Biden Administration Updates February 18, 2021

This report gives a snapshot of the US Executive Branch priorities through every day schedules and the prior day’s press releases.

POTUS’ Schedule*

9:45 a.m. EST – The President and The Vice President obtain the President’s Daily Brief | Oval Office

10:30 a.m. EST – The President and The Vice President obtain a COVID-19 briefing | Oval Office

VPOTUS’ Schedule*

9:45 a.m. EST – the Vice President will obtain the President’s Daily Brief within the Oval Office.

10:30 a.m. EST – The President and The Vice President will obtain a briefing from members of their COVID-19 staff on the COVID-19 response and the state of vaccinations.

11:15 a.m. EST – the Vice President will convene a digital roundtable with Sen. Patty Murray, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, Rep. Barbara Lee and girls leaders from advocacy organizations to debate the significance of passing the American Rescue Plan for girls within the economic system | South Court Auditorium

White House Press Briefing Schedule*

12:30 p.m. EST – Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki | The White House

*The US President (POTUS) and Vice President’s (VPOTUS) every day schedules are topic to alter, as is the White House press briefing schedule.

Recap of Wednesday, February 17, 2021

Note: Bold hyperlinks highlight COVID-19 and reopening developments.

The White House

• Readout of Labor Leaders Meeting to Discuss the American Rescue Plan and Infrastructure
• Remarks by President Biden Before Meeting with Labor Leaders to Discuss the American Rescue Plan and Infrastructure
• Fact Sheet: Biden Administration to Take Steps to Bolster Registered Apprenticeships
• Executive Order on the Revocation of Executive Order 13801 (labor-related)
• Readout of the White House’s Meeting with Community Violence Prevention Experts
• Transcript: Press Briefing by White House COVID-19 Response Team and Public Health Officials
• Fact Sheet: President Biden Announces New Actions to Expand and Improve COVID-19 Testing
• Readout of President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel
• Readout of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s Call with Stephen Lovegrove, Incoming National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
• Readout of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan Call with National Security Advisor Hermogenes Esperon of the Philippines
• Transcript: Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki and Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technology Anne Neuberger, February 17, 2021
• Statement by President Joe Biden on Ash Wednesday
• Disaster Declaration: President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves Alaska Disaster Declaration
• Nominations: President Biden Announces Key Nomination on Jobs Team

Department of Defense (DOD)

• Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III’s Remarks at Day One of the NATO Defense Ministerial
• Article: NATO Defense Ministers Aim for New Chapter in Alliance History
• Article: Austin Pleased With Discussions With NATO Leaders
• Publication: COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Installation Status Update, Feb. 17, 2021
• Article: Two Federally Supported Vaccination Sites Open In California, More to Follow
• Article: DOD Officials Testify on National Guard’s COVID-19 Response
• Contracts for February 17, 2021

Department of State

• Daily Schedule | Thursday, February 18
• February 17: Readout | Secretary Blinken’s Call with Guatemalan Foreign Minister Brolo
• February 17: Remarks | Secretary Antony J. Blinken Remarks to the UN Security Council Briefing on COVID-19 and Vaccine Access
• February 17: Statement | U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry to Mark Official U.S. Reentry into Paris Agreement
• February 17: Statement | Kosovo National Day
• February 17: Transcript | Department Press Briefing – February 17, 2021

US Mission to the United Nations (UN)

• Remarks at a UN Security Council Briefing on COVID-19 and Vaccine Access (through VTC)

Department of the Treasury

• Readout: Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen’s Call with Minister of Finance and Acting Minister of Economy and Planning Mohammed Al-Jadaan of Saudi Arabia
• Press Release: Revocation of Counter Terrorism General Licenses; Counter Terrorism Designations Removal and Updates; Yemen-related Designations Updates

Department of Justice

• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) | Daily Press Releases
• Press Release: Assistant Attorney General John C. Demers Delivers Remarks on the National Security Cyber Investigation into North Korean Operatives
• Press Release: Three North Korean Military Hackers Indicted in Wide-Ranging Scheme to Commit Cyberattacks and Financial Crimes Across the Globe
• Press Release: Japanese CEO and Employees Charged in Scheme to Defraud U.S. Navy and Dump Wastewater in Ocean
• Press Release: Concrete Contractor Agrees to Settle False Claims Act Allegations for $3.9 Million
• Press Release: Former Subcontractor Sentenced for Obstruction of Justice

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)/Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

• Press Release: CISA, FBI, and Treasury Expose Latest Tool in North Korea’s Cryptocurrency Theft Scheme – AppleJeus
• Press Release: Yuma Sector sees elevated apprehensions of unaccompanied juveniles beneath 13 (Arizona)
• Press Release: Laredo CBP Officers Seize Marijuana Worth Over $1 Million (Texas)
• Press Release: Border Patrol Saves Lives During Historic Winter Storm (Texas)
• Press Release: Despite Freezing Temperatures Laredo Sector Border Patrol Agents Continue Rescues (Texas)
• Press Release: CBP Field Operations at Hidalgo International Bridge Arrests Woman with $1.6 Million in Methamphetamine (Texas)
• Press Release: CBP in Fort Lauderdale Seizes Luggage Filled with Cocaine (Florida)
• Press Release: Joint Intelligence Operations Coordination Center Stands Up in South Florida

Department of Commerce

• Blog: Spotlight on Commerce | Shayla E. Moon, Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs Specialist, Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)

US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC)

• Press Release: $1 Million DFC Equity Investment in Kasha Global Inc. Supports Women’s Health in East Africa

Department of Agriculture (USDA)

• Press Release: USDA Ready to Assist Farmers, Ranchers and Communities Affected by Winter Storms
• Fact Sheet: Update on USDA Activities to Contain the COVID-19 Pandemic

Environmental Protection Agency

• Press Release: Arctic Cold Causing Rolling Blackouts in Heartland
• Press Release: EPA problem seeks modern options for decreasing indoor air air pollution from western wildfires

Department of Transportation

• Press Release: US Department of Transportation Announces FY 2021 Round of the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) Grant Program

Department of Labor

• Press Release: US Department of Labor undertakes a number of actions to strengthen Registered Apprenticeship Program, get rid of duplication
• Press Release: OSHA alleges Missouri plumbing contractor uncovered employee to unprotected trench regardless of settlement to implement trench security program
• Press Release: US Department of Labor proposes $264K in fines for Montana producer, staffing company for severe, willful violations following finger amputation
• Press Release: Guam contractor’s violation leaves 43 development staff from the Philippines in the hunt for their additional time pay

Health & Human Services (HHS)

• Press Release: Biden Administration Announces Actions to Expand COVID-19 Testing

Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

• Press Release: FDA Approves First within the World, First-of-Its-Kind Implant for the Treatment of Rare Bone Disease as a Humanitarian Use Device

US Government (USG) COVID-19 Webpages

Non-USG COVID Webpages

Johns Hopkins University & Medicine