Jeff Zients mentioned his workforce was making a closing push to realize the Biden administration’s key coverage objectives.
White Home Chief of Employees Jeff Zients has outlined a high-priority agenda for the Biden administration’s remaining 42 days in workplace, rallying his workforce for a closing push to realize key coverage objectives, together with canceling extra pupil debt and getting as many judicial nominees confirmed as doable.
In a memo to White Home employees on Dec. 9, Zients urged employees to capitalize on the restricted time remaining for the administration of President Joe Biden, whose time period ends on Jan. 20, 2025, when President-elect Donald Trump will likely be sworn in.
“Now we have 42 days left to dash to the end line and get as a lot performed as doable for the American individuals,” Zients wrote within the memo considered by The Epoch Instances.
Zients mentioned that within the closing 42 days left within the Biden administration, there are plans to proceed accelerating funding distributions for tasks like high-speed web growth and clear power initiatives. He famous that round 98 p.c of the funding legally accessible by means of laws enacted below Biden—together with the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Regulation and the $800 billion or so Inflation Discount Act (IRA)—have already been allotted.
“The President has directed us to maintain up this tempo and obligate as a lot funding as doable earlier than the tip of the time period, so count on extra motion on high-speed web funds to states, CHIPS incentives funding, IRA funding, and extra,” Zients wrote.
With restricted time remaining, Biden can be prioritizing judicial confirmations, in line with Zients, who highlighted the administration’s appointments of numerous candidates to date, together with document numbers of ladies of shade and labor attorneys confirmed as federal judges.
“At his path, we’re urging the Senate to verify as many nominees as doable within the time we’ve got left,” Zients wrote.
Along with judicial nominations, the White Home is working with Congress to safe catastrophe aid funding and avert a possible authorities shutdown, a looming risk amid partisan divides on Capitol Hill.
Zients additionally mentioned Biden would “preserve working to decrease prices for households” throughout his closing stretch in workplace, together with by rolling out extra pupil debt cancellation for public service staff and different debtors. There are additionally plans to announce in January the complete implementation of a $2,000 cap on Medicare Half D prescription drug prices.
The Biden administration can be intensifying efforts on the international coverage entrance, in line with Zients, who highlighted a robust give attention to brokering a Gaza cease-fire with hostage releases by means of diplomacy with Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, and Israel. Additionally, the administration is bolstering Ukraine’s protection capabilities in its ongoing battle with Russia by delivering extra artillery, air protection techniques, and different important navy assist as a part of a beforehand introduced help surge.
“And there’s a lot extra we’re engaged on—we’ve got bulletins to come back on every part from local weather to conservation to AI and extra,” Zients wrote within the memo.
“Thanks for benefiting from this closing 42-day dash,” he wrote. “Let’s end robust.”