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*

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)

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

Non-USG COVID Webpages

Johns Hopkins University & Medicine