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*

10:15 a.m. EDT – The President and The Vice President receive the President’s Daily Brief | Oval Office

12:30 p.m. EDT – The President has lunch with The vice President | Private Dining Room

2:00 p.m. EDT – The President and The Vice President with the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Executive Committee | Oval Office

VPOTUS’ Schedule*

10:15 a.m. EDT – the Vice President will receive the President’s Daily Brief in the Oval Office

12:30 p.m. EDT – the Vice President will have lunch with the President in the Private Dining Room

2:00 p.m. EDT – the President and the Vice President will meet with members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus in the Oval Office

White House Press Briefing Schedule*

12:30 p.m. EDT – Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki

*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 Wednesday, April 14, 2021

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

The White House

  • Executive Order on Blocking Property with Respect to Specified Harmful Foreign Activities of the Government of the Russian Federation | April 15, 2021
  • Letter to Congress on Blocking Property with Respect to Specified Harmful Foreign Activities of the Government of the Russian Federation | April 15, 2021
  • Fact Sheet:  Imposing Costs for Harmful Foreign Activities by the Russian Government | April 15, 2021
  • Remarks by President Biden on the Way Forward in Afghanistan | April 14, 2021
  • Remarks by President Biden After Wreath Laying at Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery
  • Remarks by Vice President Harris at Virtual Roundtable of Experts on the Northern Triangle
  • Readout of President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Call with President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan
  • Readout of President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Call with Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany
  • Bill Signed into Law:
    • R. 1868, which extends a suspension of Medicare sequestration and make other technical changes to Medicare payments and Medicaid eligibility.
  • Transcript:  Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, April 14, 2021
  • Transcript:  Press Briefing by White House COVID-19 Response Team and Public Health Officials
  • Nominations:  President Biden Announces His Intent to Nominate Key Administration Leaders on Climate and Transportation
  • Appointment:  President Biden Announces Erika L. Moritsugu as Deputy Assistant to the President and Asian American and Pacific Islander Senior Liaison
  • Press Release:  CEQ Welcomes Brenda Mallory as New Chair

Department of Defense (DOD)

  • Article:  Biden Announces Full U.S. Troop Withdrawal From Afghanistan by Sept. 11
  • Article:  Austin Says NATO, U.S. Forces Will Leave Afghanistan, Continue Support to Afghan Forces
  • Article:  Austin Arrives in Brussels to Revitalize U.S. Engagement With NATO Allies
  • Transcript:  U.S. Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense and NATO Secretary General Joint Press Conference, Belgium
  • Press Release:  Recognition for Qualifying Participation in Operation CAPITOL RESPONSE I and II and the Presidential Inauguration
  • Publication:  Memorandum for the Award of the Armed Forces Service Medal for Operation CAPITOL RESPONSE I and II and the Presidential Inauguration
  • Publication:  COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Installation Status Update, April 14, 2021
  • Contracts for April 14, 2021

Department of State

  • Daily Schedule | Thursday, April 15
  • April 15: Statement | Holding Russia To Account
  • April 15: Readout | Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani
  • April 15: Statement | Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with Afghanistan High Commission for National Reconciliation Chair Abdullah Abdullah
  • April 15: Statement | New U.S. Humanitarian Assistance for the South Sudan Crisis Response
  • April 14:  Readout | Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg
  • April 14:  Remarks | Secretary Antony J. Blinken and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg Before Their Meeting
  • April 14:  Remarks | Secretary Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin, and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at a Joint Press Availability
  • April 14:  Readout | Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with French, German, Italian, and UK Counterparts
  • April 14:  Statement | OPCW Charges Syrian Regime with Chemical Weapons Attack
  • April 14:  Statement | Department of State Offers Reward for Information To Bring Mexican Drug Trafficking Cartel Member to Justice
  • April 14:  Statement | Israel’s National Day
  • April 14:  Statement | Lao New Year 2021
  • April 14:  Statement | Khmer New Year 2021

US Mission to the United Nations (UN)

  • Remarks at a UN Financing for Development Forum Panel on Liquidity
  • Remarks at a UN Financing for Development Forum Panel on Private Sector Debt
  • Remarks at the Launch of the Final Report by the Task Force on U.S. Strategy to Support Democracy and Counter Authoritarianism
  • Remarks at a UN Women Financing for Development Forum Side Event
  • Remarks at a UN Financing for Development Forum Panel on Debt Sustainability
  • Remarks by Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield at a UN Security Council Open Debate on Sexual Violence in Conflict
  • Remarks by Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield at the 30th Annual Summit of the National Action Network
  • Statement:  Interior Secretary Haaland & Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield to Lead Historic U.S. Delegation to 20th Session of UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI)

  • Congressional Testimony:  DNI Haines Opening Statement on the 2021 Annual Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community

Department of the Treasury

  • Sanctions:  Treasury Sanctions Russia with Sweeping New Sanctions Authority | April 15, 2021
  • Statement:  Treasury Escalates Sanctions Against the Russian Government’s Attempts to Influence U.S. Elections | April 15, 2021
  • Sanctions:  Treasury Sanctions Russian Persons in the Crimea Region of Ukraine | April 15, 2021
  • Sanctions:  Treasury Sanctions Regional Commander of Mexico’s CJNG in Coordination with Justice and State Actions | April 14, 2021
  • Readout:  Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo’s Meeting with the California League of Cities
  • Statement:  Treasury Establishes New Office to Lead Implementation of Relief and Recovery Programs
  • Statement:  Treasury, IRS disburse 2 million more Economic Impact Payments under the American Rescue Plan; VA beneficiaries bring total to approximately 159 million as payments continue

Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC)

  • Press Release:  SEC Charges Felon and Six Others in Oil-and-Gas Offering Fraud

Department of Justice

  • Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) | Daily Press Releases
  • Readout of Attorney General Merrick B. Garland’s Call with the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
  • Press Release:  Canadian Company Sentenced for Violating Clean Water Act
  • Press Release:  Two Charged in High-Risk International Financial Scheme
  • Press Release:  Patient Recruiter Sentenced to Prison for $3.3 Million Cancer Genetic Testing Fraud Scheme
  • Press Release:  Businessman Charged with Failure to Pay Employment Taxes and Attempt to Obstruct the IRS
  • Press Release:  Muncie Police Officers Indicted on Additional Charges of Excessive Force and Obstruction
  • Press Release:  Tax Preparer Charged with Filing False Returns
  • Press Release:  Maryland Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty to Preparing False Returns
  • Press Release:  New Hampshire Man Sentenced to Prison for Facilitating Employment Tax Fraud

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

  • Press Release:  CISA Receives 2021 Public Integrity Award from American Society for Public Administration
  • Press Release:  Lost Illegal Aliens Rescued by Border Patrol Agents Within 24 Hours in Three Separate Events (California)
  • Press Release:  Border Patrol Captures Sex Offender (California)
  • Press Release:  CBP Officers at Hidalgo International Bridge Seize Over $2 Million in Methamphetamine (Texas)
  • Press Release:  CBP Field Operations Arrests Two Women with Nearly $2 Million in Hard Narcotics at Mid-Valley International Bridges (Texas)
  • Press Release:  Cincinnati CBP Seizes 1,196 Fake Keys, Fobs, Decals Worth $103,101 (Ohio)
  • Press Release:  CBP Reminds Travelers of Continued Temporary Closures of Small Boating Locations Until Further Notice (Massachusetts)

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

  • Press Release:  FEMA COVID-19 Vaccination Update
  • Press Release:  FEMA Provides Over $46.6 Million to the Vermont Agency of Human Services
  • Press Release:  Voluntary Support is Essential to Vaccination Mission for Hampton Roads Residents (Virginia)
  • Press Release:  Public Invited to Review Flood Maps in DeKalb County (Alabama)
  • Press Release:  Public Invited to Review Flood Maps in Jackson County (Alabama)
  • Press Release:  Public Invited to Review Flood Maps in Marshall County (Alabama)

Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR)

  • Remarks by Ambassador Katherine Tai at a WTO Virtual Conference on Covid-19 Vaccine Equity
  • Readout of Ambassador Katherine Tai’s Meeting with Environmental Leaders

Department of Commerce

  • Blog:  Commerce This Week | April 14

US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC)

  • Press Release:  DFC Announces Call for Applications for Distributed Renewable Energy Projects

Department of Agriculture (USDA)

  • Fact Sheet:  Update on USDA Activities to Contain the COVID-19 Pandemic
  • Press Release:  USDA Allocates Up to $10 Million to Partner with California and Oregon to Assist Producers Impacted by Drought in Klamath River Basin

Department of Energy (DOE)

  • Statement by Secretary Granholm on President Biden’s Nomination of Jill Hruby as NNSA Administrator

Department of Interior

  • Press Release:  White House Announces Several Nominations to Interior Leadership
  • Press Release:  Secretary Haaland to Head U.S. Delegation, Deliver Keynote Address to the 20th Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

Environmental Protection Agency

  • Press Release:  EPA Publishes 28th Annual U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory

Department of Transportation

  • Press Release:  S. Department of Transportation Announces Initial Steps Toward Aviation Manufacturing Jobs Protection Program, Encourages Businesses, Especially Small Businesses, to Begin Preparing for the Application Process

Department of Labor

  • Press Release:  U.S. Department of Labor announces new cybersecurity guidance for plan sponsors, plan fiduciaries, record-keepers, plan participants
  • Press Release:  U.S. Department of Labor selects seven states to participate in its initiative to improve employment outcomes for people with mental health conditions
  • Press Release:  U.S. Department of Labor issues guidance to states on identity verification, eligibility for unemployment insurance claims, protecting identity theft victims

Health & Human Services (HHS)

  • Fact Sheet:  Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Ensuring Access to Equitable, Affordable, Client-Centered, Quality Family Planning Services
  • Readout of the Second COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force Meeting | April 13, 2021

Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

  • Press Release:  FDA Provides Guidance on Remote Interactive Evaluations for Oversight of Drug Facilities During COVID-19

US Government (USG) COVID-19 Webpages

Non-USG COVID Webpages

Johns Hopkins University & Medicine