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.

11:30 a.m. EST – The President holds a Cabinet Meeting | Cabinet Room

VPOTUS’ Schedule*

11:30 a.m. EST – THE VICE PRESIDENT joins THE PRESIDENT for a Cabinet Meeting | Cabinet Room

2:00 p.m. EST – THE VICE PRESIDENT hosts a Life Is Winning Event | South Court Auditorium

4:00 p.m. EST – THE VICE PRESIDENT leads a White House Coronavirus Task Force meeting | White House Situation Room

Recap of Tuesday, December 15, 2020

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

The White House

  • Remarks by Vice President Pence at a Roundtable Discussion on Operation Warp Speed | Bloomington, IN
  • Readout from First Lady Melania Trump’s Visit to Children’s National Hospital | Washington, D.C.

Department of Defense (DOD)

  • Advisory: Acting Secretary Miller Travels to Naval Air Station Key West (Dec. 16)
  • Advisory: Designation of Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict
  • Publication: Development of an Implementation Plan for a Direct Reporting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict
  • Publication: Organizational Role of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict
  • Press Release: Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Pilots for Fiscal Year 2021
  • Statement on New Appointments to the Defense Health Board
  • Press Release: DOD Releases 2021 Basic Allowance for Housing Rates
  • Article: Tiberius Platform Aids COVID-19 Logistics, Delivery
  • Article: National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency in Midst of Revolution
  • Contracts for November 15, 2020

Department of State

  • Daily Schedule | Wednesday, December 16
  • December 15: Readout | Secretary Pompeo’s Call with Colombian President Duque
  • December 15: Readout | Deputy Secretary Biegun’s Conversation with Belarusian Opposition Leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya
  • December 15: Advisory | Assistant Secretary Fannon Travels to Portugal to Promote Responsible Energy Supply Chains (Dec. 15-17)
  • December 15: Interview | Secretary Michael R. Pompeo With Ben Shapiro of The Ben Shapiro Show
  • December 15: Statement | Passing of Nigerian Ambassador to the United States
  • December 15: Statement | Russian Influence in the Mediterranean
  • December 15: Statement | State Department Terrorist Designation of Saraya al-Mukhtar
  • December 15: Statement | Kazakhstan Independence Day

US Agency for International Development (USAID)

  • Readout: USAID Acting Deputy Administrator John Barsa Speaks at the Nutrition for Growth Launch Event
  • Press Release: Holiday Message

US Mission to the United Nations (UN)

  • Remarks at a UN Security Council Briefing on the Situation in South Sudan (via VTC)

Department of the Treasury

Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC)

  • Press Release: Brett W. Redfearn to Conclude Transformative Tenure as SEC Trading and Markets Director

Department of Justice

  • Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) | Daily Press Releases
  • Press Release: Fifteen Named In $26 Million International Trade Fraud Scheme (re:  decade-long scheme involving tires from China)
  • Statement from Assistant Attorney General Eric S. Dreiband on Supreme Court’s Order in Favor of Colorado Church that Challenged COVID Restrictions
  • Press Release: Justice Department Files Race Discrimination Lawsuit Against Housing Authority in Oklahoma

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

  • Press Release: El Salvador Begins Implementation of Asylum Cooperative Agreement (Washington, D.C.)
  • Press Release: 2021 Customs Broker Triennial Status Report and Fee Submission Begins December 15, 2020 (Washington, D.C.)
  • Press Release: 28 Arrested During 2 Foiled Maritime Smuggling Events (California)
  • Press Release: USBP Intercepts 3 Vehicles & Arrests 19 During Drive-Thru Attempt (California)
  • Press Release: USBP Rescues Mother & Three-Year-Old Child (California)
  • Press Release: Eagle Pass Port of Entry CBP Officers Intercept Methamphetamine Worth Over $1.6 Million (Texas)
  • Press Release: CBP Field Operations Intercepts Over $3 Million in Hard Narcotics at Hidalgo International Bridge (Texas)
  • Press Release: Brownsville CBP Officers Seize $283K in Methamphetamine at Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge (Texas)
  • Press Release: CBP Officers Intercept 2,570 pounds of Methamphetamine Commingled with Lighting Fixtures (Texas)
  • Press Release: Over 5,000 Drug Paraphernalia Items Seized by CBP Officers in Chicago (Illinois)
  • Press Release: CBP Officers at Miami International Airport Seize Ketamine Concealed Within Bottles (Florida)

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

  • Press Release: California Wildfire Survivors Have One Day Left to Register for Assistance
  • Press Release: Federal Disaster Assistance for Oregon Tops $116 Million
  • Press Release: $7 Million Awarded to Jump-Start Recovery Projects (U.S. Virgin Islands)
  • Press Release: FEMA Awards $22.2 Million for Hurricane Irma Recovery in Florida

Department of Commerce

  • Press Release: U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross and Singapore Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing Sign Memorandum of Understanding on Trade Financing and Investment Cooperation

US Export-Import Bank (EXIM)

  • Press Release: EXIM Approved 194 Small Business Authorizations Totaling $523 Million and Supporting 2,000 U.S. Jobs in September 2020
  • Press Release: EXIM Board of Directors to Hold Public Meeting on Proposal to Modernize EXIM Content Policy for Ten Transformational Sectors
  • Press Release: EXIM Chairman Kimberly Reed Concludes Economic Visit to Poland with Strengthened Economic Cooperation and Focus on U.S. Nuclear Energy Exports
  • Press Release: EXIM Signs Memorandum of Understanding with Poland’s Ministry of Climate and Environment to Carry Out Nuclear, Clean, and Strategic Energy Projects in Poland
  • Readout from EXIM Chairman Kimberly Reed’s Meeting with U.S. Ambassador to Burma Thomas Vajda

Department of Agriculture (USDA)

  • Press Release: USDA Announces 2021 Lincoln Leaders Fellowship Opportunities for Minority-Serving Education Institutions

Department of Energy

  • Press Release: Department of Energy Issues Final Rules to Ensure American Families Have Access to High-performance, Labor-Saving Clothes Washers, Dryers, and Showerheads

Department of Transportation

  • Press Release: National Security Multi-Mission Vessel Achieves First Construction Milestone with Steel Cutting Ceremony

Department of Labor

  • Statement by U.S. Department of Labor on Office of Inspector General Report Regarding 2017 Tip Rule NPRM
  • Press Release: OSHA Remains Focused on Keeping Workers Safe in 2020
  • Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor Announces Exemption to Improve Investment Advice and Enhance Financial Choices for Workers and Retirees
  • Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor Recovers $173,851 in Back Wages For 89 Electrical Workers After Investigation Finds Overtime Violations

Department of Education

  • Press Release: Secretary DeVos Announces New Funding to Accelerate Education Innovation and Empower Teachers with Professional Development Options

Health & Human Services (HHS)

  • Statement from HHS Secretary Azar on FDA Authorization of First Fully At-Home, Over-the-Counter COVID-19 Test
  • Press Release: HHS Announces that CDC will Award Nearly $227 million for COVID-19 Vaccine Preparedness and Response Activities

Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

  • Press Release: FDA Authorizes Antigen Test as First Over-the-Counter Fully At-Home Diagnostic Test for COVID-19

US Government (USG) COVID-19 Webpages

Non-USG COVID Webpages

Johns Hopkins University & Medicine