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*

3:15 p.m. EST – THE PRESIDENT pardons the National Thanksgiving Turkey | Rose Garden

6:20 p.m. EST – THE PRESIDENT departs the White House en route Wilmington, Delaware

7:15 p.m. EST – THE PRESIDENT arrives in Wilmington, Delaware

VPOTUS’ Schedule*

12:50 p.m. EST – THE VICE PRESIDENT will depart Washington, D.C., en route Columbus, Ohio

2:50 p.m. EST – THE VICE PRESIDENT will tour Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 189 and meet apprentices with Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh

3:20 p.m. EST – THE VICE PRESIDENT will deliver remarks on how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal will benefit Ohioans; Secretary Walsh will also deliver remarks

5:30 p.m. EST – THE VICE PRESIDENT will depart Ohio en route Washington, D.C.

White House Press Briefing Schedule*

1:00 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 Thursday, November 18, 2021

Note: Bold hyperlinks spotlight COVID-19 developments.

The White House

North American Leaders’ Summit (NALS)

  • Joint Leaders’ Statement: Building Back Better Together: A Secure, Prosperous North America
  • Fact Sheet: Key Deliverables for the 2021 North American Leaders’ Summit
  • Remarks by President Biden, Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada, and President López Obrador of Mexico Before North American Leaders’ Summit
  • Remarks by President Biden and Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada Before Bilateral Meeting
  • Readout of President Biden’s Meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada
  • Remarks by President Biden and President López Obrador of Mexico Before Bilateral Meeting
  • Readout of President Biden’s Meeting with President Andrés Manuel López Obrador of Mexico
  • Transcript: Background Press Call by Senior Administration Officials Previewing the North American Leaders’ Summit (NALS)

Other Developments

  • Statement of President Joe Biden on Pfizer’s COVID-⁠19 Antiviral Treatment
  • Bills Signed into Law:
    • S. 921, the “Jaime Zapata and Victor Avila Federal Officers and Employees Protection Act,” which grants the United States extraterritorial jurisdiction over certain crimes committed against a Federal officer or employee serving abroad;
    • S. 1502, the “Confidentiality Opportunities for Peer Support Counseling Act” or the “COPS Counseling Act,” which prohibits Federal law enforcement officers from disclosing the contents of peer support communications; and requires the Department of Justice to develop a report on best practices and professional standards for peer support counseling programs for first responder agencies; and
    • S. 1511, the “Protecting America’s First Responders Act of 2021,” which expands eligibility requirements and increases certain benefits provided under the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program administered by the Department of Justice.
  • Remarks by President Biden at Signing of Bills that Extend Critical Support to our Law Enforcement and First Responders
  • Readout of White House Meeting on American Rescue Plan Resources Addressing Home Heating Costs
  • Fact Sheet: Biden Administration Deploys American Rescue Plan Funds to Protect Americans from Rising Home Heating Costs; Calls on Utility Companies to Prevent Shut Offs This Winter
  • Fact Sheet: President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Advances Economic and Public Health Opportunities for Tribal Communities
  • Statement by NSC Spokesperson Emily Horne on Deputy National Security Advisor Anne Neuberger’s Travel to Japan
  • Executive Order on the Termination of Emergency With Respect To the Situation in Burundi
  • Message to Congress on the Termination of Emergency with Respect to the Situation in Burundi
  • Executive Order on Nondisplacement of Qualified Workers Under Service Contracts
  • Fact Sheet: President Biden Signs Executive Order To Ensure Quality Jobs For Service Workers On Federal Contracts
  • Appointments: President Biden Announces Key Regional Appointments for USDA, SBA, EPA, and HHS
  • Nominations Sent to the Senate
  • Transcript: Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, November 18, 2021

Department of Defense (DOD)

  • Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s Meeting with Ukraine’s Minister of Defence Oleksii Reznikov
  • Remarks by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III Welcoming Ukrainian Minister of Defense Oleksii Reznikov to the Pentagon
  • Article: Austin | U.S. Will Work With Ukraine, Allies to Counter Russian Aggression
  • Readout of Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl Virtual Meeting with Alice Guitton, Director General for International Relations and Strategy, French Ministry of the Armed Forces
  • Press Release: DoD Announces Chair for the Defense Policy Board
  • Article: Defense Innovation Unit Publishes ‘Responsible AI Guidelines’
  • Press Release: DoD’s Office of Acquisition and Sustainment Announces 2021 Defense Acquisition Workforce Award Winners
  • Publication: COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Installation Status Update, November 18, 2021
  • Contracts for November 18, 2021

Department of State

Africa

  • November 18: Readout | Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with Nigerian President Buhari
  • November 18: Remarks | Secretary Antony J. Blinken Remarks at the Signing Ceremony for $2.1 Billion Development Assistance Agreement with Nigerian Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Nigerian Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama
  • November 18: Remarks | Secretary Antony J. Blinken and Nigerian Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama at a Joint Press Availability | Abuja, Nigeria
  • November 18: Fact Sheet | The United States and Nigeria: Strategic Partners
  • November 18: Remarks | Secretary Antony J. Blinken to Mission Kenya Staff | Nairobi, Kenya
  • November 18: Remarks | Secretary Antony J. Blinken at an Ocean Plastics Event | Nairobi, Kenya
  • November 18: Interview | Secretary Antony J. Blinken with Linus Kaikai of Citizen TV | Nairobi, Kenya
  • November 18: Statement | Termination of Burundi Sanctions Program
  • November 18: Advisory | U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Feltman Visits Ethiopia

Other Department Developments

  • November 18: Readout | Deputy Secretary Sherman’s Meeting with Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Mori
  • November 18: Statement | Joint Statement on the 12th U.S.-Japan Policy Cooperation Dialogue on the Internet Economy
  • November 18: Sanctions | Designation of Iranian Cyber Actors for Attempting to Influence the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election
  • November 18: Statement | G7 Foreign Ministers’ Statement on Belarus
  • November 18: Statement | Treatment of Former President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili
  • November 18: Statement | Joint Statement on the Meeting of the E3 + United States with the Gulf Cooperation Council
  • November 18: Statement | Oman National Day
  • November 18: Statement | Latvia National Day

US Agency for International Development (USAID)

  • Readout: Administrator Power’s Trip to Moldova

US Mission to the United Nations (UN)

  • Readout of Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield’s Meeting with Jordanian Prime Minister Bisher Al-Khasawneh
  • Press Statement from the UN Security Council on Yemen
  • Explanation of Position on Agenda Item 83: Crimes Against Humanity
  • Remarks at a Counterterrorism Committee and ISIL and Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee Joint Briefing on Countering the Financing of Terrorism

Department of the Treasury

  • Statement by Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen on the Deficit Impacts of the Build Back Better Act
  • Sanctions: Treasury Sanctions Senior Houthi Military Officer Overseeing Group’s Seizure of Opposition Property
  • Sanctions: Treasury Sanctions Iran Cyber Actors for Attempting to Influence the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election
  • Press Release: Termination of Burundi Sanctions Program
  • Sanctions List Updates: Termination of Emergency With Respect to Burundi; Foreign Interference in U.S. Election Designations and Designation Update; Yemen-related Designation and Designations Updates

Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC)

  • Press Release: SEC Proposes Updates to Electronic Recordkeeping Requirements
  • Press Release: SEC Proposes Rule to Provide Transparency in the Securities Lending Market
  • Press Release: SEC Announces Enforcement Results for FY 2021
  • Press Release: SEC Charges Promoter with Conducting Cryptocurrency Investment Scams

Department of Justice

  • Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) | Daily Press Releases
  • Speech: Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke Delivers Remarks at Dillard University’s 10th Annual Justice Revius O. Ortique Jr. Lecture on Law and Society
  • Press Release: Two Iranian Nationals Charged for Cyber-Enabled Disinformation and Threat Campaign Designed to Influence the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election
  • Press Release: Four Executives Plead Guilty to Fraud Scheme that Caused Over $4.5 Million in Losses to the Small Business Administration
  • Press Release: Justice Department Settles with Donut Shop Franchise to Resolve Immigration-Related Discrimination Claims
  • Press Release: United States Settles Clean Water Act Claims Against Fishing Companies, Manager and Vessel Chief Engineer for Violations in American Samoa
  • Press Release: Managers of New York Fish Dealer Plead Guilty to Fishing Fraud Conspiracy
  • Press Release: Two Aryan Circle Gang Leaders Convicted on Racketeering Charges
  • Press Release: Justice Department Announces $139 Million for Law Enforcement Hiring to Advance Community Policing
  • Press Release: Former Police Officer Found Guilty of Violating an Arrestee’s Civil Rights by Using Excessive Force
  • Press Release: Georgia Supervisory Correctional Officer Indicted on Obstruction Offenses Related to Assault on Inmate
  • Press Release: Nevada Vacuum Distributor and Salesman Both Convicted by Jury in Conspiracy to Defraud the IRS

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

  • Press Release: Launch of Voluntary Chemical Security Program: ChemLock
  • Press Release: Enduring Security Framework Releases Part II of Security Guidance for 5G Cloud Infrastructures
  • Readout of CBP Acting Commissioner’s Visit to Panama
  • Press Release: Calexico CBP Officers Seize Close to Half a Ton of Methamphetamine (California)
  • Press Release: Laredo Sector Border Patrol and law enforcement partners arrest over 30 individuals inside a stash house (Texas)
  • Press Release: Narcotics smuggler flees from Border Patrol, crashes into civilian vehicle injuring two (Texas)
  • Press Release: SENTRI Inspection Leads CBP to Interception of 47 Live Roosters/Hens at Laredo Port of Entry (Texas)
  • Press Release: Laredo Sector Border Patrol proudly presents the November Youth of the Month Honorees (Texas)
  • Press Release: Baltimore CBP Officers Seize 1,000 Counterfeit and Potentially Dangerous Solar Panels from China (Maryland)

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

  • Press Release: FEMA Region 4 Announces New Youth Preparedness Council Members
  • Press Release: FEMA and KIRO-AM Seattle to Unveil New Emergency Broadcast Studio (Washington State)
  • Press Release: Help is Still Available After Disaster Recovery Centers Close (Pennsylvania)
  • Press Release: What’s Holding up Your Disaster Assistance? Call the FEMA Helpline and Find Out (Louisiana)
  • Press Release: NJ Storm Survivors | FEMA Registration Deadline Approaching (New Jersey)

Department of Commerce

  • Readout of Secretary Gina M. Raimondo’s Official Visit to Malaysia
  • Joint Statement by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and Malaysian Senior Minister of International Trade and Industry Mohamed Azmin Ali
  • Readout of Secretary Gina M. Raimondo’s Meeting with Malaysia’s Minister of Communications and Multimedia, Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Annuar bin Musa
  • Readout of Secretary Gina M. Raimondo’s Meeting with Malaysia’s Senior Minister of International Trade and Industry, Y.B. Dato’ Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali
  • Readout of Secretary Gina M. Raimondo’s Visit with Malaysia Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri bin Yaakob
  • Press Release: The Minority Business Development Agency is Permanently Authorized in Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal
  • Press Release: Department of Commerce’s NTIA Awards First Grants to Tribal Groups Seeking to Expand Broadband
  • Blog: Native Americans Play Critical Role in NOAA Coastal Projects

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

  • Press Release: FTC to Expand Criminal Referral Program to Stop and Deter Corporate Crime

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

  • Press Release: FCC Seeks Comment on the New Affordable Connectivity Program
  • Press Release: FCC Grants Market Access for Kinéis Low-Earth Orbit Satellites
  • Press Release: FCC Proposes Enhanced Competition Incentive Program
  • Press Release: FCC Approves Text-to-988 Access to Suicide Prevention Lifeline
  • Press Release: FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr Announces Telehealth Roundtable

US Export-Import Bank (EXIM)

  • Press Release: EXIM Announces New Business Development and Outreach Division

Department of Agriculture (USDA)

  • Press Release: USDA Announces Additional Farm Service Agency and Rural Development State Directors
  • Press Release: USDA Invests $86 Million to Improve Equitable Access to Jobs, Business Opportunities, Education, Health Care and Housing for Rural People

Department of Interior (DOI)

  • Press Release: Secretary Haaland, Massachusetts Leaders Celebrate Groundbreaking of Nation’s First Commercial Offshore Wind Project in Federal Waters

Department of Transportation

  • Press Release: USDOT Releases State by State Fact Sheets Highlighting Benefits of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

Department of Labor

  • Press Release: Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report
  • Press Release: U.S. Secretary Walsh, Swiss President Parmelin sign memorandum of understanding to expand Registered Apprenticeship programs in the United States
  • Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor orders Houston crane company to pay nearly $24K to worker who refused to violate federal law
  • Press Release: Administrative law judge orders New Jersey federal contractor to pay $549K in back wages to 46 workers after U.S. Department of Labor finds wage violations
  • Press Release: Investigation of Orem bakery, restaurant and grocer recovers $32K in overtime back wages for 8 workers; finds minor doing hazardous work
  • Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor finds federal wage violations, recovers more than $128K in back wages for employees of Vermont insulation, roofing contractor
  • Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor recovers $228K for 35 workers of Maxton contractor that failed to meet federal contract’s wage requirements

Department of Education

  • Press Release: Secretary Cardona, Secretary Walsh, Swiss President Parmelin Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Expand Registered Apprenticeship Programs in the United States
  • Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Approves Puerto Rico’s Plan for Use of American Rescue Plan Funds to Support K-12 Schools and Students, Distributes Remaining $990 Million to Puerto Rico
  • Press Release: U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights Solicits Public Input on Civil Rights Data Collection for 2021-22 School Year

Health & Human Services (HHS)

  • Press Release: Biden Administration Secures 10 Million Courses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 Oral Antiviral Medicine as Additional Tool to Reduce Hospitalizations and Save Lives
  • Press Release: HHS Takes Action to Prevent Discrimination and Strengthen Civil Rights
  • Press Release: HHS Extends Postpartum Coverage in Virginia for Nearly 6,000 People
  • Statement from Secretary Xavier Becerra on National Rural Health Day

Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

  • Press Release: FDA Expands Eligibility for COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters | November 19, 2021