This report provides a snapshot of the US Executive Branch priorities via daily schedules and the prior day’s press releases.
POTUS’ Schedule*
*The US President (POTUS) and Vice President’s (VPOTUS) daily schedules are subject to change.
The President has no public events scheduled.
VPOTUS’ Schedule*
2:30 p.m. EST – THE VICE PRESIDENT leads a White House Coronavirus Task Force meeting | White House Situation Room
Recap of Wednesday, November 18, 2020
Note: All bold hyperlinks spotlight COVID-19 and reopening developments.
The White House
- Presidential Message on Antibiotic Awareness Week, 2020
Department of Defense (DOD)
- Statement From Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher C. Miller on UK Announcement of Largest Military Investment in 30 Years
- Article: Officials Optimistic About COVID-19 Vaccines in Near Future
- Publication: COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Installation Status Update, Nov. 18, 2020
- Article: DOD Prioritizes December Launch of ‘Trusted Capital Marketplace’
- Article: Space Force to Remain ‘Lean, Agile, Fast’
- Transcript: Acting Defense Secretary Announces OSD Changes During Visit to Fort Bragg, N.C.
- Article: Special Operations Leader to Report Directly to Acting Defense Secretary
- Article: Joint Artificial Intelligence Center Grows Substantially to Aid Warfighter
- Contracts for November 18, 2020
Department of State
U.S. Secretary of State Mike is on travel to Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia from November 19-23.
- Daily Schedule | Thursday, November 19
- November 18: Readout | Secretary Pompeo’s Meeting with Georgian Prime Minister Gakharia and Foreign Minister Zalkaliani
- November 18: Readout | Secretary Pompeo’s Meeting with Georgian President Zourabichvili
- November 18: Remarks | Secretary Michael R. Pompeo and Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia Before Their Meeting
- November 18: Transcript | Senior State Department Officials Briefing to Traveling Press
- November 18: Readout | Secretary Pompeo’s Trilateral Meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani
- November 18: Remarks | Secretary Michael R. Pompeo with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani Before Their Meeting
- November 18: Fact Sheet | Furthering Our Relationship with Israel
- November 18: Joint Statement on Hong Kong
- November 18: Statement | Commemoration of the Massacre of Mahshahr and Designation of Iranian Officials Due to Involvement in Gross Violations of Human Rights
- November 18: Statement | The Importance of Sanctions on Iran
- November 18: Statement | Oman National Day
- November 18: Statement | Monaco National Day
- November 18: Statement | Latvia National Day
US Agency for International Development (USAID)
- Press Release: USAID and Ronald McDonald House Charities Expand Health Care for Children and Families in Ukraine
- Press Release: USAID Welcomes the Official Declaration of the End of the Ebola Outbreak in the Northwestern Democratic Republic of Congo
- Press Release: USAID Deploys Disaster-Assistance Response Team In Response to Central America Hurricanes, Allocates $17 Million in Additional Humanitarian Aid
US Mission to the United Nations (UN)
- Statement on the Introduction of a Resolution on the Human Rights Situation in Syria
- General Statement on the Human Rights Situation in Burma
- General Statement on the Adoption of a Resolution on the Human Rights Situation in Iran
- General Statement on the Situation of Human Rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
- Explanation of Vote on a Resolution on the Glorification of Nazism
- Remarks at a UN Security Council Briefing on the Situation in the Middle East (via VTC)
- Remarks in a Meeting of the Fifth Committee on Agenda Item 141: Review of the Peace and Security Reform Implementation
- General Statement in a Meeting of the Second Committee
Department of the Treasury
- Press Release: Treasury and IRS Issue Guidance Clarifying the Deductibility of Expenses Where a Business Received a PPP Loan
- Remarks by Deputy Secretary Justin G. Muzinich at the Second Annual Partnership to Combat Human Rights Abuse and Corruption
- Sanctions: Treasury Targets Vast Supreme Leader Patronage Network and Iran’s Minister of Intelligence
Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC)
- Press Release: Marie-Louise Huth Named as Associate General Counsel for Legal Policy
Department of Justice
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) | Daily Press Releases
- Press Release: Former Raytheon Engineer Sentenced for Exporting Sensitive Military Related Technology to China
- Press Release: Justice Department Signs Antitrust Memorandum of Understanding with Korean Prosecution Service
- Press Release: Former Army Green Beret Pleads Guilty to Russian Espionage Conspiracy
- Press Release: Utah Man and His Company Indicted for Wildlife Trafficking
- Press Release: Texas Physician Sentenced for Multi-Million Medicare Fraud Scheme
- Press Release: Colorado Man Convicted of Production, Transportation, and Possession of Child Pornography
- Press Release: President of Commercial Flooring Company Pleads Guilty to Rigging Bids in Violation of Federal Antitrust Laws
- Press Release: Four Members of Los Angeles-Based Fraud Ring Indicted for COVID-Relief Fraud
- Press Release: North Carolina Return Preparer Indicted for Tax Fraud Scheme
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/ Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
- Press Release: BP Agents Arrest Felon With Homicide Conviction (Arizona)
- Press Release: CBP Introduces Simplified Arrival in Las Vegas (Nevada)
- Press Release: Joint Collaboration Leads to the Discovery of Four Stash Houses in the Rio Grande Valley (Texas)
- Press Release: Border Patrol Agents Find One Year Old Child (Texas)
- Press Release: Border Patrol Agents Seize Marijuana, Cocaine, and Pills (Texas)
- Press Release: Convicted California Murderer Arrested in RGV (Texas)
- Press Release: $20.7 Million in Designer Jewelry Seized at Detroit Border (Michigan)
- Press Release: CBP’s Baltimore Field Office is Among Nation’s Best at Intercepting Stolen Vehicles Being Shipped Overseas (Maryland)
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
- Press Release: FEMA Fire Management Assistance Granted for the Pinehaven Fire (Nevada)
- Press Release: FEMA Provides an Additional $42 Million for Colorado COVID-19 Response (Colorado)
- Press Release: FEMA Provides an Additional $8.5 Million for North Dakota COVID-19 Response (North Dakota)
- Press Release: Voluntary Organizations Play Vital Role in Recovery (Louisiana)
Department of Commerce
- Press Release: OECD Working Group on Bribery Issues Report Commending United States for Maintaining Leading Role in the Fight Against Transitional Corruption
- Blog: Spotlight on Commerce | Andrew Fiddes, Attorney Advisor, Disaster Recovery Program, Office of Chief Counsel, U.S. Economic Development Administration
US International Trade Commission (USITC)
- Press Release: USITC Makes Determinations in Five-Year (Sunset) Reviews Concerning Non-Oriented Electrical Steel from China, Germany, Japan, Korea, Sweden, and Taiwan
US Export-Import Bank (EXIM)
- Press Release: EXIM’s U.S. Supply Chain Financing Factors Significantly in Maintaining Viability of U.S. Aircraft Manufacturing Jobs in Wake of COVID-19
- Press Release: EXIM Signs $750 Million Memorandum of Understanding with the Republic of Indonesia’s Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Planning
- Press Release: EXIM Chairman Kimberly Reed Joins National Security Advisor Ambassador Robert O’Brien on U.S. Delegation to Vietnam and the Philippines
- Press Release: EXIM Sub-Saharan Africa Advisory Committee Conducts First Open Meeting for 2020-2021
- Press Release: EXIM Chairman Reed Addresses Technology & Manufacturing Association on How EXIM Can Help Expand Sales Abroad
Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- Press Release: USDA Forest Service Announces Key Changes to National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Procedures
- Press Release: USDA Opens Registration for the 2021 Agricultural Outlook Forum (Feb. 18-19, 2021)
Department of Energy
- Press Release: U.S. Department of Energy Announces $16 Million in funding for Phase 1 of Ultra-High Temperature Materials Program
Department of Interior
- Press Release: Trump Administration Strengthens Rapid Response to Invasive Mussels to Protect Western Waters
- Press Release: Trump Administration Reduces Wildfire Risk Across Record 5.4 Million Acres
Department of Transportation
- Press Release: U.S. Department of Transportation Denies Exemptions for Cuba Cargo Flights
Department of Labor
- Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor Updates Frequently Asked Questions To Address Cloth Face Coverings as Personal Protective Equipment
- Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor Announces Proposed Rule Adopting Standards For Electric Motor-Driven Mine Equipment and Accessories
Department of Education
- Readout of the Department of Education’s Office for Career Technical and Adult Education ‘Rethink Work Based Learning’ Event with U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and U.S. Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia
Food & Drug Administration (FDA)
- Press Release: FDA Releases New Outbreak Investigation Table
US Government (USG) COVID-19 Webpages
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 webpage
- Department of Defense COVID-19 webpage
- Department of State COVID-19 Travel Advisory webpage
- Office of Personnel Management COVID-19 webpage
- Food and Drug Administration COVID-19 webpage
- Department of Homeland Security Employee COVID-19 webpage
- Department of Labor COVID-19 webpage
- USAGov COVID-19 webpage
Non-USG COVID Webpages
Johns Hopkins University & Medicine