The president has issued policy decisions in a number of areas in the final days of his term, including environmental justice, prison reform and immigration.
In the final days of his term, President Biden has issued a series of policy decisions intended to cement his agenda and, in some cases, make it harder for President-elect Donald J. Trump to put in place his own.
The 11th-hour decisions, many of them executive actions, include measures on environmental justice, prison reform, immigration and foreign relations. Some are intended to preserve Mr. Biden’s legacy, while others are last-ditch efforts to expand his approach. Many are likely to be undone after Mr. Trump takes office next week.
The actions have gotten the attention of Mr. Trump, who said on social media earlier this month that Mr. Biden was “doing everything possible” to make the transition process “as difficult as possible.”
“Fear not, these ‘orders’ will be terminated shortly,” Mr. Trump added.
White House officials said Mr. Biden had directed his administration to ensure a smooth transition of power.
Here is a look at some of the last major actions taken by Mr. Biden as he approaches the end of his presidency.
Coastal Drilling
Mr. Biden last week announced a ban on new oil and gas drilling across more than 625 million acres of U.S. coastal waters as part of an effort to protect the environment and ensure public health. Mr. Trump has called the move “ridiculous” and promised to revoke the ban.