This report provides a snapshot of the US Executive Branch priorities via daily schedules and the prior day’s press releases.
POTUS’ Schedule*
9:30 a.m. EST – THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT receive the President’s Daily Brief | Oval Office
1:45 p.m. EST – The President, The Vice President, and the Secretary of the Treasury meet with business leaders about the critical need for the American Rescue Plan | Oval Office
VPOTUS’ Schedule*
9:30 a.m. EST – THE VICE PRESIDENT joins THE PRESIDENT in receiving the President’s Daily Brief | Oval Office
12:00 p.m. EST – THE VICE PRESIDENT will ceremonially swear in Denis McDonough as Secretary of Veterans Affairs | Eisenhower Executive Office Building
1:45 p.m. EST – THE PRESIDENT, THE VICE PRESIDENT, and the Secretary of the Treasury will meet with business leaders about the critical need for the American Rescue Plan | Oval Office
White House Press Briefing Schedule*
12:45 p.m. EST – Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki | James S. Brady Press Briefing Room
*The US President (POTUS) and Vice President’s (VPOTUS) daily schedules are subject to change, as is the White House press briefing schedule.
Recap of Monday, February 8, 2021
Note: Bold hyperlinks spotlight COVID-19 and reopening developments.
The White House
- Readout of President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India
- Remarks by President Biden and Vice President Harris During Tour of the State Farm Stadium Vaccination Site in Glendale, Arizona
- Transcript: Press Briefing by White House COVID-19 Response Team and Public Health Officials
- Statement by NSC Spokesperson Emily Horne on National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s Call with Secretary General Natthaphon Narkphanit of the Thai National Security Council
- Transcript: Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, February 8, 2021
Department of Defense (DOD)
- Article: DOD Leaders Will Address Extremism in the Ranks
- Article: USS Ronald Reagan Begins 2nd Round of COVID-19 Vaccinations
- Contracts for February 8, 2021
Department of State
- Daily Schedule | Tuesday, February 9
- February 8: Statement | Nicaragua’s Foreign Agents Law Drives Nicaragua Toward Dictatorship, Silencing Independent Voices
- February 8: Statement | US Decision To Reengage with the UN Human Rights Council
- February 8: Interview | Secretary Antony J. Blinken With Wolf Blitzer of CNN’s The Situation Room
- February 8: Advisory | Notice of Meeting: U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy (Feb. 11)
- February 8: Transcript | Department Press Briefing – February 8, 2021
US Mission to the United Nations (UN)
- Statement on US Reengagement with the UN Human Rights Council
- Remarks at a Briefing on Preparations for COP26 (via VTC)
Department of Justice
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) | Daily Press Releases
- Press Release: Doctor Sentenced for Role in Unlawful Distribution of Opioids
- Press Release: North Carolina Return Preparer Sentenced to 50 Months in Prison for Multi-Year Tax Fraud Scheme
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/ Customs and Border Protection (CBP)/U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS)
- Press Release: Air and Marine Operations, Partners Seize Nearly 2 Tons of Cocaine in Eastern Pacific (Washington, D.C.)
- Press Release: Arizona DPS/Yuma Sector Border Patrol Thwart Human Smuggling Attempt Inside of Semi-Truck (Arizona)
- Press Release: Border Patrol Agents Seize Cocaine/Meth in Calexico (California)
- Press Release: Border Patrol Arrests Convicted Sureño Gang Member (California)
- Press Release: $500K Worth of Marijuana Seized in the Rio Grande Valley (Texas)
- Press Release: 433 Pounds of Green Cocaine Seized Since October 1 by Cincinnati CBP (Ohio)
- Press Release: U.S. Border Patrol and Mobile County Sheriff’s Office Vehicle Stop Snags Bricks of Cocaine (Alabama)
- Press Release: Dulles CBP Picks Counterfeit Guitars to the Tune of $158K (Virginia)
- Press Release: DHS Announces Final Rule for a More Effective and Efficient H-1B Visa Program
- Press Release: USCIS Strengthens Protections to Combat H-1B Abuses
- Press Release: New E-Verify.gov Website a User-Friendly Source to Verify Employment Eligibility
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
- Press Release: FEMA Supports Vaccine Distribution | COVID-19 Response Update (Washington, D.C.)
- Press Release: FEMA Direct Lease Program Seeks Property Management Resources in Lane County (Oregon)
- Press Release: FEMA Needs Your Current Contact Information (Mississippi)
- Press Release: FEMA Grants are for Disaster-Related Expenses Only (Alabama)
Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR)
- Press Release: Key Staff Appointments Announced
Department of Commerce
- Press Release: New Timeline of Deadliest California Wildfire Could Guide Lifesaving Research and Action
- Press Release: NOAA Satellites Helped Save a Record 421 Lives in 2019
US International Trade Commission (USITC)
- Press Release: USITC Institutes Section 337 Investigation of Certain Integrated Circuits and Products Containing the Same
- Press Release: USITC Institutes Section 337 Investigation of Certain Wireless Communications Equipment and Components Thereof
Department of Transportation
- Statement by DOT Chief of Staff Laura Schiller (re: a member of Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s security detail tested positive for COVID-19)
Department of Labor
- Statement by Acting Secretary of Labor Al Stewart on the death of former Secretary of Labor George P. Shultz
- Press Release: US Department of Labor launches new monthly series of workshops to provide employment assistance to transitioning military spouses
- Press Release: Federal court in Texas sentences former train engineers’ union treasurer to prison, orders $61K restitution following US Labor Department probe
- Press Release: Detroit grocer pays $10K in civil money penalties after US Department of Labor finds child labor violations
Food & Drug Administration (FDA)
- Press Release: FDA Announces New Resource for Veterinarians and Pet Owners Interested in Clinical Field Studies of Animal Cells, Tissues, and Cell- and Tissue-Based Products
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
- Coronavirus Vaccine Tracker (tracks vaccine distribution in the United States)
- Coronavirus Resource Center