Biden’s Final Month in Office Focuses on Key Policy Goals including Gaza ceasefire, Ukraine aid
With one month remaining in his term, U.S. President Joe Biden is prioritizing several foreign and domestic policy initiatives before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
According to White House aides and an internal memo obtained by Reuters, Biden’s agenda is focused on efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, facilitate the release of American hostages abroad, provide additional aid to Ukraine, issue pardons for non-violent offenders, advance student debt forgiveness, allocate funding for semiconductor production, and possibly block the sale of U.S. Steel.
The Biden administration is expected to announce its final Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) package worth $1.2 billion, and the aid will reportedly feature air defense receptors and artillery munition, says reports.
The White House has identified securing a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, which Palestinian authorities report has resulted in over 45,000 deaths in Gaza, and strengthening Ukraine’s defense in its nearly three-year war with Russia as top priorities.
Biden Moves to Block U.S. Steel Sale as Policy Deadlines Loom
President Joe Biden is preparing to block the sale of U.S. Steel to an oversees buyer, a move he has pledged for nearly a year as part of his push to strengthen domestic manufacturing, says Reuters on Friday 20.
The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), which evaluates deals for national security risks, faces a December 23 deadline to either approve the deal, extend the review process, or recommend that Biden stop it.
Both Biden and President-elect Donald Trump share common ground on this issue. Earlier this month, Trump also expressed support for blocking the deal.
However, many of Biden’s other priorities are expected to face opposition from Trump. These include policies aimed at addressing climate change.
The Treasury Department is expected to release its final guidance on tax credits for hydrogen projects under the Inflation Reduction Act as early as today, a measure that has sparked significant debate. Meanwhile, Biden administration officials are in talks with their European counterparts to secure agreements on reducing methane emissions before Trump assumes office.