President Biden’s First 100 Days

By Talia Perlstein ‘24

When Biden became president, he proclaimed that he had big plans for his first 100 days in office. Biden wanted to undo many of the actions Trump had enacted as president, as well as implement new reforms. As Biden’s time as president has just begun, he’s already taken significant steps towards doing just that. 

During his campaign, Biden emphasized the threat of the climate crisis and vowed to take action. On his first day, Biden fulfilled his promise and signed an executive order to rejoin the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, which Trump left in 2017. 
Another critical action Biden took regarding the bettering of the environment is repealing the Keystone XL pipeline’s permits. The Keystone XL pipeline would have allowed oil to be transported through a 1,200-mile pipeline from Canada to the U.S. This pipeline had many potentially harmful aspects, including damaging the indigenous people’s lands and risking oil spills and water pollution. The Trump administration was in favor of the pipeline project and granted permits for it to continue. However, the Biden administration did not support this project, just as the Obama administration didn’t years before. 
In addition to looking towards the environment, Biden also advanced the causes of immigrants, in several ways.  Biden took a big step on his first day by ending the travel ban that prohibited admission to the U.S. for refugees and citizens of several predominantly Muslim nations, such as Nigeria, Myanmar and Sudan.
“I think it’s great that he is allowing more immigrants from Muslim countries into America and allowing them to escape their oppressive lives regardless of ethnicity or religion,” freshman Mimi Lebeau said.
In addition to repealing the travel ban, Biden signed an executive order which included undocumented immigrants in the U.S. Census. Trump attempted to remove undocumented immigrants from the 2020 census, but Biden revoked this decree. Biden continues to execute 
plans that will benefit immigrants and refugees. 
With racism, homophobia and bigotry on the rise, hate crimes are becoming more frequent. These problems were greatly ignored in recent times, but the Biden administration hopes to address these issues and hopefully work towards a more equal society. 
In his first week, Biden signed an executive order promoting racial equity, banning discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation, reversing the transgender military ban and denouncing anti-Asian discrimination and xenophobia.  More recently, he again denounced anti-Asian discrimination in a March address to the nation marking his 50th day in office. 
During his campaign, Biden focused on addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, both from a financial and healthcare perspective. Financially, Biden emphasized the importance of helping the people most affected by this pandemic. In his first few days alone, he signed numerous orders, aiding people who have struggled the most. On his third day, Biden issued an order that establishes benefit delivery teams, ensuring people receive federal aid.
As cases rose and the death count increased this winter, critical action to slow the spread of COVID-19 was necessary.  On his first day, Biden signed an executive order making it mandatory for people to wear masks while on federal property. While Biden cannot force mask-wearing more broadly, the hope is that more people will begin to wear masks due to orders like these, and hopefully, help reduce the spread. 
“A mask mandate is a great idea because it will hopefully lessen the duration of the pandemic and save lives,” junior Hadas Goldberg said.
Another important executive order Biden signed is the Sustainable Public Health Supply Chain Order. This order ensures the government has an adequate amount of protective equipment and other resources. It also provides a plan to produce more supplies in the case of a future pandemic.
In addition to focusing on slowing the spread, the Biden administration has also focused on expanding access to COVID-19 treatments and care. Biden’s orders provide much-needed assistance to critical care and long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes. With these facilities being severely impacted throughout COVID-19, the administration understands the importance of helping them in any way possible. 
As the United States is beginning to reach Biden’s 100-day mark, it’s evident that Biden is working hard to help the country recover from its current state.