Pictured Above: Environmentally-centered executive orders were among the most comprehensive of the 17 executive orders signed by President Joe Biden in the first week of his presidency.
Courtesy of Joe Biden on Facebook
By Trevor Martindale
President Joe Biden was quick to act following his inauguration, signing 17 executive orders.
Many of Biden’s actions were directed at reversing policies from the Trump administration.
Biden’s environmental executive orders were some of the most comprehensive.
The United States will be rejoining the Paris climate accord, an international treaty that aims to lower global carbon emissions.
Biden also canceled the Keystone XL pipeline, which upon its creation, was meant to deliver 168 billion barrels of oil from Canada to various fossil fuel marketplaces. This executive order also directed the reversal of up to 100 environmental actions by the Trump administration.
Biden has also taken further federal measures against COVID-19, including the creation of a COVID-19 response coordinator, who will work with Biden on vaccine distribution.
Biden is also determined to reverse much of Trump’s immigration policy.
The use of national emergency funding for the border wall was put to an end, which stops the wall’s construction.
Restrictions on passport holders from seven countries with predominant Muslim populations have been lifted.
Some of Biden’s notable executive orders pertaining to the economy include prolonging the freeze on student loan payments and interest for federal student loans and extending the eviction and foreclosure moratorium to March 31.
Bailey Morgan, a senior marine biology major, believes Biden has done well so far, but that a majority of his campaign promises will hinge on support from Congress.
“(Biden) has really ambitious goals, (but) I think it’s going to be up to the rest of our government to follow behind him,” Morgan said.
Junior education major Angela Mitchell is content with Biden’s executive orders, but is skeptical that Biden will support “progressive” legislation since he’s “more moderate.”
“I’m not sure if (Biden) will keep that energy throughout his presidency,” Mitchell said.
