Joe Biden got straight to work as America’s 46th president and within hours of being sworn in, he signed a series of executive orders to reverse a number of decisions made by Donald Trump’s administration.
The new orders include action on the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and racial inequality.
Mr Biden said there was “no time to start like today” as he got to work on inauguration day.
First, the new president demanded that masks be worn and social distancing be observed on all federal property after months of Mr Trump dismissing the risks of coronavirus.
He also announced that the US is re-joining the Paris Climate Agreement, which came into force in 2016, and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Mr Trump made a number of controversial decisions during his time in office
Mr Trump withdrew the US from the WHO, the UN agency responsible for global public health, despite the pandemic continuing to surge across the world.
His decision to take the US out of the Paris climate deal was met with fierce opposition and came as worsening extreme weather events continues to impact on millions of people.
The US is the world’s second-largest greenhouse gas emitter behind China. During his four years in office, Mr Trump dismissed climate science and rolled back environmental regulation to promote fossil fuel development.
But Mr Biden promised he would reverse these decisions when he was on the campaign trail in a move which has already been welcomed by other world leaders.
Joe Biden signs an inauguration declaration after being sworn in as president
His decisions to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, which has claimed the lives of more than 400,000 Americans, also come in stark contrast to those of Mr Trump who falsely said on multiple occasions it will “disappear”.
Mr Biden is pushing Congress to approve a $1.9tn coronavirus plan to help speed up the distribution of vaccines and to provide economic relief for Americans hurt by the pandemic.
He also began his work to “root out systemic racism” by devoting funds to “underserved communities”.
Mr Biden plans to rescind the 1776 Commission, which was recently issued by Mr Trump as part of his plan for a “patriotic curriculum”.
Here is a breakdown of the executive orders:
Coronavirus relief
Start a 100-day “masking challenge” calling for face coverings to be worn in federal buildings and on federal lands
Rejoin the World Health Organization (WHO)
Introduce a COVID-19 response coordinator that would report directly to the president and restore the National Security Council Directorate for Global Health Security and Biodefense
Mr Biden and his wife Jill attend a memorial with the incoming vice president Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff at the Washington Monument to remember the victims of COVID-19
Economic relief and helping working families
Ask the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to immediately extend the federal eviction moratorium until at least 31 March 2021
Ask the Department of Education to immediately extend the pause on interest and principal payments for direct federal loans until at least 30 September 2021
Climate change
Rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement
Direct all agencies and departments to review and take action to address federal regulations and other executive orders that were harmful to public health, the environment, science and other national interests
Direct agencies to consider revising vehicle fuel economy and emissions standards
Direct Department of Interior to protect national treasures and place temporary moratorium on all oil and natural gas leasing activities in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, which the Trump administration had recently opened to development
Re-establish the Interagency Working Group
Revoke, revise or replace additional executive orders, presidential proclamations, memorandum and permits signed over the past four years that do not serve the national interest – including revoking the presidential permit granted to the Keystone XL oil pipeline project from Canada
Mr Trump’s administration made parts of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, which is a home to polar bears, available for oil drilling – a policy now being targeted by Mr Biden
Racial equity
Dedicate funds to “underserved communities”
Begin work to embed equity across federal policymaking and root out systemic racism and other barriers
Rescind the Trump administration’s 1776 Commission
Reverse Mr Trump’s order excluding undocumented immigrants from the reapportionment count
Preserve and fortify protections for DREAMers (which allows protections for people illegally brought to the US as children)
Reverse the Muslim Ban
Repeal Trump Interior Enforcement EO
Stop border wall construction
Extend deferred enforced departure for liberians presidential memorandum
Prevent and combat discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation
A Black Lives Matter painting near the White House in Washington. Mr Biden’s administration will tackle racial inequality
Reinvigorating government trust
Restore public trust by making sure all presidential appointees sign an ethics pledge
Presidential memorandum: Withdraw the Trump administration’s regulatory process executive order to remove needless obstacles to regulating in the public’s interest
Issue a regulatory freeze to pause any new regulations from moving forward and give the Biden administration an opportunity to review any Trump administration regulations
