January 22, 2021
Biden Repeals EO on Diversity Trainings
President Biden has repealed a Trump-administration Executive Order 13950 requiring all new and amended federal government contracts to include language prohibiting the contractor from implementing any workplace training that endorsed what the Order deemed “divisive concepts,” including that an individual, by virtue of his or her race or sex, is prone to behaviors that are…
Austin Confirmed as Secretary of Defense
Earlier today, the Senate confirmed Lloyd Austin as the Secretary of Defense by a vote of 93 -2. The retired four-star general becomes the first African American to assume that position. Before he could be confirmed, both chambers of Congress had to grant him a waiver to serve in that position. The waiver was needed…
Education Names Initial Political Appointees
The Education Department has released its initial list of political appointees. The list is available here.
More Executive Actions Taken on First Full Day
President Biden took more executive actions on Thursday, his first full day in office, with these aimed squarely at addressing different aspects of the impact of COVID-19. Among the executive orders issued was one specifically geared towards reopening educational institutions, including colleges and universities. In total, he issued seven executive orders and a memo, all…
January 21, 2021
Agencies Begin to Fill Leadership Positions
A number of agencies have started naming individuals for key positions within their ranks. The Department of Energy released a slate of individuals for senior positions earlier today, which is available here. The Department of Interior also publicly released yesterday a number of names tapped for leadership posts in the agency. We will continue to post other…
Texts of Biden Executive Actions Now Available
As noted earlier yesterday, President Biden was expected to take a number of executive actions on a host of issues on his first day, including COVID-19, DACA, and student loan repayments, among others. He did take those executive actions after being sworn in and the texts of those executive actions are now available. The text…
January 20, 2021
Democrats Assume Control in Senate
With Vice President Kamala Harris performing one of her new duties in her new role by swearing in three new Senators, Democrats now control the Senate. A few minutes ago, she swore in Alex Padilla of California, who was appointed to fill her seat, and Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff of Georgia. The Senate make-up…
Biden to Release Immigration Bill
The Biden Administration is scheduled to release later today an expansive bill aimed at reforming the nation’s immigration bill. Read more about some of the bill’s major provisions here A fact sheet about the bill is available here.
Biden To Take Executive Actions Today
Shortly after being sworn today, President Biden is expected to take a set of executive actions that seeks to jump start the process of addressing his priority areas. Among the steps Biden is expected to take are asking the Department of Education to consider extending the moratorium on student loan repayments through September 30, issuing…
January 19, 2021
JCORE Publishes Report on Research Security, White House Issues Accompanying Memo
The National Science and Technology Council Joint Committee on the Research Environment, Subcommittee on Research Security released its final report Recommended Practices for Strengthening the Security and Integrity of America’s Science and Technology Research Enterprise. The report is developed by the Subcommittee, in coordination with the National Security Council, and aims to protect US research integrity and…