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 receives the President’s Daily Brief | The White House
3:30 p.m. EST – THE PRESIDENT signs into law H.R. 3537, the “Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act”; the Secretary of Health and Human Services attends | South Court Auditorium
VPOTUS’ Schedule*
The Vice President is in California; the White House did not release the Vice President’s schedule for Thursday.
White House Press Briefing Schedule*
12:00 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 Wednesday, December 22, 2021
Note: Bold hyperlinks spotlight COVID-19 developments.
The White House
December 23
- Summary of Summit for Democracy Proceedings
- Proclamation to Modify the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States and for Other Purposes
December 22
- Readout of President Biden’s Supply Chain Convening
- Remarks by President Biden in Meeting with the Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force
- Fact Sheet: Biden-Harris Administration Efforts to Tackle Prices for Americans
- Statement by Press Secretary Jen Psaki on the Supreme Court’s Announcement of a Special Hearing (re: OSHA Vaccine-or-Test Mandate for Employers & CMS Vaccine Mandate)
- Statement by President Joe Biden On the FDA Emergency Authorization of the Pfizer COVID-19 Antiviral Treatment
- Statement from Senior Advisor and Chief Spokesperson Symone Sanders on Staff Member Close Contact to the Vice President
- Readout by NSC Spokesperson Emily Horne of Meeting with European Commission on COVID-19 and Global Health Security
- Transcript: Press Briefing by White House COVID-19 Response Team and Public Health Officials
- Transcript: Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, December 22, 2021
- Executive Order on Adjustments of Certain Rates of Pay
- Statement by President Joe Biden Extending the Pause on Student Loan Repayment an Additional 90 Days
- Statement by President Biden on 4.6 Million Americans Gaining Health Insurance This Year
- Bill Signed into Law: S. 3377
- Joint Statement on Meeting of the U.S.-Israel Strategic Consultative Group
- Readout from NSC Spokesperson Emily Horne on Senior Administration Official Travel to Israel and the West Bank
- Fact Sheet: Biden-Harris Administration Mobilizes Resources to Connect Tribal Nations to Reliable, High-Speed Internet
- Statement by Press Secretary Jen Psaki on FMCS Personnel Designation
- Proclamation on the 50th Anniversary Of The National Cancer Act Of 1971
Department of Defense (DOD)
- Press Release: COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Installation Status Update December 22, 2021
- Press Release: Defense Production Act Title III Presidential Determination for Radiation-Hardened and Strategic Radiation-Hardened Microelectronics Production Capability
- Press Release: Defense Production Act Title III Presidential Determinations for Submarine Industrial Base Production Capacity Essential to the Virginia Class Attack Submarine Program
- Article: A Model of Selfless Service
- Article: National Cyber Director Unveils New Approach at Cyber War College Conference
- Press Release: DoD Releases 2022 Continental U.S. Cost-of-Living Allowance Rates
- Article: Actor Morgan Freeman Was Air Force Radar Repairman
- Contracts for December 22, 2021
Department of State
- Daily Schedule | Thursday, December 23
- December 22: Readout | Secretary Blinken’s Call with EU High Representative Borrell (Ukraine/Russia; China/Lithuania)
- December 22: Readout | Secretary Blinken’s Call with Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Al-Thani (re: Afghanistan/Afghan refugees)
- December 22: Statement | Issuance of Additional General Licenses and Guidance in Support of Assistance to Afghanistan
- December 22: Sanctions | Designation of al-Qa’ida Network in Brazil
- December 22: Sanctions | Public Designation of Former Maltese Public Officials Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri Due to Involvement in Significant Corruption
US Agency for International Development (USAID)
- Statement from Administrator Samantha Power on New General Licenses to Continue Supporting Vital Assistance to Afghans
US Mission to the United Nations (UN)
- Joint Statement Following Russia’s Arria-Formula Meeting
- Remarks at a UN Security Council Arria-Formula Meeting on the Situation with National Minorities and Glorification of Nazism in Baltic and Black Sea
- Explanation of Vote Following the Adoption of the UN Security Council Resolution 2615 (2021) (re: Afghans)
- Press Release: Introduction of the UN Security Council 1988 Humanitarian Resolution (re: Afghans)
- Remarks by Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield upon Receiving the Foreign Press Correspondents Honorary Award for Lifetime Contributions to Public Service
Department of the Treasury
- Readout: Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo’s Meeting with Nongovernmental Organizations Operating in Afghanistan
- Press Release: Treasury Issues Additional General Licenses and Guidance in Support of Humanitarian Assistance and Other Support to Afghanistan
- Sanctions: Treasury Designates al-Qa’ida Support Network in Brazil
- Sanctions List Updates: Provision of Humanitarian Assistance to Afghanistan and Support for the Afghan People, Issuance of Afghanistan-related Counter Terrorism General Licenses, and related Frequently Asked Questions; Counter Terrorism Designations
Department of Justice
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) | Daily Press Releases
- Press Release: Justice Department Announces Global Resolution of Criminal and Civil Investigations with Privatized Military Housing Contractor for Defrauding U.S. Military
- Press Release: Justice Department Awards Almost $141 Million to Protect Children
- Press Release: Department of Justice Awards More Than $300 Million to Fight Opioid and Stimulant Crisis and to Address Substance Use Disorders
- Press Release: Federal-State Clean Water Act Settlement Resolves Sewer Overflow Violations in Bucks County, Pennsylvania
- Press Release: Taylor Energy Company to Pay Over $43 Million and Transfer $432 Million Decommissioning Trust Fund to the United States for Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill
- Press Release: Biglari Holdings Inc. to Pay Civil Penalty for Repeat Violation of Antitrust Pre-Transaction Notification Requirements
- Press Release: Founder of Werner Enterprises to Pay Civil Penalty for Violating Antitrust Pre-Transaction Notification Requirements
- Press Release: Justice Department Awards More Than $110 Million to Support Currently and Formerly Incarcerated Individuals
- Press Release: Georgia Man Pleads Guilty to Orchestrating Nationwide Tax Fraud Scheme
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)/Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
- Press Release: CISA, FBI, NSA and International Partners Issue Advisory to Mitigate Apache Log4J Vulnerabilities
- Press Release: Two US Citizens Arrested for Attempting to Smuggle Close to 83K of Narcotics through the Checkpoint (California)
- Press Release: Laredo Sector Border Patrol and Texas DPS shut down stash houses (Texas)
- Press Release: Multiple vehicle stops lead to stash houses discoveries (Texas)
- Press Release: Significant seizure of cocaine and fentanyl in Sierra Blanca (Texas)
- Press Release: CBP Officers Seize over $600K in Methamphetamine at Hidalgo International Bridge (Texas)
- Press Release: Mara-Salvatrucha and Paisa Gang Members Arrested in RGV (Texas)
- Press Release: Air and Marine Operations to accept delivery of final 41-foot SAFE Boat (Washington, D.C.)
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
- Link to FEMA press releases
Department of Commerce
- Press Release: Commerce Awards $4.2 Million to Expand Broadband for Tribal Communities in Arizona, Colorado, Wisconsin
- Press Release: U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo Highlights Key 2021 Departmental Accomplishments
- Blog: CHARIoT Challenge Winners’ Solutions Strike Balance Between Function and Data
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
- Press Release: FTC Finalizes Order with Mortgage Analytics Firm, Requiring it to Strengthen Security Safeguards, Increase Oversight of Vendors
- Press Release: FTC Fines Clarence L. Werner, Founder of the Truckload Carrier Werner Enterprises, Inc. for Repeatedly Violating Antitrust Laws
- Press Release: FTC Fines Biglari Holdings Inc. for Repeatedly Violating Antitrust Laws
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
- Press Release: FERC Staff Issues the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline Restoration Project and the Supply Header Restoration Project (CP15-554-009 and CP15-555-007)
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Link to daily EPA press releases
Department of Transportation
- Press Release: U.S. Department of Transportation Announces Loan of Up to $250.29 Million to the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority for 183N Mobility Project
- Press Release: U.S. Department of Transportation Announces up to $26.9 Million in Financing for the LA 3241 Project in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana
- Press Release: U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg Highlights Department’s Work to Combat Human Trafficking
Department of Labor
- Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor awards $5M grant to combat illegal fishing, improve working conditions in Peru, Ecuador’s fishing sectors
- Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor awards $8.3M in funding to Kentucky to support tornado clean up, recovery after recent devastation
Department of Education
- Press Release: Biden-Harris Administration Extends Student Loan Pause Through May 1, 2022
Health & Human Services (HHS)
- Press Release: New Guidance to Boost Accessibility and Equity in COVID-19 Vaccine Programs
- Press Release: Massachusetts Healthcare Provider Resolves Allegations of Discriminatory Practices Regarding Patients Needing Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
- Press Release: All-Time High: 13.6 Million People Signed Up for Health Coverage on the ACA Insurance Marketplaces With a Month of Open Enrollment Left to Go
Food & Drug Administration (FDA)
- Press Release: FDA Announces Outbreak Investigation of Listeria monocytogenes Found in Dole Packaged Salad
- Press Release: FDA Authorizes First Oral Antiviral for Treatment of COVID-19
