastructure systems. The order emphasizes preparing for emerging risks like quantum computing and leveraging artificial intelligence to strengthen cyber defenses. The order aims to safeguard critical infrastructure, protect sensitive data, and ensure national security in an evolving digital landscape by fostering public-private collaboration, modernizing policies, and enhancing enforcement mechanisms.
President Biden issued an executive order granting non-competitive eligibility for federal hiring to qualified alumni of AmeriCorps programs. The policy aims to enrich the federal workforce with skilled and experienced individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to public service through extensive training and hands-on experience. Eligible individuals must have completed at least 1,700 service hours in designated AmeriCorps programs. They can be appointed to federal competitive service positions within one year of completing their service, which is extendable under certain circumstances. The certification process, managed by AmeriCorps, ensures that only qualified candidates are eligible. The Office of Personnel Management is authorized to issue regulations to implement this order, emphasizing inclusivity, merit-based hiring, and alignment with federal laws and policies. The order does not create enforceable legal rights and is subject to budgetary and legal constraints.
President Biden declared a major disaster in Alaska due to severe storms and flooding from October 20 to 23, 2024. Federal aid will support state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in affected areas, including the Bering Strait Regional Educational Attendance Area and Northwest Arctic Borough. This assistance includes cost-sharing for emergency work, facility repairs, and hazard mitigation measures across the state.
Lance E. Davis of FEMA has been assigned to coordinate federal recovery efforts. If further assessments reveal more damage, additional disaster designations may be added.
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden’s Joining Forces initiative, in collaboration with the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Education (ED), has announced new measures to ensure that military children with disabilities receive timely access to special education services when relocating. Military families have long faced challenges in transferring their children’s Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) between school districts, often waiting over 120 days for essential services at their new schools. This delay, compounded by frequent moves—averaging six to nine times during a military child’s K-12 education—disrupts critical support for children with disabilities.
To address these challenges, the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), in partnership with the nonprofit InnovateEDU and the Project Unicorn initiative, is working to streamline the transfer of IEP-related data between schools. This collaboration aims to develop secure processes, governance structures, and legal frameworks to reduce service gaps. The DoDEA operates 161 schools globally, serving over 64,000 military-connected children. It has also updated the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) enrollment criteria to provide military families with more consistent support.
Private sector companies, including PowerSchool, Clever, and others, have committed to standardizing special education data fields and piloting seamless and secure IEP data transfers between school systems by the 2024-2025 school year. These efforts will expand to all schools served by these companies by the fall of 2025, ensuring a smoother transition for military children with disabilities.
The Department of Education has also taken steps to support these efforts by funding projects to enhance school-level engagement with military families, releasing tools for states to evaluate their support practices, and providing guidance to improve the transfer of vocational rehabilitation services for military families moving between states.
This initiative reflects Dr. Jill Biden’s commitment to supporting military and veteran families, caregivers, and survivors through her Joining Forces initiative. Guided by listening sessions with military-connected families, the initiative prioritizes economic opportunity, military child education, and health and well-being. Dr. Biden has visited over 30 military installations and collaborated with partners to increase awareness and resources for this community. These new actions mark a significant step toward ensuring military children with disabilities receive the specialized services they need without delay, regardless of their location.
Vice President Harris spoke with King Abdullah II of Jordan and President Isaac Herzog of Israel to discuss the ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas. In her conversation with King Abdullah, the Vice President emphasized the importance of the agreement, highlighting its potential to return hostages to their families, provide urgent humanitarian aid to Gaza, and form the foundation for ending the conflict. She commended Jordan’s efforts in facilitating aid to Palestinian civilians and praised King Abdullah’s leadership in advancing regional peace and stability. Harris reiterated the U.S. commitment to ensuring Israel’s security, ending the suffering in Gaza, and supporting the Palestinian people’s aspirations for dignity, security, freedom, and self-determination. She expressed optimism about using the ceasefire as a stepping stone toward a peaceful future for both Israelis and Palestinians.
In her call with President Herzog, Vice President Harris reaffirmed the United States’ unwavering support for Israel’s security and expressed gratitude for the strong partnership between their nations. They discussed the ceasefire and hostage deal brokered with the support of President Biden, underlining the need for its full and timely implementation. Harris welcomed the agreement’s role in bringing relief to Gaza and creating the basis for a lasting resolution to the conflict. She reiterated her belief that the deal could help foster peace, dignity, and security for Israelis and Palestinians, reaffirming her intent to work toward a more stable and peaceful future for the region.
President Biden addressed a letter to the Chairmen and Chair of certain Congressional Committees in compliance with Section 508 of the Global Fragility Act of 2019 (GFA). The letter transmits the Progress Report on the implementation of the U.S. Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability in the designated GFA priority areas, which include Haiti, Libya, Mozambique, Papua New Guinea, and the sub-region of Coastal West Africa (comprising Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, and Togo). Enclosed with the letter is an unclassified Progress Report, along with associated Annexes intended for official use only and not for public distribution unless explicitly marked otherwise. This communication reflects the U.S. commitment under the GFA to address conflict prevention and promote stability in these regions.
President Biden delivered heartfelt remarks during his farewell ceremony at the Department of Defense, reflecting on his tenure as Commander-in-Chief and his decades of public service. He expressed deep gratitude to the U.S. military, calling them "the greatest fighting force in the history of the world," and honored the sacrifices and resilience of military families. Highlighting key accomplishments during his administration, Biden emphasized strengthening global alliances like NATO and forging new partnerships in the Indo-Pacific. He underscored his support for Ukraine in its defense against Russia, bolstered Israel’s security, and oversaw the historic end of America’s longest war in Afghanistan, including the largest military airlift in history. His leadership also focused on modernizing U.S. military capabilities through record defense budgets and investments in advanced technologies.
Biden reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to service members by advocating for historic pay raises, improving military housing, and expanding benefits. He highlighted the passage of the PACT Act to address health issues from toxic exposures, benefitting millions of veterans and their families. Efforts to combat military suicide, reduce sexual assault, and promote gender equality within the armed forces were also emphasized. Reflecting on his leadership values, Biden called on service members to uphold their oaths to defend freedom, equality, and America’s core ideals, emphasizing the unique nature of the U.S. as a nation founded on an idea rather than geography or ethnicity.
The President shared personal stories, including the sacrifices of his late son, Major Beau Biden, and his emotional interactions with troops and their families. He expressed immense pride and humility in serving as Commander-in-Chief, reiterating his appreciation for the military’s courage and dedication. Biden concluded his remarks with a heartfelt message of thanks, invoking blessings for service members and their families while emphasizing the enduring importance of America’s foundational principles.