In the early days of his administration, Biden signed several executive orders that aimed to dismantle decisions made during Trump’s presidency, including ceasing funding for the border wall and abrogating the permit for the KeystoneXL pipeline.
One of the key issues that fell onto Biden and Harris was to manage the Coronavirus crisis. During the transition period, Biden developed mitigation plans for schools with the Rockefeller Foundation though this was never implemented. They did create key infrastructure and investments to manage the virus having executed the largest vaccine programme in US history and creating the first inter-agency National Research Action Plan on Long COVID.
That said, Biden assumed office in January stating “there’s nothing we can do to change the trajectory of the pandemic in the next several months” despite having his transition team distance themselves from a scientific adviser who warned the country should go into lock-down for four-to-six weeks in a New York Times op-ed.
Though inflation has affected millions of Americans, Biden’s efforts have returned them to pre-pandemic levels and the Build Back Better plan in 2022 addressed investments in social and environmental programmes.
Another success, following the devastating overturn of Roe v. Wade, included allowing sales of birth control pills in stores over the counter.
Palestine and the Gaza conflict proved to be a vital issue in the last year of the administration; Biden and Harris failed to criticise Israel directly for the vastly growing death list in Gaza, as well as initiate a permanent ceasefire—something Democrat voters have been critical of.
As the Biden-Harris administration enters its last days, it departs with a legacy that many will feel conflicted about and leave some in apprehension of Trump’s forthcoming second presidential term.