This report provides a snapshot of the US Executive Branch priorities via daily schedules and the prior day’s press releases.
POTUS’ Schedule*
9:00 a.m. ET – THE PRESIDENT speaks with His Excellency Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China | Situation Room
11:00 a.m. ET – THE PRESIDENT receives the President’s Daily Brief
1:30 p.m. ET – THE PRESIDENT meets with researchers and patients to discuss ARPA-H, a new cutting-edge health research agency that will accelerate progress on curing cancer and other health innovations | South Court Auditorium
5:10 p.m. ET – THE PRESIDENT departs the White House en route Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
6:10 p.m. ET – THE PRESIDENT arrives in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
VPOTUS’ Schedule*
The White House had yet to release the Vice President’s schedule for Friday.
Looking Ahead: The Vice President will travel to Sunset, Louisiana, on Monday, March 21, (instead of today) to highlight the Biden-Harris Administration’s historic investments in affordable, accessible high-speed internet.
White House Press Briefing Schedule*
2:30 p.m. ET – 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, March 17, 2022
Note: Bold hyperlinks spotlight COVID-19 developments
The White House
- Readout of President Biden’s Virtual Meeting with Taoiseach Micheál Martin of Ireland
- Remarks by President Biden and Prime Minister Martin of Ireland Before Virtual Bilateral Meeting
- Remarks by President Biden at the Annual Friends of Ireland Luncheon
- Remarks by President Biden at the Presentation of the Shamrocks
- Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by First Lady Jill Biden to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day
- Transcript: Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, March 17, 2022
- Statement by Press Secretary Jen Psaki on President Biden’s Call with President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China (Mar. 18)
- Appointments: President Biden Announces Key Regional Appointments for USDA, FEMA, and HUD
- Statement by President Joe Biden on the White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator
- Fact Sheet: Biden Administration Launches Effort to Improve Ventilation and Reduce the Spread of COVID-19 in Buildings
Department of Defense (DOD)
- Transcript: Senior Defense Official Holds a Background Briefing (UKR, RUS)
- Article: No Russian Shelling on Ukraine Observed in Last 24 Hours, DOD Official Says
- Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s Meeting With Canadian Minister of National Defence Anita Anand
- Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s Meeting With Danish Minister of Defence Morten Bødskov
- Transcript: Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Slovakia Minister of Defense Jaroslav Nad’ Hold A Press Conference, Bratislava, Slovakia, March 17, 2022
- Article: Slovakian Defense Minister Says Military Spending at 2% Should Be Base, Not Target
- Article: General Says China Is Seeking a Naval Base in West Africa
- Article: Commander Details How U.S. Africa Command Furthers Defense Goals
- Article: AFRICOM Working to Help Nations Develop Professional NCOs
- Press Release: DoD Announces Release of JADC2 Implementation Plan
- Publication: Summary of the Joint All-Domain Command (JADC2) and Control Strategy
- Press Release: Deputy Secretary of Defense Releases Workplace Guidance for Reentry of Department of Defense Civilian Personnel to DoD Workplaces
- Publication: DoD Workplace Guidance for Final Reentry of DoD Civilian Personnel
- Article: TRICARE Pharmacy’s Home Delivery Offers Safe, Convenient Option to Get Medicines
- Advisory: Guantanamo Periodic Review Board Media Invitation Announced March 22, 2022
- Contracts for March 17, 2022
U.S. Army
- Press Release: SETAF-AF, 173rd Paratroopers strengthen interoperability with Tunisian partners
U.S. National Guard
- Press Release: Nebraska Guard shares NCO leadership in Rwanda SPP exchange
Department of State
- Daily Schedule | Friday, March 18
Europe
- March 17: Statement | U.S.-Croatia Joint Statement
- March 17: Remarks | Secretary Antony J. Blinken at a Press Availability (UKR, RUS)
- March 17: Statement | On the Occasion of St. Patrick’s Day
Middle East
- March 17: Readout | Secretary Blinken’s Call with Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Al-Thani (UKR, AFG)
Africa
- March 17: Statement | The United States Imposes Sanctions for Illicit Gold Trade in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
COVID-19
- March 17: Statement | The United States Shares 500 Million COVID-19 Vaccine Doses Worldwide
Climate Change
- March 17: Advisory | Special Presidential Envoy for Climate Kerry’s Travel to Monaco, France, and Qatar
US Agency for International Development (USAID)
- Readout: Administrator Samantha Power’s Meeting with United Nations World Food Program Executive Director David Beasley
- Interview: Administrator Samantha Power on CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360
- Press Release: Marking Delivery of Half a Billion U.S.-Donated COVID-19 Vaccines
- Press Release: USAID and Mastercard Partnership Fosters Digital Empowerment of Women (India)
US Mission to the United Nations (UN)
- Remarks by Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield at a UN Security Council Meeting on the Humanitarian Crisis Caused by Russia’s War Against Ukraine
- Remarks by Amb. Thomas-Greenfield in Response to Russia at a UN Security Council Meeting on the Humanitarian Crisis Caused by Russia’s War in Ukraine
- Transcript: Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield’s Interview with Ronald Kato of AfricaNews (UKR)
- Readout of Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield’s Meeting with Bahamian Minister for Social Services and Urban Development Lisa Rahming
- Explanation of Vote Following the Adoption of UN Security Council Resolution on the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan
- Explanation of Position at the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (Part 1)
- Explanation of Position at the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (Part 1)
Department of the Treasury
- Press Release: Russian Elites, Proxies, and Oligarchs Task Force Ministerial Joint Statement
- Sanctions: Treasury Sanctions Alain Goetz and a Network of Companies Involved in the Illicit Gold Trade [DRC]
- Sanctions List Updates: Democratic Republic of the Congo-Related Designations
- Readout: Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen’s Meeting with the Consumer Brands Association
- Readout: Under Secretary of the Treasury Brian Nelson’s Visit to South Africa
- Readout: Treasury Climate Counselor and SPEC Senior Advisor Discuss Collaboration to Accelerate Energy Transition
Department of Justice
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) | Daily Press Releases
- Press Release: Russian Elites, Proxies, and Oligarchs Task Force Ministerial Joint Statement
- Speech: Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Delivers Remarks at Awards Ceremony for Recipients of Fifth Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing in DeKalb County, Georgia
- Speech: Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta Delivers Remarks at Awards Ceremony for Recipients of Fifth Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing in DeKalb County, Georgia
- Press Release: Justice Department Honors Fifth Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing
- Speech: Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Delivers Remarks at International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Officer Safety and Wellness Symposium
- Speech: Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta Delivers Remarks at International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Officer Safety and Wellness Symposium
- Press Release: Contractors Indicted for Rigging Bids on Subcontract Work and Defrauding U.S. Military Bases in South Korea
- Press Release: Justice Department and FTC Launch Listening Forums on Firsthand Effects of Mergers and Acquisitions
- Press Release: Justice Department Sues to Block Verzatec’s Proposed Acquisition of Crane
- Press Release: Serial Child Sex Offender Sentenced to Life in Prison for Child Exploitation Offenses
- Press Release: Justice Department Secures Settlement to Resolve Disability Discrimination Against People with Opioid Use Disorder
- Press Release: Father and Son Convicted of $1.7 Million COVID-19 Relief Fraud
- Press Release: Former West Virginia Police Officer Sentenced for Using Excessive Force
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS)/Customs & Border Protection (CBP)
- Press Release: Secretary Mayorkas Announces New Homeland Security Advisory Council Members
- Press Release: USCIS Urges Eligible Individuals to Consider Applying for Adjustment of Status in the EB-2 Category Based on the April Visa Bulletin Date for Filing for India
- Press Release: Laredo Sector Border Patrol Agents shut down stash house (Texas)
- Press Release: Law Enforcement Works Together to Arrest 34 Migrants in the RGV (Texas)
- Press Release: Del Rio Border Patrol Agents Arrest Two Felons in One Day (Texas)
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
- Link to daily press releases
Department of Commerce
- Readout of Deputy Secretary Graves Meeting with Uzbekistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Sardor Umurzakov
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
- Press Release: The Federal Trade Commission’s First Report on E-Cigarette Sales and Advertising Reveals Disturbing Trends Affecting the Health of Young Americans
- Press Release: FTC and Justice Department Launch Listening Forums on Firsthand Effects of Mergers and Acquisitions
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
- Press Release: FCC Initiates Inquiry on Preventing Digital Discrimination
- Press Release: FCC Announces Final Group of Connected Care Pilot Program Projects
- Press Release: FCC Announces Meeting of CSRIC VIII on March 30, 2022
- Press Release: FCC Announces Second Video Programming Accessibility Forum
US Export-Import Bank (EXIM)
- Press Release: EXIM Chair’s Council on China Competition Meets to Discuss Current State of Global Competition, Subcommittee Recommendations
Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- Press Release: USDA Announces Partnership with Northwest Seaport Alliance to Ease Port Congestion and Restore Disrupted Shipping Services to U.S. Grown Agricultural Commodities
- Press Release: USDA Announces Actions on Nutrition Security
- Press Release: USDA Now Accepting Applications for the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program, Providing Up To $200 Million to Purchase Local Food for Schools
- Press Release: USDA Announces Additional Farm Service Agency and Rural Development State Directors
Department of Interior (DOI)
- Press Release: Biden-Harris Administration Releases Draft Guidance, Invites Public Comment on New Orphaned Well Program
- Press Release: Secretary Haaland Takes Equity and Inclusion to the Next Level at SXSW
- Press Release: Deputy Secretary Beaudreau Highlights Investments from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in Western Tour
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Press Release: EPA Updates Superfund National Priorities List to Clean Up Pollution, Address Public Health Risks, and Build a Better America
- Press Release: EPA Announces the “Clean Air in Buildings Challenge” to Help Building Owners and Operators Improve Indoor Air Quality and Protect Public Health
- Link to other EPA press releases
Department of Labor
- Press Release: Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report
- Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor sues New York ophthalmologist, practice for firing employee who reported COVID-19 hazards
- Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor education, enforcement campaign seeks to increase Southeast agricultural industry’s compliance
Department of Education
- Press Release: Secretary Cardona, Admiral Levine Hold Virtual Listening, Learning Roundtable with LGBTQI+ Students and Families from Florida
Food & Drug Administration (FDA)
- Press Release: FDA, Reagan-Udall Foundation to Hold Important Public Workshop to Discuss Naloxone Access
Housing & Urban Development (HUD)
- Press Release: Federal Housing Administration Insures $12 Million Mortgage for Urban Redevelopment of Affordable Multifamily Housing in Baltimore