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. EDT – The President receives the President’s Daily Brief | The White House
10:00 a.m. EDT – THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT meet with their national security team to hear intelligence, security, and diplomatic updates on the evolving situation in Afghanistan | Situation Room
Upcoming White House Visit:
- August 26: Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett
- August 30: Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
VPOTUS’ Schedule*
10:00 a.m. EDT – THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT meet with their national security team to hear intelligence, security, and diplomatic updates on the evolving situation in Afghanistan | Situation Room
Looking Ahead: The Vice President is slated to travel to Singapore and Vietnam this month (dates yet-to-be-announced) to strengthen relationships and expand economic cooperation with two critical Indo-Pacific partners of the United States.
*The US President (POTUS) and Vice President’s (VPOTUS) daily schedules are subject to change.
Recap of Wednesday, June 23, 2021
Note: Bold hyperlinks spotlight COVID-19 developments.
The White House
- Remarks by President Biden on Fighting the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Statement: Ensuring a Safe Return to In-Person School for the Nation’s Children
- Fact Sheet: President Biden to Announce New Actions to Protect Americans from COVID-19 and Help State and Local Leaders Fight the Virus
- Transcript: Press Briefing by White House COVID-19 Response Team and Public Health Officials
- Readout of President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Call with Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany (re: AFG)
- Statement by Press Secretary Jen Psaki on the Visit of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett of Israel
- Nominations: President Biden Announces Five Key Nominations
Department of Defense (DOD)
- Transcript: Secretary of Defense Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Milley Press Briefing (re: AFG)
- Transcript: Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby Holds an Off-Camera Press Briefing (re: AFG, Haiti)
- Article: Austin, Milley Understand the Personal Nature of Afghan War
- Article: Austin, Milley Say DOD Laser-Focused on Kabul Evacuation Mission
- Article: Afghanistan Crisis Remains Fluid, Dynamic, DOD Spokesman Says
- Press Release: Department of Defense Offers Mental Health Resources for Service Members and Their Families
- Article: Southern Command Chief Says Speed, Effort Needed to Save Haitian Lives
- Publication: COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Installation Status Update, Aug. 18, 2021
- Contracts for August 18, 2021
Department of State
- Daily Schedule | Thursday, August 19
Afghanistan
- August 18: Readout | Secretary Blinken’s Call with Italian Foreign Minister Di Maio
- August 18: Readout | Secretary Blinken’s Call with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud
- August 18: Readout | Secretary Blinken’s Call with UK Foreign Secretary Raab
- August 18: Readout | Secretary Blinken’s Call with Canadian Foreign Minister Garneau
- August 18: Joint Statement on the Situation of Women and Girls in Afghanistan (multiple countries)
- August 18: Transcript | Department Press Briefing
Other Development
- August 18: Statement | Department of State Announces Online Publication of 2020 Digest of United States Practice in International Law
US Agency for International Development (USAID)
- Press Release: The United States Government Continues Response Efforts to Haiti Earthquake
US Mission to the United Nations (UN)
- Interview: Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield’s Interview with Gayle King and Tony Dokoupil of CBS This Morning (re: AFG)
- Remarks by Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield at a UN Security Council Open Debate on Protecting the Protectors: Technology and Peacekeeping
Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI)
- Press Release: Acting Director Mike Orlando speaks with the International Spy Museum
Department of the Treasury
- Readout: Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo’s visit to Maryland Emergency Rental Assistance grantee
Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC)
- Press Release: SEC Charges Netflix Insider Trading Ring
- Press Release: Sanjay Wadhwa Named Deputy Director of Enforcement Division
Department of Justice
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) | Daily Press Releases
- Press Release: Justice Department and DHS Publish Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to Make Asylum Process More Efficient and Ensure Fairness
- Press Release: Floridians Charged and Convicted in Connection with International Enterprise that Operated Sexually Exploitive ‘Child Modeling’ Websites
- Press Release: Ohio Resident Pleads Guilty to Operating Darknet-Based Bitcoin ‘Mixer’ That Laundered Over $300 Million
- Press Release: Georgia Woman Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud For COVID-Relief Fraud Scheme
- Press Release: Georgia Man Convicted of Filing Fraudulent Tax Returns
- Press Release: Federal Court Finds Miami-Area Tax Preparer in Contempt for Violating Permanent Injunction
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/ Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
- Readout of Secretary Mayorkas’ Call with Counterparts from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom (re: AFG)
- Press Release: CBP Officers at the Laredo Port of Entry Seize Cocaine Worth $88K (Texas)
- Press Release: Laredo CBP Officers Apprehend Fugitive Sought for Rape (Texas)
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
- Press Release: ICYMI | FEMA Administrator Addresses Hurricane Preparedness, COVID-19 Vaccinations During Miami Visit
- Press Release: FEMA Authorizes Funds to Fight Twenty-Five Mile Fire in Washington State
- Press Release: FEMA Fire Management Assistance Granted for the Caldor Fire (California)
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
- Press Release: Public Access to Illumina/Grail Trial Provided via Teleconference Due to ongoing COVID-19 Concerns
Federal Communication Commission (FCC)
- Press Release: FCC Takes Action Against ViaTalk for Accessibility Failures
Department of Energy (DOE)
- Press Release: ICYMI | Secretary Granholm Visited Alaska to Witness Clean Energy Innovation in the ‘Last Frontier’
Department of Interior (DOI)
- Press Release: White House Announces Nomination of Charles F. Sams III as National Park Service Director
Department of Labor
- Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor proposes $1.3M in penalties for contractor with extensive history of violations after two workers die at Boston dig site
- Press Release: Athens, Georgia, tobacco, liquor stores pay more than $71K in back wages after U.S. Department of Labor finds wage violations at two locations
- Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor recovers $1.7M in back wages, fringe benefits for 81 employees wrongly classified by defense contractor in 21 states
Department of Education
- Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Approves the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands Public School System’s Implementation Plan for Use of American Rescue Plan Funds to Support K-12 Schools and Students
Health & Human Services (HHS)
- Joint Statement from HHS Public Health and Medical Experts on COVID-19 Booster Shots
- Press Release: Biden-Harris Administration Invests over $19 Million to Expand Telehealth Nationwide and Improve Health in Rural, Other Underserved Communities
Food & Drug Administration (FDA)
- Joint Statement from HHS Public Health and Medical Experts on COVID-19 Booster Shots