President Biden has instructed his administration to utilize the funding allocated in the four significant spending packages he successfully ushered through Congress: the American Rescue Plan, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act. The president is set to emphasize a key provision of the Inflation Reduction Act next month as a new $2,000 cap on specific Medicare beneficiaries will come into effect. Federal agencies are in the process of finalizing various new regulations, such as limiting overdraft fees imposed by banks and preventing businesses from concealing excessive “junk fees” from consumers, before Biden’s term concludes.
In a memo to White House staff on Monday, Chief of Staff Jeff Zients described the remaining six weeks as a “sprint to the finish line” to accomplish as much as possible for the American people. Concurrently, efforts are being made to confirm federal judges while Democrats still maintain control of the Senate, as Biden’s global influence has begun to wane, with former President Trump increasingly perceived as the de facto leader by world governments.
Despite Trump’s active engagement with international leaders, including a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, Biden did not attend the recent reopening of Notre Dame cathedral in the French capital. This has raised questions about Biden’s diminished presence on the global stage. Additionally, Trump has already outlined his trade policy objectives for his potential next term and has held discussions with leaders like Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán at Mar-a-Lago.
Responding to criticisms over Biden’s absence in France, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre cited a scheduling conflict and downplayed Trump’s interactions with world leaders, attributing them to customary conversations with a president-elect. Despite Biden’s status as a lame-duck president, Zients dismissed any suggestion of inertia in his memo, highlighting the administration’s commitment to accelerating initiatives and delivering on promises to the American people.
The White House reported that nearly all funding from Biden’s key economic legislation has been allocated, including substantial investments in infrastructure, microchip companies, and clean-energy projects. Notably, the administration has awarded significant sums to support green initiatives like electric vehicles, solar panels, and batteries. The vast majority of funds have been distributed, with the exception of the American Rescue Plan, which was swiftly enacted in response to the COVID-19 crisis in early 2021.
Efforts are underway to expedite the allocation of funds and advance essential projects to stimulate economic growth and address pressing societal needs.
The White House attributes $180 billion in private investments in the semiconductor industry to the use of microchips. Since the November election, the Biden administration reports that private sector investments in clean-energy, semiconductors, and other advanced manufacturing have exceeded $1 trillion due to laws supported by Biden. A White House official informed USA TODAY that grants awarded to private companies under the CHIPS Act or other laws cannot be rescinded by a future administration, unless the recipient breaches the contract. Biden has highlighted that Republican-leaning communities benefit from green-energy projects and jobs. He called attention to Republican members of Congress who initially opposed his infrastructure, microchips, and climate legislation but later celebrated projects in their states. President Joe Biden discussed his economic approach at the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC, on December 10, 2024, emphasizing a “middle-out, bottom-up” strategy. Senator Richard Blumenthal hopes Biden utilizes provided funding for environmental, infrastructure, and other causes before Trump interferes. However, Senator Christopher Murphy noted that Democrats may face limitations if Republicans choose to eliminate the legislative agenda. Republicans have criticized Biden’s recent spending initiatives. Senator Bill Hagerty accused the administration of attempting to limit the incoming Trump Administration’s actions, citing concerns about funding allocation. The rush to fill judge vacancies is part of Biden’s effort to safeguard his legacy against Trump’s influence. The White House is encouraging the Senate to confirm as many nominees as possible before Biden’s term ends. Democrats have confirmed 16 federal judges since mid-November, bringing the total of Biden-appointed judges to 229. Fifteen nominees are still pending confirmation. White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients discussed the staff transition during an event in Washington, DC, on February 1, 2023. The administration has expressed intentions to veto bipartisan legislation.
The House cleared a bill on Thursday to create 66 new federal judicial seats over the next three presidential administrations, aiming to address a significant backlog of cases in certain states. If the bill becomes law, President Trump would have the opportunity to fill these additional vacancies in his next term. Senator Chris Coons, a close ally of President Biden, co-sponsored the bill, which had already passed the Senate earlier in the summer, well before the 2024 presidential election. Despite Biden’s looming veto due to timing concerns, Coons expressed regret over the delay, citing Biden’s willingness to sign the bill if the date could be adjusted.
Meanwhile, the Biden administration is not only focused on upholding its key legislations and confirming federal judges but is also working on last-minute federal rules and regulations to advance various components of Biden’s agenda, such as addressing climate change, reducing consumer fees, and lowering drug prices. However, there are still 132 proposed regulations awaiting implementation, including a contentious ban on menthol cigarettes. Additionally, initiatives by agencies like the Federal Trade Commission and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, including capping overdraft fees and preventing credit-rating companies from reporting unpaid medical bills, have faced opposition from Republicans.
In a related development, Senator Tim Scott criticized CFPB director Rohit Chopra for continuing rulemaking activities despite the election outcome, accusing him of advancing partisan messaging and blaming the Biden administration for economic challenges. Chopra defended the CFPB’s actions, emphasizing the importance of protecting consumers from scams and wrongdoing.
On the foreign policy front, Biden has emphasized the need to support Ukraine in its conflict with Russia and maintain strong alliances with key international partners.
Biden’s Strategic Moves on Ukraine Aid, Cease-fire Efforts, and Global Leadership
President Biden’s administration is making strategic moves on multiple fronts, from allocating remaining security aid to Ukraine to pushing for a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas. Amidst these actions, Biden is also emphasizing the importance of U.S. leadership on the global stage.
In September, Biden directed the Defense Department to disburse the remaining security aid, totaling nearly $61 billion, authorized by Congress for Ukraine earlier in the year. This move comes as part of ongoing support for Ukraine’s defense efforts against Russian aggression. Notably, a recent transfer of $20 billion to Ukraine, backed by frozen Russian assets, showcases the Biden administration’s commitment to aiding the country through innovative financing mechanisms.
Meanwhile, efforts to broker a long-awaited cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas are underway. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan traveled to Israel this week in a final push to secure a deal before the end of Biden’s term. The aim is to halt the violence in Gaza and facilitate the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, a crucial step towards peace in the region.
President Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are set to launch the Ukraine Compact at the upcoming 2024 NATO Summit in Washington, D.C., highlighting the strong partnership between the two nations. This initiative underscores the significance of cooperation and support within the NATO alliance.
As Biden looks ahead to the transition of power, he is challenging his successor to uphold U.S. leadership in the international arena. In a recent speech, Biden posed a critical question: “If we’re not leading the world, who does?” This rhetorical query serves as a call to action for continued American engagement and diplomacy on the global stage.
Amidst growing concerns over the strengthening ties among Russia, Iran, North Korea, and China, the Biden administration issued a classified national security memo outlining a roadmap for the incoming administration to address these complex geopolitical dynamics. The memo emphasizes the need for strategic realignment within national security agencies to counteract cooperative efforts among these nations.
While the Biden team can lay the groundwork for future policies, the ultimate decision rests with the incoming administration. The challenge of navigating these intricate international relationships will require careful consideration and decisive action from President-elect Trump and his team.
In this critical moment of transition, Biden is working to safeguard his foreign policy legacy against potential disruptions. By proactively addressing key challenges and outlining strategic priorities, the administration is taking steps to ensure continuity in U.S. global leadership.
As the world watches these developments unfold, the stakes remain high for both current and future administrations. The choices made in the coming weeks and months will shape the trajectory of American foreign policy and influence global dynamics for years to come.
