Presidential Actions

     Too many Americans know the pain of losing a loved one to Alzheimer’s — a leading cause of death in older adults.  During National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, we honor the courage and resilience of all those facing this devastating disease.  We recommit to supporting every caregiver who pours their heart into helping people with Alzheimer’s face this disease with dignity.  And we strengthen our resolve to do everything we can to prevent, treat, and eliminate Alzheimer’s as we know it.

     Currently, over six million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease, which robs people of their memories, clarity, and identity — taking a difficult emotional, financial, and physical toll on people facing the disease and the loved ones standing by their side.  Alzheimer’s also disproportionately impacts African Americans and Latino Americans, who are more likely to develop dementias than people of any other race or ethnicity.  People with Down syndrome also have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s.

     My Administration has taken steps to drive new breakthroughs toward preventing, detecting, and treating Alzheimer’s.  I secured $4 billion for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, directing funding to researchers and innovators who are pioneering new techniques and technologies to transform the lives of people with Alzheimer’s and improve human health outcomes.  I was also proud to sign the reauthorization of the National Alzheimer’s Project Act and the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act, ensuring the Federal Government is doubling down on our commitment to address Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.  The National Institutes of Health is funding new clinical trials that are doing cutting-edge work to improve the lives of people with Alzheimer’s — from pursuing new drugs that could prevent and treat dementia to improving cognition and memory for those who have it.

     My Administration is committed to supporting the caregivers who care for people with Alzheimer’s.  I signed the Executive Order on Increasing Access to High-Quality Care and Supporting Caregivers — the most comprehensive set of executive actions any President has ever taken to improve care for hardworking families while supporting care workers and family caregivers.  In response, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) launched the GUIDE Model, which offers a package of respite services, caregiver support and education, and care management and coordination for people living with Alzheimer’s and related dementias.  CMS is also continuing to increase access to cognitive care assessments so more people with Alzheimer’s get the resources and care they need.  And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is working to increase access to early detection, prevention, and treatment of dementias like Alzheimer’s.

     During National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, we recommit to improving the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.  We honor all the lives we have lost and all those we can still save.  And we uplift the spirit of hope that countless medical professionals, researchers, and caregivers working to help people with Alzheimer’s carry each day.

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2024 as National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month.  I call on the people of the United States of America to honor and support those living with Alzheimer’s and the many people who continue extraordinary and tireless efforts to combat this disorder and care for those affected by it.  I encourage all Americans to visit Alzheimers.gov for evidence-based resources and information.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

                               JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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     Family caregivers are the backbone of our Nation, making tremendous sacrifices to be there for the people who need and cherish them most.  This month, we honor their selfless love and courage, and we recommit to getting them the support they deserve.  They should know their country has their backs.

     For far too long, the cost of care in this country has been too high.  Today, millions of Americans are part of the so-called sandwich generation, caring for both young kids and aging parents at the same time.  Too many families struggle to afford help, spending their own retirement savings to pay for the care of their loved ones or quitting their own jobs to stay home and provide it themselves.  Most often, it is women who bear the brunt of care work.  And the pay for professional care workers is far too low.    

     In the United States of America, no one should have to choose between caring for a parent who raised them, a child who depends on them, and a paycheck that they need.  That is why I signed the American Rescue Plan, which made the biggest investment in child care ever.  It delivered historic support to over 225,000 child care programs serving as many as 10 million children across the country, helping keep their doors open for millions of working families who rely on them.  It expanded the Child Tax Credit, which helped cut the child poverty rate nearly in half.  Overall, my Administration increased funding for child care by nearly 50 percent while helping States expand and strengthen programs that enable low-income families afford child care as well.  We also required companies seeking significant Federal funding from our CHIPS and Science Act to submit a plan on how they will help employees access affordable child care.  

     We have finalized new rules that strengthen staffing standards in nursing homes to ensure residents can age with dignity.  We have made sure that home care workers get a bigger share of Medicaid payments so more Americans can keep living in their own communities and homes.  And we have worked to increase Medicare resources to promote equitable access to care and caregiver training.  

     But we have to do more to ease the load on America’s 50 million unpaid family caregivers, who too often still shoulder the burden of care all alone.  Through the American Rescue Plan, we devoted $145 million to the National Family Caregiver Support Program, which delivers counseling, training, and short-term relief to family caregivers and other informal care providers.  Furthermore, my Administration released the first-ever National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers, which includes new initiatives that directly support family caregivers and strengthen existing programs.  And I signed a historic Executive Order, representing the most comprehensive set of administrative actions ever to increase access to high-quality child care and long-term care and support for caregivers, including military and veteran caregivers.  The Executive Order is working to make sure caregivers get the support they deserve while building the supply of high-quality care so families have options.  My Administration is continuing to work toward lowering the cost of care across the country and providing stronger paid family and medical leave. 

     How we treat our young children, aging parents, and loved ones and how we value those who care for them are fundamental to who we are as a Nation.  During National Family Caregivers Month, we pledge to get every family caregiver in this country the same kind of relief, respect, and support that they give so selflessly to others.

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2024 as National Family Caregivers Month.  I encourage all Americans to reach out to those who provide care for our Nation’s family members, friends, and neighbors in need to recognize, honor, and thank them.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

                             JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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     Over 38 million Americans, or 1 in every 10 people, have diabetes.  During National Diabetes Month, we raise awareness about this chronic condition and promote the strategies that can prevent and manage it.  We recommit to making treatment more affordable and accessible.  And we strengthen our resolve to find cures.

     Diabetes takes a physical and financial toll on Americans nationwide, and many Americans must decide between paying for treatments and putting food on the table.  Insulin — a life-saving drug for some people with diabetes — can cost Americans upwards of $300, even though it costs drug companies as little as $10 per vial to make.  Some Americans end up rationing their medication, which can have serious effects on their health and well-being.  While Big Pharma makes record profits, Americans pay exorbitant prices — higher than anywhere else in the world.  It is unacceptable.  No one should have to lie awake at night wondering if they can afford their medical bills or their insulin prescription.

     Since I came into office, I have worked to ensure that health care is a right in this country, not a privilege — and that meant lowering the cost of insulin.  That is why my Administration took on Big Pharma and won.  I signed the Inflation Reduction Act, which capped the cost of insulin at $35 for people on Medicare.  And the largest manufacturer of insulin in the United States answered my call to lower the cost to $35 per month for everyone.  My Inflation Reduction Act also empowered Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices, lowering the costs of medications used to treat common diseases, including drugs that treat diabetes.  Further, that law requires drug companies that raise prices faster than inflation to pay Medicare back the difference, saving seniors up to $618 per dose of medication.  Moreover, beginning in 2025, the Inflation Reduction Act will cap total out-of-pocket drug costs at $2,000 per year for people on Medicare.  There is still more to do, but this will help ensure Americans — including those with diabetes — have the dignity, security, and peace of mind they deserve.

     My Administration is also working to drive new breakthroughs in preventing, detecting, and treating diabetes while ensuring that Americans have the resources they need to lead healthy lifestyles.  I secured $4 billion for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health to make strides in transforming the prevention, detection, and treatment of deadly diseases like diabetes.  We have seen enormous research advances in recent years to develop promising new diabetes drugs, including the first cell therapy for adults with Type 1 diabetes and the first new oral medication for children with Type 2 diabetes in decades.  At the same time, we recognize that the impact of Type 2 diabetes can be greatly decreased through improvements in nutrition and physical activity.  My Administration announced new standards for school meals to improve their nutritional value and give schools the option to require locally produced, unprocessed menu ingredients.  We also held the first White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in over 50 years, bringing together advocates, health care providers, food companies, and officials from every level of government.  As a part of that conference, we launched the White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities.  In total, we have secured more than $10 billion in bold, new commitments from the public and private sectors to end hunger and reduce diet-related diseases like diabetes.

     My Administration also recognizes that tens of millions of Americans have prediabetes and are at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes within 5 years.  Diabetes increases one’s risk of heart attack, cancer, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, and the loss of toes, feet, or legs.  Many of these cases are preventable, and the risk factors are often related to poor nutrition and inadequate physical activity.  To learn more about the risks and how to address prediabetes and help prevent Type 2 diabetes, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Diabetes Prevention Program:  cdc.gov/diabetes-prevention. 

     During National Diabetes Month, we celebrate the resilience and courage of all those affected by diabetes.  We thank the dedicated medical professionals, loved ones, and advocates who support this community.  And we recommit to working around the clock to improve care for those affected and get us closer to finding cures.

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2024 as National Diabetes Month.  I call upon all Americans, school systems, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, health care providers, research institutions, and other interested groups to join in activities that raise diabetes awareness and help prevent, treat, and manage this disease.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

                             JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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On October 25, 2024, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands and ordered Federal assistance to supplement territory and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by Tropical Storm Ernesto from August 13 to August 16, 2024.

Federal funding is available to territory and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by Tropical Storm Ernesto in the islands of St. Croix, St. John, St. Thomas, and Water Island.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for the entire territory.

Lai Sun Yee of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been appointed to coordinate Federal recovery operations in the affected areas. 

Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the territory and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), or by using the FEMA App. Anyone using a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, can give FEMA the number for that service. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT THE FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV.

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Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists for the Havasupai Tribe and ordered federal aid to supplement the Tribal Nation’s efforts in the areas affected by flooding from August 22 to August 23, 2024.

The President’s action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals for the Havasupai Tribe.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Federal funding also is available to the Havasupai Tribe and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the flooding.

Lastly, Federal funding is available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for the Havasupai Tribe.

Mr. Benigno Bern Ruiz of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been appointed to coordinate Federal recovery operations in the affected areas. 

Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the Tribal Nation and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), or by using the FEMA App. Anyone using a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, can give FEMA the number for that service. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT THE FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV.

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On November 3, 1997, by Executive Order 13067, the President declared a national emergency with respect to Sudan pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) and took related steps to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States posed by the actions and policies of the Government of Sudan.  On April 26, 2006, by Executive Order 13400, the President determined that the conflict in Sudan’s Darfur region posed an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States, expanded the scope of the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13067, and ordered the blocking of property of certain persons connected to the Darfur region.  On October 13, 2006, by Executive Order 13412, the President took additional steps with respect to the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13067 and expanded in Executive Order 13400.  In Executive Order 13412, the President also took steps to implement the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-344).

     On January 13, 2017, by Executive Order 13761, the President found that positive efforts by the Government of Sudan between July 2016 and January 2017 improved certain conditions that Executive Orders 13067 and 13412 were intended to address.  Given these developments, and in order to encourage the Government of Sudan to sustain and enhance these efforts, section 1 of Executive Order 13761 provided that sections 1 and 2 of Executive Order 13067 and the entirety of Executive Order 13412 would be revoked as of July 12, 2017, provided that the criteria in section 12(b) of Executive Order 13761 had been met.

     On July 11, 2017, by Executive Order 13804, the President amended Executive Order 13761, extending until October 12, 2017, the effective date in section 1 of Executive Order 13761.  On October 12, 2017, pursuant to Executive Order 13761, as amended by Executive Order 13804, sections 1 and 2 of Executive Order 13067 and the entirety of Executive Order 13412 were revoked. 

     On May 4, 2023, by Executive Order 14098, I further expanded the scope of the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13067, finding that the situation in Sudan, including the military’s seizure of power in October 2021 and the outbreak of inter-service fighting in April 2023, constituted an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. 

     The crisis that led to the declaration of a national emergency in Executive Order 13067 of November 3, 1997; the expansion of the scope of that emergency in Executive Order 13400 of April 26, 2006; the taking of additional steps with respect to that emergency in Executive Order 13412 of October 13, 2006, Executive Order 13761 of January 13, 2017, and Executive Order 13804 of July 11, 2017; and the further expansion of the scope of that emergency in Executive Order 14098 of May 4, 2023, has not been resolved.  The policies and actions of the Government of Sudan, and the situation in Sudan and Darfur, continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.  For this reason, the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13067, as expanded by Executive Orders 13400 and 14098, must continue in effect beyond November 3, 2024. 

     This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted to the Congress.

                               JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

THE WHITE HOUSE,

    October 25, 2024.

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On National First Responders Day, we recognize and celebrate all the brave first responders across our country who risk their lives to keep the rest of us safe.

     Our first responders represent the best of who we are as a people.  They are the police officers and sheriff’s deputies who answer our calls, ready to help, no matter the situation.  They are the firefighters running toward the flames to protect our communities.  They are emergency medical technicians, paramedics, 911 dispatchers, 988 crisis responders, and all the medical professionals providing emergency care, who sacrifice so much to be there for us when a crisis hits.  Our first responders are everyday heroes, and we are so grateful for their service.  In the wake of Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene, we witnessed the courage and bravery of our first responders firsthand and just how much they sacrifice to keep the rest of us safe, including the brave search and rescue teams who have saved thousands of lives in the aftermath of the storms.

     My Administration is committed to supporting our first responders and ensuring they have access to the resources they need to thrive.  During the COVID-19 pandemic, I signed the American Rescue Plan to keep first responders on the job, which provided billions of dollars to help cities, States, and Tribal Nations retain and hire more law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency health providers and pay their bonuses and overtime.  I also signed the Protecting America’s First Responders Act, which expanded death, disability, and education benefits for first responders killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty and their families.  My Administration is also making sure that firefighters are getting the health care they need by launching the National Firefighter Registry for Cancer — our Nation’s largest effort to reduce the risk of cancer among firefighters — providing access to job-related disability benefits for firefighters diagnosed with certain kinds of cancer or lung disease, and protecting firefighters from toxic PFAS chemicals in their gear and equipment.

     My Administration is working to make our communities safer and more resilient while keeping our first responders safe.  I signed the most significant gun safety law in nearly 30 years while also strengthening background checks for gun purchasers and cracking down on illegal gun sales and ghost guns.  And my Investing in America agenda included funding to make our communities more resilient to natural disasters.

     This month, Vice President Harris and I visited North Carolina and Florida in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton.  Lives were lost.  Entire neighborhoods had been turned into debris.  Portions of entire cities were underwater.  But our first responders stepped up in this time of need, picking up the pieces and acting as a source of strength for everyone else.  Today, may we honor the critical role first responders play in our lives — showing up in our darkest times to provide hope, light, and care.

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 28, 2024, as National First Responders Day.  I call upon all the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities to honor our brave first responders and to pay tribute to those who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fifth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

                               JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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MEMORANDUM FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT

               THE SECRETARY OF STATE

               THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY

               THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE

               THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

               THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE

               THE SECRETARY OF ENERGY

               THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

               THE SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY

               THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET

               THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE

               THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO THE UNITED NATIONS

               THE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY

               THE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OF STAFF

               THE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR NATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS

               THE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR ECONOMIC

                  POLICY AND DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCIL

               THE CHAIR OF THE COUNCIL OF ECONOMIC ADVISERS

               THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY

               THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

               THE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

               THE DIRECTOR OF THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

               THE NATIONAL CYBER DIRECTOR

               THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE POLICY

               THE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY

               THE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL GEOSPATIAL-INTELLIGENCE AGENCY

               THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY

SUBJECT:       Advancing the United States’ Leadership in

               Artificial Intelligence; Harnessing Artificial

               Intelligence to Fulfill National Security

               Objectives; and Fostering the Safety, Security,

               and Trustworthiness of Artificial Intelligence

     Section 1.  Policy.  (a)  This memorandum fulfills the directive set forth in subsection 4.8 of Executive Order 14110 of October 30, 2023 (Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence).  This memorandum provides further direction on appropriately harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) models and AI-enabled technologies in the United States Government, especially in the context of national security systems (NSS), while protecting human rights, civil rights, civil liberties, privacy, and safety in AI-enabled national security activities.  A classified annex to this memorandum addresses additional sensitive national security issues, including countering adversary use of AI that poses risks to United States national security.

     (b)  United States national security institutions have historically triumphed during eras of technological transition.  To meet changing times, they developed new capabilities, from submarines and aircraft to space systems and cyber tools.  To gain a decisive edge and protect national security, they pioneered technologies such as radar, the Global Positioning System, and nuclear propulsion, and unleashed these hard-won breakthroughs on the battlefield.  With each paradigm shift, they also developed new systems for tracking and countering adversaries’ attempts to wield cutting-edge technology for their own advantage.

     (c)  AI has emerged as an era-defining technology and has demonstrated significant and growing relevance to national security.  The United States must lead the world in the responsible application of AI to appropriate national security functions.  AI, if used appropriately and for its intended purpose, can offer great benefits.  If misused, AI could threaten United States national security, bolster authoritarianism worldwide, undermine democratic institutions and processes, facilitate human rights abuses, and weaken the rules-based international order.  Harmful outcomes could occur even without malicious intent if AI systems and processes lack sufficient protections.

     (d)  Recent innovations have spurred not only an increase in AI use throughout society, but also a paradigm shift within the AI field — one that has occurred mostly outside of Government.  This era of AI development and deployment rests atop unprecedented aggregations of specialized computational power, as well as deep scientific and engineering expertise, much of which is concentrated in the private sector.  This trend is most evident with the rise of large language models, but it extends to a broader class of increasingly general-purpose and computationally intensive systems.  The United States Government must urgently consider how this current AI paradigm specifically could transform the national security mission.

     (e)  Predicting technological change with certainty is impossible, but the foundational drivers that have underpinned recent AI progress show little sign of abating.  These factors include compounding algorithmic improvements, increasingly efficient computational hardware, a growing willingness in industry to invest substantially in research and development, and the expansion of training data sets.  AI under the current paradigm may continue to become more powerful and general-purpose.  Developing and effectively using these systems requires an evolving array of resources, infrastructure, competencies, and workflows that in many cases differ from what was required to harness prior technologies, including previous paradigms of AI.

     (f)  If the United States Government does not act with responsible speed and in partnership with industry, civil society, and academia to make use of AI capabilities in service of the national security mission — and to ensure the safety, security, and trustworthiness of American AI innovation writ large — it risks losing ground to strategic competitors.  Ceding the United States’ technological edge would not only greatly harm American national security, but it would also undermine United States foreign policy objectives and erode safety, human rights, and democratic norms worldwide.

     (g)  Establishing national security leadership in AI will require making deliberate and meaningful changes to aspects of the United States Government’s strategies, capabilities, infrastructure, governance, and organization.  AI is likely to affect almost all domains with national security significance, and its use cannot be relegated to a single institutional silo.  The increasing generality of AI means that many functions that to date have been served by individual bespoke tools may, going forward, be better fulfilled by systems that, at least in part, rely on a shared, multi-purpose AI capability.  Such integration will only succeed if paired with appropriately redesigned United States Government organizational and informational infrastructure.

     (h)  In this effort, the United States Government must also protect human rights, civil rights, civil liberties, privacy, and safety, and lay the groundwork for a stable and responsible international AI governance landscape.  Throughout its history, the United States has been a global leader in shaping the design, development, and use of new technologies not only to advance national security, but also to protect and promote democratic values.  The United States Government must develop safeguards for its use of AI tools, and take an active role in steering global AI norms and institutions.  The AI frontier is moving quickly, and the United States Government must stay attuned to ongoing technical developments without losing focus on its guiding principles.

     (i)  This memorandum aims to catalyze needed change in how the United States Government approaches AI national security policy.  In line with Executive Order 14110, it directs actions to strengthen and protect the United States AI ecosystem; improve the safety, security, and trustworthiness of AI systems developed and used in the United States; enhance the United States Government’s appropriate, responsible, and effective adoption of AI in service of the national security mission; and minimize the misuse of AI worldwide.

Sec. 2.  Objectives.  It is the policy of the United States Government that the following three objectives will guide its activities with respect to AI and national security.

     (a)  First, the United States must lead the world’s development of safe, secure, and trustworthy AI.  To that end, the United States Government must — in partnership with industry, civil society, and academia — promote and secure the foundational capabilities across the United States that power AI development.  The United States Government cannot take the unmatched vibrancy and innovativeness of the United States AI ecosystem for granted; it must proactively strengthen it, ensuring that the United States remains the most attractive destination for global talent and home to the world’s most sophisticated computational facilities.  The United States Government must also provide appropriate safety and security guidance to AI developers and users, and rigorously assess and help mitigate the risks that AI systems could pose.

     (b)  Second, the United States Government must harness powerful AI, with appropriate safeguards, to achieve national security objectives.  Emerging AI capabilities, including increasingly general-purpose models, offer profound opportunities for enhancing national security, but employing these systems effectively will require significant technical, organizational, and policy changes.  The United States must understand AI’s limitations as it harnesses the technology’s benefits, and any use of AI must respect democratic values with regard to transparency, human rights, civil rights, civil liberties, privacy, and safety.

     (c)  Third, the United States Government must continue cultivating a stable and responsible framework to advance international AI governance that fosters safe, secure, and trustworthy AI development and use; manages AI risks; realizes democratic values; respects human rights, civil rights, civil liberties, and privacy; and promotes worldwide benefits from AI.  It must do so in collaboration with a wide range of allies and partners.  Success for the United States in the age of AI will be measured not only by the preeminence of United States technology and innovation, but also by the United States’ leadership in developing effective global norms and engaging in institutions rooted in international law, human rights, civil rights, and democratic values.

Sec. 3.  Promoting and Securing the United States’ Foundational AI Capabilities.  (a)  To preserve and expand United States advantages in AI, it is the policy of the United States Government to promote progress, innovation, and competition in domestic AI development; protect the United States AI ecosystem against foreign intelligence threats; and manage risks to AI safety, security, and trustworthiness.  Leadership in responsible AI development benefits United States national security by enabling applications directly relevant to the national security mission, unlocking economic growth, and avoiding strategic surprise.  United States technological leadership also confers global benefits by enabling like-minded entities to collectively mitigate the risks of AI misuse and accidents, prevent the unchecked spread of digital authoritarianism, and prioritize vital research.

     3.1.  Promoting Progress, Innovation, and Competition in United States AI Development.  (a)  The United States’ competitive edge in AI development will be at risk absent concerted United States Government efforts to promote and secure domestic AI progress, innovation, and competition.  Although the United States has benefited from a head start in AI, competitors are working hard to catch up, have identified AI as a top strategic priority, and may soon devote resources to research and development that United States AI developers cannot match without appropriately supportive Government policies and action.  It is therefore the policy of the United States Government to enhance innovation and competition by bolstering key drivers of AI progress, such as technical talent and computational power.

     (b)  It is the policy of the United States Government that advancing the lawful ability of noncitizens highly skilled in AI and related fields to enter and work in the United States constitutes a national security priority.  Today, the unparalleled United States AI industry rests in substantial part on the insights of brilliant scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs who moved to the United States in pursuit of academic, social, and economic opportunity.  Preserving and expanding United States talent advantages requires developing talent at home and continuing to attract and retain top international minds.

     (c)  Consistent with these goals:

(i)    On an ongoing basis, the Department of State, the Department of Defense (DOD), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall each use all available legal authorities to assist in attracting and rapidly bringing to the United States individuals with relevant technical expertise who would improve United States competitiveness in AI and related fields, such as semiconductor design and production.  These activities shall include all appropriate vetting of these individuals and shall be consistent with all appropriate risk mitigation measures.  This tasking is consistent with and additive to the taskings on attracting AI talent in section 5 of Executive Order 14110.

(ii)   Within 180 days of the date of this memorandum, the Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers shall prepare an analysis of the AI talent market in the United States and overseas, to the extent that reliable data is available.

(iii)  Within 180 days of the date of this memorandum, the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy and Director of the National Economic Council shall coordinate an economic assessment of the relative competitive advantage of the United States private sector AI ecosystem, the key sources of the United States private sector’s competitive advantage, and possible risks to that position, and shall recommend policies to mitigate them.  The assessment could include areas including (1) the design, manufacture, and packaging of chips critical in AI-related activities; (2) the availability of capital; (3) the availability of workers highly skilled in AI-related fields; (4) computational resources and the associated electricity requirements; and (5) technological platforms or institutions with the requisite scale of capital and data resources for frontier AI model development, as well as possible other factors.

(iv)   Within 90 days of the date of this memorandum, the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (APNSA) shall convene appropriate executive departments and agencies (agencies) to explore actions for prioritizing and streamlining administrative processing operations for all visa applicants working with sensitive technologies.  Doing so shall assist with streamlined processing of highly skilled applicants in AI and other critical and emerging technologies.  This effort shall explore options for ensuring the adequate resourcing of such operations and narrowing the criteria that trigger secure advisory opinion requests for such applicants, as consistent with national security objectives.

     (d)  The current paradigm of AI development depends heavily on computational resources.  To retain its lead in AI, the United States must continue developing the world’s most sophisticated AI semiconductors and constructing its most advanced AI-dedicated computational infrastructure.

     (e)  Consistent with these goals:

(i)    DOD, the Department of Energy (DOE) (including national laboratories), and the Intelligence Community (IC) shall, when planning for and constructing or renovating computational facilities, consider the applicability of large-scale AI to their mission.  Where appropriate, agencies shall design and build facilities capable of harnessing frontier AI for relevant scientific research domains and intelligence analysis.  Those investments shall be consistent with the Federal Mission Resilience Strategy adopted in Executive Order 13961 of December 7, 2020 (Governance and Integration of Federal Mission Resilience).

(ii)   On an ongoing basis, the National Science Foundation (NSF) shall, consistent with its authorities, use the National AI Research Resource (NAIRR) pilot project and any future NAIRR efforts to distribute computational resources, data, and other critical assets for AI development to a diverse array of actors that otherwise would lack access to such capabilities — such as universities, nonprofits, and independent researchers (including trusted international collaborators) — to ensure that AI research in the United States remains competitive and innovative.  This tasking is consistent with the NAIRR pilot assigned in section 5 of Executive Order 14110.

(iii)  Within 180 days of the date of this memorandum, DOE shall launch a pilot project to evaluate the performance and efficiency of federated AI and data sources for frontier AI-scale training, fine-tuning, and inference.

(iv)   The Office of the White House Chief of Staff, in coordination with DOE and other relevant agencies, shall coordinate efforts to streamline permitting, approvals, and incentives for the construction of AI-enabling infrastructure, as well as surrounding assets supporting the resilient operation of this infrastructure, such as clean energy generation, power transmission lines, and high-capacity fiber data links.  These efforts shall include coordination, collaboration, consultation, and partnership with State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments, as appropriate, and shall be consistent with the United States’ goals for managing climate risks.

(v)    The Department of State, DOD, DOE, the IC, and the Department of Commerce (Commerce) shall, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, use existing authorities to make public investments and encourage private investments in strategic domestic and foreign AI technologies and adjacent fields.  These agencies shall assess the need for new authorities for the purposes of facilitating public and private investment in AI and adjacent capabilities.

     3.2.  Protecting United States AI from Foreign Intelligence Threats.  (a)  In addition to pursuing industrial strategies that support their respective AI industries, foreign states almost certainly aim to obtain and repurpose the fruits of AI innovation in the United States to serve their national security goals.  Historically, such competitors have employed techniques including research collaborations, investment schemes, insider threats, and advanced cyber espionage to collect and exploit United States scientific insights.  It is the policy of the United States Government to protect United States industry, civil society, and academic AI intellectual property and related infrastructure from foreign intelligence threats to maintain a lead in foundational capabilities and, as necessary, to provide appropriate Government assistance to relevant non-government entities.

     (b)  Consistent with these goals:

(i)   Within 90 days of the date of this memorandum, the National Security Council (NSC) staff and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) shall review the President’s Intelligence Priorities and the National Intelligence Priorities Framework consistent with National Security Memorandum 12 of July 12, 2022 (The President’s Intelligence Priorities), and make recommendations to ensure that such priorities improve identification and assessment of foreign intelligence threats to the United States AI ecosystem and closely related enabling sectors, such as those involved in semiconductor design and production.

(ii)  Within 180 days of the date of this memorandum, and on an ongoing basis thereafter, ODNI, in coordination with DOD, the Department of Justice (DOJ), Commerce, DOE, DHS, and other IC elements as appropriate, shall identify critical nodes in the AI supply chain, and develop a list of the most plausible avenues through which these nodes could be disrupted or compromised by foreign actors.  On an ongoing basis, these agencies shall take all steps, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, to reduce such risks.

     (c)  Foreign actors may also seek to obtain United States intellectual property through gray-zone methods, such as technology transfer and data localization requirements.  AI-related intellectual property often includes critical technical artifacts (CTAs) that would substantially lower the costs of recreating, attaining, or using powerful AI capabilities.  The United States Government must guard against these risks.

     (d)  Consistent with these goals:

(i)  In furtherance of Executive Order 14083 of September 15, 2022 (Ensuring Robust Consideration of Evolving National Security Risks by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States), the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States shall, as appropriate, consider whether a covered transaction involves foreign actor access to proprietary information on AI training techniques, algorithmic improvements, hardware advances, CTAs, or other proprietary insights that shed light on how to create and effectively use powerful AI systems.

     3.3.  Managing Risks to AI Safety, Security, and Trustworthiness.  (a)  Current and near-future AI systems could pose significant safety, security, and trustworthiness risks, including those stemming from deliberate misuse and accidents.  Across many technological domains, the United States has historically led the world not only in advancing capabilities, but also in developing the tests, standards, and norms that underpin reliable and beneficial global adoption.  The United States approach to AI should be no different, and proactively constructing testing infrastructure to assess and mitigate AI risks will be essential to realizing AI’s positive potential and to preserving United States AI leadership.

     (b)  It is the policy of the United States Government to pursue new technical and policy tools that address the potential challenges posed by AI.  These tools include processes for reliably testing AI models’ applicability to harmful tasks and deeper partnerships with institutions in industry, academia, and civil society capable of advancing research related to AI safety, security, and trustworthiness.

     (c)  Commerce, acting through the AI Safety Institute (AISI) within the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), shall serve as the primary United States Government point of contact with private sector AI developers to facilitate voluntary pre- and post-public deployment testing for safety, security, and trustworthiness of frontier AI models.  In coordination with relevant agencies as appropriate, Commerce shall establish an enduring capability to lead voluntary unclassified pre-deployment safety testing of frontier AI models on behalf of the United States Government, including assessments of risks relating to cybersecurity, biosecurity, chemical weapons, system autonomy, and other risks as appropriate (not including nuclear risk, the assessment of which shall be led by DOE).  Voluntary unclassified safety testing shall also, as appropriate, address risks to human rights, civil rights, and civil liberties, such as those related to privacy, discrimination and bias, freedom of expression, and the safety of individuals and groups.  Other agencies, as identified in subsection 3.3(f) of this section, shall establish enduring capabilities to perform complementary voluntary classified testing in appropriate areas of expertise.  The directives set forth in this subsection are consistent with broader taskings on AI safety in section 4 of Executive Order 14110, and provide additional clarity on agencies’ respective roles and responsibilities.

     (d)  Nothing in this subsection shall inhibit agencies from performing their own evaluations of AI systems, including tests performed before those systems are released to the public, for the purposes of evaluating suitability for that agency’s acquisition and procurement.  AISI’s responsibilities do not extend to the evaluation of AI systems for the potential use by the United States Government for national security purposes; those responsibilities lie with agencies considering such use, as outlined in subsection 4.2(e) of this memorandum and the associated framework described in that subsection.

     (e)  Consistent with these goals, Commerce, acting through AISI within NIST, shall take the following actions to aid in the evaluation of current and near-future AI systems:

(i)    Within 180 days of the date of this memorandum and subject to private sector cooperation, AISI shall pursue voluntary preliminary testing of at least two frontier AI models prior to their public deployment or release to evaluate capabilities that might pose a threat to national security.  This testing shall assess models’ capabilities to aid offensive cyber operations, accelerate development of biological and/or chemical weapons, autonomously carry out malicious behavior, automate development and deployment of other models with such capabilities, and give rise to other risks identified by AISI.  AISI shall share feedback with the APNSA, interagency counterparts as appropriate, and the respective model developers regarding the results of risks identified during such testing and any appropriate mitigations prior to deployment.

(ii)   Within 180 days of the date of this memorandum, AISI shall issue guidance for AI developers on how to test, evaluate, and manage risks to safety, security, and trustworthiness arising from dual-use foundation models, building on guidelines issued pursuant to subsection 4.1(a) of Executive Order 14110.  AISI shall issue guidance on topics including:

(A)  How to measure capabilities that are relevant to the risk that AI models could enable the development of biological and chemical weapons or the automation of offensive cyber operations;

(B)  How to address societal risks, such as the misuse of models to harass or impersonate individuals;

(C)  How to develop mitigation measures to prevent malicious or improper use of models;

(D)  How to test the efficacy of safety and security mitigations; and

(E)  How to apply risk management practices throughout the development and deployment lifecycle (pre-development, development, and deployment/release).

(iii)  Within 180 days of the date of this memorandum, AISI, in consultation with other agencies as appropriate, shall develop or recommend benchmarks or other methods for assessing AI systems’ capabilities and limitations in science, mathematics, code generation, and general reasoning, as well as other categories of activity that AISI deems relevant to assessing general-purpose capabilities likely to have a bearing on national security and public safety.

(iv)   In the event that AISI or another agency determines that a dual-use foundation model’s capabilities could be used to harm public safety significantly, AISI shall serve as the primary point of contact through which the United States Government communicates such findings and any associated recommendations regarding risk mitigation to the developer of the model.

(v)    Within 270 days of the date of this memorandum, and at least annually thereafter, AISI shall submit to the President, through the APNSA, and provide to other interagency counterparts as appropriate, at minimum one report that shall include the following:

(A)  A summary of findings from AI safety assessments of frontier AI models that have been conducted by or shared with AISI;

(B)  A summary of whether AISI deemed risk mitigation necessary to resolve any issues identified in the assessments, along with conclusions regarding any mitigations’ efficacy; and

(C)  A summary of the adequacy of the science-based tools and methods used to inform such assessments.

     (f)  Consistent with these goals, other agencies specified below shall take the following actions, in coordination with Commerce, acting through AISI within NIST, to provide classified sector-specific evaluations of current and near-future AI systems for cyber, nuclear, and radiological risks:

(i)    All agencies that conduct or fund safety testing and evaluations of AI systems shall share the results of such evaluations with AISI within 30 days of their completion, consistent with applicable protections for classified and controlled information.

(ii)   Within 120 days of the date of this memorandum, the National Security Agency (NSA), acting through its AI Security Center (AISC) and in coordination with AISI, shall develop the capability to perform rapid systematic classified testing of AI models’ capacity to detect, generate, and/or exacerbate offensive cyber threats.  Such tests shall assess the degree to which AI systems, if misused, could accelerate offensive cyber operations.

(iii)  Within 120 days of the date of this memorandum, DOE, acting primarily through the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and in close coordination with AISI and NSA, shall seek to develop the capability to perform rapid systematic testing of AI models’ capacity to generate or exacerbate nuclear and radiological risks.  This initiative shall involve the development and maintenance of infrastructure capable of running classified and unclassified tests, including using restricted data and relevant classified threat information.  This initiative shall also feature the creation and regular updating of automated evaluations, the development of an interface for enabling human-led red-teaming, and the establishment of technical and legal tooling necessary for facilitating the rapid and secure transfer of United States Government, open-weight, and proprietary models to these facilities.  As part of this initiative:

(A)  Within 180 days of the date of this memorandum, DOE shall use the capability described in subsection 3.3(f)(iii) of this section to complete initial evaluations of the radiological and nuclear knowledge, capabilities, and implications of a frontier AI model no more than 30 days after the model has been made available to NNSA at an appropriate classification level.  These evaluations shall involve tests of AI systems both without significant modifications and, as appropriate, with fine-tuning or other modifications that could enhance performance.

(B)  Within 270 days of the date of this memorandum, and at least annually thereafter, DOE shall submit to the President, through the APNSA, at minimum one assessment that shall include the following:

(1)  A concise summary of the findings of each AI model evaluation for radiological and nuclear risk, described in subsection 3.3(f)(iii)(A) of this section, that DOE has performed in the preceding 12 months;

(2)  A recommendation as to whether corrective action is necessary to resolve any issues identified in the evaluations, including but not limited to actions necessary for attaining and sustaining compliance conditions appropriate to safeguard and prevent unauthorized disclosure of restricted data or other classified information, pursuant to the Atomic Energy Act of 1954; and

(3)  A concise statement regarding the adequacy of the science-based tools and methods used to inform the evaluations.

(iv)   On an ongoing basis, DHS, acting through the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), shall continue to fulfill its responsibilities with respect to the application of AISI guidance, as identified in National Security Memorandum 22 of April 30, 2024 (Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience), and section 4 of Executive Order 14110.

     (g)  Consistent with these goals, and to reduce the chemical and biological risks that could emerge from AI:

(i)    The United States Government shall advance classified evaluations of advanced AI models’ capacity to generate or exacerbate deliberate chemical and biological threats.  As part of this initiative:

(A)  Within 210 days of the date of this memorandum, DOE, DHS, and AISI, in consultation with DOD and other relevant agencies, shall coordinate to develop a roadmap for future classified evaluations of advanced AI models’ capacity to generate or exacerbate deliberate chemical and biological threats, to be shared with the APNSA.  This roadmap shall consider the scope, scale, and priority of classified evaluations; proper safeguards to ensure that evaluations and simulations are not misconstrued as offensive capability development; proper safeguards for testing sensitive and/or classified information; and sustainable implementation of evaluation methodologies.

(B)  On an ongoing basis, DHS shall provide expertise, threat and risk information, and other technical support to assess the feasibility of proposed biological and chemical classified evaluations; interpret and contextualize evaluation results; and advise relevant agencies on potential risk mitigations.

(C)  Within 270 days of the date of this memorandum, DOE shall establish a pilot project to provide expertise, infrastructure, and facilities capable of conducting classified tests in this area.

(ii)   Within 240 days of the date of this memorandum, DOD, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), DOE (including national laboratories), DHS, NSF, and other agencies pursuing the development of AI systems substantially trained on biological and chemical data shall, as appropriate, support efforts to utilize high-performance computing resources and AI systems to enhance biosafety and biosecurity.  These efforts shall include:

(A)  The development of tools for screening in silico chemical and biological research and technology;

(B)  The creation of algorithms for nucleic acid synthesis screening;

(C)  The construction of high-assurance software foundations for novel biotechnologies;

(D)  The screening of complete orders or data streams from cloud labs and biofoundries; and

(E)  The development of risk mitigation strategies such as medical countermeasures.

(iii)  After the publication of biological and chemical safety guidance by AISI outlined in subsection 3.3(e) of this section, all agencies that directly develop relevant dual-use foundation AI models that are made available to the public and are substantially trained on biological or chemical data shall incorporate this guidance into their agency’s practices, as appropriate and feasible.

(iv)   Within 180 days of the date of this memorandum, NSF, in coordination with DOD, Commerce (acting through AISI within NIST), HHS, DOE, the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), and other relevant agencies, shall seek to convene academic research institutions and scientific publishers to develop voluntary best practices and standards for publishing computational biological and chemical models, data sets, and approaches, including those that use AI and that could contribute to the production of knowledge, information, technologies, and products that could be misused to cause harm.  This is in furtherance of the activities described in subsections 4.4 and 4.7 of Executive Order 14110.

(v)    Within 540 days of the date of this memorandum, and informed by the United States Government Policy for Oversight of Dual Use Research of Concern and Pathogens with Enhanced Pandemic Potential, OSTP, NSC staff, and the Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy, in consultation with relevant agencies and external stakeholders as appropriate, shall develop guidance promoting the benefits of and mitigating the risks associated with in silico biological and chemical research.

     (h)  Agencies shall take the following actions to improve foundational understanding of AI safety, security, and trustworthiness:

(i)   DOD, Commerce, DOE, DHS, ODNI, NSF, NSA, and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) shall, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, prioritize research on AI safety and trustworthiness.  As appropriate and consistent with existing authorities, they shall pursue partnerships as appropriate with leading public sector, industry, civil society, academic, and other institutions with expertise in these domains, with the objective of accelerating technical and socio-technical progress in AI safety and trustworthiness.  This work may include research on interpretability, formal methods, privacy enhancing technologies, techniques to address risks to civil liberties and human rights, human-AI interaction, and/or the socio-technical effects of detecting and labeling synthetic and authentic content (for example, to address the malicious use of AI to generate misleading videos or images, including those of a strategically damaging or non-consensual intimate nature, of political or public figures).

(ii)  DOD, Commerce, DOE, DHS, ODNI, NSF, NSA, and NGA shall, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, prioritize research to improve the security, robustness, and reliability of AI systems and controls.  These entities shall, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, partner with other agencies, industry, civil society, and academia.  Where appropriate, DOD, DHS (acting through CISA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and NSA (acting through AISC) shall publish unclassified guidance concerning known AI cybersecurity vulnerabilities and threats; best practices for avoiding, detecting, and mitigating such issues during model training and deployment; and the integration of AI into other software systems.  This work shall include an examination of the role of and vulnerabilities potentially caused by AI systems used in critical infrastructure.

     (i)  Agencies shall take actions to protect classified and controlled information, given the potential risks posed by AI:

(i)  In the course of regular updates to policies and procedures, DOD, DOE, and the IC shall consider how analysis enabled by AI tools may affect decisions related to declassification of material, standards for sufficient anonymization, and similar activities, as well as the robustness of existing operational security and equity controls to protect classified or controlled information, given that AI systems have demonstrated the capacity to extract previously inaccessible insight from redacted and anonymized data.

Sec. 4.  Responsibly Harnessing AI to Achieve National Security Objectives.  (a)  It is the policy of the United States Government to act decisively to enable the effective and responsible use of AI in furtherance of its national security mission.  Achieving global leadership in national security applications of AI will require effective partnership with organizations outside Government, as well as significant internal transformation, including strengthening effective oversight and governance functions.

     4.1.  Enabling Effective and Responsible Use of AI.  (a)  It is the policy of the United States Government to adapt its partnerships, policies, and infrastructure to use AI capabilities appropriately, effectively, and responsibly.  These modifications must balance each agency’s unique oversight, data, and application needs with the substantial benefits associated with sharing powerful AI and computational resources across the United States Government.  Modifications must also be grounded in a clear understanding of the United States Government’s comparative advantages relative to industry, civil society, and academia, and must leverage offerings from external collaborators and contractors as appropriate.  The United States Government must make the most of the rich United States AI ecosystem by incentivizing innovation in safe, secure, and trustworthy AI and promoting industry competition when selecting contractors, grant recipients, and research collaborators.  Finally, the United States Government must address important technical and policy considerations in ways that ensure the integrity and interoperability needed to pursue its objectives while protecting human rights, civil rights, civil liberties, privacy, and safety.

     (b)  The United States Government needs an updated set of Government-wide procedures for attracting, hiring, developing, and retaining AI and AI-enabling talent for national security purposes.

     (c)  Consistent with these goals:

(i)   In the course of regular legal, policy, and compliance framework reviews, the Department of State, DOD, DOJ, DOE, DHS, and IC elements shall revise, as appropriate, their hiring and retention policies and strategies to accelerate responsible AI adoption.  Agencies shall account for technical talent needs required to adopt AI and integrate it into their missions and other roles necessary to use AI effectively, such as AI-related governance, ethics, and policy positions.  These policies and strategies shall identify financial, organizational, and security hurdles, as well as potential mitigations consistent with applicable law.  Such measures shall also include consideration of programs to attract experts with relevant technical expertise from industry, academia, and civil society — including scholarship for service programs — and similar initiatives that would expose Government employees to relevant non-government entities in ways that build technical, organizational, and cultural familiarity with the AI industry.  These policies and strategies shall use all available authorities, including expedited security clearance procedures as appropriate, in order to address the shortfall of AI-relevant talent within Government.

(ii)  Within 120 days of the date of this memorandum, the Department of State, DOD, DOJ, DOE, DHS, and IC elements shall each, in consultation with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), identify education and training opportunities to increase the AI competencies of their respective workforces, via initiatives which may include training and skills-based hiring.

     (d)  To accelerate the use of AI in service of its national security mission, the United States Government needs coordinated and effective acquisition and procurement systems.  This will require an enhanced capacity to assess, define, and articulate AI-related requirements for national security purposes, as well as improved accessibility for AI companies that lack significant prior experience working with the United States Government.

     (e)  Consistent with these goals:

(i)    Within 30 days of the date of this memorandum, DOD and ODNI, in coordination with OMB and other agencies as appropriate, shall establish a working group to address issues involving procurement of AI by DOD and IC elements and for use on NSS.  As appropriate, the working group shall consult the Director of the NSA, as the National Manager for NSS, in developing recommendations for acquiring and procuring AI for use on NSS.

(ii)   Within 210 days of the date of this memorandum, the working group described in subsection 4.1(e)(i) of this section shall provide written recommendations to the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council (FARC) regarding changes to existing regulations and guidance, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, to promote the following objectives for AI procured by DOD and IC elements and for use on NSS:

(A)  Ensuring objective metrics to measure and promote the safety, security, and trustworthiness of AI systems;

(B)  Accelerating the acquisition and procurement process for AI, consistent with the Federal Acquisition Regulation, while maintaining appropriate checks to mitigate safety risks;  

(C)  Simplifying processes such that companies without experienced contracting teams may meaningfully compete for relevant contracts, to ensure that the United States Government has access to a wide range of AI systems and that the AI marketplace is competitive;

(D)  Structuring competitions to encourage robust participation and achieve best value to the Government, such as by including requirements that promote interoperability and prioritizing the technical capability of vendors when evaluating offers;

(E)  Accommodating shared use of AI to the greatest degree possible and as appropriate across relevant agencies; and

(F)  Ensuring that agencies with specific authorities and missions may implement other policies, where appropriate and necessary.

(iii)  The FARC shall, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, consider proposing amendments to the Federal Acquisition Regulation to codify recommendations provided by the working group pursuant to subsection 4.1(e)(ii) of this section that may have Government-wide application.

(iv)   DOD and ODNI shall seek to engage on an ongoing basis with diverse United States private sector stakeholders — including AI technology and defense companies and members of the United States investor community — to identify and better understand emerging capabilities that would benefit or otherwise affect the United States national security mission.

     (f)  The United States Government needs clear, modernized, and robust policies and procedures that enable the rapid development and national security use of AI, consistent with human rights, civil rights, civil liberties, privacy, safety, and other democratic values.

     (g)  Consistent with these goals:

(i)    DOD and the IC shall, in consultation with DOJ as appropriate, review their respective legal, policy, civil liberties, privacy, and compliance frameworks, including international legal obligations, and, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, seek to develop or revise policies and procedures to enable the effective and responsible use of AI, accounting for the following:

(A)  Issues raised by the acquisition, use, retention, dissemination, and disposal of models trained on datasets that include personal information traceable to specific United States persons, publicly available information, commercially available information, and intellectual property, consistent with section 9 of Executive Order 14110;

(B)  Guidance that shall be developed by DOJ, in consultation with DOD and ODNI, regarding constitutional considerations raised by the IC’s acquisition and use of AI;

(C)  Challenges associated with classification and compartmentalization;

(D)  Algorithmic bias, inconsistent performance, inaccurate outputs, and other known AI failure modes;

(E)  Threats to analytic integrity when employing AI tools;

(F)  Risks posed by a lack of safeguards that protect human rights, civil rights, civil liberties, privacy, and other democratic values, as addressed in further detail in subsection 4.2 of this section;

(G)  Barriers to sharing AI models and related insights with allies and partners; and

(H)  Potential inconsistencies between AI use and the implementation of international legal obligations and commitments.

(ii)   As appropriate, the policies described in subsection 4.1(g) of this section shall be consistent with direction issued by the Committee on NSS and DOD governing the security of AI used on NSS, policies issued by the Director of National Intelligence governing adoption of AI by the IC, and direction issued by OMB governing the security of AI used on non-NSS.

(iii)  On an ongoing basis, each agency that uses AI on NSS shall, in consultation with ODNI and DOD, take all steps appropriate and consistent with applicable law to accelerate responsible approval of AI systems for use on NSS and accreditation of NSS that use AI systems.

     (h)  The United States’ network of allies and partners confers significant advantages over competitors.  Consistent with the 2022 National Security Strategy or any successor strategies, the United States Government must invest in and proactively enable the co-development and co-deployment of AI capabilities with select allies and partners.

     (i)  Consistent with these goals:

(i)  Within 150 days of the date of this memorandum, DOD, in coordination with the Department of State and ODNI, shall evaluate the feasibility of advancing, increasing, and promoting co-development and shared use of AI and AI-enabled assets with select allies and partners.  This evaluation shall include:

(A)  A potential list of foreign states with which such co-development or co-deployment may be feasible;

(B)  A list of bilateral and multilateral fora for potential outreach;

(C)  Potential co-development and co-deployment concepts;

(D)  Proposed classification-appropriate testing vehicles for co-developed AI capabilities; and

(E)  Considerations for existing programs, agreements, or arrangements to use as foundations for future co-development and co-deployment of AI capabilities.

     (j)  The United States Government needs improved internal coordination with respect to its use of and approach to AI on NSS in order to ensure interoperability and resource sharing consistent with applicable law, and to reap the generality and economies of scale offered by frontier AI models.

     (k)  Consistent with these goals:

(i)  On an ongoing basis, DOD and ODNI shall issue or revise relevant guidance to improve consolidation and interoperability across AI functions on NSS.  This guidance shall seek to ensure that the United States Government can coordinate and share AI-related resources effectively, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law.  Such work shall include:

(A)  Recommending agency organizational practices to improve AI research and deployment activities that span multiple national security institutions.  In order to encourage AI adoption for the purpose of national security, these measures shall aim to create consistency to the greatest extent possible across the revised practices.

(B)  Steps that enable consolidated research, development, and procurement for general-purpose AI systems and supporting infrastructure, such that multiple agencies can share access to these tools to the extent consistent with applicable law, while still allowing for appropriate controls on sensitive data.

(C)  Aligning AI-related national security policies and procedures across agencies, as practicable and appropriate, and consistent with applicable law.

(D)  Developing policies and procedures, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, to share information across DOD and the IC when an AI system developed, deployed, or used by a contractor demonstrates risks related to safety, security, and trustworthiness, including to human rights, civil rights, civil liberties, or privacy.

     4.2.  Strengthening AI Governance and Risk Management.  (a)  As the United States Government moves swiftly to adopt AI in support of its national security mission, it must continue taking active steps to uphold human rights, civil rights, civil liberties, privacy, and safety; ensure that AI is used in a manner consistent with the President’s authority as Commander in Chief to decide when to order military operations in the Nation’s defense; and ensure that military use of AI capabilities is accountable, including through such use during military operations within a responsible human chain of command and control.  Accordingly, the United States Government must develop and implement robust AI governance and risk management practices to ensure that its AI innovation aligns with democratic values, updating policy guidance where necessary.  In light of the diverse authorities and missions across covered agencies with a national security mission and the rapid rate of ongoing technological change, such AI governance and risk management frameworks shall be:

(i)    Structured, to the extent permitted by law, such that they can adapt to future opportunities and risks posed by new technical developments;

(ii)   As consistent across agencies as is practicable and appropriate in order to enable interoperability, while respecting unique authorities and missions;

(iii)  Designed to enable innovation that advances United States national security objectives;

(iv)   As transparent to the public as practicable and appropriate, while protecting classified or controlled information;

(v)    Developed and applied in a manner and with means to integrate protections, controls, and safeguards for human rights, civil rights, civil liberties, privacy, and safety where relevant; and

(vi)   Designed to reflect United States leadership in establishing broad international support for rules and norms that reinforce the United States’ approach to AI governance and risk management.

     (b)  Covered agencies shall develop and use AI responsibly, consistent with United States law and policies, democratic values, and international law and treaty obligations, including international humanitarian and human rights law.  All agency officials retain their existing authorities and responsibilities established in other laws and policies.

     (c)  Consistent with these goals:

(i)  Heads of covered agencies shall, consistent with their authorities, monitor, assess, and mitigate risks directly tied to their agency’s development and use of AI.  Such risks may result from reliance on AI outputs to inform, influence, decide, or execute agency decisions or actions, when used in a defense, intelligence, or law enforcement context, and may impact human rights, civil rights, civil liberties, privacy, safety, national security, and democratic values.  These risks from the use of AI include the following:

(A)  Risks to physical safety:  AI use may pose unintended risks to human life or property.

(B)  Privacy harms:  AI design, development, and operation may result in harm, embarrassment, unfairness, and prejudice to individuals.

(C)  Discrimination and bias:  AI use may lead to unlawful discrimination and harmful bias, resulting in, for instance, inappropriate surveillance and profiling, among other harms.

(D)  Inappropriate use:  operators using AI systems may not fully understand the capabilities and limitations of these technologies, including systems used in conflicts.  Such unfamiliarity could impact operators’ ability to exercise appropriate levels of human judgment.

(E)  Lack of transparency:  agencies may have gaps in documentation of AI development and use, and the public may lack access to information about how AI is used in national security contexts because of the necessity to protect classified or controlled information.

(F)  Lack of accountability:  training programs and guidance for agency personnel on the proper use of AI systems may not be sufficient, including to mitigate the risk of overreliance on AI systems (such as “automation bias”), and accountability mechanisms may not adequately address possible intentional or negligent misuse of AI-enabled technologies.

(G)  Data spillage:  AI systems may reveal aspects of their training data — either inadvertently or through deliberate manipulation by malicious actors — and data spillage may result from AI systems trained on classified or controlled information when used on networks where such information is not permitted.

(H)  Poor performance:  AI systems that are inappropriately or insufficiently trained, used for purposes outside the scope of their training set, or improperly integrated into human workflows may exhibit poor performance, including in ways that result in inconsistent outcomes or unlawful discrimination and harmful bias, or that undermine the integrity of decision-making processes.

(I)  Deliberate manipulation and misuse:  foreign state competitors and malicious actors may deliberately undermine the accuracy and efficacy of AI systems, or seek to extract sensitive information from such systems.

     (d)  The United States Government’s AI governance and risk management policies must keep pace with evolving technology.

     (e)  Consistent with these goals:

(i)   An AI framework, entitled “Framework to Advance AI Governance and Risk Management in National Security” (AI Framework), shall further implement this subsection.  The AI Framework shall be approved by the NSC Deputies Committee through the process described in National Security Memorandum 2 of February 4, 2021 (Renewing the National Security Council System), or any successor process, and shall be reviewed periodically through that process.  This process shall determine whether adjustments are needed to address risks identified in subsection 4.2(c) of this section and other topics covered in the AI Framework.  The AI Framework shall serve as a national security-focused counterpart to OMB’s Memorandum M-24-10 of March 28, 2024 (Advancing Governance, Innovation, and Risk Management for Agency Use of Artificial Intelligence), and any successor OMB policies.  To the extent feasible, appropriate, and consistent with applicable law, the AI Framework shall be as consistent as possible with these OMB policies and shall be made public.

(ii)  The AI Framework described in subsection 4.2(e)(i) of this section and any successor document shall, at a minimum, and to the extent consistent with applicable law, specify the following:

(A)  Each covered agency shall have a Chief AI Officer who holds primary responsibility within that agency, in coordination with other responsible officials, for managing the agency’s use of AI, promoting AI innovation within the agency, and managing risks from the agency’s use of AI consistent with subsection 3(b) of OMB Memorandum M-24-10, as practicable.

(B)  Covered agencies shall have AI Governance Boards to coordinate and govern AI issues through relevant senior leaders from the agency.

(C)  Guidance on AI activities that pose unacceptable levels of risk and that shall be prohibited.

(D)  Guidance on AI activities that are “high impact” and require minimum risk management practices, including for high-impact AI use that affects United States Government personnel.  Such high-impact activities shall include AI whose output serves as a principal basis for a decision or action that could exacerbate or create significant risks to national security, international norms, human rights, civil rights, civil liberties, privacy, safety, or other democratic values.  The minimum risk management practices for high-impact AI shall include a mechanism for agencies to assess AI’s expected benefits and potential risks; a mechanism for assessing data quality; sufficient test and evaluation practices; mitigation of unlawful discrimination and harmful bias; human training, assessment, and oversight requirements; ongoing monitoring; and additional safeguards for military service members, the Federal civilian workforce, and individuals who receive an offer of employment from a covered agency.

(E)  Covered agencies shall ensure privacy, civil liberties, and safety officials are integrated into AI governance and oversight structures.  Such officials shall report findings to the heads of agencies and oversight officials, as appropriate, using existing reporting channels when feasible.

(F)  Covered agencies shall ensure that there are sufficient training programs, guidance, and accountability processes to enable proper use of AI systems.

(G)  Covered agencies shall maintain an annual inventory of their high-impact AI use and AI systems and provide updates on this inventory to agency heads and the APNSA.

(H)  Covered agencies shall ensure that whistleblower protections are sufficient to account for issues that may arise in the development and use of AI and AI systems.

(I)  Covered agencies shall develop and implement waiver processes for high-impact AI use that balance robust implementation of risk mitigation measures in this memorandum and the AI Framework with the need to utilize AI to preserve and advance critical agency missions and operations.

(J)  Covered agencies shall implement cybersecurity guidance or direction associated with AI systems issued by the National Manager for NSS to mitigate the risks posed by malicious actors exploiting new technologies, and to enable interoperability of AI across agencies.  Within 150 days of the date of this memorandum, and periodically thereafter, the National Manager for NSS shall issue minimum cybersecurity guidance and/or direction for AI used as a component of NSS, which shall be incorporated into AI governance guidance detailed in subsection 4.2(g)(i) of this section.

     (f)  The United States Government needs guidance specifically regarding the use of AI on NSS.

     (g)  Consistent with these goals:

(i)  Within 180 days of the date of this memorandum, the heads of the Department of State, the Department of the Treasury, DOD, DOJ, Commerce, DOE, DHS, ODNI (acting on behalf of the 18 IC elements), and any other covered agency that uses AI as part of a NSS (Department Heads) shall issue or update guidance to their components/sub-agencies on AI governance and risk management for NSS, aligning with the policies in this subsection, the AI Framework, and other applicable policies.  Department Heads shall review their respective guidance on an annual basis, and update such guidance as needed.  This guidance, and any updates thereto, shall be provided to the APNSA prior to issuance.  This guidance shall be unclassified and made available to the public to the extent feasible and appropriate, though it may have a classified annex.  Department Heads shall seek to harmonize their guidance, and the APNSA shall convene an interagency meeting at least annually for the purpose of harmonizing Department Heads’ guidance on AI governance and risk management to the extent practicable and appropriate while respecting the agencies’ diverse authorities and missions.  Harmonization shall be pursued in the following areas:

(A)  Implementation of the risk management practices for high-impact AI;

(B)  AI and AI system standards and activities, including as they relate to training, testing, accreditation, and security and cybersecurity; and

(C)  Any other issues that affect interoperability for AI and AI systems.

Sec. 5.  Fostering a Stable, Responsible, and Globally Beneficial International AI Governance Landscape.  (a)  Throughout its history, the United States has played an essential role in shaping the international order to enable the safe, secure, and trustworthy global adoption of new technologies while also protecting democratic values.  These contributions have ranged from establishing nonproliferation regimes for biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons to setting the foundations for multi-stakeholder governance of the Internet.  Like these precedents, AI will require new global norms and coordination mechanisms, which the United States Government must maintain an active role in crafting.

     (b)  It is the policy of the United States Government that United States international engagement on AI shall support and facilitate improvements to the safety, security, and trustworthiness of AI systems worldwide; promote democratic values, including respect for human rights, civil rights, civil liberties, privacy, and safety; prevent the misuse of AI in national security contexts; and promote equitable access to AI’s benefits.  The United States Government shall advance international agreements, collaborations, and other substantive and norm-setting initiatives in alignment with this policy.

     (c)  Consistent with these goals:

(i)  Within 120 days of the date of this memorandum, the Department of State, in coordination with DOD, Commerce, DHS, the United States Mission to the United Nations (USUN), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), shall produce a strategy for the advancement of international AI governance norms in line with safe, secure, and trustworthy AI, and democratic values, including human rights, civil rights, civil liberties, and privacy.  This strategy shall cover bilateral and multilateral engagement and relations with allies and partners.  It shall also include guidance on engaging with competitors, and it shall outline an approach to working in international institutions such as the United Nations and the Group of 7 (G7), as well as technical organizations.  The strategy shall:

(A)  Develop and promote internationally shared definitions, norms, expectations, and standards, consistent with United States policy and existing efforts, which will promote safe, secure, and trustworthy AI development and use around the world.  These norms shall be as consistent as possible with United States domestic AI governance (including Executive Order 14110 and OMB Memorandum M-24-10), the International Code of Conduct for Organizations Developing Advanced AI Systems released by the G7 in October 2023, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Principles on AI, United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/78/L.49, and other United States-supported relevant international frameworks (such as the Political Declaration on Responsible Military Use of AI and Autonomy) and instruments.  By discouraging misuse and encouraging appropriate safeguards, these norms and standards shall aim to reduce the likelihood of AI causing harm or having adverse impacts on human rights, democracy, or the rule of law.

(B)  Promote the responsible and ethical use of AI in national security contexts in accordance with democratic values and in compliance with applicable international law.  The strategy shall advance the norms and practices established by this memorandum and measures endorsed in the Political Declaration on Responsible Military Use of AI and Autonomy.

Sec. 6.  Ensuring Effective Coordination, Execution, and Reporting of AI Policy.  (a)  The United States Government must work in a closely coordinated manner to make progress on effective and responsible AI adoption.  Given the speed with which AI technology evolves, the United States Government must learn quickly, adapt to emerging strategic developments, adopt new capabilities, and confront novel risks.

     (b)  Consistent with these goals:

(i)    Within 270 days of the date of this memorandum, and annually thereafter for at least the next 5 years, the heads of the Department of State, DOD, Commerce, DOE, ODNI (acting on behalf of the IC), USUN, and USAID shall each submit a report to the President, through the APNSA, that offers a detailed accounting of their activities in response to their taskings in all sections of this memorandum, including this memorandum’s classified annex, and that provides a plan for further action.  The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), NSA, the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), and NGA shall submit reports on their activities to ODNI for inclusion in full as an appendix to ODNI’s report regarding IC activities.  NGA, NSA, and DIA shall submit their reports as well to DOD for inclusion in full as an appendix to DOD’s report.

(ii)   Within 45 days of the date of this memorandum, the Chief AI Officers of the Department of State, DOD, DOJ, DOE, DHS, OMB, ODNI, CIA, DIA, NSA, and NGA, as well as appropriate technical staff, shall form an AI National Security Coordination Group (Coordination Group).  Any Chief AI Officer of an agency that is a member of the Committee on National Security Systems may also join the Coordination Group as a full member.  The Coordination Group shall be co-chaired by the Chief AI Officers of ODNI and DOD.  The Coordination Group shall consider ways to harmonize policies relating to the development, accreditation, acquisition, use, and evaluation of AI on NSS.  This work could include development of:

(A)  Enhanced training and awareness to ensure that agencies prioritize the most effective AI systems, responsibly develop and use AI, and effectively evaluate AI systems;

(B)  Best practices to identify and mitigate foreign intelligence risks and human rights considerations associated with AI procurement;

(C)  Best practices to ensure interoperability between agency deployments of AI, to include data interoperability and data sharing agreements, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law;

(D)  A process to maintain, update, and disseminate such trainings and best practices on an ongoing basis;

(E)  AI-related policy initiatives to address regulatory gaps implicated by executive branch-wide policy development processes; and 

(F)  An agile process to increase the speed of acquisitions, validation, and delivery of AI capabilities, consistent with applicable law.

(iii)  Within 90 days of the date of this memorandum, the Coordination Group described in subsection (b)(ii) of this section shall establish a National Security AI Executive Talent Committee (Talent Committee) composed of senior AI officials (or designees) from all agencies in the Coordination Group that wish to participate.  The Talent Committee shall work to standardize, prioritize, and address AI talent needs and develop an updated set of Government-wide procedures for attracting, hiring, developing, and retaining AI and AI-enabling talent for national security purposes.  The Talent Committee shall designate a representative to serve as a member of the AI and Technology Talent Task Force set forth in Executive Order 14110, helping to identify overlapping needs and address shared challenges in hiring.

(iv)   Within 365 days of the date of this memorandum, and annually thereafter for at least the next 5 years, the Coordination Group described in subsection (b)(ii) of this section shall issue a joint report to the APNSA on consolidation and interoperability of AI efforts and systems for the purposes of national security.

     Sec. 7.  Definitions.  (a)  This memorandum uses definitions set forth in section 3 of Executive Order 14110.  In addition, for the purposes of this memorandum:

(i)     The term “AI safety” means the mechanisms through which individuals and organizations minimize and mitigate the potential for harm to individuals and society that can result from the malicious use, misapplication, failures, accidents, and unintended behavior of AI models; the systems that integrate them; and the ways in which they are used.

(ii)    The term “AI security” means a set of practices to protect AI systems — including training data, models, abilities, and lifecycles — from cyber and physical attacks, thefts, and damage.

(iii)   The term “covered agencies” means agencies in the Intelligence Community, as well as all agencies as defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(1) when they use AI as a component of a National Security System, other than the Executive Office of the President.

(iv)    The term “Critical Technical Artifacts” (CTAs) means information, usually specific to a single model or group of related models that, if possessed by someone other than the model developer, would substantially lower the costs of recreating, attaining, or using the model’s capabilities.  Under the technical paradigm dominant in the AI industry today, the model weights of a trained AI system constitute CTAs, as do, in some cases, associated training data and code.  Future paradigms may rely on different CTAs.

(v)     The term “frontier AI model” means a general-purpose AI system near the cutting-edge of performance, as measured by widely accepted publicly available benchmarks, or similar assessments of reasoning, science, and overall capabilities.

(vi)    The term “Intelligence Community” (IC) has the meaning provided in 50 U.S.C. 3003.

(vii)   The term “open-weight model” means a model that has weights that are widely available, typically through public release.

(viii)  The term “United States Government” means all agencies as defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(1).

     Sec. 8.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

     (b)  This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

     (c)  This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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     Nearly 80 years ago, our forebearers gathered for the first United Nations General Assembly.  With the horrors of World War II weighing on their hearts and the hopes of humanity resting on their shoulders, they opened the General Assembly by declaring, “The whole world now waits upon our decisions… looking to us to show ourselves capable of mastering our problems.”  Today, we reflect on the history of this storied institution.  And together, we recommit to sustaining and strengthening it to master the challenges of our time.

     Under my Administration, the United States has been a leader at the United Nations — rallying global action to advance democratic values, safeguard human rights, and address the issues our world faces.  That includes standing against Russia’s brutal aggression against Ukraine and Hamas’ despicable terrorist attack on Israel.  At the United Nations, we have been working to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, with the release of hostages, and we have been pushing to expand humanitarian access and assistance.  The United States has also played a key role in helping bring security to the people of Haiti and addressing the conflict and dire humanitarian situation in Sudan, where millions are displaced and facing famine.

     But we know people need more than the absence of war.  They need the chance to live with dignity.  They need to be protected from the ravages of climate change, hunger, and disease.  That is why my Administration has invested over $150 billion to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, including ending poverty, eliminating hunger, promoting health and well-being, and promoting gender equality.  We also forged a historic consensus on the first-ever General Assembly Resolution on Artificial Intelligence to help people everywhere seize the potential — and minimize the risks — of this technology.

     As we look ahead, countries need to work together to continue reforming the United Nations to be more effective.  The United States will keep pushing for a stronger, more inclusive United Nations, including a reformed and expanded United Nations Security Council.  And the Security Council, like the United Nations itself, needs to focus on making peace, brokering deals to end wars and suffering, stopping the spread of the most dangerous weapons, and stabilizing troubled regions.

     Finally, the United Nations’ work is carried out by brave and committed United Nations humanitarian workers, development professionals, peacekeepers, and members of special political missions.  And every day, they risk their own lives to save the lives of others, undertaking often dangerous work.  Like nations around the world, the United States honors their sacrifices and those of their families.

     Today and every day, let us remember that the forces holding us together are stronger than those pulling us apart.  Let us continue to work together to unleash the power of humanity and give people the opportunity to live freely, think freely, breathe freely, and love freely.  And in the face of difficult challenges, let us prove that we are capable of building a better world together.

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 24, 2024, as United Nations Day.  I urge the governors of the United States and its territories, and the officials of all other areas under the flag of the United States, to observe United Nations Day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
twenty-third day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.
 
 
                               JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the State of New York and ordered Federal assistance to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms and flooding from August 18 to August 19, 2024.

Federal funding is available to state, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms and flooding in the counties of Lewis, Oswego, and Suffolk.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

Ms. Lai Sun Yee of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been appointed to coordinate Federal recovery operations in the affected areas. 

Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT THE FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV.

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Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Nebraska and ordered Federal assistance to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding on July 31, 2024.

Federal funding also is available to state, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding in the counties of Cass, Douglas, Lancaster, Sarpy, and Saunders.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

Mr. Andrew P. Meyer of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been appointed to coordinate Federal recovery operations in the affected areas. 

Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT THE FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV.

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MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE

SUBJECT:        Delegation of Authority Under Section 614(a)(1) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 621 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (FAA), I hereby delegate to the Secretary of State the authority under section 614(a)(1) of the FAA to determine whether it is important to the security interests of the United States to furnish up to $64 million in assistance to Ukraine without regard to any provision of law within the purview of section 614(a)(1) of the FAA.

You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the State of North Carolina and ordered Federal assistance to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight from September 16 to September 20, 2024.

Federal funding is available to state, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight in the counties of Brunswick, Carteret, New Hanover, and Onslow.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

Mr. E. Craig Levy, Sr. of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been appointed to coordinate Federal recovery operations in the affected areas. 

Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT THE FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV.

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Our Nation’s minority-owned businesses are the glue of our communities and the engines of our economies.  Investing in them is key to growing our economy from the middle out and bottom up, not the top down.  When minority-owned businesses do well, everyone does well.  More people get jobs, first-time business owners build generational wealth, our economy grows, and more Americans feel a sense of pride and hope in all that is possible in our Nation.  This Minority Enterprise Development Week, may we celebrate the talent and ingenuity of the innovators and entrepreneurs who run our Nation’s minority-owned businesses.  And may we recommit to ensuring that minority-owned businesses have access to the resources they need to thrive.

Minority-owned businesses add incredible value to our economy, generating nearly $2 trillion in revenue each year.  These businesses not only provide the goods and services we need but are also sources of hope — helping people realize their American Dream, building generational wealth, and uplifting their families and communities.  That is why my Administration is ensuring that minority-owned businesses have access to capital and can grow.  The Small Business Administration (SBA) is lending tens of billions of dollars to small businesses that would otherwise struggle to access capital.  For example, since 2020, the rate of SBA-backed loans increased by about 40 percent for Asian American-owned businesses, tripled for Black-owned businesses, and more than doubled for Latino-owned businesses.  Further, my American Rescue Plan helped minority-owned small businesses keep their doors open during the COVID-19 pandemic and represents the largest-ever dedicated Federal investment to connect minority-owned small businesses to support.  That law invested $10 billion to launch and expand programs that provide critical access to capital for small businesses.  The American Rescue Plan also invested $500 million to fund over 100 awards for organizations working to connect entrepreneurs to resources to help their small businesses recover and thrive through initiatives like the SBA’s Community Navigators Program, the Department of the Treasury’s Small Business Opportunity Program, and the Minority Business Development Agency’s Capital Readiness Program. 

My Administration has also been working to ensure that minority-owned businesses get a fair shot at success.  That is why I signed an Executive Order that would increase the share of total Federal contracts going to disadvantaged businesses from 10 percent to 15 percent by 2025 — and in the last 3 years, we have spent over $208 billion on small disadvantaged businesses.  My Bipartisan Infrastructure Law expanded and made permanent the Minority Business Development Agency, ensuring that minority-owned businesses have access to the resources and support they need to thrive.  And with my Inflation Reduction Act and CHIPS and Science Act, we are working to make sure that minority-owned businesses are benefiting from the billions of dollars we are investing in America’s infrastructure, manufacturing, and clean energy industries here at home.  In addition, Vice President Harris launched the Economic Opportunity Coalition in 2022 to provide tens of billions of dollars in investments to underserved communities. 

Since Vice President Harris and I entered office, our Administration has created 16 million jobs, and American entrepreneurs have filed nearly 20 million new business applications.  Wages are growing faster than prices.  Unemployment remains low.  Black- and Latino-owned businesses are being created faster today than they have been in years and Federal contracts with Native American-owned companies increased by over $8 billion from 2020 to 2023. I also take pride in my Administration’s investments in Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions — all of which are helping launch the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, and business owners.  These investments will ensure that their graduates will have every opportunity to lead the industries of the future and build generational wealth.

Across America — from small towns to big cities — we are seeing thousands of stories of revival, renewal, optimism, and pride.  And each new business that is created is an act of hope, not just for the business owner but for the entire community.  During Minority Enterprise Development Week, may we celebrate all the minority-owned businesses making our economy stronger, our Nation more competitive, and our communities more hopeful.  And may we recommit to supporting their success and longevity.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 20 through October 26, 2024, as Minority Enterprise Development Week.  I call upon the people of the United States to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements and contributions of minority business owners and enterprises and commit to promoting systemic economic equality.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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     In the Oval Office, I sit surrounded by portraits of exceptional American Presidents and busts of inspiring American leaders.  They remind me each and every day that we are a Nation of dreamers and doers, of promise and possibilities, and of ordinary Americans doing extraordinary things.  Above all, we are a Nation of good people, who show our kindness and character through small acts every single day.  This National Character Counts Week, we celebrate the core values of decency, honesty, dignity, and equality that have long defined the character of America.

     Our Nation is strong, and our future is bright — in large part because of the upstanding character that resides within all Americans.  I have witnessed it up close in educators like the First Lady, who inspire our Nation’s youth to reach for every possibility; mothers, fathers, and parental figures who raise their children with care, courage, and grit; first responders, who run toward danger to protect others; union workers, who are building America; and brave service members, who stand on the frontlines of freedom to defend our democracy.  Across the country, American workers are writing the greatest comeback story we have ever known — restoring pride in our hometowns, pride in America, and pride in knowing we can get big things done when we work together.

     Since I came into office, my Administration has taken large strides toward building an America that lives up to those values.  The American Rescue Plan helped keep child care programs open, families in their homes, and small businesses on their feet.  We set a record for Federal contract spending on small businesses.  Our historic investments across the clean energy economy are helping to combat climate change and create good-paying jobs.  Through the American Rescue Plan and Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, we have made significant investments in reducing crime, preventing gun violence, and saving lives, and last year, we saw one of the lowest rates of violent crime in more than 50 years.  We are also ensuring that America is a Nation where everyone is respected and where we give hate no safe harbor.  That is why I signed the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, making it easier to report hate crimes, and hosted the United We Stand Summit to counter the corrosive effects of hate-fueled violence.  My Administration continues to work to counter antisemitism, Islamophobia, and hate in all its forms and ensure that everyone is treated with dignity and respect.

     Under my Unity Agenda, we are tackling the opioid epidemic and mental health crisis, holding Big Tech accountable, supporting our veterans and their families, and ending cancer as we know it.  We are investing more than $1 billion to help schools across the country train and hire new mental health counselors through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, we have granted new disability benefits to over one million veterans and their families under the PACT Act, and we launched the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health to fast-track progress on how we prevent, detect, and treat cancer and other diseases.

     My father taught me that our character is not measured by how many times or how hard we get knocked down but by how quickly we get back up.  Even in the face of challenges ahead and obstacles in our way, Americans always get back up.  It is what drives our great country forward and what makes our Nation strong.  This week and every week, let us recommit to upholding our most essential values and remember that the sacred task of perfecting our Union is not just about any one of us but about “We the People.” 

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 20 through October 26, 2024, as National Character Counts Week.  Now and throughout the year, I encourage all Americans to engage in efforts that honor and express the best attributes of our character, extend a hand of fellowship to their neighbors, and unite in service to their communities.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
eighteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.
 
 
                             JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.
 

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     Our forests are central to our country’s heritage, history, and economy.  Forests support livelihoods across Tribal Nations, rural towns, and big cities — from foresters and loggers to mill workers and carpenters — while also sustaining the health of our environment and our communities.  During National Forest Products Week, we recognize that conserving our bountiful forests is critical to sustaining our economy and ensuring that Americans can enjoy the wonder of our forests for generations to come.

     As a Nation, we rely on our forests for so much — from cleaning the air we breathe and the water we drink to providing the lumber and paper we use every day.  But the existential threat of climate change endangers our forests, putting those jobs, livelihoods, and critical products at risk.  After decades of fire suppression and ignoring climate change, wildfire seasons have become wildfire years, burning down communities, destroying forest ecosystems, and upending people’s lives.

     My first year in office, I launched the “America the Beautiful” initiative to conserve at least 30 percent of all our Nation’s lands and waters by 2030 through local, voluntary efforts across the country while empowering foresters and farmers to advance sustainable practices to keep working lands productive.  These efforts will help strengthen our economy and pass on a healthier planet to our children and grandchildren.

     When I came into office, I was determined to conserve our forests while protecting the people who rely on them for jobs.  My Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is creating jobs managing our forests, restoring ecosystems, and preventing catastrophic fires.  It is investing in the removal of overgrown vegetation near homes and power lines, preparing evacuation routes in areas at risk of wildfires, removing invasive plant species from forests that can cause fire to spread, and planting native tree species that are more resilient to the changing climate.  And my Inflation Reduction Act made the largest climate investment ever, putting people to work planting trees, sustainably managing our forests, and working on fire prevention.  Together, these actions are producing new jobs that help us care for our forests and keep all of us safe from wildfires.

     At the same time, my Administration is working to support the American workers and rural communities producing our forest products.  We have awarded millions of dollars in grants to American businesses that support forest conservation, expand the sustainable use of American wood products, and find innovative ways to use our wood waste materials, including to build strong and sustainable buildings.  I also take pride in having raised the Federal firefighter minimum wage to $15 per hour — an important first step in ensuring the people who run into flames to keep all of us safe are paid what they deserve.

     Conserving our forests is good for our economy, the planet, and the soul of our Nation.  This week, may we recommit to responsibly stewarding our forests and the abundant resources they provide so that we may all enjoy their benefits and beauty for years to come.

     To recognize the importance of the many products generated by our Nation’s forests, the Congress, by Public Law 86–753 (36 U.S.C. 123), as amended, has designated the week beginning on the third Sunday in October of each year as “National Forest Products Week” and has authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of this week.

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 20 through October 26, 2024, as National Forest Products Week.  I call upon the people of the United States to join me in this observance and in recognizing all Americans who are responsible for the stewardship of our Nation’s beautiful forested landscapes.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.
 
 
                             JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE

SUBJECT:       Delegation of Authority Under Section 614(a)(1) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 621 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (FAA), I hereby delegate to the Secretary of State the authority under section 614(a)(1) of the FAA to determine whether it is important to the security interests of the United States to furnish up to $14 million in assistance to Ukraine without regard to any provision of law within the purview of section 614(a)(1) of the FAA.

You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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Yesterday, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Florida and ordered Federal aid to supplement State, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by Hurricane Milton beginning on October 5, 2024, and continuing.

The President’s action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties of Brevard, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, DeSoto, Duval, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, and Volusia and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Federal funding is also available to State, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work in the counties of Brevard, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, DeSoto, Duval, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, and Volusia and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida. For a period of 90 days of the State’s choosing within the first 120 days from the start of the incident period, assistance for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program is authorized at 100 percent of the total eligible costs.

Finally, Federal funding is available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

Mr. John E. Brogan of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been appointed to coordinate Federal recovery operations in the affected areas. 

Damage assessments are continuing in other areas, and more counties and additional forms of assistance may be designated after the assessments are fully completed.

Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), or by using the FEMA App. Anyone using a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, can give FEMA the number for that service. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT THE FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV.

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     America’s children deserve every opportunity to live fulfilling and healthy lives, and nutritious meals are key components in building those lives.  During National School Lunch Week, we reaffirm that the health and well-being of our Nation’s children are a national priority.  We recommit to doing everything we can to end child hunger.  And we celebrate school nutrition professionals, who do the critical work of planning, preparing, and serving nutritious school meals to more than 30 million students each day.

      Healthy school lunches benefit our Nation’s students and their families.  Fueled by a good lunch, students can better focus in the classroom and be set up for success throughout the rest of their day.  Free and reduced-price school meals provide families with some breathing room.  And for families that live in areas where there are no grocery stores with healthy food options nearby, school meals can be a lifeline — offering children reliable, nutritious meals.

     My Administration is committed to putting a healthy school lunch within reach of all our Nation’s children, no matter their family’s income.  That is why we are giving more schools the option to make free school meals available to every student, and we published a final rule updating nutrition standards for school meals to improve children’s health.  For the first time since 1975, we modernized the Thrifty Food Plan, making a healthy diet more affordable for the millions of families with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.  These actions are a part of our national strategy to end hunger and reduce diet-related diseases by 2030.  That plan includes the goal of expanding access to healthy, free school meals to nine million more kids — working toward a future where every kid has access to one.  We also hosted the first White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in over 50 years.  Since then, we have galvanized over $10 billion in external commitments dedicated to ending hunger and reducing diet-related diseases in children and families across the country.  Furthermore, we are giving schools the resources they need to purchase food from local farmers and ranchers and cook meals from scratch — giving kids healthier options and powering our rural economy.

     My Administration is taking steps to ensure our Nation’s children and families do not go hungry and can afford healthy food.  This year my Administration launched SUN Bucks — also referred to as Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer — to provide families with money to buy groceries when school is out, reaching an estimated 21 million children.  My American Rescue Plan expanded the Child Tax Credit, slashing child poverty by nearly 50 percent and helping keep food on the table for millions of families during the pandemic.  I continue to call on the Congress to restore the enhanced Child Tax Credit to ensure families have the money they need to feed and care for their kids.

     During National School Lunch Week, we recognize how important school lunches are to kids and families alike and recommit to expanding access to healthy, free school meals to support the health of the next generation.  And we thank all the school staff, school nutrition professionals, educators, and school leaders, whose tireless work nourishes the future leaders of our Nation. 

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 13 through October 19, 2024, as National School Lunch Week.  I call upon all Americans to recognize and commemorate all those who operate the National School Lunch Program with activities that raise awareness of the steadfast efforts in support of the health and well-being of our Nation’s children.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
eleventh day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

                        JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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     This Blind Americans Equality Day, we honor the immense contributions of blind and low vision Americans, who help power our economy and push our Nation forward.  And we recommit to ensuring every blind and low vision person in this country has a fair shot at the American Dream.

     Throughout my decades in public service, I have strived to build an America that works for all Americans.  It is why I was proud to co-sponsor the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act — a civil rights law that banned discrimination against people with disabilities in many areas of public life.  I remain proud of its lasting legacy today.  However, there is still more to do to ensure that blind and low vision Americans have the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.  From transportation to online job applications, public services are too often designed in ways that are inaccessible for people with disabilities.  And less than half of blind or low vision Americans are employed.

     My Administration is committed to ensuring blind and low vision Americans have equal opportunities.  To that end, I signed an Executive Order to prioritize diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the Federal Government and to identify the barriers faced by job applicants and employees with disabilities.  We are also requiring Federal agencies to prioritize website accessibility so the Government can truly deliver for all Americans.  These are important steps toward making the Federal Government the gold standard for fair, accessible, and decent practices in the workplace.  Furthermore, my Administration is ensuring that blind and low vision Americans hired by the Federal Government are paid a fair wage.  That is why we ended the use of unfair sub‑minimum wages in Federal contracts.  At the same time, we are working to increase hiring for people with disabilities in every sector by helping governments, businesses, and nonprofits access Federal funds to hire more disabled Americans.  

     I am also working to make public spaces more accessible for blind and low vision Americans.  Through my Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are investing $1.75 billion — the largest amount ever — in making transit and rail stations more accessible.  The General Services Administration also adopted the United States Access Board’s new guidelines to ensure people with disabilities have access to the over 300,000 Federal Government buildings.  And the National Institutes of Health designated people with disabilities as a population with health disparities, opening up new research opportunities that will focus on health issues and unmet needs for blind and low vision Americans.

     This Blind Americans Equality Day, may we recommit to advancing accessibility and opportunities for blind and low vision Americans, who do so much for our Nation and deserve every opportunity to thrive. 

     By joint resolution approved on October 6, 1964 (Public Law 88-628, as amended), the Congress authorized October 15 of each year as “White Cane Safety Day,” which is recognized today as “Blind Americans Equality Day,” to honor the contributions of blind and low vision Americans.

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 15, 2024, as Blind Americans Equality Day.  I call upon all the people of the United States — including all government officials, educators, and volunteers — to mark this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
eleventh day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.
 
 
                             JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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