PRESIDENTIAL POWER — Following their first week in office, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris work together to issue several executive orders ranging from COVID-19 relief, immigration policy and climate change action. This is just the beginning of Biden’s agenda for his first 100 days.
FIRST 100 DAYS BEGIN Biden administration plans to address crises quickly
KYLE HAWLEY MANAGING EDITOR
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s Joe Biden officially took his first seat as president in the Oval Office, his ambitious 100-day agenda rolled out. Due to the hardships the nation is facing, Biden is dedicating his first 100 days to recovering from these issues. While the president is aiming to have 100 million Americans vaccinated by his hundredth day, he is urging Congress to quickly confirm his Cabinet secretaries and pass COVID-related legislation. From coronavirus relief to reforming systemic racism, Biden knew his first 100 days in office would be no easy task—it would probably be the roughest start to a presidential administration since the Great Depression. Throughout American history, the tone and efficiency of a presidency is often judged by the administration’s first 100 days in office. “The first 100 days is not an effective way to judge a president. Most of our presidents since [the Great Depression] have not come into office during a huge crisis 10 | NEWS | FEBRUARY
which requires such immediate action,” AP Government teacher Karen McNamara said. “Therefore, expecting other presidents to match [Roosevelt’s] record seems unrealistic.
PRESIDENTS WHO DO COME IN DURING A CRISIS HAVE HAD TO ACT FAST WHILE THEY HAVE SUPPORT IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH ANY KIND OF LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.” - KAREN MCNAMARA AP GOVERNMENT TEACHER
However, presidents who do come in during a crisis have had to act fast while they have support in order to accomplish any kind of legislative agenda.”
Biden inherited a dreadful state of affairs, both domestically and internationally. This was no secret to the incoming administration or to the public. As the newly sworn-in president stood on the Capitol’s stage, he emphasized in his inaugural address that Americans “will press forward with speed and urgency, for we have much to do in this winter of peril and possibility.” The COVID-19 pandemic has been at the forefront of everyone’s minds for nearly a year. “Although it was not ideal, the Biden administration had to run their campaign on the promise that they would end this pandemic,” senior Emma Steel said. “Between climate change and other injustices, no other issue had a more significant impact on voting than COVID-19.” The coronavirus pandemic plagued Biden’s agenda, forcing his administration to prioritize relief and vaccine distribution. The White House ordered an additional 200 million doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, and Congress passed a $1.9 trillion bill that includes $1,400 stimulus checks to most American citizens.
Photo obtained via whitehouse.gov | Page design by Heran Essayas
