US executive branch text over image of White HouseThis 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.

12:30 p.m. EST – The President has lunch with the Vice President | Private Dining Room

2:30 p.m. EST – The President signs an executive order on increasing economic and geographic mobility | Oval Office

VPOTUS’ Schedule*

12:30 p.m. EST – THE VICE PRESIDENT joins THE PRESIDENT for lunch | Private Dining Room

4:00 p.m. EST – THE VICE PRESIDENT leads a Governors’ video teleconference on COVID-19 response & recovery | White House Situation Room

Recap of Friday – Sunday, December 11-13, 2020

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

The White House

  • Executive Order on Providing for the Closing of Executive Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government on December 24, 2020
  • Bill Signed into Law | December 11, 2020:
    • R. 8900, the “Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021, and Other Extensions Act,” which provides fiscal year (FY) 2021 appropriations to Federal agencies through December 18, 2020, for continuing projects and activities of the Federal Government.
  • Bill Signed into Law | December 11, 2020:
    • 4054, the “United States Grain Standards Reauthorization Act of 2020,” which reauthorizes certain authorities of the United States Grain Standards Act
  • Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Has Brokered Peace Between Israel and the Kingdom of Morocco
  • Statement from the Press Secretary (re: designating Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern for severe violations of religious freedom)
  • Statement from the Press Secretary (re: calling on Congress to pass legislation to end surprise medical bills)
  • Statement from the Press Secretary (re: U.S. delegation to the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Convention in Paris, France on December 14, 2020)
  • Statement from the Press Secretary (re: congratulating the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) for being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize)
  • Disaster Declaration: President Donald J. Trump Approves New Jersey Disaster Declaration
  • Appointments: President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Appoint the Following Individuals to Key Administration Posts

Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

  • Press Release: FDA Takes Key Action in Fight Against COVID-19 By Issuing Emergency Use Authorization for First COVID-19 Vaccine (Pfizer/BioNTech)
  • Press Release: FDA Statement on Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee Meeting

Health & Human Services (HHS)

  • Statement from HHS and DoD on FDA Emergency Use Authorization of a COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate
  • Press Release: Trump Administration purchases additional 100 million doses of COVID-19 investigational vaccine from Moderna

Department of Defense (DOD)

  • Statement from HHS and DOD on FDA Emergency Use Authorization of a COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate
  • Press Release: Operation Warp Speed Official: First COVID-19 Vaccines to Arrive Monday
  • Article: Pro Rata Vaccine Distribution is Fair, Equitable
  • Article: CENTCOM Commander: Middle East Refugee Camps Rife for Extreme Ideology
  • Article: Air Force, DOD Leaders Discuss Cutting-Edge Innovations
  • Contracts for December 11, 2020

Department of State

  • Daily Schedule | Monday, December 14
  • December 12: Statement | The Republic of Kenya’s National Day
  • December 11: Statement | On Progress Toward Peace (re: Morocco and Israel)
  • December 11: Sanctions | State Department Terrorist Designation of Ashraf al-Qizani
  • December 11: Readout | Meetings During Deputy Secretary Biegun’s Travel to the Republic of Korea
  • December 11: Statement | Iran’s Efforts at Intimidation Must Not Be Rewarded
  • December 11: Joint Statement | Third Annual U.S.-Australia Energy Security Dialogue
  • December 11: Statement | The United States and Kazakhstan Conclude Annual Enhanced Strategic Partnership Dialogue
  • December 11: Fact Sheet | U.S. 2020 APEC Outcomes
  • December 11: Statement | Burkina Faso’s National Day

US Agency for International Development (USAID)

  • Press Release: Results for America Once Again Recognizes USAID for Effective Use of Evidence

US Mission to the United Nations (UN)

  • Joint Statement on the Human Rights Situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (re: U.S., Germany, Belgium, the Dominican Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Japan, and the United Kingdom)
  • Remarks at a UN Security Council Briefing on Syria Chemical Weapons (via VTC)

Department of the Treasury/Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)

Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC)

  • Press Release: SEC Charges Sequential Brands Group Inc. with Deceiving Investors by Failing to Timely Impair Goodwill

Department of Justice

  • Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) | Daily Press Releases
  • Statement by Attorney General William P. Barr on Mexico’s Proposed Legislation (re: transnational criminals)
  • Press Release: Statement by Attorney General William P. Barr on Senate Resolution (re: “ePrivacy Directive” slated to take effect in the European Union)
  • Press Release: Justice Department Files Statement of Interest in Michigan Religious Schools’ Challenge to COVID-19 Closing Order
  • Press Release: Justice Department Files Lawsuit Alleging Disability-Based Discrimination by Architect and Owners of 15 Complexes in Four States
  • Press Release: Two Georgia Correctional Officers Indicted for Civil Rights and Related Offenses for Assaulting Inmates
  • Press Release: Assistant Attorney General Beth A. Williams Announces Departure from the Office of Legal Policy

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

  • Advisory: Acting Secretary Wolf Traveling to Panama and El Salvador (Dec. 13-16)
  • Press Release: CISA Issues Emergency Directive to Mitigate the Compromise of Solarwinds Orion Network Management Products
  • Press Release: CISA Identifies Data-Driven Security Best Practices for K-12 Schools in Simulation Experiment
  • Press Release: San Ysidro CBP Officers Intercept over $1 Million in Currency Bound for Mexico (California)
  • Press Release: USBP Agents, Partners Aid Pregnant Migrant (California)
  • Press Release: USBP & Partners Foil Human Smugglers (California)
  • Press Release: Agents Stop Meth Smuggling Attempt at Checkpoint (California)
  • Press Release: CBP Officers Seize Over $2.8 Million in Narcotics at the Laredo Port of Entry (Texas)
  • Press Release: Del Rio Sector Agent Receives Prestigious Award (Texas)
  • Press Release: Laredo Sector Border Patrol and Multiple Agencies Shuts Down Stash House (Texas)
  • Press Release: Brownsville CBP Officers Seize $618K in Narcotics in Three Seizures (Texas)
  • Press Release: CBP Warns Residents of Phone Scam (Minnesota)
  • Press Release: 6,080 Counterfeit 3M Masks Stopped by Cincinnati CBP (Ohio)

Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR)

  • Press Release: Ambassador Robert E. Lighthizer Announces USTR Annual Awards During Virtual Event

US International Trade Commission (USITC)

  • Press Release: USITC Votes to Continue Investigations Concerning Polyester Textured Yarn from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam

US Export-Import Bank (EXIM)

  • Press Release: ICYMI | “Smart Women, Smart Power” – A Center for Strategic & International Studies Podcast Conversation with EXIM Chairman Kimberly Reed

Department of Interior

  • Press Release: ICYMI | President Trump supports government collaboration in strengthening land conservation efforts

Department of Transportation

  • Press Release: Air Travel Consumer Report | September 2020 Airline Complaint Data

Department of Labor

  • Press Release: U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury Issue Final Rule to Provide Greater Flexibility for Grandfathered Group Health Plans
  • Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor Issues Final Rule on Proxy Voting and Shareholder Rights by Employee Benefit Plans
  • Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor’s OSHA Announces $3,504,345 In Coronavirus Violations

US Government (USG) COVID-19 Webpages

Non-USG COVID Webpages

Johns Hopkins University & Medicine