What Did Joe Biden Do Today?
December 30, 2024 Recap
President Biden announced a significant new security assistance package totaling nearly $2.5 billion for Ukraine as it continues its defense against Russian aggression. The package includes a $1.25 billion drawdown for immediate military needs and a $1.22 billion allocation through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) to provide longer-term support. These funds will supply Ukraine with critical capabilities such as air defense systems, artillery, and other essential weapons, which have proven effective on the battlefield. This announcement underscores the United States’ commitment to supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and freedom since the escalation of the conflict in February 2022.
The president highlighted his administration’s use of all remaining USAI funds appropriated by Congress in April’s supplemental legislation. He has directed efforts to expedite the delivery of assistance, including utilizing older U.S. military equipment and ensuring its rapid deployment to the battlefield. Concurrently, the administration is revitalizing the U.S. defense industrial base to replenish stockpiles with modernized weapons systems. This comprehensive approach aims to maintain steady support for Ukraine while addressing long-term defense readiness in the United States.
The Department of Defense is delivering hundreds of thousands of artillery rounds, rockets, and armored vehicles to bolster Ukraine’s military capabilities ahead of the winter season. Biden reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to strengthening Ukraine’s position in the ongoing war and pledged to provide robust assistance throughout his tenure as president. This announcement reinforces the U.S.’s leadership in rallying international support for Ukraine’s fight for independence.
President Biden issued an executive order declaring January 9, 2025, a day of closure for all federal executive departments and agencies as a mark of respect for James Earl Carter Jr., the 39th President of the United States. Exceptions to this closure are allowed for offices or employees deemed necessary for national security, defense, or other critical public needs, as determined by department heads. The day will be treated as a federal holiday under applicable employee pay and leave statutes. The Office of Personnel Management is responsible for implementing the order. The directive also specifies that it must comply with existing laws, subject to available appropriations, and does not establish any enforceable rights or benefits against the U.S. government. This executive order was signed at the White House on December 30, 2024.
President Biden has proclaimed January 2025 as National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, emphasizing the urgent need to address the exploitation of over 27 million people worldwide through forced labor and sex trafficking. Human trafficking is described as a grave violation of human rights that targets society’s most vulnerable, including racial and ethnic minorities, women, LGBTQI+ individuals, and other marginalized groups. The proclamation calls for a unified effort to combat this scourge in the United States and globally.
Domestically, the Biden Administration has taken significant steps to address human trafficking. The updated National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking signed in 2021, focuses on prosecuting traffickers, protecting survivors, and preventing trafficking through stronger protections for vulnerable workers and enhanced law enforcement efforts. Legislative initiatives such as the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act in 2022 expanded protections for Native communities, while the American Rescue Plan provided housing support for survivors. Efforts have also included improving survivor recovery programs and updating tools like the Department of State’s “Know Your Rights” pamphlet to strengthen awareness and prevention.
The Administration has prioritized eradicating forced labor and trafficking globally. The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (2021) prohibits imports produced with forced labor, and the Department of State’s 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report evaluated progress in 188 countries. Additional measures, such as using technology to combat trafficking and sanctioning over 240 individuals and entities under the Global Magnitsky Sanctions Program, aim to disrupt trafficking networks and hold perpetrators accountable.
President Biden encourages all Americans to learn the signs of human trafficking and share resources like the National Human Trafficking Hotline (888-373-7888). He calls on businesses, organizations, and communities to participate in efforts to prevent trafficking and protect human dignity. The proclamation concludes with a vision of a world where everyone is treated with respect and dignity, free from exploitation, fear, and oppression.