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By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (8 U.S.C. 1182(f)), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, it is hereby ordered as follows: 

Section 1.  Policy.  Adversarial countries and criminals continue to conduct cyber campaigns targeting the United States and Americans, with the People’s Republic of China presenting the most active and persistent cyber threat to United States Government, private sector, and critical infrastructure networks.  These campaigns disrupt the delivery of critical services across the Nation, cost billions of dollars, and undermine Americans’ security and privacy.  More must be done to improve the Nation’s cybersecurity against these threats.

Building on the foundational steps I directed in Executive Order 14028 of May 12, 2021 (Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity), and the initiatives detailed in the National Cybersecurity Strategy, I am ordering additional actions to improve our Nation’s cybersecurity, focusing on defending our digital infrastructure, securing the services and capabilities most vital to the digital domain, and building our capability to address key threats, including those from the People’s Republic of China.  Improving accountability for software and cloud service providers, strengthening the security of Federal communications and identity management systems, and promoting innovative developments and the use of emerging technologies for cybersecurity across executive departments and agencies (agencies) and with the private sector are especially critical to improvement of the Nation’s cybersecurity.

Sec. 2.  Operationalizing Transparency and Security in Third-Party Software Supply Chains.  (a)  The Federal Government and our Nation’s critical infrastructure rely on software providers.  Yet insecure software remains a challenge for both providers and users and makes Federal Government and critical infrastructure systems vulnerable to malicious cyber incidents.  The Federal Government must continue to adopt secure software acquisition practices and take steps so that software providers use secure software development practices to reduce the number and severity of vulnerabilities in software they produce.   

(b)  Executive Order 14028 directed actions to improve the security and integrity of software critical to the Federal Government’s ability to function.  Executive Order 14028 directed the development of guidance on secure software development practices and on generating and providing evidence in the form of artifacts — computer records or data that are generated manually or by automated means — that demonstrate compliance with those practices.  Additionally, it directed the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to require agencies to use only software from providers that attest to using those secure software development practices.  In some instances, providers of software to the Federal Government commit to following cybersecurity practices, yet do not fix well-known exploitable vulnerabilities in their software, which puts the Government at risk of compromise.  The Federal Government needs to adopt more rigorous third-party risk management practices and greater assurance that software providers that support critical Government services are following the practices to which they attest.

(i)    Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Director of OMB, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), shall recommend to the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council (FAR Council) contract language requiring software providers to submit to CISA through CISA’s Repository for Software Attestation and Artifacts (RSAA):

(A)  machine-readable secure software development attestations;

(B)  high-level artifacts to validate those attestations; and

(C)  a list of the providers’ Federal Civilian Executive Branch (FCEB) agency software customers. 

(ii)   Within 120 days of the receipt of the recommendations described in subsection (b)(i) of this section, the FAR Council shall review the recommendations and, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, the Secretary of Defense, the Administrator of General Services, and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (the agency members of the FAR Council) shall jointly take steps to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement those recommendations.  The agency members of the FAR Council are strongly encouraged to consider issuing an interim final rule, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law.

(iii)  Within 60 days of the date of the issuance of the recommendations described in subsection (b)(i) of this section, the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Director of CISA, shall evaluate emerging methods of generating, receiving, and verifying machine-readable secure software development attestations and artifacts and, as appropriate, shall provide guidance for software providers on submitting them to CISA’s RSAA website, including a common data schema and format.

(iv)   Within 30 days of the date of any amendments to the FAR described in subsection (b)(ii) of this section, the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Director of CISA, shall develop a program to centrally verify the completeness of all attestation forms.  CISA shall continuously validate a sample of the complete attestations using high-level artifacts in the RSAA.

(v)    If CISA finds that attestations are incomplete or artifacts are insufficient for validating the attestations, the Director of CISA shall notify the software provider and the contracting agency.  The Director of CISA shall provide a process for the software provider to respond to CISA’s initial determination and shall duly consider the response. 

(vi)   For attestations that undergo validation, the Director of CISA shall inform the National Cyber Director, who shall publicly post the results, identifying the software providers and software version.  The National Cyber Director is encouraged to refer attestations that fail validation to the Attorney General for action as appropriate.

(c)  Secure software development practices are not sufficient to address the potential for cyber incidents from resourced and determined nation-state actors.  To mitigate the risk of such incidents occurring, software providers must also address how software is delivered and the security of the software itself.  The Federal Government must identify a coordinated set of practical and effective security practices to require when it procures software.

(i)    Within 60 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Director of NIST, shall establish a consortium with industry at the National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence to develop guidance, informed by the consortium as appropriate, that demonstrates the implementation of secure software development, security, and operations practices based on NIST Special Publication 800-218 (Secure Software Development Framework (SSDF)).

(ii)   Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Director of NIST, shall update NIST Special Publication 800-53 (Security and Privacy Controls for Information Systems and Organizations) to provide guidance on how to securely and reliably deploy patches and updates. 

(iii)  Within 180 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Director of NIST, in consultation with the heads of such agencies as the Director of NIST deems appropriate, shall develop and publish a preliminary update to the SSDF.  This update shall include practices, procedures, controls, and implementation examples regarding the secure and reliable development and delivery of software as well as the security of the software itself.  Within 120 days of publishing the preliminary update, the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Director of NIST, shall publish a final version of the updated SSDF.

(iv)   Within 120 days of the final update to the SSDF described in subsection (c)(iii) of this section, the Director of OMB shall incorporate select practices for the secure development and delivery of software contained in NIST’s updated SSDF into the requirements of OMB Memorandum M-22-18 (Enhancing the Security of the Software Supply Chain through Secure Software Development Practices) or related requirements.

(v)    Within 30 days of the issuance of OMB’s updated requirements described in subsection (c)(iv) of this section, the Director of CISA shall prepare any revisions to CISA’s common form for Secure Software Development Attestation to conform to OMB’s requirements and shall initiate any process required to obtain clearance of the revised form under the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.

(d)  As agencies have improved their cyber defenses, adversaries have targeted the weak links in agency supply chains and the products and services upon which the Federal Government relies.  Agencies need to integrate cybersecurity supply chain risk management programs into enterprise-wide risk management activities.  Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Director of OMB, in coordination with the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Director of NIST, the Administrator of General Services, and the Federal Acquisition Security Council (FASC), shall take steps to require, as the Director deems appropriate, that agencies comply with the guidance in NIST Special Publication 800-161 (Cybersecurity Supply Chain Risk Management Practices for Systems and Organizations (SP 800-161 Revision 1)).  OMB shall require agencies to provide annual updates to OMB as they complete implementation.  Consistent with SP 800-161 Revision 1, OMB’s requirements shall address the integration of cybersecurity into the acquisition lifecycle through acquisition planning, source selection, responsibility determination, security compliance evaluation, contract administration, and performance evaluation.

(e)  Open source software plays a critical role in Federal information systems.  To help the Federal Government continue to reap the innovation and cost benefits of open source software and contribute to the cybersecurity of the open source software ecosystem, agencies must better manage their use of open source software.  Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Director of CISA, and the Director of OMB, in consultation with the Administrator of General Services and the heads of other agencies as appropriate, shall jointly issue recommendations to agencies on the use of security assessments and patching of open source software and best practices for contributing to open source software projects.

Sec. 3.  Improving the Cybersecurity of Federal Systems.  (a)  The Federal Government must adopt proven security practices from industry — to include in identity and access management — in order to improve visibility of security threats across networks and strengthen cloud security. 

(b)  To prioritize investments in the innovative identity technologies and processes of the future and phishing-resistant authentication options, FCEB agencies shall begin using, in pilot deployments or in larger deployments as appropriate, commercial phishing-resistant standards such as WebAuthn, building on the deployments that OMB and CISA have developed and established since the issuance of Executive Order 14028.  These pilot deployments shall be used to inform future directions for Federal identity, credentialing, and access management strategies.

(c)  The Federal Government must maintain the ability to rapidly and effectively identify threats across the Federal enterprise.  In Executive Order 14028, I directed the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish procedures to immediately share threat information to strengthen the collective defense of Department of Defense and civilian networks.  To enable identification of threat activity, CISA’s capability to hunt for and identify threats across FCEB agencies under 44 U.S.C. 3553(b)(7) must be strengthened.

(i)     The Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Director of CISA, in coordination with the Federal Chief Information Officer (CIO) Council and Federal Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) Council, shall develop the technical capability to gain timely access to required data from FCEB agency endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions and from FCEB agency security operation centers to enable:

(A)  timely hunting and identification of novel cyber threats and vulnerabilities across the Federal civilian enterprise;

(B)  identification of coordinated cyber campaigns that simultaneously target multiple agencies and move laterally across the Federal enterprise; and

(C)  coordination of Government-wide efforts on information security policies and practices, including compilation and analysis of information about incidents that threaten information security.

(ii)    Within 180 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Director of CISA, in coordination with the Federal CIO and CISO Councils, shall develop and release a concept of operations that enables CISA to gain timely access to required data to achieve the objectives described in subsection (c)(i) of this section.  The Director of OMB shall oversee the development of this concept of operations to account for agency perspectives and the objectives outlined in this section and shall approve the final concept of operations.  This concept of operations shall include:

(A)  requirements for FCEB agencies to provide CISA with data of sufficient completeness and on the timeline required to enable CISA to achieve the objectives described in subsection (c)(i) of this section;

(B)  requirements for CISA to provide FCEB agencies with advanced notification when CISA directly accesses agency EDR solutions to obtain required telemetry;

(C)  specific use cases for which agencies may provide telemetry data subject to the requirements in subsection (c)(ii)(A) of this section as opposed to direct access to EDR solutions by CISA;

(D)  high-level technical and policy control requirements to govern CISA access to agency EDR solutions that conform with widely accepted cybersecurity principles, including role-based access controls, “least privilege,” and separation of duties;

(E)  specific protections for highly sensitive agency data that is subject to statutory, regulatory, or judicial restrictions to protect confidentiality or integrity; and

(F)  an appendix to the concept of operations that identifies and addresses certain types of specific use cases under subsection (c)(ii)(C) of this section that apply to the Department of Justice, including certain categories of information described in subsections (c)(vi) and (c)(vii) of this section, and requires the Department of Justice’s concurrence on the terms of the appendix prior to implementation of the concept of operations on the Department of Justice’s or its subcomponents’ networks.

(iii)   In undertaking the activities described in subsection (c) of this section, the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Director of CISA, shall only make a change to an agency network, system, or data when such change is required for threat hunting by CISA, including access to the EDR tools described in subsection (c)(ii) of this section, or in furtherance of its authority to conduct threat hunting as authorized under 44 U.S.C. 3553(b)(7), unless otherwise authorized by the agency.

(iv)    Within 30 days of the release of the concept of operations described in subsection (c)(ii) of this section, the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Director of CISA, shall establish working groups, open to all agencies, to develop and release specific technical controls that achieve the objectives set forth in subsection (c)(ii) of this section and to work with EDR solution providers to implement those controls in FCEB agency deployments of EDR solutions.  The Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Director of CISA, shall, at a minimum, establish a working group for each EDR solution authorized by CISA for use in the CISA Continuous Diagnostic and Mitigation Program.  Each working group shall be open to all agencies and include at least one representative from an FCEB agency employing the designated EDR solution.

(v)     Within 180 days of the release of the technical controls described in subsection (c)(iv) of this section, the heads of FCEB agencies shall enroll endpoints using an EDR solution covered by those controls in the CISA Persistent Access Capability program.

(vi)    Within 90 days of the date of this order, and periodically thereafter as needed, the heads of FCEB agencies shall provide to CISA a list of systems, endpoints, and data sets that require additional controls or periods of non-disruption to ensure that CISA’s threat-hunting activities do not disrupt mission-critical operations, along with an explanation of those operations.

(vii)   In cases in which agency data is subject to statutory, regulatory, or judicial access restrictions, the Director of CISA shall comply with agency processes and procedures required to access such data or work with the agency to develop an appropriate administrative accommodation consistent with any such restrictions so that the data is not subject to unauthorized access or use.

(viii)  Nothing in this order requires an agency to provide access to information that is protected from non-disclosure by court order or otherwise required to be kept confidential in connection with a judicial proceeding.

(d)  The security of Federal information systems relies on the security of the Government’s cloud services.  Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Administrator of General Services, acting through the Director of the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP), in coordination with the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Director of NIST, and the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Director of CISA, shall develop FedRAMP policies and practices to incentivize or require cloud service providers in the FedRAMP Marketplace to produce baselines with specifications and recommendations for agency configuration of agency cloud-based systems in order to secure Federal data based on agency requirements.

(e)  As cybersecurity threats to space systems increase, these systems and their supporting digital infrastructure must be designed to adapt to evolving cybersecurity threats and operate in contested environments.  In light of the pivotal role space systems play in global critical infrastructure and communications resilience, and to further protect space systems and the supporting digital infrastructure vital to our national security, including our economic security, agencies shall take steps to continually verify that Federal space systems have the requisite cybersecurity capabilities through actions including continuous assessments, testing, exercises, and modeling and simulation.

(i)    Within 180 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Geological Survey; the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall each review the civil space contract requirements in the FAR and recommend to the FAR Council and other appropriate agencies updates to civil space cybersecurity requirements and relevant contract language.  The recommended cybersecurity requirements and contract language shall use a risk-based, tiered approach for all new civil space systems.  Such requirements shall be designed to apply at minimum to the civil space systems’ on-orbit segments and link segments.  The requirements shall address the following elements for the highest-risk tier and, as appropriate, other tiers:

(A)  protection of command and control of the civil space system, including backup or failover systems, by:

(1)  encrypting commands to protect the confidentiality of communications;

(2)  ensuring commands are not modified in transit;

(3)  ensuring an authorized party is the source of commands; and

(4)  rejecting unauthorized command and control attempts;

(B)  establishment of methods to detect, report, and recover from anomalous network or system activity; and

(C)  use of secure software and hardware development practices, consistent with the NIST SSDF or any successor documents.

(ii)   Within 180 days of receiving the recommended contract language described in subsection (e)(i) of this section, the FAR Council shall review the proposal and, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, the agency members of the FAR Council shall jointly take steps to amend the FAR.

(iii)  Within 120 days of the date of this order, the National Cyber Director shall submit to OMB a study of space ground systems owned, managed, or operated by FCEB agencies.  This study shall include:

(A)  an inventory of space ground systems;

(B)  whether each space ground system is classified as a major information system under 44 U.S.C. 3505(c), labeled “Inventory of major information systems”; and

(C)  recommendations to improve the cyber defenses and oversight of such space ground systems.

(iv)   Within 90 days of the submission of the study described in subsection (e)(iii) of this section, the Director of OMB shall take appropriate steps to help ensure that space ground systems owned, managed, or operated by FCEB agencies comply with relevant cybersecurity requirements issued by OMB.

Sec. 4.  Securing Federal Communications.  (a)  To improve the security of Federal Government communications against adversarial nations and criminals, the Federal Government must implement, to the extent practicable and consistent with mission needs, strong identity authentication and encryption using modern, standardized, and commercially available algorithms and protocols.

(b)  The security of Internet traffic depends on data being correctly routed and delivered to the intended recipient network.  Routing information originated and propagated across the Internet, utilizing the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), is vulnerable to attack and misconfiguration.

(i)    Within 90 days of the date of this order, FCEB agencies shall take steps to ensure that all of their assigned Internet number resources (Internet Protocol (IP) address blocks and Autonomous System Numbers) are covered by a Registration Services Agreement with the American Registry for Internet Numbers or another appropriate regional Internet registry.  Thereafter, FCEB agencies shall annually review and update in their regional Internet registry accounts organizational identifiers related to assigned number resources such as organization names, points of contact, and associated email addresses.

(ii)   Within 120 days of the date of this order, all FCEB agencies that hold IP address blocks shall create and publish Route Origin Authorizations in the public Resource Public Key Infrastructure repository hosted or delegated by the American Registry for Internet Numbers or the appropriate regional Internet registry for the IP address blocks they hold.

(iii)  Within 120 days of the date of this order, the National Cyber Director, in coordination with the heads of other agencies as appropriate, shall      recommend contract language to the FAR Council to require contracted providers of Internet services to agencies to adopt and deploy Internet routing security technologies, including publishing Route Origin Authorizations and performing Route Origin Validation filtering.  The recommended language shall include requirements or exceptions, as appropriate, for agency contracts regarding overseas operations and overseas local service providers.  Within 270 days of receiving these recommendations, the FAR Council shall review the recommended contract language and, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, the agency members of the FAR Council shall jointly take steps to amend the FAR.  Pending any such amendments to the FAR, individual agencies are encouraged to include such requirements in future contracts, consistent with applicable law.

(iv)   Within 180 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Director of NIST, shall publish updated guidance to agencies on deployment of current, operationally viable BGP security methods for Federal Government networks and service providers.  The Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Director of NIST, shall also provide updated guidance on other emerging technologies to improve Internet routing security and resilience, such as route leak mitigation and source address validation.

(c)  Encrypting Domain Name System (DNS) traffic in transit is a critical step to protecting both the confidentiality of the information being transmitted to, and the integrity of the communication with, the DNS resolver.

(i)   Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Director of CISA, shall publish template contract language requiring that any product that acts as a DNS resolver (whether client or server) for the Federal Government support encrypted DNS and shall recommend that language to the FAR Council.  Within 120 days of receiving the recommended language, the FAR Council shall review it, and, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, the agency members of the FAR Council shall jointly take steps to amend the FAR.

(ii)  Within 180 days of the date of this order, FCEB agencies shall enable encrypted DNS protocols wherever their existing clients and servers support those protocols.  FCEB agencies shall also enable such protocols within 180 days of any additional clients and servers supporting such protocols.

(d)  The Federal Government must encrypt email messages in transport and, where practical, use end-to-end encryption in order to protect messages from compromise.

(i)    Within 120 days of the date of this order, each FCEB agency shall technically enforce encrypted and authenticated transport for all connections between the agency’s email clients and their associated email servers.

(ii)   Within 180 days of the date of this order, the Director of OMB shall establish a requirement for expanded use of authenticated transport-layer encryption between email servers used by FCEB agencies to send and receive email.

(iii)  Within 90 days of the establishment of the requirement described in subsection (d)(ii) of this section, the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Director of CISA, shall take appropriate steps to assist agencies in meeting that requirement, including by issuing implementing directives, as well as technical guidance to address any identified capability gaps.

(e)  Modern communications such as voice and video conferencing and instant messaging are usually encrypted at the link level but often are not encrypted end-to-end.  Within 180 days of the date of this order, to advance the security of Internet-based voice and video conferencing and instant messaging, the Director of OMB, in coordination with the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Director of CISA; the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Director of the National Security Agency (NSA); the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Director of NIST; the Archivist of the United States, acting through the Chief Records Officer for the United States Government; and the Administrator of General Services shall take appropriate steps to require agencies to:

(i)   enable transport encryption by default; and

(ii)  where technically supported, use end-to-end encryption by default while maintaining logging and archival capabilities that allow agencies to fulfill records management and accountability requirements.

(f)  Alongside their benefits, quantum computers pose significant risk to the national security, including the economic security, of the United States.  Most notably, a quantum computer of sufficient size and sophistication — also known as a cryptanalytically relevant quantum computer (CRQC) — will be capable of breaking much of the public-key cryptography used on digital systems across the United States and around the world.  In National Security Memorandum 10 of May 4, 2022 (Promoting United States Leadership in Quantum Computing While Mitigating Risks to Vulnerable Cryptographic Systems), I directed the Federal Government to prepare for a transition to cryptographic algorithms that would not be vulnerable to a CRQC. 

(i)    Within 180 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Director of CISA, shall release and thereafter regularly update a list of product categories in which products that support post-quantum cryptography (PQC) are widely available.

(ii)   Within 90 days of a product category being placed on the list described in subsection (f)(i) of this section, agencies shall take steps to include in any solicitations for products in that category a requirement that products support PQC.

(iii)  Agencies shall implement PQC key establishment or hybrid key establishment including a PQC algorithm as soon as practicable upon support being provided by network security products and services already deployed in their network architectures.

(iv)   Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Director of NIST and the Under Secretary for International Trade, shall identify and engage foreign governments and industry groups in key countries to encourage their transition to PQC algorithms standardized by NIST.

(v)    Within 180 days of the date of this order, to prepare for transition to PQC, the Secretary of Defense with respect to National Security Systems (NSS), and the Director of OMB with respect to non-NSS, shall each issue requirements for agencies to support, as soon as practicable, but not later than January 2, 2030, Transport Layer Security protocol version 1.3 or a successor version.

(g)  The Federal Government should take advantage of commercial security technologies and architectures, such as hardware security modules, trusted execution environments, and other isolation technologies, to protect and audit access to cryptographic keys with extended lifecycles.

(i)    Within 270 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Director of NIST, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Director of CISA, and the Administrator of General Services shall develop guidelines for the secure management of access tokens and cryptographic keys used by cloud service providers.

(ii)   Within 60 days of the publication of the guidelines described in subsection (g)(i) of this section, the Administrator of General Services, acting through the FedRAMP Director, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Director of NIST, and the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Director of CISA, shall develop updated FedRAMP requirements, incorporating the guidelines described in subsection (g)(i) of this section, as appropriate and consistent with guidance issued by the Director of OMB, concerning cryptographic key management security practices.

(iii)  Within 60 days of the publication of the guidelines described in subsection (g)(i) of this section, the Director of OMB, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Director of NIST; the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Director of CISA; and the Administrator of General Services shall take appropriate steps to require FCEB agencies to follow best practices concerning the protection and management of hardware security modules, trusted execution environments, or other isolation technologies for access tokens and cryptographic keys used by cloud service providers in the provision of services to agencies.

Sec. 5.  Solutions to Combat Cybercrime and Fraud.  (a)  The use of stolen and synthetic identities by criminal syndicates to systemically defraud public benefits programs costs taxpayers and wastes Federal Government funds.  To help address these crimes it is the policy of the executive branch to strongly encourage the acceptance of digital identity documents to access public benefits programs that require identity verification, so long as it is done in a manner that preserves broad program access for vulnerable populations and supports the principles of privacy, data minimization, and interoperability. 

(i)    Within 90 days of the date of this order, agencies with grantmaking authority are encouraged to consider, in coordination with OMB and the National Security Council staff, whether Federal grant funding is available to assist States in developing and issuing mobile driver’s licenses that achieve the policies and principles described in this section.

(ii)   Within 270 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Director of NIST, shall issue practical implementation guidance, in collaboration with relevant agencies and other stakeholders through the National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence, to support remote digital identity verification using digital identity documents that will help issuers and verifiers of digital identity documents advance the policies and principles described in this section.

(iii)  Agencies should consider accepting digital identity documents as digital identity verification evidence to access public benefits programs, but only if the use of these documents is consistent with the policies and principles described in this section.

(iv)   Agencies should, consistent with applicable law, seek to ensure that digital identity documents accepted as digital identity verification evidence to access public benefits programs:

(A)   are interoperable with relevant standards and trust frameworks, so that the public can use any standards-compliant hardware or software containing an official Government-issued digital identity document, regardless of manufacturer or developer;
(B)  do not enable authorities that issue digital identity documents, device manufacturers, or any other third party to surveil or track presentation of the digital identity document, including user device location at the time of presentation; and
(C)  support user privacy and data minimization by ensuring only the minimum information required for a transaction — often a “yes” or “no” response to a question, such as whether an individual is older than a specific age — is requested from the holder of the digital identity document.

(b)  The use of “Yes/No” validation services, also referred to as attribute validation services, can enable more privacy-preserving means to reduce identity fraud.  These services allow programs to confirm, via a privacy-preserving “yes” or “no” response, that applicant-provided identity information is consistent with information already contained in official records, without needing to share the contents of those official records.  To support the use of such services, the Commissioner of Social Security, and the head of any other agency designated by the Director of OMB, shall, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, consider taking steps to develop or modify services — including through, as appropriate, the initiation of a proposed rulemaking or the publication of a notice of a new or significantly modified routine use of records — related to Government-operated identity verification systems and public benefits programs, with consideration given to having such systems and programs submit applicant-provided identity information to the agency providing the service and receive a “yes” or “no” response as to whether the applicant-provided identity information is consistent with the information on file with the agency providing the service.  In doing so, the heads of these agencies shall specifically consider seeking to ensure, consistent with applicable law, that:

(i)    any applicant-provided identity information submitted to the services and any “yes” or “no” response provided by the services are used only to assist with identity verification, program administration, anti-fraud operations, or investigation and prosecution of fraud related to the public benefits program for which the identity information was submitted;
(ii)   the services are made available, to the maximum extent permissible and as appropriate, to public benefits programs; Government-operated identity verification systems, including shared-service providers; payment integrity programs; and United States-regulated financial institutions; and

(iii)  the agencies, public benefits programs, or institutions using the services provide reimbursement to appropriately cover costs and support the ongoing maintenance, improvement, and broad accessibility of the services.

     (c)  The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Administrator of General Services, shall research, develop, and conduct a pilot program for technology that notifies individuals and entities when their identity information is used to request a payment from a public benefits program, gives individuals and entities the option to stop potentially fraudulent transactions before they occur, and reports fraudulent transactions to law enforcement entities.

Sec. 6.  Promoting Security with and in Artificial Intelligence.  Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to transform cyber defense by rapidly identifying new vulnerabilities, increasing the scale of threat detection techniques, and automating cyber defense.  The Federal Government must accelerate the development and deployment of AI, explore ways to improve the cybersecurity of critical infrastructure using AI, and accelerate research at the intersection of AI and cybersecurity.

(a)  Within 180 days of the date of the completion of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s 2025 Artificial Intelligence Cyber Challenge, the Secretary of Energy, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, and the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall launch a pilot program, involving collaboration with private sector critical infrastructure entities as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, on the use of AI to enhance cyber defense of critical infrastructure in the energy sector, and conduct an assessment of the pilot program upon its completion.  This pilot program, and accompanying assessment, may include vulnerability detection, automatic patch management, and the identification and categorization of anomalous and malicious activity across information technology (IT) or operational technology systems.

(b)  Within 270 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Defense shall establish a program to use advanced AI models for cyber defense. 

(c)  Within 150 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Director of NIST; the Secretary of Energy; the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Under Secretary for Science and Technology; and the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) shall each prioritize funding for their respective programs that encourage the development of large-scale, labeled datasets needed to make progress on cyber defense research, and ensure that existing datasets for cyber defense research have been made accessible to the broader academic research community (either securely or publicly) to the maximum extent feasible, in consideration of business confidentiality and national security.

(d)  Within 150 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Director of NIST; the Secretary of Energy; the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Under Secretary for Science and Technology; and the Director of the NSF shall prioritize research on the following topics:

(i)    human-AI interaction methods to assist defensive cyber analysis;

(ii)   security of AI coding assistance, including security of AI-generated code;

(iii)  methods for designing secure AI systems; and

(iv)   methods for prevention, response, remediation, and recovery of cyber incidents involving AI systems.

(e)  Within 150 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Director of National Intelligence, in coordination with the Director of OMB, shall incorporate management of AI software vulnerabilities and compromises into their respective agencies’ existing processes and interagency coordination mechanisms for vulnerability management, including through incident tracking, response, and reporting, and by sharing indicators of compromise for AI systems.

Sec. 7.  Aligning Policy to Practice.  (a)  IT infrastructure and networks that support agencies’ critical missions need to be modernized.  Agencies’ policies must align investments and priorities to improve network visibility and security controls to reduce cyber risks.

(i)   Within 3 years of the date of this order, the Director of OMB shall issue guidance, including any necessary revision to OMB Circular A-130, to address critical risks and adapt modern practices and architectures across Federal information systems and networks.  This guidance shall, at a minimum:

(A)  outline expectations for agency cybersecurity information sharing and exchange, enterprise visibility, and accountability for enterprise-wide cybersecurity programs by agency CISOs;

(B)  revise OMB Circular A-130 to be less technically prescriptive in key areas, where appropriate, to more clearly promote the adoption of evolving cybersecurity best practices across Federal systems, and to include migration to zero trust architectures and implementation of critical elements such as EDR capabilities, encryption, network segmentation, and phishing-resistant multi-factor authentication; and

(C)  address how agencies should identify, assess, respond to, and mitigate risks to mission essential functions presented by concentration of IT vendors and services.

(ii)  The Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Director of NIST; the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Director of CISA; and the Director of OMB shall establish a pilot program of a rules-as-code approach for machine-readable versions of policy and guidance that OMB, NIST, and CISA publish and manage regarding cybersecurity.

(b)  Managing cybersecurity risks is now a part of everyday industry practice and should be expected for all types of businesses.  Minimum cybersecurity requirements can make it costlier and harder for threat actors to compromise networks.  Within 240 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Director of NIST, shall evaluate common cybersecurity practices and security control outcomes that are commonly used or recommended across industry sectors, international standards bodies, and other risk management programs, and based on that evaluation issue guidance identifying minimum cybersecurity practices.  In developing this guidance, the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Director of NIST, shall solicit input from the Federal Government, the private sector, academia, and other appropriate actors.

(c)  Agencies face multiple cybersecurity risks when purchasing products and services.  While agencies have already made significant advances to improve their supply chain risk management, additional actions are needed to keep pace with the evolving threat landscape.  Within 180 days of the issuance of the guidance described in subsection (b) of this section, the FAR Council shall review the guidance and, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, the agency members of the FAR Council shall jointly take steps to amend the FAR to:

(i)   require that contractors with the Federal Government follow applicable minimum cybersecurity practices identified in NIST’s guidance pursuant to subsection (b) of this section with respect to work performed under agency contracts or when developing, maintaining, or supporting IT services or products that are provided to the Federal Government; and

(ii)  adopt requirements for agencies to, by January 4, 2027, require vendors to the Federal Government of consumer Internet-of-Things products, as defined by 47 C.F.R. 8.203(b), to carry United States Cyber Trust Mark labeling for those products.

Sec. 8.  National Security Systems and Debilitating Impact Systems.  (a)  Except as specifically provided for in section 4(f)(v) of this order, sections 1 through 7 of this order shall not apply to Federal information systems that are NSS or are otherwise identified by the Department of Defense or the Intelligence Community as debilitating impact systems.

(b)  Within 90 days of the date of this order, to help ensure that NSS and debilitating impact systems are protected with the most advanced security measures, the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Director of NSA as the National Manager for National Security Systems (National Manager), in coordination with the Director of National Intelligence and the Committee on National Security Systems (CNSS), and in consultation with the Director of OMB and the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (APNSA), shall develop requirements for NSS and debilitating impact systems that are consistent with the requirements set forth in this order, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law.  The Secretary of Defense may grant exceptions to such requirements in circumstances necessitated by unique mission needs.  Such requirements shall be incorporated into a proposed National Security Memorandum, to be submitted to the President through the APNSA. 

(c)  To help protect space NSS with cybersecurity measures that keep pace with emerging threats, within 210 days of the date of this order, the CNSS shall review and update, as appropriate, relevant policies and guidance regarding space system cybersecurity.  In addition to appropriate updates, the CNSS shall identify and address appropriate requirements to implement cyber defenses on Federal Government-procured space NSS in the areas of intrusion detection, use of hardware roots of trust for secure booting, and development and deployment of security patches.

(d)  To enhance the effective governance and oversight of Federal information systems, within 90 days of the date of this order, the Director of OMB shall issue guidance as appropriate requiring agencies to inventory all major information systems and provide the inventory to CISA, the Department of Defense, or the National Manager, as applicable, which shall each maintain a registry of agency inventories within their purview.  CISA, the Department of Defense CIO, and the National Manager will share their inventories as appropriate to identify gaps or overlaps in oversight coverage.  This guidance shall not apply to elements of the Intelligence Community.

(e)  Nothing in this order alters the authorities and responsibilities granted in law or policy to the Director of National Intelligence, the Secretary of Defense, and the National Manager over applicable systems pursuant to the National Security Act of 1947 (Public Law 80–253), the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-283), National Security Directive 42 of July 5, 1990 (National Policy for the Security of National Security Telecommunications and Information Systems), or National Security Memorandum 8 of January 19, 2022 (Improving the Cybersecurity of National Security, Department of Defense, and Intelligence Community Systems).

Sec. 9.  Additional Steps to Combat Significant Malicious Cyber-Enabled Activities.  Because I find that additional steps must be taken to deal with the national emergency with respect to significant malicious cyber-enabled activities declared in Executive Order 13694 of April 1, 2015 (Blocking the Property of Certain Persons Engaging in Significant Malicious Cyber-Enabled Activities), as amended by Executive Order 13757 of December 28, 2016 (Taking Additional Steps to Address the National Emergency With Respect to Significant Malicious Cyber-Enabled Activities), and further amended by Executive Order 13984 of January 19, 2021 (Taking Additional Steps to Address the National Emergency With Respect to Significant Malicious Cyber-Enabled Activities), to protect against the growing and evolving threat of malicious cyber-enabled activities against the United States and United States allies and partners, including the increasing threats by foreign actors of unauthorized access to critical infrastructure, ransomware, and cyber-enabled intrusions and sanctions evasion, I hereby order that section 1(a) of Executive Order 13694 is further amended to read as follows:

“Section 1.  (a)  All property and interests in property that are in the United States, that hereafter come within the United States, or that are or hereafter come within the possession or control of any United States person of the following persons are blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in:

(i)    the persons listed in the Annex to this order;

(ii)   any person determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of State, to be responsible for or complicit in, or to have engaged in, directly or indirectly, cyber-enabled activities originating from, or directed by persons located, in whole or in substantial part, outside the United States that are reasonably likely to result in, or have materially contributed to, a threat to the national security, foreign policy, or economic health or financial stability of the United States, and that have the purpose of or involve:

(A)  harming, or otherwise compromising the provision of services by, a computer or network of computers that support one or more entities in a critical infrastructure sector;

(B)  compromising the provision of services by one or more entities in a critical infrastructure sector;

(C)  causing a disruption to the availability of a computer or network of computers or compromising the integrity of the information stored on a computer or network of computers;

(D)  causing a misappropriation of funds or economic resources, intellectual property, proprietary or business confidential information, personal identifiers, or financial information for commercial or competitive advantage or private financial gain;

(E)  tampering with, altering, or causing a misappropriation of information with the purpose of or that involves interfering with or undermining election processes or institutions; or

(F)  engaging in a ransomware attack, such as extortion through malicious use of code, encryption, or other activity to affect the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of data or a computer or network of computers, against a United States person, the United States, a United States ally or partner or a citizen, national, or entity organized under the laws thereof; or

(iii)  any person determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of State:

(A)  to be responsible for or complicit in, or to have engaged in, directly or indirectly, the receipt or use for commercial or competitive advantage or private financial gain, or by a commercial entity, outside the United States of funds or economic resources, intellectual property, proprietary or business confidential information, personal identifiers, or financial information misappropriated through cyber-enabled means, knowing they have been misappropriated, where the misappropriation of such funds or economic resources, intellectual property, proprietary or business confidential information, personal identifiers, or financial information is reasonably likely to result in, or has materially contributed to, a threat to the national security, foreign policy, or economic health or financial stability of the United States;

(B)  to be responsible for or complicit in, or to have engaged in, directly or indirectly, activities related to gaining or attempting to gain unauthorized access to a computer or network of computers of a United States person, the United States, a United States ally or partner or a citizen, national, or entity organized under the laws thereof, where such efforts originate from or are directed by persons located, in whole or substantial part, outside the United States and are reasonably likely to result in, or have materially contributed to, a significant threat to the national security, foreign policy, or economic health or financial stability of the United States;

(C)  to have materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, any activity described in subsections (a)(ii) or (a)(iii)(A) or (B) of this section or any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order;

(D)  to be owned or controlled by, or to have acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order or that has engaged in any activity described in subsections (a)(ii) or (a)(iii)(A) – (C) of this section;

(E)  to have attempted to engage in any of the activities described in subsections (a)(ii) and (a)(iii)(A)-(D) of this section; or

(F)  to be or have been a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order or that has engaged in any activity described in subsections (a)(ii) or (a)(iii)(A) – (E) of this section.”

Sec. 10.  Definitions.  For purposes of this order:

(a)  The term “agency” has the meaning ascribed to it under 44 U.S.C. 3502(1), except for the independent regulatory agencies described in 44 U.S.C. 3502(5).

(b)  The term “artifact” means a record or data that is generated manually or by automated means and may be used to demonstrate compliance with defined practices, including for secure software development.

(c)  The term “artificial intelligence” or “AI” has the meaning set forth in 15 U.S.C. 9401(3).

(d)  The term “AI system” means any data system, software, hardware, application, tool, or utility that operates in whole or in part using AI.

     (e)  The term “authentication” means the process of determining the validity of one or more authenticators, such as a password, used to claim a digital identity.

(f)  The term “Border Gateway Protocol” or “BGP” means the control protocol used to distribute and compute paths between the tens of thousands of autonomous networks that constitute the Internet.

(g)  The term “consumer Internet-of-Things products” means Internet-of-Things products intended primarily for consumer use, rather than enterprise or industrial use.  Consumer Internet-of-Things products do not include medical devices regulated by the United States Food and Drug Administration or motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment regulated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

(h)  The term “cyber incident” has the meaning given to the term “incident” under 44 U.S.C. 3552(b)(2).

(i)  The term “debilitating impact systems” means systems as described by 44 U.S.C. 3553(e)(2) and 3553(e)(3) for Department of Defense and Intelligence Community purposes, respectively.

(j)  The term “digital identity document” means an electronic, reusable, cryptographically verifiable identity credential issued by a Government source, such as a State-issued mobile driver’s license or an electronic passport.

(k)  The term “digital identity verification” means identity verification that a user performs online.

(l)  The term “endpoint” means any device that can be connected to a computer network creating an entry or exit point for data communications.  Examples of endpoints include desktop and laptop computers, smartphones, tablets, servers, workstations, virtual machines, and consumer Internet-of-Things products.

(m)  The term “endpoint detection and response” means cybersecurity tools and capabilities that combine real-time continuous monitoring and collection of endpoint data (for example, networked computing device such as workstations, mobile phones, servers) with rules-based automated response and analysis capabilities.

(n)  The term “Federal Civilian Executive Branch agencies” or “FCEB agencies” includes all agencies except for the agencies and other components in the Department of Defense and agencies in the Intelligence Community.

(o)  The term “Federal information system” means an information system used or operated by an agency, a contractor of an agency, or another organization on behalf of an agency.

(p)  The term “Government-operated identity verification system” means a system owned and operated by a Federal, State, local, Tribal, or territorial Government entity that performs identity verification, including single-agency systems and shared services that provide service to multiple agencies.

(q)  The term “hardware root of trust” means an inherently trusted combination of hardware and firmware that helps to maintain the integrity of information.

(r)  The term “hybrid key establishment” means a key establishment scheme that is a combination of two or more components that are themselves cryptographic key-establishment schemes.

(s)  The term “identity verification” means the process of collecting identity information or evidence, validating its legitimacy, and confirming that it is associated with the real person providing it.

(t)  The term “Intelligence Community” has the meaning given to it under 50 U.S.C. 3003(4).

(u)  The term “key establishment” means the process by which a cryptographic key is securely shared between two or more entities.

(v)  The term “least privilege” means the principle that a security architecture is designed so that each entity is granted the minimum system resources and authorizations that the entity needs to perform its function.

(w)  The term “machine-readable” means that the product output is in a structured format that can be consumed by another program using consistent processing logic.

(x)  The term “national security systems” or “NSS” has the meaning given to it under 44 U.S.C. 3552(b)(6).

(y)  The term “patch” means a software component that, when installed, directly modifies files or device settings related to a different software component without changing the version number or release details for the related software component.

(z)  The term “rules-as-code approach” means a coded version of rules (for example, those contained in legislation, regulation, or policy) that can be understood and used by a computer.

(aa)  The term “secure booting” means a security feature that prevents malicious software from running when a computer system starts up.  The security feature performs a series of checks during the boot sequence that helps ensure only trusted software is loaded.

(bb)  The term “security control outcome” means the results of the performance or non-performance of safeguards or countermeasures prescribed for an information system or an organization to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system and its information.

(cc)  The term “zero trust architecture” has the meaning given to it in Executive Order 14028.

Sec. 11.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order 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 order shall be implemented in a manner consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c)  This order 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.

THE WHITE HOUSE,

    January 16, 2025.

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SUBJECT:       Orderly Implementation of the Air Toxics Standards for Ethylene Oxide Commercial Sterilizers

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1.  Policy.  The strengthened and updated Clean Air Act standards for ethylene oxide (EtO) emitted into the air from commercial sterilizing facilities issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on April 5, 2024, National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Ethylene Oxide Emissions Standards for Sterilization Facilities Residual Risk and Technology Review, Final Rule, 89 Fed. Reg. 24,090 (Apr. 5, 2024) (“EtO Rule”), achieved a new milestone in my Administration’s efforts to protect public health for all Americans and to advance the objective of my Administration’s Cancer Moonshot initiative to prevent cancer before it starts.  EtO has been associated with elevated cancer risks in communities around the United States and can be particularly harmful to children.  The loss of loved ones from environmentally related cancer is a tragedy that the Nation can and must work together to end, once and for all.  

The EtO Rule was issued after careful consideration of public comments and public hearings.  In this rule, EPA set standards under section 112 of the Clean Air Act, as amended (the “Act”) (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.), to control emissions from commercial sterilizers through the use of demonstrated and achievable pollution control technologies and practices.  These standards will significantly reduce emissions of the toxic air pollutant EtO.  

     The EtO Rule applies to facilities that sterilize medical products, including medical devices and pharmaceuticals.  Sterilization is critical to maintaining a safe supply of medical devices for patients and hospitals and providing health care to millions of Americans to help them stay healthy and fight diseases, including cancer.  Consequently, EPA worked closely with the Department of Health and Human Services, including the Food and Drug Administration, to develop a final rule that protects communities exposed to pollution from sterilization facilities while also mitigating and managing the potential risk of any medical device supply disruptions.

EPA concluded that sterilization facilities will be able to install the appropriate technology to meet the standards of the EtO Rule before the compliance deadlines mandated by the Act.  The EtO Rule also recognized that the President’s authority under section 112(i)(4) of the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. 7412(i)(4), to exempt individual facilities from compliance for a set period of time may provide an important mechanism to address the possibility that a facility may be unable to install all appropriate technology before the compliance deadline.  89 Fed. Reg. at 24,103. It is of vital national importance to ensure the reduction of EtO emissions to the level that EPA determined is required to protect public health pursuant to the Clean Air Act, while also avoiding the national security and public health effects that could result from a significant disruption to the medical device supply chain.

It is the policy of my Administration to safeguard the reliability of our Nation’s supply of safe medical products.  To advance orderly implementation of the EtO Rule, I am therefore establishing a process, provided below, for considering requests for Presidential exemptions, the duration of which shall be as short as possible and no longer than two years.  This process will ensure consideration of such requests in the exceptional circumstances in which a commercial sterilizer can demonstrate that, notwithstanding due diligence and best efforts, it will be unable to meet a covered standard or limitation required by the EtO Rule before the compliance deadline due to the unavailability of control technology for the facility, leading to likely shutdown of the facility, and the best available information demonstrates that the shutdown of the facility will likely lead to a serious disruption to the supply of medical products, such as medical devices and pharmaceuticals, necessary for America’s national security and public health.

To achieve the EtO Rule’s critical health protections as soon as practicable, while safeguarding the supply of safe medical products from disruption that would compromise the health and welfare of the American people, I direct you to take the following actions:

Sec. 2.  Implementation of a Process for Considering Presidential Exemptions.  The Administrator of the EPA (Administrator) shall receive requests for a Presidential exemption from a standard or limitation in the EtO Rule under section 112(i)(4) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 7412(i)(4)), review them, and advise the President regarding whether to grant them through the following process:

(a)  Any commercial sterilizer seeking such an exemption shall submit a request to the Administrator no earlier than 12 months and no later than 4 months before the compliance deadline for which an exemption is sought.  The request shall include:

(i)  specific information of sufficient detail to enable verification of the reason or reasons that the technology to implement the applicable standard or limitation is unavailable for installation and that, notwithstanding its due diligence and best efforts, the facility cannot be brought into compliance before the compliance deadline for the covered standard or limitation (e.g., contracts, documentation of communication with vendors or suppliers);

(ii)  a plan for procuring, installing, and operating the technology as soon as feasible in order to achieve compliance with the EtO Rule, and an assurance as described in subsection (h)(ii) of this section;

(iii)  a list of all available practicable measures (i.e., technological and operational) that have already been taken or that are planned to advance compliance and additional measures, if any, that will be implemented to reduce the emissions of EtO and resulting risks during the exemption period;

(iv) a list of any alternative steps available, in progress, or already taken to try to avoid the need for additional time for compliance;

(v)  the type or types of products sterilized at the facility, the volume of products sterilized at the facility, and the facility’s annual sterilization capacity; and

(vi)  the name, title, and signature of the responsible official who is certifying the accuracy of the request.

(b)  In reviewing an exemption request, and the information provided pursuant to this section, the Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services (Secretary), shall consider:

(i)  whether the technology to implement a covered standard or limitation will be unavailable in time for installation and operation of the technology at a specific facility before the compliance deadline for such standard or limitation, due, for example, to shortages of labor, parts, control technology supply, supply-chain disruption, or other factors out of the facility’s control;

(ii)  the amount of time needed for installation and operation to occur in order to achieve compliance with the EtO Rule;

(iii)  the risk of a serious disruption to the supply of medical products (including pharmaceuticals and medical devices) should the facility be required to temporarily pause sterilization activities or reduce capacity until installation and operation can occur (including any potential alternatives to assure a sufficient supply of sterilization and sterilized medical products);

(iv)  the potential effect of any such disruption on public health and welfare, and any other information that may be relevant to an evaluation of whether granting an exemption is in the national security interests of the United States; and

(vi) any other information that the Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary, deems relevant.

(c)  No later than 30 days after receiving a request pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the Administrator shall confirm receipt of the request, notify the requester of any additional information needed to evaluate the request, set a deadline of no later than 15 days for the requester to provide the requested information, and provide public notification that the request was submitted (including the name of, the location of, and any other information regarding the facility requesting the exemption that the Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary, deems relevant and appropriate to publish).

(d)  As soon as practicable and no later than 30 days after receiving all necessary information to evaluate a request pursuant to this section, the Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary, shall provide the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) with the request and accompanying information from the requester, any additional information that the Administrator deems relevant, and a recommendation regarding whether an exemption is warranted, including the basis for the recommendation, and if recommending that the President grant an exemption: the recommended duration, and any other accompanying terms or conditions (such as a schedule for status reports regarding planned steps and progress to achieve compliance with the EtO Rule).

(e)  As soon as practicable and generally within 45 days after receiving a recommendation from the Administrator pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, the Chairman of CEQ, in consultation with the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, the Director of the Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy, and the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, shall advise the President concerning the request for an exemption.

(f)  As expeditiously as practicable after the grant or denial of any exemption by the President under this process, and no later than 10 days after such a grant or denial, the Administrator shall notify the applicant.

(g)  Within 60 days of the grant of any exemption by the President under this process, the Administrator shall make publicly available online the name of, location of, and any other appropriate and relevant information regarding the facility receiving the exemption and the duration of any exemption, and shall submit to Congress the report required by section 112(i)(4) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 7412(i)(4)) on behalf of the President.

(h)  The Administrator shall, as appropriate:

(i)  provide technical assistance to any facility that receives an exemption to promote compliance with the EtO Rule;

(ii)  seek information and assurance from any facility that requests an exemption that the facility will use its best efforts and will take reasonable and appropriate steps to demonstrate diligent action to install and operate necessary technology as expeditiously as practicable (including to fulfill any accompanying terms or conditions) to achieve compliance with the EtO Rule; and

(iii)  inform the Chairman of CEQ when installation of such technology is complete.

Sec. 3.  Federal Coordination.  The Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator, shall consider taking additional steps, as appropriate, to further advance the goal of protecting the public from cancer and other harms from EtO exposure, including spurring innovation to reduce exposure to EtO and other carcinogenic air pollutants and to expand access to safe, effective, and reliable alternative methods for sterilization of medical equipment and pharmaceuticals that do not depend on EtO, and continuing to strengthen the resilience of our Nation’s medical supply chain.  Within 2 years of the date of this memorandum, the Secretary shall provide a report to the Chairman of CEQ regarding progress toward this directive and any steps taken or planned.

Sec. 4.  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.

(d)  The Administrator is authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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SUBJECT:       Orderly Implementation of the Air Toxics Standards for Ethylene Oxide Commercial Sterilizers

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1.  Policy.  The strengthened and updated Clean Air Act standards for ethylene oxide (EtO) emitted into the air from commercial sterilizing facilities issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on April 5, 2024, National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Ethylene Oxide Emissions Standards for Sterilization Facilities Residual Risk and Technology Review, Final Rule, 89 Fed. Reg. 24,090 (Apr. 5, 2024) (“EtO Rule”), achieved a new milestone in my Administration’s efforts to protect public health for all Americans and to advance the objective of my Administration’s Cancer Moonshot initiative to prevent cancer before it starts.  EtO has been associated with elevated cancer risks in communities around the United States and can be particularly harmful to children.  The loss of loved ones from environmentally related cancer is a tragedy that the Nation can and must work together to end, once and for all.  

The EtO Rule was issued after careful consideration of public comments and public hearings.  In this rule, EPA set standards under section 112 of the Clean Air Act, as amended (the “Act”) (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.), to control emissions from commercial sterilizers through the use of demonstrated and achievable pollution control technologies and practices.  These standards will significantly reduce emissions of the toxic air pollutant EtO.  

     The EtO Rule applies to facilities that sterilize medical products, including medical devices and pharmaceuticals.  Sterilization is critical to maintaining a safe supply of medical devices for patients and hospitals and providing health care to millions of Americans to help them stay healthy and fight diseases, including cancer.  Consequently, EPA worked closely with the Department of Health and Human Services, including the Food and Drug Administration, to develop a final rule that protects communities exposed to pollution from sterilization facilities while also mitigating and managing the potential risk of any medical device supply disruptions.

EPA concluded that sterilization facilities will be able to install the appropriate technology to meet the standards of the EtO Rule before the compliance deadlines mandated by the Act.  The EtO Rule also recognized that the President’s authority under section 112(i)(4) of the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. 7412(i)(4), to exempt individual facilities from compliance for a set period of time may provide an important mechanism to address the possibility that a facility may be unable to install all appropriate technology before the compliance deadline.  89 Fed. Reg. at 24,103. It is of vital national importance to ensure the reduction of EtO emissions to the level that EPA determined is required to protect public health pursuant to the Clean Air Act, while also avoiding the national security and public health effects that could result from a significant disruption to the medical device supply chain.

It is the policy of my Administration to safeguard the reliability of our Nation’s supply of safe medical products.  To advance orderly implementation of the EtO Rule, I am therefore establishing a process, provided below, for considering requests for Presidential exemptions, the duration of which shall be as short as possible and no longer than two years.  This process will ensure consideration of such requests in the exceptional circumstances in which a commercial sterilizer can demonstrate that, notwithstanding due diligence and best efforts, it will be unable to meet a covered standard or limitation required by the EtO Rule before the compliance deadline due to the unavailability of control technology for the facility, leading to likely shutdown of the facility, and the best available information demonstrates that the shutdown of the facility will likely lead to a serious disruption to the supply of medical products, such as medical devices and pharmaceuticals, necessary for America’s national security and public health.

To achieve the EtO Rule’s critical health protections as soon as practicable, while safeguarding the supply of safe medical products from disruption that would compromise the health and welfare of the American people, I direct you to take the following actions:

Sec. 2.  Implementation of a Process for Considering Presidential Exemptions.  The Administrator of the EPA (Administrator) shall receive requests for a Presidential exemption from a standard or limitation in the EtO Rule under section 112(i)(4) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 7412(i)(4)), review them, and advise the President regarding whether to grant them through the following process:

(a)  Any commercial sterilizer seeking such an exemption shall submit a request to the Administrator no earlier than 12 months and no later than 4 months before the compliance deadline for which an exemption is sought.  The request shall include:

(i)  specific information of sufficient detail to enable verification of the reason or reasons that the technology to implement the applicable standard or limitation is unavailable for installation and that, notwithstanding its due diligence and best efforts, the facility cannot be brought into compliance before the compliance deadline for the covered standard or limitation (e.g., contracts, documentation of communication with vendors or suppliers);

(ii)  a plan for procuring, installing, and operating the technology as soon as feasible in order to achieve compliance with the EtO Rule, and an assurance as described in subsection (h)(ii) of this section;

(iii)  a list of all available practicable measures (i.e., technological and operational) that have already been taken or that are planned to advance compliance and additional measures, if any, that will be implemented to reduce the emissions of EtO and resulting risks during the exemption period;

(iv) a list of any alternative steps available, in progress, or already taken to try to avoid the need for additional time for compliance;

(v)  the type or types of products sterilized at the facility, the volume of products sterilized at the facility, and the facility’s annual sterilization capacity; and

(vi)  the name, title, and signature of the responsible official who is certifying the accuracy of the request.

(b)  In reviewing an exemption request, and the information provided pursuant to this section, the Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services (Secretary), shall consider:

(i)  whether the technology to implement a covered standard or limitation will be unavailable in time for installation and operation of the technology at a specific facility before the compliance deadline for such standard or limitation, due, for example, to shortages of labor, parts, control technology supply, supply-chain disruption, or other factors out of the facility’s control;

(ii)  the amount of time needed for installation and operation to occur in order to achieve compliance with the EtO Rule;

(iii)  the risk of a serious disruption to the supply of medical products (including pharmaceuticals and medical devices) should the facility be required to temporarily pause sterilization activities or reduce capacity until installation and operation can occur (including any potential alternatives to assure a sufficient supply of sterilization and sterilized medical products);

(iv)  the potential effect of any such disruption on public health and welfare, and any other information that may be relevant to an evaluation of whether granting an exemption is in the national security interests of the United States; and

(vi) any other information that the Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary, deems relevant.

(c)  No later than 30 days after receiving a request pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the Administrator shall confirm receipt of the request, notify the requester of any additional information needed to evaluate the request, set a deadline of no later than 15 days for the requester to provide the requested information, and provide public notification that the request was submitted (including the name of, the location of, and any other information regarding the facility requesting the exemption that the Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary, deems relevant and appropriate to publish).

(d)  As soon as practicable and no later than 30 days after receiving all necessary information to evaluate a request pursuant to this section, the Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary, shall provide the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) with the request and accompanying information from the requester, any additional information that the Administrator deems relevant, and a recommendation regarding whether an exemption is warranted, including the basis for the recommendation, and if recommending that the President grant an exemption: the recommended duration, and any other accompanying terms or conditions (such as a schedule for status reports regarding planned steps and progress to achieve compliance with the EtO Rule).

(e)  As soon as practicable and generally within 45 days after receiving a recommendation from the Administrator pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, the Chairman of CEQ, in consultation with the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, the Director of the Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy, and the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, shall advise the President concerning the request for an exemption.

(f)  As expeditiously as practicable after the grant or denial of any exemption by the President under this process, and no later than 10 days after such a grant or denial, the Administrator shall notify the applicant.

(g)  Within 60 days of the grant of any exemption by the President under this process, the Administrator shall make publicly available online the name of, location of, and any other appropriate and relevant information regarding the facility receiving the exemption and the duration of any exemption, and shall submit to Congress the report required by section 112(i)(4) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 7412(i)(4)) on behalf of the President.

(h)  The Administrator shall, as appropriate:

(i)  provide technical assistance to any facility that receives an exemption to promote compliance with the EtO Rule;

(ii)  seek information and assurance from any facility that requests an exemption that the facility will use its best efforts and will take reasonable and appropriate steps to demonstrate diligent action to install and operate necessary technology as expeditiously as practicable (including to fulfill any accompanying terms or conditions) to achieve compliance with the EtO Rule; and

(iii)  inform the Chairman of CEQ when installation of such technology is complete.

Sec. 3.  Federal Coordination.  The Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator, shall consider taking additional steps, as appropriate, to further advance the goal of protecting the public from cancer and other harms from EtO exposure, including spurring innovation to reduce exposure to EtO and other carcinogenic air pollutants and to expand access to safe, effective, and reliable alternative methods for sterilization of medical equipment and pharmaceuticals that do not depend on EtO, and continuing to strengthen the resilience of our Nation’s medical supply chain.  Within 2 years of the date of this memorandum, the Secretary shall provide a report to the Chairman of CEQ regarding progress toward this directive and any steps taken or planned.

Sec. 4.  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.

(d)  The Administrator is authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

The post Memorandum on the Orderly Implementation of the Air Toxics Standards for Ethylene Oxide Commercial Sterilizers appeared first on The White House.

Oval Office

8:00 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: My fellow Americans, I am speaking to you tonight from the Oval Office.

Before I begin, let me speak to important news from earlier today. After eight months of nonstop negotiation, my administration — by my administration, a ceasefire and a hostage deal has been reached by Israel and Hamas, the elements of which I laid out in great detail in May of this year.

This plan was developed and negotiated by my team and will be largely implemented by the incoming administration. That’s why I told my team to keep the incoming administration fully informed, because that’s how it should be: working together as Americans.

This will be my final address to you from — the American people from the Oval Office, from this desk as president. And I’ve been thinking a lot about who we are and, maybe more importantly, who we should be.

Long ago, in New York Harbor, an ironworker installed beam after beam, day after day. He was joined by steelworkers, stone masons, engineers. They built not just a single structure but a beacon of freedom.

The very idea of America was so big, we felt the entire world needed to see — the Statue of Liberty, a gift from France after our Civil War. Like the very idea of America, it was built not by one person but by many people, from every background and from around the world.

Like America, the Statue of Liberty is not standing still.
Her foot literally steps forward atop a broken chain of human bondage. She’s on the march, and she literally moves. She was built to sway back and forth to withstand the fury of stormy weather, to stand the test of time, because storms are always coming. She sways a few inches, but she never falls into the current below — an engineering marvel.

The Statue of Liberty is also an enduring symbol of the soul of our nation, a soul shaped by forces that bring us together and by forces that pull us apart. And yet, through good times and tough times, we’ve withstood it all.

A nation of pioneers and explorers, of dreamers and doers, of ancestors native to this land, of ancestors who came by force, a nation of immigrants who came to build a better life,
a nation holding the torch of the most powerful idea ever in the history of the world that all of us — all of us are created equal. That all of us deserve to be treated with dignity, justice, and fairness. That democracy must defend and be defined and be imposed, moved in every way possible. Our rights, our freedoms, our dreams.

But we know the idea of America — our institution, our people, our values that uphold it — are constantly being tested. Ongoing debates about power and the exercise of power, about whether we lead by the example of our power or the power of our example, whether we show the courage to stand up to the abuse of power or we yield to it.

After 50 years at the center of all of this, I know that believing in the idea of America means respecting the institutions that govern a free society: the presidency, the Congress, the courts, a free and independent press. Institutions that are rooted not — they just — not to reflect the timeless words, but they re- — they — they echo the words of the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident.” Rooted in the timeless words of the Constitution, “We the People.”

Our system of separation of powers, checks and balances, it may not be perfect, but it’s maintained our democracy for nearly 250 years — longer than any other nation in history that’s ever tried such a bold experiment.

In the past four years, our democracy has held strong. And every day, I’ve kept my commitment to be president for all Americans through one of the toughest periods in our nation’s history.

I’ve had a great partner in Vice President Kamala Harris.

It’s been the honor of my life to see the resilience of essential workers getting us through a once-in-a-century pandemic, the heroism of service members and first responders keeping us safe, the determination of advocates standing up for our rights and our freedoms.

Instead of losing their jobs to an economic crisis that we inherited, millions of Americans now have the dignity of work; millions of entrepreneurs and companies creating new businesses and industries, hiring American workers, using American products.

And together, we’ve launched a new era of American possibilities — one of the greatest modernizations of infrastructure in our entire history, from new roads, bridges, clean water, affordable high-speed Internet for every American.

We invented the semiconductor — smaller than the tip of my little finger. And now it’s bringing those chip factories and those jobs back to America where they belong, creating thousands of jobs.

Finally giving Medicare the power to negotiate lower prescription drug prices for millions of seniors.

And finally doing something to protect our children and our families by passing the most significant gun safety law in 30 years and bringing violent crime to a 50-year low.

Meeting our sacred obligation to over 1 million veterans so far who were exposed to toxic materials, and to their families — providing medical care and education benefits and more for their families.

You know, it will take time to feel the full impact of all we’ve done together. But the seeds are planted, and they’ll grow and they’ll bloom for decades to come.

At home, we’ve created nearly 17 million new jobs — more than any other single administration in a s- — single term.

More people have health care than ever before.

And overseas, we’ve strengthened NATO. Ukraine is still free. And we’ve pulled ahead of our competition with China. And so much more.

I’m so proud of how much we’ve accomplished together for the American people. And I wish the incoming administration success, because I want America to succeed.

That’s why I’ve upheld my duty to ensure a peaceful and orderly transition of power to ensure we lead by the power of our example. I have no doubt that America is in a position to continue to succeed.

That’s why, in my farewell address tonight, I want to warn the country of some things that give me great concern. And this is the dangerous concer- — and that’s the dangerous concentration of power in the hands of very few ultra-wealthy people, and the dangerous consequences if their abuse of power is left unchecked.

Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power, and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms, and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead.

We see the consequences all across America. And we’ve seen it before, more than a century ago. But the American people stood up to the robber barons back then and busted the trusts.

They didn’t punish the wealthy. They just made the wealthy pay the by — play by the rules everybody else had to. Workers won rights to earn their fair share. You know, they were dealt into the deal, and it helped put us on the path to building the largest middle class and the most prosperous century any nation the world has ever seen, and we’ve got to do that again.

In the last four years, that is exactly what we’ve done.

People should be able to make as much as they can, but pay — play by the same rules, pay their fair share in taxes.

So much is at stake. Right now, the existential threat of climate change has never been clearer. Just look across the country, from California to North Carolina.

That’s why I signed the most significant climate and clean energy law ever — ever — in the history of the world, and the rest of the world is trying to model it now. It’s working, creating jobs and industries of the future.

You know, we’ve proven we don’t have to choose between protecting the environment and growing the economy. We’re doing both.

But powerful forces want to wield their unchecked influence to eliminate the steps we’ve taken to tackle the climate crisis to serve their own interest for power and profit.

We must not be bullied into sacrificing the future, the future of our children and our grandchildren. We must keep pushing forward and push faster. There is no time to waste.

It’s also clear that American leadership in technology is unparalleled — an unparalleled source of innovation that can transform lives. We see the same dangers of the concentration of technology, power, and wealth.

You know, his farewell address, President Eisenhower spoke of the dangers of the military-industrial complex. He warned us then about, and I quote, “the potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power,” end of quote.

Six day lec- — six decades later, I’m equally concerned about the p- — potential rise of a tech-industrial complex that could pose real dangers for our country as well.

Americans are being buried under an avalanche of misinformation and disinformation enabling the abuse of power. The free press is crumbling. Editors are disappearing. Social media is giving up on fact-checking. The truth is smothered by lies told for power and for profit.

We must hold the social platforms accountable to protect our children, our families, and our very democracy from the abuse of power.

Meanwhile, artificial intelligence is the most consequential technology of our time — perhaps of all time. Nothing offers more profound possibilities and risks for our economy and our security, our society, our very — for humanity.

Artificial intelligence even has the potential to help us answer my call to end cancer as we know it. But unless safeguards are in place, AI could spawn new threats to our rights, our way of life, to our privacy, how we work, and how we protect our nation.

We must make sure AI is safe and trustworthy and good for all humankind.

In the age of AI, it’s more important than ever that the people must govern. And as the land of liberty, America — not China — must lead the world on the development of AI.

You know, in the years ahead, it will help to be — it’s going to be up to the president, the presidency, the Congress, the courts, the free press, and the American people to confront these powerful forces.

We must reform the tax code — not by giving the biggest tax cuts to billionaires, but by making them begin to pay their fair share.

We need to get dark money — that’s that hidden funding behind too many campaigns’ contributions — we need to get it out of our politics.

We need to enact an 18-year time limit — term limit — time and term — for the strongest ethics ref- — and the strongest ethics reforms for our Supreme Court.

We need to ban members of Congress from pra- — from trading stock while they’re in the Congress.

We need to amend the Constitution to make clear that no president — no president — is immune from crimes that he or she commits while in office. The president’s power is limit- — it’s not absolute, and it shouldn’t be.

And in a democracy, there’s another danger to the concentration of power and wealth. It erodes a sense of unity and common purpose. It causes distrust and division. Participating in our democracy becomes exhausting and even disillusioning, and people don’t feel like they have a fair shot.

But we have to stay engaged in the process. I know it’s frustrating.

A fair shot is what makes America, America. Everyone is entitled to a fair shot — not a guarantee, but just a fair shot, an even playing field — going as far as your hard work and talent can take you.

We can never lose that essential truth — remain who we are.

I’ve always believed and I’ve told other world leaders America can be defined by one word: possibilities.

Only in America do we believe anything possible, like a kid with a stutter from modest beginnings in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Claymont, Delaware, sitting behind the — this desk in the Oval Office as president of the United States.

That’s the magic of America. It’s all around us.

Upstairs in the residence of the White House, I’ve walked by a painting of the Statue of Liberty I don’t know how many times. In the painting, there are several workers climbing on the outstretched arm of the statue that holds the torch. It reminds me every day I pass it of the story and soul of our nation and the power of the American per- — people.

There’s a story of a veteran — this is — a veteran, a son of an immigrant, whose job it was to climb that torch and polish the amber panes so rays of light could reach out as far as possible. He was known as the “keeper of the flame.”

He once said of the Statue of Liberty, quote, “speaks a silent universal language, one of hope, that anyone who seeks and speaks freedom can understand.”

Yes, we sway back and forth to withstand the fury of the storm, to stand the test of time — a constant struggle — constant struggle, a short distance between peril and possibility.

But what I believe is the America of our dreams is always closer than we think. And it’s up to us to make our dreams come true.

Let me close by stating my gratitude to so many people. To the members of my administration, as well as public service and first responders across the country and around the world, thank you for stepping up to serve.

To our service members and your families, it’s been the highest honor of my life to lead you as commander in chief.

And, of course, to Kamala and her incredible partner — a historic vice president. She and Doug have become like family. And to me, family is everything.

My deepest appreciation to our amazing first lady, who is with me in the Oval today, for our entire family. You are the love of my life and lifes of my love.

And my eternal thanks to you, the American people. After 50 years of public service, I give you my word, I still believe in the idea for which this nation stands, a nation where the strengths of our institutions and the character of our people matter and must endure.

Now it’s your turn to stand guard. May you all be the keeper of the flame. May you keep the faith.

I love America. You love it too.

God bless you all. And may God protect our troops. Thank you for this great honor.

8:17 P.M. EST

The post Remarks by President Biden in a Farewell Address to the Nation appeared first on The White House.

Oval Office

8:00 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: My fellow Americans, I am speaking to you tonight from the Oval Office.

Before I begin, let me speak to important news from earlier today. After eight months of nonstop negotiation, my administration — by my administration, a ceasefire and a hostage deal has been reached by Israel and Hamas, the elements of which I laid out in great detail in May of this year.

This plan was developed and negotiated by my team and will be largely implemented by the incoming administration. That’s why I told my team to keep the incoming administration fully informed, because that’s how it should be: working together as Americans.

This will be my final address to you from — the American people from the Oval Office, from this desk as president. And I’ve been thinking a lot about who we are and, maybe more importantly, who we should be.

Long ago, in New York Harbor, an ironworker installed beam after beam, day after day. He was joined by steelworkers, stone masons, engineers. They built not just a single structure but a beacon of freedom.

The very idea of America was so big, we felt the entire world needed to see — the Statue of Liberty, a gift from France after our Civil War. Like the very idea of America, it was built not by one person but by many people, from every background and from around the world.

Like America, the Statue of Liberty is not standing still.
Her foot literally steps forward atop a broken chain of human bondage. She’s on the march, and she literally moves. She was built to sway back and forth to withstand the fury of stormy weather, to stand the test of time, because storms are always coming. She sways a few inches, but she never falls into the current below — an engineering marvel.

The Statue of Liberty is also an enduring symbol of the soul of our nation, a soul shaped by forces that bring us together and by forces that pull us apart. And yet, through good times and tough times, we’ve withstood it all.

A nation of pioneers and explorers, of dreamers and doers, of ancestors native to this land, of ancestors who came by force, a nation of immigrants who came to build a better life,
a nation holding the torch of the most powerful idea ever in the history of the world that all of us — all of us are created equal. That all of us deserve to be treated with dignity, justice, and fairness. That democracy must defend and be defined and be imposed, moved in every way possible. Our rights, our freedoms, our dreams.

But we know the idea of America — our institution, our people, our values that uphold it — are constantly being tested. Ongoing debates about power and the exercise of power, about whether we lead by the example of our power or the power of our example, whether we show the courage to stand up to the abuse of power or we yield to it.

After 50 years at the center of all of this, I know that believing in the idea of America means respecting the institutions that govern a free society: the presidency, the Congress, the courts, a free and independent press. Institutions that are rooted not — they just — not to reflect the timeless words, but they re- — they — they echo the words of the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident.” Rooted in the timeless words of the Constitution, “We the People.”

Our system of separation of powers, checks and balances, it may not be perfect, but it’s maintained our democracy for nearly 250 years — longer than any other nation in history that’s ever tried such a bold experiment.

In the past four years, our democracy has held strong. And every day, I’ve kept my commitment to be president for all Americans through one of the toughest periods in our nation’s history.

I’ve had a great partner in Vice President Kamala Harris.

It’s been the honor of my life to see the resilience of essential workers getting us through a once-in-a-century pandemic, the heroism of service members and first responders keeping us safe, the determination of advocates standing up for our rights and our freedoms.

Instead of losing their jobs to an economic crisis that we inherited, millions of Americans now have the dignity of work; millions of entrepreneurs and companies creating new businesses and industries, hiring American workers, using American products.

And together, we’ve launched a new era of American possibilities — one of the greatest modernizations of infrastructure in our entire history, from new roads, bridges, clean water, affordable high-speed Internet for every American.

We invented the semiconductor — smaller than the tip of my little finger. And now it’s bringing those chip factories and those jobs back to America where they belong, creating thousands of jobs.

Finally giving Medicare the power to negotiate lower prescription drug prices for millions of seniors.

And finally doing something to protect our children and our families by passing the most significant gun safety law in 30 years and bringing violent crime to a 50-year low.

Meeting our sacred obligation to over 1 million veterans so far who were exposed to toxic materials, and to their families — providing medical care and education benefits and more for their families.

You know, it will take time to feel the full impact of all we’ve done together. But the seeds are planted, and they’ll grow and they’ll bloom for decades to come.

At home, we’ve created nearly 17 million new jobs — more than any other single administration in a s- — single term.

More people have health care than ever before.

And overseas, we’ve strengthened NATO. Ukraine is still free. And we’ve pulled ahead of our competition with China. And so much more.

I’m so proud of how much we’ve accomplished together for the American people. And I wish the incoming administration success, because I want America to succeed.

That’s why I’ve upheld my duty to ensure a peaceful and orderly transition of power to ensure we lead by the power of our example. I have no doubt that America is in a position to continue to succeed.

That’s why, in my farewell address tonight, I want to warn the country of some things that give me great concern. And this is the dangerous concer- — and that’s the dangerous concentration of power in the hands of very few ultra-wealthy people, and the dangerous consequences if their abuse of power is left unchecked.

Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power, and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms, and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead.

We see the consequences all across America. And we’ve seen it before, more than a century ago. But the American people stood up to the robber barons back then and busted the trusts.

They didn’t punish the wealthy. They just made the wealthy pay the by — play by the rules everybody else had to. Workers won rights to earn their fair share. You know, they were dealt into the deal, and it helped put us on the path to building the largest middle class and the most prosperous century any nation the world has ever seen, and we’ve got to do that again.

In the last four years, that is exactly what we’ve done.

People should be able to make as much as they can, but pay — play by the same rules, pay their fair share in taxes.

So much is at stake. Right now, the existential threat of climate change has never been clearer. Just look across the country, from California to North Carolina.

That’s why I signed the most significant climate and clean energy law ever — ever — in the history of the world, and the rest of the world is trying to model it now. It’s working, creating jobs and industries of the future.

You know, we’ve proven we don’t have to choose between protecting the environment and growing the economy. We’re doing both.

But powerful forces want to wield their unchecked influence to eliminate the steps we’ve taken to tackle the climate crisis to serve their own interest for power and profit.

We must not be bullied into sacrificing the future, the future of our children and our grandchildren. We must keep pushing forward and push faster. There is no time to waste.

It’s also clear that American leadership in technology is unparalleled — an unparalleled source of innovation that can transform lives. We see the same dangers of the concentration of technology, power, and wealth.

You know, his farewell address, President Eisenhower spoke of the dangers of the military-industrial complex. He warned us then about, and I quote, “the potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power,” end of quote.

Six day lec- — six decades later, I’m equally concerned about the p- — potential rise of a tech-industrial complex that could pose real dangers for our country as well.

Americans are being buried under an avalanche of misinformation and disinformation enabling the abuse of power. The free press is crumbling. Editors are disappearing. Social media is giving up on fact-checking. The truth is smothered by lies told for power and for profit.

We must hold the social platforms accountable to protect our children, our families, and our very democracy from the abuse of power.

Meanwhile, artificial intelligence is the most consequential technology of our time — perhaps of all time. Nothing offers more profound possibilities and risks for our economy and our security, our society, our very — for humanity.

Artificial intelligence even has the potential to help us answer my call to end cancer as we know it. But unless safeguards are in place, AI could spawn new threats to our rights, our way of life, to our privacy, how we work, and how we protect our nation.

We must make sure AI is safe and trustworthy and good for all humankind.

In the age of AI, it’s more important than ever that the people must govern. And as the land of liberty, America — not China — must lead the world on the development of AI.

You know, in the years ahead, it will help to be — it’s going to be up to the president, the presidency, the Congress, the courts, the free press, and the American people to confront these powerful forces.

We must reform the tax code — not by giving the biggest tax cuts to billionaires, but by making them begin to pay their fair share.

We need to get dark money — that’s that hidden funding behind too many campaigns’ contributions — we need to get it out of our politics.

We need to enact an 18-year time limit — term limit — time and term — for the strongest ethics ref- — and the strongest ethics reforms for our Supreme Court.

We need to ban members of Congress from pra- — from trading stock while they’re in the Congress.

We need to amend the Constitution to make clear that no president — no president — is immune from crimes that he or she commits while in office. The president’s power is limit- — it’s not absolute, and it shouldn’t be.

And in a democracy, there’s another danger to the concentration of power and wealth. It erodes a sense of unity and common purpose. It causes distrust and division. Participating in our democracy becomes exhausting and even disillusioning, and people don’t feel like they have a fair shot.

But we have to stay engaged in the process. I know it’s frustrating.

A fair shot is what makes America, America. Everyone is entitled to a fair shot — not a guarantee, but just a fair shot, an even playing field — going as far as your hard work and talent can take you.

We can never lose that essential truth — remain who we are.

I’ve always believed and I’ve told other world leaders America can be defined by one word: possibilities.

Only in America do we believe anything possible, like a kid with a stutter from modest beginnings in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Claymont, Delaware, sitting behind the — this desk in the Oval Office as president of the United States.

That’s the magic of America. It’s all around us.

Upstairs in the residence of the White House, I’ve walked by a painting of the Statue of Liberty I don’t know how many times. In the painting, there are several workers climbing on the outstretched arm of the statue that holds the torch. It reminds me every day I pass it of the story and soul of our nation and the power of the American per- — people.

There’s a story of a veteran — this is — a veteran, a son of an immigrant, whose job it was to climb that torch and polish the amber panes so rays of light could reach out as far as possible. He was known as the “keeper of the flame.”

He once said of the Statue of Liberty, quote, “speaks a silent universal language, one of hope, that anyone who seeks and speaks freedom can understand.”

Yes, we sway back and forth to withstand the fury of the storm, to stand the test of time — a constant struggle — constant struggle, a short distance between peril and possibility.

But what I believe is the America of our dreams is always closer than we think. And it’s up to us to make our dreams come true.

Let me close by stating my gratitude to so many people. To the members of my administration, as well as public service and first responders across the country and around the world, thank you for stepping up to serve.

To our service members and your families, it’s been the highest honor of my life to lead you as commander in chief.

And, of course, to Kamala and her incredible partner — a historic vice president. She and Doug have become like family. And to me, family is everything.

My deepest appreciation to our amazing first lady, who is with me in the Oval today, for our entire family. You are the love of my life and lifes of my love.

And my eternal thanks to you, the American people. After 50 years of public service, I give you my word, I still believe in the idea for which this nation stands, a nation where the strengths of our institutions and the character of our people matter and must endure.

Now it’s your turn to stand guard. May you all be the keeper of the flame. May you keep the faith.

I love America. You love it too.

God bless you all. And may God protect our troops. Thank you for this great honor.

8:17 P.M. EST

The post Remarks by President Biden in a Farewell Address to the Nation appeared first on The White House.

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

3:18 P.M. EST

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Good afternoon, everyone.

Q Good afternoon.

Q Hi, Karine.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Hi. I haven’t seen you in a while.

This is a good day. You all have just heard the terrific news from the president that after 15 months of war, Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire and hostage deal.

This deal will halt the fighting in Gaza, surge much-needed humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians who have been living in dire conditions, and it will reunite the hostages, including Americans, with their families after more than 8 — more than 15 months in captivity, experiencing unimaginable — unimaginable suffering.

Over the past few days, President Biden spoke with the leaders of Israel, Qatar, and Egypt to continue to push negotiations forward and reach the resolution we announced today.

The process has been steered out of the West Wing, at the direction of the president, by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and driven to completion through relentless diplomacy by Middle East Coordinator Brett McGurk, who has been actively negotiating day and night in Doha.

I will note that Brett is currently in meetings with foreign leaders. And when he emerges, the National Security Council is going to host a background call to answer more of your questions.

Secretary Blinken, Director Burns have traveled regularly to the region in recent months and throughout the past year and been in close touch with the key players in the region to advance negotiations forward.

President Biden has also directed his team to work closely with the incoming administration to ensure all spoke with one voice on the need to secure a deal.

As the president said, we have reached this point because of the pressure Israel has put on Hamas, while — with the backing of the United States. Sinwar was killed. Iran’s attacks against Israel failed thanks to the support from the United States. We have built a coalition of nations to defend against Houthi attacks. We negotiated a ceasefire after Hezbollah was significantly weakened. And Iran is weaker today than it has been in decades.

These developments, which the United States helped shape, have created new conditions in the region — conditions that have led to the outcome we are seeing today.

Today, even as we welcome this news, we remember all the families — all of the families whose loved ones were killed in Hamas’s horrific October 7th attack and the many innocent people who have been killed in the war that followed.

It is long time for the fighting to end and the work of building peace and security to begin.

The families of the American hostages are at the forefront of our hearts and minds today. They have been through a terrible ordeal that I cannot begin to imagine.

Under this deal, President Biden is determined to finally bring their loved ones home.

Now, again, Brett McGurk is the best equipped to answer the specific implementation questions, as he has been directly involved in extensive negotiations, obviously, on the ground.

In the meantime, we wanted to come out here to speak to the news and also answer any other questions that you may all have.

But before I even move forward to taking your questions, I want to do one of those, as the — as the — as a — as the former senator, now president Biden would say, one — a point of personal privilege here.

Today is the five-hundred and sev- — and thirty-seventh briefing of the Biden-Harris administration. This is my 306th briefing and the final briefing of the administration.

Before I get to all your questions, I just want to say a few things and — and also just give out a few thank yous, if that’s okay.

So, we had the first briefing of this administration on Inauguration Day because President Joe Biden wanted to make clear the importance of daily press briefings and the vital role that the press plays in our democracy.

President Biden believed in returning the norm of regular briefings and communicating to all of you and the American people about what we are doing and why it was important.

The president and all of us in this administration understand that a free press is a cornerstone of our nation and that the job you do — questioning leaders and holding the powerful accountable — is important.

And as I said during my first briefing when I took over this role, we might not see eye to eye here in this room all of the time, and that is okay. The give-and-take that happens here is incredibly healthy and it is a part of our democracy.

I have been honored to partake in it with all of you. Well, most of the time I’ve been — (laughs) — I’ve been hon- — honored to take it.

But in all seriousl- — seriousness, I also said at that first briefing I would not be here today if it were not for generations of barrier-breaking people before me. I have stood on their shoulders. I benefit from their sacrifices. I have — I have learned excellence. And I am eternally grateful to them.

And now, I will pass the torch.

It is my sincere hope that I will — that I — while I may be the first for many things at this podium, behind this lectern, I am not the last. I hope my presence at this podium has served as inspiration to many young girls out there who took — who look at me and look at this job and look at what we’ve been able to do and ha- — and have a similar background as me, and hopefully they can follow their dreams and never give up and know that you can achieve great things if you put your heart and mind and be passionate about it — no matter how many barriers you may need to overcome.

Progress is not always a straight line. But we all must do our part — in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., whose birthday is indeed today — “bend it towards justice” and pay it forward.

I hope that and — I and my many barrier-breaking colleagues in this administration have played a small role in doing just that.

Standing here and having served in this role for this administration and this president has truly been the honor of a lifetime, one I am grateful for and I will never forget.

But it is a job I could never have done alone. And so, finally, I do want to say a few thank yous to a few people in this room that I’ve gotten the pleasure to work with.

I want to start off by thanking the best team in the business. Emilie, Andrew, Kelly, Robyn, Angelo, Jeremy, Sonja, Chloe, Jacob, Chris — you are simply, simply the best. And thank you so much for having my back and doing this job and having the president’s back and doing it so well. Truly, the best.

You work tirelessly, passionately, and with utmost professionalism. You serve the president and this nation well. I am proud to call you all my friends and colleagues. None of this would be possible without all of you.

I also want to acknowledge some of the former team members who are with us today. They’re sp- — spread about here in the back. And, you know, as you all know, they — many of them left to continue to do some impressive work outside and obviously continue to do some work within the administration.

Chris. Vedant is here as well, who just had a baby girl. Congratulations, Vedant. I had to call you out for that, which is wonderful. You and your wife brought in a beautiful little girl. Alexandra, Silas, Allyson, Angela, Natalie. It is all good to see you, and thank you for all that you have done. Thank you for your service.

And, Jen Psaki, who’s in the back, thank you so much. I see you. I see you, and I’m so grateful that you took the time to be here. And so, thank you for your kindness, thank you for your friendship, and we’ve missed you around here, and it’s so good to see your face.

I also want to thank — I also want to thank my parents. Growing up as an immigrant family in New York, they never imagined their daughter would be standing here today. They worked day and night to give me every opportunity possible. I can’t thank them enough.

And to my parents, sorry I didn’t become a doctor, but hopefully this is okay. (Laughter.)

And to my lovely, amazing daughter, you have gone too many nights without me being around and without me being there for school drop-offs and without your mom around. And I can’t wait to spend more time with you. I call her my “pudding,” so I can’t wait to spend more time with you, Pudding. Thank you for your love and support and your patience.

And finally — finally, I do want to say thank you to President Biden and First Lady Dr. Biden for this incredible opportunity.

As I said earlier, standing at this podium, behind this lectern, sever- — serving the American people and this administration has been an honor of a lifetime, and I will be forever grateful to the president for his trust and this amazing opportunity.

And with that — thank you for your patience, all. I appreciate that.

With that, Zeke.

Q Thanks, Karine. When will the American hostages who are being held by Hamas be released? Will that be in — will they be released in phase one, or will that come in subsequent phases?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: And so, the president answered this a little bit when he was speaking earlier today. He — he mentioned phase one. That’s when we’re going to be seeing that. And —

Q All the American hostages will come out in phase one?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, there will be more details that Brett McGurk will share right after this briefing.

But what I will say is — just to give you a little bit of how it will work. So, during the first phase, which will begin on Sunday, the fighting will stop, hostages will be — will be — begin to be released, and aid will surge into Gaza.

During these weeks, the second phase of the deal will continue to be negotiated to bring a permanent en- — end to this war.

If negotiations take longer than six weeks, the ceasefire will continue to hold as long as negotiations continue.

This deal was developed by the president and — you know, and his team about eight months ago, back in May. You heard the president talk about that. So, this was the framework. And once he was able to put out the framework, it was endorsed by the world.

And so, we are certainly — as the president started off in his remarks to — to the American people, to all of you as well, this is a good day. This is a good day. This is a good step forward.

And so, Brett McGurk, after this — after this briefing, will have a call to give more details of how this is going to — to — how this is going to move forward.

But again, this is a very good step forward.

Q And then, as you mentioned, the president announced this framework back in May of last year.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yep. We did.

Q And it’s — and it’s — now it’s been — a deal has been reached five days before this administration’s term ends. It will go into effect a day before the next president is sworn in. Do- — is it clear — does the president want to give some credit to his successor and that there’s a forcing mechanism by that transition that’s helping push this deal do- — towards the finish line?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, a couple things, and you said this in — in your question to me. This is a framework that the president put forth about eight months ago, back in May. Again, it was endorsed by — by the world, when he put out this framework.

His team has worked — because of the direction of the president, obviously — has worked 24/7, night and day, to get this done. You’re going to hear directly from Brett McGurk, who’s been on the ground, who’s been in Doha at the direction of the president, obviously, with the leadership of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.

And what we see this day as — this is a good day. This is a good day. Hostages are be- — are going to be able to go home, including American hostages, to their families, and
after — what? — 15 months since Hamas did something so unimaginable — launched an attack that was so dreadful.

We lost so many lives because of that attack on October 7th. And we have been working — working around the clock to get this done.

And so, that’s how we look at it. We’re going to continue — we’re going to continue to — to speak with the Trump transition. You heard even from National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Monday talk about how they have been coordinating with the Trump team, keeping them abreast, having regular conversations with them about this.

And, you know, now we — we understand that this is going to be implemented by the next team. And so, we’re going to continue to work with the — until then, until January 20th, we’re going to continue to work closely with the Trump transition team.

We have to remember what we have seen from this president over the last 8 months, since — 15 months, as we — we’re talking about this particular matter, that’s what an American president does. That’s what they do. And that’s what we’ve seen from this president and his leadership.

Q And you mentioned that this deal will be implemented by the next president, and there’s coordination between the White House and — and the incoming administration. Has the president spoken at all with his successor? And outside of the very brief ceremonial tea that they will have on the morning of the 20th, does he plan on having a more substantive conversation with him about his strategy and the briefing and the relationships that went into this agreement?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Well, Zeke, I will remind you, when he invited the president — President-elect Trump to the White House, they — they met for more than 90 minutes. And that’s a pretty long time — a significant time to — to have a heart-to-heart, a — a bi- — bit of a conversation. So, that happened, as you know, right after the election.

I don’t have anything to read out in this time — at this time of upcoming conversation or conversations that’s happened since their meeting in the Oval Office. But, again, the Trump transition team and our team have been in constant communication, having these conversations, keeping them abreast.

This president made a — made a commitment. He made a commitment that he wanted to see a peaceful transfer of power, something that he didn’t get four years ago. But he wanted to make sure to continue that tran- — that tradition and do a peaceful transfer of power. That’s what you have seen.

He wanted to make sure the transition was effective, efficient, and that’s what we have provided. And like I said, we’re going to be in close touch with our team and — our team and their team on the next — in the next couple of days.

Q And just lastly, on a different topic.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Sure.

Q You’ve said the president has been weighing preemptive pardons for all sorts of officials who have — who he fears may be targeted by the incoming administration. Has he made a decision? And given that this is the last briefing, if he were to decide to issue those pardons, could you commit now that there’ll be an opportunity to ask questions of the outgoing administration before noon on the 20th about any —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, I —

Q — presidential actions?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: — I don’t have — I don’t have anything to announce.

You are correct, I — you could expect more pardons. I’m not going to go into details of what that’s going to look like. It is not — it is not unusual for a president to — to do that, and so you’re going to — you should expect that from this president. I — I am not going to make any commitments right now. I’m not going to lock ourselves in — into — into a potential — another opportunity to ask questions about the pardons.

But what I can say is: Stay tuned, and there’ll be more to share, and I’m sure the president is going to want to continue to engage with all of you in the next couple days.

Go ahead, Weijia.

Q Thank you, Karine.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I haven’t seen you in a while. Good to see you.

Q It’s good to see you, and thank you so much for taking our questions so often.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Thank you. I appreciate that.

Q Really appreciate it.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Thanks, Weijia.

Q So, in terms of implementing the terms of this agreement, how confident is President Biden that the incoming administration will do that? And have they offered any assurances that they will carry them out?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I think — look, I think there’s a commitment to move forward with this deal. I think there’s a commitment to make sure that there’s an end to this war. Obviously, hostages are going to be coming home. Obviously, we’ve been in very close touch with the Trump transition.

And the president was asked some variation of that question moments ago when he — after he spoke, and he said he is very much indeed confident.

So, look, we are — we understand this is going to be implemented by the next team. As I just stated, we are going to work closely — in close coordination with the Trump team.

As the president has said, and I has — have said also moments ago: We want this to be in one voice, right? And I think that’s what you have seen in the past couple of weeks, how we have moved forward in one voice. And this is what’s important for the hostages, to get them home, to make sure that we’re getting that humanitarian aid into Gaza, and to ending this war — ending this war that has taken a lot of innocent lives.

And so, that is the commitment — that is the commitment that you — that you can see from us, and that’s what the president is — believes that he is confident in how we’re going to move forward.

Q Tonight, President Biden is going to be delivering a farewell address. Ahead of that speech, we got a long list of what he views as his greatest accomplishments.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q Can you talk —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: A few hundred pa- — over a hundred pages I believe, right? (Laughs.) Did you read ev- — did you — every word? (Laughs.)

Q We have every — yes, I have, every word.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q Can you talk about what he thinks his greatest failures are and whether he will address those tonight to the American public?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, this is an important moment for the president. You know, he has been working on the speech, because, ob- — obviously, these — these are felwell — farewell remarks, but he is obviously going to be talking directly to the American people. It is not going to be partisan.

This is something that — and — and not just forget — it’s not just about the last four years of his administration. He is — he is stepping down from his career — right? — more than 50 years of public service that this president has done as senator, as vice president, as president. So, you can imagine, the president has a lot to say, a lot of thoughts that he wants to share, really touch on the moment that we’re in right now. And so, that’s what you’re going to hear from the president.

What he wants to do, obviously, is — is also be positive, talk about what we have been able to do. This is a president that speaks about possibilities and how he sees this country moving forward.

And so, that’s what I’m — could speak to. I’m not going to get ahead of what his — what — specifically what the president is going to say. I’m not going to go into — line by line, but I can say — and I love to say that from here — is stay tuned, and I will leave it from — leave it there.

Q And then finally, for you, because you’ve clearly reflected on your role —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q — as press secretary. Is there anything you wish you had done or said differently during your time?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Well, I will have a lot of time to reflect, right? (Laughs.) You’re not going to catch me up here, Weijia, today.

But I will have a lot of time to reflect on my time here. As you know, this is — and I think you’ve gotten to know a few press secretaries during your career — this is a job that’s nonstop. There’s not a lot of time to reflect.

It’s always: We have to do the job. We have to speak on behalf of the president. We have to make sure that we’re cor- — you know, communicating with all of you.

But what I can say with full heart is that this has been an honor and a privilege to do this job, and I have done it to my best of abilities on behalf of this president. And — and, you know, the best job that I will ever have. I truly believe that.

Q Thank you.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead, Mary.

Q Thank you, Karine. You and the president have stressed that this is the framework that he put forward last spring, but the president also made clear it was important to him to work with the incoming administration, that they be speaking in one — as one team, as he put it. Even the Qatari prime minister in his remarks personally thanked Steve Witkoff, the — the incoming administration’s Middle East envoy. So, do Donald Trump and his team deserve any credit for this?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, look, everyone is going to want some credit. Everybody is going to want some credit. Get that. That’s how this goes when something good happens. Not unusual. It is not unusual at all. What I can say is, the president got it done, right? That’s what I can say.

And — and what I could also say is that — and you said it in your question to me — is that there was a framework that was put — put forward, and it was put forward by the president back in May — Ma- — May 31st of last year, and it was endorsed by the world. And you see a president that has done everything that he can. This is someone who has foreign policy experience — decades of foreign policy experience. He understands what it means to bring people to- — together. He understands what it means to get a deal done.

He also said in his remarks how difficult it was to negotiate. Negotiating is incredibly hard, and this wasn’t easy, but we got it done. And so, you know, this is someone who speaks from experience, and — and this is, again, not an easy thing to get done. But, as we have said and I have said multiple times — and I think Jake Sullivan said this, obviously, recently, when he was here on Monday — we were able to work closely with the Trump transition team and coordinate with them.

But, again, this is a framework that the president put out, and negotiations aren’t easy. And this was one of the toughest negotiations that — that he experienced, and this is something that the president shared with all of you.

Q And does the president have any plans to talk to the families of the hostages, or has he talked to them today?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, as you know, the president and this administration has been in regular touch with the hostages’ family — hostage family and have obviously always communicated with them that — how much we’re with them and the work — everything that we’re doing to try to bring their loved one ho- — home. And so — and we have stayed in constant communication with them.

I don’t have anything to read out as a — a call to any of the American hostages or — or the families at this time, but I can say that the president is — as he said, this is a really good afternoon. And, you know, our hearts go out — our hearts go out to the families who have been waiting 15 months to get their loved ones home. And so, this is — this is a big deal. This is a big deal.

Q And just on a slightly more personal note. On this, your 306th briefing, what advice do you have for your successor?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I was asked this question, I think, when my successor was — was announced. And it’s pretty much the same, which is, you know, obviously I wish her — wish her the best of luck. This is a great job, an amazing opportunity to be standing at this podium, behind this lectern to take — go back and forth with all of you and — and speak on behalf of this president, the president of the United States. There’s nothing like it.

And — and I hope she enjoys the job. I hope she continues to do this, what we’ve been doing for the past almost four years. And I — really, I truly wish her well.

Hey, Steve.

Q The decision the president made to include Steve Witkoff — how did that come about?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, that is — I’m not going to —

Q And — and why did the president do it?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Well, look, this goes back to what the president said right after the election: a peaceful transfer of power — again, something he didn’t get four years ago — and wanting to make sure that we had an effective, efficient transition.

That’s — that’s what it looks like. The president is basically leading by example. That’s what he’s doing.

This is a president who understands norms, who understands institutions, and understands how important that is. And he wanted to respect the outcome of the election, the will of the people. And that is what you’ve seen this president do.

Q And at any point did the president think maybe this deal will not be reached on his watch?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: The president was hopeful. He was optimistic. This is, as you know — I think you know this, Steve, this is a president that tends to be optimistic and hopeful, but not just that — does the work, leans in, has the experience to get things done, which is what we saw from this president today. I think this is a great example of that.

And, you know, he never, never gave up hope — never gave up hope and — to your point, until the last minute. And we were able to get this done.

Go ahead.

Q Thank you, Karine. This is the second negotiated pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas. The first, as you know, was reached more than a year ago —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q — in November 2023. Fighting then resumed just a few weeks later. So, what confidence does the U.S. have that this time will be different?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: We are going to have to have confidence. Right? I think it’s important — stepping back, negotiations are hard. They’re difficult. This was a difficult one.

This took multiple — you know, multiple sides to come together. The president, as you know, spoke to Qatar — the leader of Qatar, Egypt, and even Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu recently.

And this is what diplomacy looks like: having those continued conversations, making sure that voices are heard, and having those tough, tough, tough back-and-forth.

And so, we have to be — I think it is important to also be confident in that we can continue to get this done. And, you know, Steve just asked me why did we bring in Witkoff, why did we bring in the Trump ad- — this is why. Because we know that there has to be a continuation of this.

We know that this first phase is about to start. There’s going to be a second phase and it’s going to continue. We got to get to a place where this war is done permanently — ends permanently.

And so, bringing in the Trump administration, coordinating with them, and having — making sure that they’re having the information that we all have, we are hopeful that this will continue.

Q Under the framework, negotiations for that phase two would need to begin within a matter of days after phase one begins. What is the White House’s view of the commitment of the incoming Trump team and the competency of the Trump team to go through those negotiations and get a phase two and beyond?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I would refer you to the national security advisor. Jake Sullivan talked about his relationship and back-and-forth with his counterpart and how that has gone very well. And so, I think that — I think that’s a good sign of how this is going to certainly move forward.

Again, we have been in close coordination with — with their team, and — and we’re going to continue to do that. We’re going to continue to talk through with them on the next steps, and we’re going to — and what you have seen — really, what you have seen in the past, certainly, couple of days, couple of weeks, is one voice — coming together in one voice to get this deal done.

You know, I think a lot of your questions obviously go to the transition team, and — and they can certainly answer and speak for themselves. But what we can speak to, what I can speak to is what we’ve been doing, what we have actively done for the past couple of weeks to get this — to get this done in unison, to get this done in a way that — that when the transition happens, we have that confidence that we can move this forward, continue to move this forward.

Q Can you shed any more light on other officials from the incoming administration that you and your colleagues in the West Wing have been hosting for meetings and conversations and what those have looked like?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I — I can’t shed any light on that. What I can say is that we have been working closely with the transition team. We want this to be efficient. We want this to be effective. We are doing this — the president wants to do this on behalf of the American people, and that’s what you can count on.

I’m not going to list out names of — of folks who’ve been — who — who we’ve been talking to.

Q And just finally, Karine, a new CNN poll that’s out this morning shows that just s- — 36 percent of U.S. adults say they approve of the way that Biden has handled the presidency. To what do you attribute that?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, look, I’ve been very careful in talking about polls and not speaking to every — every poll. I understand this is a CNN poll.

What I can speak to is what the president has done to get things do- — to get things delivered for the American people, if you — if you think about beating Big Pharma; if you think about lowering health care costs; bringing manufacturing jo- — jobs back or manufacturing back here, more broadly; if you think about insulin, to- — capping insulin at 35 bucks a month for seniors. All of those things that I just listed out are very popular with the American people. They are.

And that has always been at the forefront of the — of the president’s mind: What can he do to deliver for the American people on the needs that they care about? And that’s the type of economic policy that he put forward. That’s what he wanted — to make sure we didn’t leave any anym- — anybody behind.

And, you know, many communities have felt that they’ve been left behind. That’s why we talk about building an economy from the bottom up, middle out. That’s been his — that’s been his focus.

And — and you can see the results. More than 16 million jobs created. When you think about more than 20 million small businesses started. People don’t start bui- — small businesses unless they feel confident about the economy. And that — those two go hand in hand.

And so, look, we’re going to continue to do the work, continue to make sure that we do everything possible in the last couple of days to deliver for the American people. And that’s the president’s focus.

Let’s not forget, when he walked in, there was a pandemic — a once-in-a-generation pandemic, and he turned that around. He turned that around.

And so, I’m going to — you know, the president is going to address the American people later today — farewell address — and he’ll certainly have a lot to say.

Q Thank you.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead. Go ahead, Joe Joe.

Q Thanks, Karine. (Laughter.) Yeah. Thank- —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Last time I’ll be able to say that. (Laughs.)

Q I know. I know. Thanks for taking questions these last couple of years.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Oh, thank you.

Q Yeah, President-elect Trump, in a social media statement today, said the ceasefire deal could only have happened as a result of his election victory. What’s your response to that —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q — assessment? Do you agree with that? Disagree?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look — and I think the president was asked some version of that question. I think that was the first question that he got after he spoke. And I said this: Everyone is going to want to take credit. That’s how these things work.

But the fact of the matter is: In order for this deal to have been done, there needed to be a framework. The person who provided that framework was President Joe Biden. And we have been working on this for some time. It didn’t just come together in the last cou- — couple of days. It didn’t just start the last couple of days.

And so — and not only that, he put together a framework. It got endorsed by the world. That’s not an easy thing to do.

And, you know — and it — and so, that’s part of the first thing that he was able to do.

The second part — thing that he was able to do was support Israel, and by supporting Israel, that badly weakened Hamas. You saw what happened to Hamas’s leadership and — and what we were able to do to the backers of Hamas.

And so, all of those things mattered. Our support and what we were able to do, how this president stepped in matters.

And now we are in a situation where we’re going to pass this over to the incoming administration. A lot of this is going to be implemented by the incoming administration. That is why we worked very closely with the incoming administration. And again, that is what an American president makes.

Q And — and secondly, President Biden is going to be spending his last — or final full day of his presidency in Charleston, South Carolina. Can you discuss what he’s going to be doing there?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: We’ll have more to share on that, and I don’t want to dive into that right now. But we’ll certainly have more to share on what that will look like — his last couple of days.

Go ahead, Karen.

Q Thanks, Karine. Just two quick ones. Does the president intend to leave a letter for President-elect Trump before he leaves office, as Trump did for him?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Well, I guess we’ll see. (Laughs.) We’ll see. We’ll see. I don’t have anything. That is going to be up to the president. Don’t have anything on that. But it’s a good question. I’m curious too. (Laughter.)

Q And, after Monday, what is the president’s plan? What are he and the first lady doing when they leave Washington on Monday?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: And we’ll have — we’ll have — certainly, we’ll have more to share on that as well.

Go ahead. Go ahead.

Q Thank you for serving as press secretary and answering our questions for the last couple —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Thanks.

Q — of years.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Thanks, Peter.

Q A couple quick ones, just to clarify some things. Probably a yes or no. I know you have no readout of any calls between President Biden and President-elect Trump. Just declaratively, can you say, no, there has not been a call between them or in any of the last two weeks on this specific topic of Israel?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I — look, I have not asked that question, so I don’t want to get ahead of myself here.

Q You’re still press secretary for a few days. If you can give us a yes or no (inaudible).

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: (Laughs.) You always give me homework, Peter. Every time I come, you always tell me, “Can you come back and tell” — okay.

Q 24/7 job for all of us. Right?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: 24/7. Yeah.

Go ahead.

Q If I can ask you briefly about tonight’s address, if you can take us into that room.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q Who is going to be in attendance? I trust the first lady. Will family members be there?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q Who else will be there? And is there anything else surrounding it?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: It’s a very good question. We’ll have more color for you later on in the evening.

What I can say is the president is certainly looking — very much looking forward to this moment, speaking directly to the American people. It’s not every day you get to do an Oval address. He gets to do another Oval address — obviously, his last one — in prime time.

And so, we will certainly have more color of who’s going to be in the room and what that would look like as we get closer.

Q And then, last question and then I’ll leave it to my colleagues is —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q — it’s tradition that at the end of the year, the president would do a news conference in advance of departure. The president would take questions on a variety of different topics. What was the decision-making? Why did this president decide not to do either of those before his departure?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Well, I think the president, especially in the past couple of days, has — has been pretty — very much, engaging with all of you, taking questions. He did it today. He — he himself wanted to stand up a — a moment to talk about the economy but also take your questions just a couple of days ago. That is something that he wanted to do. And your colleagues took — wait, let me — let me finish. Your colleagues asked some really important questions that he was able to answer — an array of questions.

And what I can say is I don’t have anything to preview at this time, but certainly he’s going to continue to engage with all of you. And, you know, we have been — you know, he’s been very much involved in — in going back and forth with all of you in the past couple of days. And that is something that he wanted to make sure that he — he did that. He —
Q Were there any concerns about his public performance in a setting like that?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I — well, I mean — I think — the — the issue that I have with that question, Peter, is that he literally did a press conference with all of you days ago, with some of your colleagues, and —

Q Right. But again, I mean —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: — took multiple —

Q — that’s different, you know, than an hour-long press conference.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I — I — I — no —

Q That’s why I asked the question.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, look, but he — he took questions. He took questions on an array of issues, went back and forth, and he took questions today. He’s been pretty consistent over the past couple of days in doing that, and that shows his performance. That — those are questions that he doesn’t know what you guys are going to ask, and he takes them, and he answers them. And — and I think that is something that is important to him.

This goes back to the freedom of the press, understanding how important you all are to our democracy, and und- –understanding how having that continuation of a back-and-forth, even and when we don’t — we don’t agree, is important.

And so, I’m pretty sure you all will continue to hear from him in the last couple of days of his administration, and he certainly looks forward to it.

Q Thank you.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead.

Q Karine, we’re sort of dancing around who gets to take credit for this deal. You’re —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: No one is dancing around here. (Laughs.)

Q Your colleague — your colleague at that the State Department briefed our colleagues —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q — that President Trump was “critical” in getting this deal over the line. Do you not agree with that statement?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I — I mean, look, I’m not going to — to speak to a — a random person.

Q It’s literally your colleague.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I — I don’t know who this person is.

Q Matt Miller.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Oh.

What I — what I can say is, look, obviously, Matt Miller will speak for himself.

What I can say is, there is — there are steps that were taken here that is really important and critical, and that started with this president’s starting a framework that was agreed upon by the world back in May. And that was because of this president. That was because he was able to lay out his thoughts, his thinking on how to move forward with this negotiation.

What I said before — this is someone who understands foreign policy, as we — as I’m talking about the president. He understands how difficult it is, and this was not an easy one. And so, he has the experience. He was able to — to get that going, to get that started. So, this has been going on for some time. It has. I mean, that’s just the reality of it. That is just the facts of it.

Have we been coordinating and working closely with the Trump adminis- — the — the incoming Trump administration, their transition team? Yes, and we’ve been very forthcoming about that.

But the fact of the matter is: It took someone who has the experience that this president had to get this going, to get this moving, to understand what negotiations look like, and that’s what this president was able to bring to the table.

And it got done under his watch. It got done today.

Q And then, secondly, obviously, this is a really big day on the foreign policy/national security front. This is your last briefing —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q — or the administration’s last briefing. Is there a reason why John Kirby isn’t here to take our questions?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, I just mentioned that Brett McGurk is going to be holding — and National Security Council is holding up a call. I think that’s going to be really important. They will talk more about the implementation of this.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan was just here two days ago, on Monday, and I think kind of laid out a really good framework for all of this — the thinking process, how this was going to move forward. And Brett McGurk will — he is on the ground. He has all of the information. He has been there at the direction of this president, certainly with National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan leading that effort.

And so, I — he’s going to have a lot more information than any of us here will have, because he’s been on the ground, understanding, working with the negotiating — negotiators and understanding how this process has worked.

So, that’s how this works.

Go ahead. (Inaudible.)

Q You said that — that you — you wish your successor luck. Have you had any extensive conversations with her about —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: No, I —

Q — how this job is done, or —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: — I haven’t. I haven’t.

But, you know, I’m not — I’m not the only White House press secretary or soon-to-be former White House press secretary out there, so I’m sure there are many people for her to — to connect with and speak with, but I have not had a conversation with her.

Go ahead, Jacqui.

Q Thanks, Karine. How many Americans are going to be in the first tranche, and when will they start coming out?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: It’s a good question. That’s why Brett McGurk is going to be holding this National Security Council call. He will have all of that information. The president even said the same thing when he was asked a — a similar question, that we will have more details to share. And so, the National Security Council and Brett McGurk will — will share that with all of you, hopefully momentarily, once this is done.

Q I’m just confused on why we’re having the last briefing of the administration on what’s been one of the defining wars of this presidency without being able to answer those questions.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I just said he’s going to hold a — he’s going to hold a press call, and he’ll take your questions on that.

Q Okay —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I think that — I think that’s important to hear directly from the person who is on the ground. I think — I think that’s an important thing to do, right?

Q Okay. We were under the impression that there were folks here in the building who had those answers, who could tell us, but —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Well, Brett McGurk — well, National Security Council is holding up a call so that Brett McGurk can get on that call and take your questions.

Q Okay.

Why is it that you seem unwilling —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q — to extend any credit to Trump for this deal? Couldn’t he just have said, “You know, hold off until I’m in office?”

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: What I will say is that what we know to be true, what we know this process — how it has moved over the past eight months — this is a deal that happened under the framework that this president put forward and was endorsed by the world.

And this is also an administration that has had, certainly, the support, the back of Israel; that helped denigrate Hamas, their military — severely weaken them; and we created, because of — also being — doing that, we created the conditions for this deal. That is what has happened over the last eight months.

And we have talked closely, worked closely, coordinated closely with the incoming — in- — incoming administration, and that is how we’ve been able to get to this point.

And the reason we were able to do that — having that conversation with the transition team — is because this president believed — he believed in the importance of having a peaceful transfer of power — right? — of having a transition that worked for the American people, and had the American people at the forefront in trying to make sure that we got this done.

Q I guess if — we’ve heard variations of that answer through the briefing, but I guess more plainly —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q — I’m wondering, you know, if you’ll just say your view, which seems to be that Trump gets no credit.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I — no, I — that’s — I’ve shared my view. I don’t have anything else to share. I’ve shared how we got to this point. The president shared that moments ago. He laid out in very succinct way on how we got to this — how we got to this point. I’ve talked about Brett McGurk, who’s on the ground talking to negotiators; has been there working at the direction of this president. The leadership, obviously, of the national security advisor. This has been something that has been in the works for months — for months — way before November. That is just how this has worked.

I’m not here to talk about the transition. I’m not talk- — here to talk about who gets credit, not get credit. I’m here to talk about what this president has been able to do.

And here’s what is also incredibly important here: We’re going to get hostages who are going to go home to their family after 15 months of — I don’t even want to think the horr- — the horror that they have gone through. I don’t — I can’t even imagine it. And I think that matters.

I mean, we’re going back and forth about credit, but people are going to go home to their families, and that is so important.

And, hopefully, the phases will continue, and we’ll get to an end of war here, and that is important. And let’s not forget, increase that humanitarian aid into Gaza, because there are people there who need that aid and the assistance.

I’m going to move on.

Go ahead —

Q And last question you’ll ever get from me, Karine.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go — no, no. I’m (inaudible). I just took three of your —

Q How will grade yourself on your goal —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I’m not — go ahead.

Go ahead. Go ahead.

Q — of being the most transparent administration in history?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahea- — I — I’ve — I’ve —

Q Have you achieved that goal?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I’ve taken, like, three questions. I’m going to move on.

Go ahead.

Q Karine —

Q No answer there?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: No. Go ahead. I’ve already taken three of your questions. I’m going to make sure some of your colleagues get an opportunity as well.

Q Could you respond to the report released by the special counsel who prosecuted Hunter Biden? Specifically, he talked about Biden’s claims that his son was unfairly targeted, and said “the president’s characterizations are incorrect based on the facts in this case, and on a more fundamental level, they are wrong.” He also said that “politicians who attack the decisions of career prosecutors as politically motivated when they disagree with the outcome of a case undermine the public’s confidence in our criminal justice system.”

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I mean, a couple things there. Let’s not forget why the president came to his conclusion, how he got to this point of pardoning his son. And he talked about the circumstances of this — of this prosecution and how out of norm they were.

And let’s not forget there were legal experts that agreed with this president, who shared that conclusion of this president.

And one of those was a — one of those experts is a former prosecutor, as you all know, Attorney General Eric — Attorney General Eric Holder. And he was very clear. I just want to quote him, “No U.S. attorney would have charged this case given the underlying facts. Had his name been Joe Smith, the resolution would have been — fundamentally and more fairly — a declin- — a declination. Pardon warranted.”

And if you look at what happened here, and you look at paying your taxes, the vast majority of people who don’t pay their taxes on time are not charged with criminal penalties. They’re just not. They pay their penalties and fees, and that’s what Hunter Biden did.

And so, the president wasn’t alone in this. In making that — when he made that determination, he had legal experts who also agreed with how he — with hi- — making this decision on pardoning his son, Hunter Biden.

I’m getting —

Q So, no concern that he undermines the public perception of the justice system with his comments?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I just — I just answered that question. I don’t have anything else for you.

AIDE: Karine, that call has started.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay. Go ahead.

Q Hey, Karine. Thanks. I know that you said you don’t have details on what the president will be doing on Sunday, but can you — can you expound on why he chose to spend, you know, his last day in office in South Carolina?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: We’ll have more to share. I don’t want to get ahead of that. We’ll have more to share and why South Carolina.

Q Last thing. Has the president spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu? And — or does he plan to do so in the coming days?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Well, as you know, he recently just spoke to him — spoke to the prime minister. And if we have more calls to read out, we certainly will do that.

I know, I have to start wrapping up.

Go ahead.

Q Thank you so much, Karine. On Monday, President Biden said he was more optimistic than ever about the future. Isn’t he afraid or concerned that part of his legacy could be or is about to be erased by the incoming president?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, look, when I answered this question about — I think it was a — a polling question from Kayla — I also talked about — in — in my answering that question — how popular some of the things that the president has done: CHIPS and Science Act, bipartisan infrastructure legislation, the PACT Act, and even the provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act. And I talked about the p- — the insulin being — the insulin at 35 bucks a month for seniors.

Those are things — all of those things that I just laid out are popular with the American people. And that is something that the incoming administration has to think about, Republicans on the other side of Pennsylvania has to think about. These are things that are incredibly popular.

Some of them — the bipartisan infrastructure legislation, CHIPS and Science Act, the PACT Act — were done in a bipartisan way. And so, to undo those successes — some of the things, again, popular with the American people — you know, that’s something that they have to seriously, seriously think about.

And, you know, what we have done in those historic pieces of legislation that obviously is now law will have lasting effects on people’s lives — lasting effect. So, he’s very confident about that.

Q And one about foreign policy, because President Biden said his presidency restored the U.S. credibility in the world. Jen Psaki actually said that in her first briefing here — that he was going to do this. But when we talk to foreign leaders or diplomats around, many say that the incon- — inconstancy of the U.S. foreign policy is make it harder to work together and really trust that U.S. can be a reliable ally. So, what do you tell them?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Wait, say that last part again. The inconsistency, you said?

Q Yeah. Is — yeah, of the U.S. foreign policy. Make it hard to work and trust that U.S. can be a reliable ally. So, what — what message do you —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: And wh- — and why are they saying that? What’s the inconsistency?

Q Well, one administration come in —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Oh.

Q — and do a lot of Cuba and there is another and then you put it back. And now, again, it’s about to be re- — you know, undo them also.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, look, I — I’m not going to get into what this — the next administration is going to do, not going to do. What I can talk about is what the president wanted to make sure and that he got done in his four years here, which is restore the reputation of the United States, which he was able to do; get things done on behalf of the American people; and make sure that we really mended our relationships with our partners and allies, and that’s what you were able to do.

You don’t expand NATO if it wasn’t for this president and his relationships and his experience. Right? You don’t support Ukraine the way that it was supported by more than 50 countries, the way that it was able to get what it needed to really be on the ground. Remember, Kyiv was supposed to fall within days. That didn’t happen. That didn’t happen because of this president’s leadership.

I’m not going to get into what the pres- — what the next president is going to do or not do.

And let’s not forget today. Today was a big day in the foreign policy space to get this hostage deal done. Hostages are going to go home. We’re going to be able to get humanitarian aid surged into Gaza. And we’re hopefully going to end this war. And that is incredibly important.

All right, guys, I have to go. Thank you.

Q Quick follow-up —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q — about your successor. Have you been in touch with Karoline yet?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I —

Q Were you able to —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I was just asked this question. I was just asked this question. I have not. I have not been in touch with her. But I certainly wish her luck.

Thanks, everybody.

Q Karine, why have you not been in touch with her?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Come talk to me in the back. (Laughter.)

Q Thank you.

4:09 P.M. EST

The post Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre appeared first on The White House.

     By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (8 U.S.C. 1182(f)), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code,

     I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, in view of changing circumstances on the ground in Syria and in order to take additional steps with respect to the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13894 of October 14, 2019 (Blocking Property and Suspending Entry of Certain Persons Contributing to the Situation in Syria), hereby order:

Section 1.  Amendments to Executive Order 13894.  Executive Order 13894 is hereby amended by:

(a)  striking from the second paragraph the phrase “, and in particular the recent actions by the Government of Turkey to conduct a military offensive into northeast Syria,”;

(b)  striking subsections (1)(a)(i)(B)-(F) and inserting, in lieu thereof, the following:

“(B)  to have materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order; or

(C)  to be owned or controlled by, or to have acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order.”; and

     (c)  striking subsection 8(f).

Sec. 2.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order 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

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

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

(c)  This order 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 persons.



                                            JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.



THE WHITE HOUSE,
    January 15, 2025.

The post Executive Order on Taking Additional Steps with Respect to the Situation in Syria appeared first on The White House.

     By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (8 U.S.C. 1182(f)), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code,

     I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, in view of changing circumstances on the ground in Syria and in order to take additional steps with respect to the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13894 of October 14, 2019 (Blocking Property and Suspending Entry of Certain Persons Contributing to the Situation in Syria), hereby order:

Section 1.  Amendments to Executive Order 13894.  Executive Order 13894 is hereby amended by:

(a)  striking from the second paragraph the phrase “, and in particular the recent actions by the Government of Turkey to conduct a military offensive into northeast Syria,”;

(b)  striking subsections (1)(a)(i)(B)-(F) and inserting, in lieu thereof, the following:

“(B)  to have materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order; or

(C)  to be owned or controlled by, or to have acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order.”; and

     (c)  striking subsection 8(f).

Sec. 2.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order 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

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

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

(c)  This order 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 persons.



                                            JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.



THE WHITE HOUSE,
    January 15, 2025.

The post Executive Order on Taking Additional Steps with Respect to the Situation in Syria appeared first on The White House.

TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES:


     Pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, I hereby report that I have issued an Executive Order in order to take additional steps with respect to the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13894 of October 14, 2019 (Blocking Property and Suspending Entry of Certain Persons Contributing to the Situation in Syria).   

     The order makes minimal edits to Executive Order 13894 in light of the fact that certain operations referenced in that order ceased 5 years ago.  In particular, under the amended order, the United States may still sanction any person determined to be responsible for or complicit in, or to have directly or indirectly engaged in, or attempted to engage in actions or policies that further threaten the peace, security, stability, or territorial integrity of Syria or the commission of serious human rights abuse.

I am enclosing a copy of the Executive Order I have issued. 



                                                                                                 JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.



THE WHITE HOUSE,
    January 15, 2025.

The post Message to the Congress with Regards to Taking Additional Steps with Respect to the Situation in Syria appeared first on The White House.

TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES:


     Pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, I hereby report that I have issued an Executive Order in order to take additional steps with respect to the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13894 of October 14, 2019 (Blocking Property and Suspending Entry of Certain Persons Contributing to the Situation in Syria).   

     The order makes minimal edits to Executive Order 13894 in light of the fact that certain operations referenced in that order ceased 5 years ago.  In particular, under the amended order, the United States may still sanction any person determined to be responsible for or complicit in, or to have directly or indirectly engaged in, or attempted to engage in actions or policies that further threaten the peace, security, stability, or territorial integrity of Syria or the commission of serious human rights abuse.

I am enclosing a copy of the Executive Order I have issued. 



                                                                                                 JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.



THE WHITE HOUSE,
    January 15, 2025.

The post Message to the Congress with Regards to Taking Additional Steps with Respect to the Situation in Syria appeared first on The White House.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, Rhian.  (Applause.)  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  (Applause.)  Please.  I’m going home now.  (Applause.)  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  Please — please sit down.
 
Rhian, thank you for that introduction.  Your commitment to conservation gives me so much optimism for the future, and I mean that sincerely. 
 
Before I go much further, I want to explain to you why we have these screens up here.  I was hoping we were going to do this in place so the American people — this being covered by the media — would see what we’re talking about — feel it, sort of taste it. 
 
This is as close as we could get.  I’m going to — as I speak, hopefully they’re going to bring up the areas I’m talking about so people get some sense of what we’re talking about.
 
But I want to make a special thanks to Secretary Deb Haaland whose incredible leadership these past four years has scared the hell out of me.  (Laughter and applause.)  I’ve been doing this job a long time not as president but in public life.  I’m afraid to tell her “no.”  (Laughter.)  She doesn’t take no for an answer on anything.  I promise you, she has a list — (laughter) — still. 
 
You’ve done a hell of a job.  I’m so proud to have nominated you for that.  And thanks for the job you’ve done.
 
As you all know, I was in California last week where the event was supposed to be held, but we had to postpone it because of the fires in Los Angeles — among the worst wildfires in California history.  It’s devastating. 
 
For Kamala and for so many of you, it’s home.  She and I and our entire administration have been working closely with Governor Newsom, Senator Padilla, Senator Schiff, the entire congressional delegation to make sure California has every possible resource to fight these fires and help the survivors — (applause) — and fight back against the misinformation that’s going out.
 
You know, that includes our heroic firefighters and first responders.  The hearts of the nation are with the victims and families left behind and all the people who have lost their homes, livelihoods, and so much — so much of the — to these fires.  It’s been devastating.  It’s incredible.  It’s incredible — thousands of homes lost.
 
Folks, yet another reminder a tragedy like this is not about blue states and red states, not about conservatives and liberals.  It’s about the United States of America — the United States of America. 
 
And now, to turn to today’s event, in addition to Secret- — Secretary Haaland, we have elected officials of the community and from the Tribal community — the “Indian Nations.”  I learned that a long time ago from Danny Inouye.  Just want you to know that, okay?
 
I once said “those Indian reser-” — he said, “No, no, no.  Joe, come here.”  Anyway, I was only 30 years old, but I learned it really quickly.  (Laughter.)
 
Look, members of the California delegation and Senator Padilla, Representative Ruiz championed legislation to establish these national monuments; key members of my administration, Brenda, chair of the Council of Economic and Quality [Environmental Quality]; and — and — you know, and the staff from the Bureau of Land Management and the Fire Servi- — the Forest Service. 
 
Like many families, Jill and I made it a tradition to take our children and grandchildren to national parks and monuments every year.  I wanted them to see — wanted them to see, feel, smell, taste, look at just what had been preserved. 
 
And every time I looked at it, I thought about Teddy Roosevelt and these people, what they — all the pre- — all they preserved.  Imagine had they not acted.  Imagine — imagine had they not acted. 
 
And I wanted them to witness the majesty and beauty of America.  It’s absolutely majestic.  Our natural wonders are the heart and soul of our nation.  And you all know it in this room.  They unite us.  They inspire us.  It’s a birthright we pass down from generation to generation. 
 
And that’s why, on day one of my administration and since then, we’ve been carrying out the most aggressive climate agenda ever in the history of the world.  (Applause.)  I mean it.  And make no mistake, I was able to do it because of you.  (Applause.)  I — no, I mean it.  But — I’m not kidding you.  Because of you, including the historic steps to conserve our natural resources for the ages. 
 
My second week as president, I signed — I signed an executive order establishing the first-ever conservation goal to protect 30 percent of all our lands and waters everywhere in America by 2030 — 30 percent.  (Applause.) 
 
I call this national campaign “America the Beautiful.”  That’s what it’s called: “America the Beautiful.”  And over the last four years, we have delivered, with your help, putting America on track to meet that bold goal. 
 
Restoring and creating new national monuments; conserving hundreds of millions of acres of lands and waters all across the — America, from New England to Minnesota, Texas to Colorado, Arizona to Alaska. 
 
I’ve also created the first national marine sanctuary in U.S. — in the United States proposed by Indigenous communities.  And I thank you for your push.  I thank you for your push.  (Applause.)
 
It stretches 116 miles along the California coast — 116 miles.  It’s going to protect the natural and cultural resources while also supporting our progress on offshore wind, I might add.  (Applause.)
 
And today, I’m proud to use my authority under the Antiquities Act to designate two more national monuments in California.  First, Chuckwalla National Monument — (applause) — in the southern California desert.  This monument will protect more than 624,000 acres of wildlife habitat and sacred ancestral lands. 
 
Ladies and gentlemen, together [with] prior designations, we’re going to create a contiguous corridor along the Colorado River of nearly 18 million acres of protected land — the largest in the lower 48 states.  And the area — (applause).
 
And for those at home who may be listening, that’s bigger than the entire state of West Virginia.  And it’s called the Moab-Mojave Conservation Corridor. 
 
Look, today’s action will also protect and preserve mountain ranges and rugged canyons, desert floors and deep valleys, sandy slopes, stunning peaks.  Tucked away in this desert landscape are beautiful springs and over 50 rare plants and animals.  Palm trees, cacti, lavender flowers, lizards and mountain lions, bats, bighorn sheep, owls, desert shor- –tortoises — I mean, this is incredible what’s there.
 
This action also preserves the mosaic of trails woven together by Tribal Nations that trace their origins back thousands of years — thousands of years.  And left behind on these trails are ancient ceramics, tools, rock art, sacred ceremonial sites that will also be preserved.
 
We’re also preserving ruins of old mines from the 1800s.  Their construction brove out in- — drove out Indigenous people from their homes, a reminder of the harm that was done. 
 
And there are remnants of a U.S. Army camp — trained units of desert combat shortly after World War — we entered World War II. 
 
For generations, this place of wonder has attracted outdoor enthusiasts, from hikers, horseback riders exploring these vast lands, as well as scientists and geologists who are studying how the earth evolves.  
 
Many veterans also returned here to heal their wounds, mental and physical, and invisible wounds as well — seeking solace and serenity in ways that only nature can provide.  And you all know that.  Only nature can provide some of this.  Nothing else.
 
And next door to this monument, solar energy is being built, which proves what I’ve often said: We don’t have to choose between the environment and the economy or between conservation and clean energy.  We can do both at the same time.  (Applause.)  At the same time.
 
This monument offers a perfect road map for how to strike that balance.  It’s a key element of our climate agenda.  It includes the most significant climate law ever in the history of the world.  That’s not hyperbole.  That’s a fact.
 
A law that’s positioned us to cut carbon emissions in half by 2030; that’s generated $300 billion so far in new private sector clean energy investment — $300 billion — and that’s creating hundreds of thousands of jobs and unleashing a manufacturing boom all across America.  You know, and this matters a great deal. 
 
Second — the second national monument I’m designating today is this — these — this is important.  I — I mispronounced it the first time — (laughter) — Sáttítla Highlands in Northern California.  (Applause.)
 
Two hundred — 240,000 acres of mountains that contain pristine waters and forests and stunning rock formations, laga — lava fields, craters, and volcanic activity from — volcanic activity centuries ago.  At the center of these highlands, a dormant volcano cradles a beautiful lake inside the summit.  
 
The Highlands are home for countless plants, animals, including fox, frogs, bald eagles, bumblebees. 
 
The night skies there are darkest in America, and distant galaxies and stars are extra visible.  It’s incredible.
 
In the 1960s, these lava formations were used by NASA to train astronauts on Apollo missions how to observe and take samples from the moon.  And ever since, this landscape support California’s outdoor recreation economy, from biking, hunting, fishing, canoeing, and so much more. 
 
This area is also sacred in many — sacred to many Tribal Nations so were violently — who were violently forced to leave their homes.  You know, they held ancient ceremonies here.  They found sources of reverence and healing here.  And they’re preserving lands fundamental to who they are and their way of life. 
 
Folks, it’s important.
 
Today’s monument announcements build on another conservation action I took.  Last week, I signed two directives to protect the entire East Coast, West Coast, and Florida Coast of the eastern Gulf and parts of the Alaskan Coast from offshore drilling for natural gas.  (Applause.)  And I might add, that is a big deal.  (Laughter.)
 
My state is only three feet above sea level.  (Laughter.)  Oh, you’re laughing, but it’s important.  Nearly 40 percent of Americans live in coastal communities. 
 
And it’s not only good for the environment; it’s good for our economy.  It’ll protect coastal fishing industry that generates $320 billion of income a year, beach tourism that generates nearly $220 billion annually, and 3 million American jobs.  
 
It also saves us billions in potential damages by avoiding oils spills, like Deepwater Horizon. 
 
You know, in the spirit of conserving not just the waters and lands but our history, I did something else.  I became the first American president to formally recognize a group of mostly Native Hawaiians.  They lived for years on uninhabited Pacific Islands in the run-up to World War II to claim them for the United States.  As a nation, we honor their service, sacrifice as patriots to our country and stewards of the land.  We owe them.
 
Let me close with this.  As president, I’ve had the privilege of bestowing our nation’s highest honors on the world’s preeminent environmental leaders. 
 
Two weeks ago, I bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Jane Goodell [Goodall].  Well, guess what?  She memor- — she has memorialized a global movement to protect the planet.  She’s done an incredible job.
 
In October, I bestowed the National Medal of the Arts on Clyde Butcher, who grew up in California and became America’s most acclaimed landscape photographer today.  Clyde once said, quote, “Wilderness — wilderness is a spiritual necessity.”  I’d add that our wilderness is a national necessity.  
 
Over the past four years, I am proud to have kept my commitment to protect more land and water than any president in American history: more than 670 million acres — bigger than the size of Texas and Alaska combined.  (Applause.)  And without — without you standing up with me, we couldn’t ever done it. 
 
It’s about our planet, our people.  It’s about America itself.  Our outdoor treasures are the pride of our country, a bond between the physical and spiritual world, a bridge to our past and to our future.  Conserving them not only protects the livelihoods of people who depend on them; it preserves a key piece of our history and full — a full American story. 
 
It unites us through the ages.  It connects us to something bigger than ourselves.  And above all, it reminds of who we are — who we are.
 
I just had another baby grandchild born.  Guess what?  (Applause.)  Actually, to be precise — I hate to say it — a great-granddaughter — (laughter) — -son — great-grandson. 
 
And guess what?  Think what this means for your children, your grandchildren, and your great-grandchildren.  I mean it sincerely.  Think of what it means if we don’t do this.
 
Above all, it reminds us of who we are.  We’re the United States of America.  And there’s nothing, nothing, nothing beyond our capacity when we do it together. 
 
I want to thank you all again, because I’m not — this is not hyperbole.  We could’ve never done any of this without the support of the people in this room.  You stepped up.  You made the case.  People listened to you.  Ordinary people listened to you about what — how important this is.
 
And, by the way, if I had my way, I’d make sure everyone can see the natural wonders, because they’d have a more reverent view of who we are.
 
So, folks, God bless you all.  And may God protect our troops.  
 
Thank you, thank you, thank you.  (Applause.)
 
The first bill I’m signing is the establishment of the California Chuckwalla National Monument.  (Applause.)
 
Today is the 14th, right?
 
PARTICIPANT:  Yes.
 
(The bill is signed.)  (Applause.)
 
And the s- — the signing pen goes to the secretary, because I’m afraid not to give it to her.  (Laughter.)  No, you’ve done an incredible job, and I’ll get each of you a signing pen.
 
All right. 
 
SECRETARY HAALAND:  Thank you, sir.
 
THE PRESIDENT:  You’re welcome.
 
The second I’m signing is the establishment of the Highlands National Monument.  Here we go.
 
I’ve got to fill this in?
 
AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Sáttítla.
 
THE PRESIDENT:  I know, Santino [Sáttítla].  I’m trying — why — the day of — on this hand — you’ll fill in the dates here, guys?  (Laughter.)  All right.
 
AUDIENCE MEMBER:  The 14th, sir.
 
THE PRESIDENT:  No, I know that, but I don’t want to —
 
(The bill is signed.) 
 
Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.  (Applause.)
 
Thank you very much.  (Applause.)
 
(Inaudible.)  (Laughter.)  Thank you all.  I really mean it, none of this would’ve happened without you guys.  I really, really, genuinely mean it.  This was a national movement you generated.
 
So, thank you.  (Applause.)

The post Remarks by President Biden Establishing the Chuckwalla National Monument and the Sáttítla Highlands National Monument in California appeared first on The White House.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, Rhian.  (Applause.)  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  (Applause.)  Please.  I’m going home now.  (Applause.)  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  Please — please sit down.
 
Rhian, thank you for that introduction.  Your commitment to conservation gives me so much optimism for the future, and I mean that sincerely. 
 
Before I go much further, I want to explain to you why we have these screens up here.  I was hoping we were going to do this in place so the American people — this being covered by the media — would see what we’re talking about — feel it, sort of taste it. 
 
This is as close as we could get.  I’m going to — as I speak, hopefully they’re going to bring up the areas I’m talking about so people get some sense of what we’re talking about.
 
But I want to make a special thanks to Secretary Deb Haaland whose incredible leadership these past four years has scared the hell out of me.  (Laughter and applause.)  I’ve been doing this job a long time not as president but in public life.  I’m afraid to tell her “no.”  (Laughter.)  She doesn’t take no for an answer on anything.  I promise you, she has a list — (laughter) — still. 
 
You’ve done a hell of a job.  I’m so proud to have nominated you for that.  And thanks for the job you’ve done.
 
As you all know, I was in California last week where the event was supposed to be held, but we had to postpone it because of the fires in Los Angeles — among the worst wildfires in California history.  It’s devastating. 
 
For Kamala and for so many of you, it’s home.  She and I and our entire administration have been working closely with Governor Newsom, Senator Padilla, Senator Schiff, the entire congressional delegation to make sure California has every possible resource to fight these fires and help the survivors — (applause) — and fight back against the misinformation that’s going out.
 
You know, that includes our heroic firefighters and first responders.  The hearts of the nation are with the victims and families left behind and all the people who have lost their homes, livelihoods, and so much — so much of the — to these fires.  It’s been devastating.  It’s incredible.  It’s incredible — thousands of homes lost.
 
Folks, yet another reminder a tragedy like this is not about blue states and red states, not about conservatives and liberals.  It’s about the United States of America — the United States of America. 
 
And now, to turn to today’s event, in addition to Secret- — Secretary Haaland, we have elected officials of the community and from the Tribal community — the “Indian Nations.”  I learned that a long time ago from Danny Inouye.  Just want you to know that, okay?
 
I once said “those Indian reser-” — he said, “No, no, no.  Joe, come here.”  Anyway, I was only 30 years old, but I learned it really quickly.  (Laughter.)
 
Look, members of the California delegation and Senator Padilla, Representative Ruiz championed legislation to establish these national monuments; key members of my administration, Brenda, chair of the Council of Economic and Quality [Environmental Quality]; and — and — you know, and the staff from the Bureau of Land Management and the Fire Servi- — the Forest Service. 
 
Like many families, Jill and I made it a tradition to take our children and grandchildren to national parks and monuments every year.  I wanted them to see — wanted them to see, feel, smell, taste, look at just what had been preserved. 
 
And every time I looked at it, I thought about Teddy Roosevelt and these people, what they — all the pre- — all they preserved.  Imagine had they not acted.  Imagine — imagine had they not acted. 
 
And I wanted them to witness the majesty and beauty of America.  It’s absolutely majestic.  Our natural wonders are the heart and soul of our nation.  And you all know it in this room.  They unite us.  They inspire us.  It’s a birthright we pass down from generation to generation. 
 
And that’s why, on day one of my administration and since then, we’ve been carrying out the most aggressive climate agenda ever in the history of the world.  (Applause.)  I mean it.  And make no mistake, I was able to do it because of you.  (Applause.)  I — no, I mean it.  But — I’m not kidding you.  Because of you, including the historic steps to conserve our natural resources for the ages. 
 
My second week as president, I signed — I signed an executive order establishing the first-ever conservation goal to protect 30 percent of all our lands and waters everywhere in America by 2030 — 30 percent.  (Applause.) 
 
I call this national campaign “America the Beautiful.”  That’s what it’s called: “America the Beautiful.”  And over the last four years, we have delivered, with your help, putting America on track to meet that bold goal. 
 
Restoring and creating new national monuments; conserving hundreds of millions of acres of lands and waters all across the — America, from New England to Minnesota, Texas to Colorado, Arizona to Alaska. 
 
I’ve also created the first national marine sanctuary in U.S. — in the United States proposed by Indigenous communities.  And I thank you for your push.  I thank you for your push.  (Applause.)
 
It stretches 116 miles along the California coast — 116 miles.  It’s going to protect the natural and cultural resources while also supporting our progress on offshore wind, I might add.  (Applause.)
 
And today, I’m proud to use my authority under the Antiquities Act to designate two more national monuments in California.  First, Chuckwalla National Monument — (applause) — in the southern California desert.  This monument will protect more than 624,000 acres of wildlife habitat and sacred ancestral lands. 
 
Ladies and gentlemen, together [with] prior designations, we’re going to create a contiguous corridor along the Colorado River of nearly 18 million acres of protected land — the largest in the lower 48 states.  And the area — (applause).
 
And for those at home who may be listening, that’s bigger than the entire state of West Virginia.  And it’s called the Moab-Mojave Conservation Corridor. 
 
Look, today’s action will also protect and preserve mountain ranges and rugged canyons, desert floors and deep valleys, sandy slopes, stunning peaks.  Tucked away in this desert landscape are beautiful springs and over 50 rare plants and animals.  Palm trees, cacti, lavender flowers, lizards and mountain lions, bats, bighorn sheep, owls, desert shor- –tortoises — I mean, this is incredible what’s there.
 
This action also preserves the mosaic of trails woven together by Tribal Nations that trace their origins back thousands of years — thousands of years.  And left behind on these trails are ancient ceramics, tools, rock art, sacred ceremonial sites that will also be preserved.
 
We’re also preserving ruins of old mines from the 1800s.  Their construction brove out in- — drove out Indigenous people from their homes, a reminder of the harm that was done. 
 
And there are remnants of a U.S. Army camp — trained units of desert combat shortly after World War — we entered World War II. 
 
For generations, this place of wonder has attracted outdoor enthusiasts, from hikers, horseback riders exploring these vast lands, as well as scientists and geologists who are studying how the earth evolves.  
 
Many veterans also returned here to heal their wounds, mental and physical, and invisible wounds as well — seeking solace and serenity in ways that only nature can provide.  And you all know that.  Only nature can provide some of this.  Nothing else.
 
And next door to this monument, solar energy is being built, which proves what I’ve often said: We don’t have to choose between the environment and the economy or between conservation and clean energy.  We can do both at the same time.  (Applause.)  At the same time.
 
This monument offers a perfect road map for how to strike that balance.  It’s a key element of our climate agenda.  It includes the most significant climate law ever in the history of the world.  That’s not hyperbole.  That’s a fact.
 
A law that’s positioned us to cut carbon emissions in half by 2030; that’s generated $300 billion so far in new private sector clean energy investment — $300 billion — and that’s creating hundreds of thousands of jobs and unleashing a manufacturing boom all across America.  You know, and this matters a great deal. 
 
Second — the second national monument I’m designating today is this — these — this is important.  I — I mispronounced it the first time — (laughter) — Sáttítla Highlands in Northern California.  (Applause.)
 
Two hundred — 240,000 acres of mountains that contain pristine waters and forests and stunning rock formations, laga — lava fields, craters, and volcanic activity from — volcanic activity centuries ago.  At the center of these highlands, a dormant volcano cradles a beautiful lake inside the summit.  
 
The Highlands are home for countless plants, animals, including fox, frogs, bald eagles, bumblebees. 
 
The night skies there are darkest in America, and distant galaxies and stars are extra visible.  It’s incredible.
 
In the 1960s, these lava formations were used by NASA to train astronauts on Apollo missions how to observe and take samples from the moon.  And ever since, this landscape support California’s outdoor recreation economy, from biking, hunting, fishing, canoeing, and so much more. 
 
This area is also sacred in many — sacred to many Tribal Nations so were violently — who were violently forced to leave their homes.  You know, they held ancient ceremonies here.  They found sources of reverence and healing here.  And they’re preserving lands fundamental to who they are and their way of life. 
 
Folks, it’s important.
 
Today’s monument announcements build on another conservation action I took.  Last week, I signed two directives to protect the entire East Coast, West Coast, and Florida Coast of the eastern Gulf and parts of the Alaskan Coast from offshore drilling for natural gas.  (Applause.)  And I might add, that is a big deal.  (Laughter.)
 
My state is only three feet above sea level.  (Laughter.)  Oh, you’re laughing, but it’s important.  Nearly 40 percent of Americans live in coastal communities. 
 
And it’s not only good for the environment; it’s good for our economy.  It’ll protect coastal fishing industry that generates $320 billion of income a year, beach tourism that generates nearly $220 billion annually, and 3 million American jobs.  
 
It also saves us billions in potential damages by avoiding oils spills, like Deepwater Horizon. 
 
You know, in the spirit of conserving not just the waters and lands but our history, I did something else.  I became the first American president to formally recognize a group of mostly Native Hawaiians.  They lived for years on uninhabited Pacific Islands in the run-up to World War II to claim them for the United States.  As a nation, we honor their service, sacrifice as patriots to our country and stewards of the land.  We owe them.
 
Let me close with this.  As president, I’ve had the privilege of bestowing our nation’s highest honors on the world’s preeminent environmental leaders. 
 
Two weeks ago, I bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Jane Goodell [Goodall].  Well, guess what?  She memor- — she has memorialized a global movement to protect the planet.  She’s done an incredible job.
 
In October, I bestowed the National Medal of the Arts on Clyde Butcher, who grew up in California and became America’s most acclaimed landscape photographer today.  Clyde once said, quote, “Wilderness — wilderness is a spiritual necessity.”  I’d add that our wilderness is a national necessity.  
 
Over the past four years, I am proud to have kept my commitment to protect more land and water than any president in American history: more than 670 million acres — bigger than the size of Texas and Alaska combined.  (Applause.)  And without — without you standing up with me, we couldn’t ever done it. 
 
It’s about our planet, our people.  It’s about America itself.  Our outdoor treasures are the pride of our country, a bond between the physical and spiritual world, a bridge to our past and to our future.  Conserving them not only protects the livelihoods of people who depend on them; it preserves a key piece of our history and full — a full American story. 
 
It unites us through the ages.  It connects us to something bigger than ourselves.  And above all, it reminds of who we are — who we are.
 
I just had another baby grandchild born.  Guess what?  (Applause.)  Actually, to be precise — I hate to say it — a great-granddaughter — (laughter) — -son — great-grandson. 
 
And guess what?  Think what this means for your children, your grandchildren, and your great-grandchildren.  I mean it sincerely.  Think of what it means if we don’t do this.
 
Above all, it reminds us of who we are.  We’re the United States of America.  And there’s nothing, nothing, nothing beyond our capacity when we do it together. 
 
I want to thank you all again, because I’m not — this is not hyperbole.  We could’ve never done any of this without the support of the people in this room.  You stepped up.  You made the case.  People listened to you.  Ordinary people listened to you about what — how important this is.
 
And, by the way, if I had my way, I’d make sure everyone can see the natural wonders, because they’d have a more reverent view of who we are.
 
So, folks, God bless you all.  And may God protect our troops.  
 
Thank you, thank you, thank you.  (Applause.)
 
The first bill I’m signing is the establishment of the California Chuckwalla National Monument.  (Applause.)
 
Today is the 14th, right?
 
PARTICIPANT:  Yes.
 
(The bill is signed.)  (Applause.)
 
And the s- — the signing pen goes to the secretary, because I’m afraid not to give it to her.  (Laughter.)  No, you’ve done an incredible job, and I’ll get each of you a signing pen.
 
All right. 
 
SECRETARY HAALAND:  Thank you, sir.
 
THE PRESIDENT:  You’re welcome.
 
The second I’m signing is the establishment of the Highlands National Monument.  Here we go.
 
I’ve got to fill this in?
 
AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Sáttítla.
 
THE PRESIDENT:  I know, Santino [Sáttítla].  I’m trying — why — the day of — on this hand — you’ll fill in the dates here, guys?  (Laughter.)  All right.
 
AUDIENCE MEMBER:  The 14th, sir.
 
THE PRESIDENT:  No, I know that, but I don’t want to —
 
(The bill is signed.) 
 
Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.  (Applause.)
 
Thank you very much.  (Applause.)
 
(Inaudible.)  (Laughter.)  Thank you all.  I really mean it, none of this would’ve happened without you guys.  I really, really, genuinely mean it.  This was a national movement you generated.
 
So, thank you.  (Applause.)

The post Remarks by President Biden Establishing the Chuckwalla National Monument and the Sáttítla Highlands National Monument in California appeared first on The White House.

U.S. Department of State
Washington, D.C.

2:23 P.M. EST

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Good afternoon.  (Applause.)  If I didn’t say anything, this would go on all afternoon — (laughter) — for good reason.

Mr. President, it is an honor to welcome you back to the State Department.

On day one of this administration, you shared a few things with me.  You told me something that we long discussed, reminded me that American engagement, American leadership is essential. 

If we’re not engaged, if we’re not leading, you said, someone else is likely to be doing it and probably not in a way that advances our interests or values.  Or maybe no one’s doing it, and then we’re likely to have a vacuum filled with bad things before it’s filled with good things. 

But the other thing you told me, Mr. President, was that there’s a greater premium than ever before on finding ways to cooperate, to coordinate, to work with other countries if we’re going to get done what we need to get done for the American people. 

And so, you instructed me, you instructed all of us to get out there, to rebuild, to rejuvenate, even to reimagine our alliances and partnerships. 

And I remember what you told me then.  You said, “We don’t know when this is going to make a difference, when we’re going to need these friendships, these partnerships, but someday, some way, somewhere, they’re going to be critical for advancing the national interest.”  And that’s exactly what the men and women of this department have done, and we’ve been able to carry out that charge for two reasons. 

First, the people you see before you and so many others who are out in the field or embassies and consulates — you said when you came here four years ago that the leadership of diplomats of every stripe doing the daily work of government is essential.  And they proved it.

That daily work has become nightly work — (laughter) — 24/7, 7 days a week — hammering out agreements, jumping into action in crisis, creating opportunities for our citizens around the world, producing expert advice for you and your team at the White House. 

Everyone heres know — here knows this work can be tough, it’s often not very glamorous, but it makes us stronger.  It makes the world a better place. 

And we simply couldn’t do it without the extraordinary men and women that you have before us, as well as our remarkable partners in government, starting with the great White House team led by Jake Sullivan, my friends and colleagues from across the administration — the secretary of Defense, Samantha Power at USAID, the secretary of the Treasury, Commerce, and so on.  All of these partnerships that we’ve built and built with their teams have made a difference. 

So, to all of my colleagues, thank you.  Thank you for your friendship.  Thank you for your partnership. 

There’s one other reason that we’ve been able to reengage and rejuvenate our diplomacy.  Mr. President, that’s you. 

You have never wavered in the conviction that when America leads, when America engages, there is little we cannot accomplish and that this country remains a force for good, a force for progress around the world.

Your unshakable belief in the promise of America has inspired me for more than 20 years.  It’s inspired so many people in this department and around the world. 

Simply put, it’s been the privilege of my lifetime to work for you, to work with you, to work with this extraordinary team that you’ve assembled. 

And it’s the honor of a lifetime to be able to introduce, one more time, the 46th president the United States, Joe Biden.  (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  (Applause.) 

Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you, thank you.  Please.  Thank you.  (Applause.) 

Thank you, thank you, thank you. 

It’s good to be back at the State Department. 

Tony, if I may start by saying this, you’re one of the finest men I’ve ever known in any undertaking for one important reason: You have –- (applause) — you’re not only brilliant, you have incredible character.  You have character.  You have more integrity than almost anybody I know.  Thank you for always sticking with me.  Appreciate it.  (Applause.)

Folks, I’m grateful for his counsel and his friendship as well, but I also want to thank the members of my Cabinet and the members of the Congress who are today.  And to all — all our diplomats and development experts, service members, and intelligence professionals: Many of the achievements we’re going to discuss today were — are the result of your hard work.  And that’s not hyperbole.  It’s true.  Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you for your extraordinary service. 

You know, I come here to the State Department to report on the Ameri- — to the American people on the progress we’ve made in the last four years in our foreign policy in our presidency. 

I’ve said many times: We’re at an inflection point.  The post-Cold War period is over.  A new era has begun.  In these four years, we faced crises that — and we’ve been tested.  We’ve come through those tests stronger, in my view, than we entered those tests.  This is a fierce competition underway — the future of the global economy, technology, human values, and so much else. 

Right now, in my view, thanks to our administration, the United States is winning the worldwide competition.  Compared to four years ago, America is stronger, our alliances are stronger, our adversaries and competitors are weaker, and we have not gone to war to make these things happen. 

During my presidency, I’ve increased America’s power in every dimension.  We’ve increased our diplomatic power, creating more allies the United States has ever had in the history of our nation.  We’ve increased our military power, making the most significant investments in the Defense Industrial Base in decades. 

We’ve increased the technology power, taking the lead on artificial intelligence and other technologies of the future. 

And we’ve increased the economic power, building the most dynamic economy in the world from the bottom up and the middle out, not the top down. 

In short, Kamala and I took office.  Our nation had become stronger at home — are stronger in the world.  And now, America is more capable and, I would argue, better prepared than we’ve been in a long, long time.  While our competitors and adversaries are facing stiff headwinds, we have the wind at our back because of all of you.

This is what we’re heading into.  And over to the next administration, that’s what we’re handing it to.

Today, I want to lay out what we’ve done and the opportunities we’ve created for America and those opportunities going forward. 

Today, I can report to the American people: Our sources of national power are far stronger than they were when we took office.  Our economy is booming, although there is more work to do.  Our technologies, from artificial intelligence to biotech, quantum, and — to advanced semiconductors are the envy of the world. 

And we have made the most significant investments in America and the American workers since the New Deal to rebuild our roads and bridges, our ports and airports, clean water systems, affordable high-speed Internet, and so much more; to build American manufacturing; to make advanced semiconductors, which we invented here at home.  And we made the largest investment in climate and clean energy ever, anywhere on Earth in the history of the world, spurring nearly $500 billion in private-sector investment. 

We’ve also significantly strengthened the defense industrial base, investing almost $1.3 trillion in procurement and research and development.  In real dollars, that’s more than America did in any four-year period during the Cold War.  This is going to ensure that we’re fully equipped to fight and win wars, which is also the best way to deter wars in the first place. 

Today, I can report to the American people: Our alliances are stronger than they’ve been in decades.  NATO is more capable than it’s ever been.  And many more of our Allies are paying their fair share.  Before I took office, nine NATO Allies were spending 2 percent of their GDP on defense.  Now 23 are spending 2 percent. 

And look at the Indo-Pacific.  We’ve made partnerships stronger and created new partnerships to challenge China’s aggressive behavior and to rebalance power in the region.  We did what few thought was possible: to build the first-ever trilateral partnership between the United States, Japan, and South Korea and then another among the United States, Japan, and the Philippines, drawing closer our Pacific allies to defend our shared security and prosperity. 

We brokered a defense pact known as AUKUS among the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific allies as only America is able to do. 

And we’ve taken the Quad to the next level.  The United States, Japan, Austria — Australia, and India.  When we were — had that first meeting, I was dumbfounded when they all called and said, “Can we do this at your house?”  (Laughter.)  You think I’m kidding.  (Laughter.)  My wife said, “No problem.”  (Laughter.) 

It was during the U.N. meeting, and we thought we were going to do it in New York, but they wanted to do it in Delaware.  I said, “Why?”  They said, “We can know — then people will know we’re really friends.”  (Laughter.)

Our democracies, with vibrant ec- — economies, working closely — security, supply chains, technology, and so much more. 

In the Red Sea, we brought together more than 20 countries for (inaudible) civil- — to protect civilian ships from attack by the Houthis, defending freedom of navigation in one of the world’s busiest waterways. 

And we have strengthened partnerships all across the Americas, defending democracy and targeting corruption, addressing migration, increasing prosperity, and protecting Amazon rainforest, which captures billions of tons — billions of tons of carbon from the atmosphere every year. 

Overall, we’ve reinvigorated people’s faith in the United States as a true, true partner. 

Today, I can report to the American people: Our adversaries are weaker than they were when we came into this job four years ago.  Just consider Russia.  When Putin invaded Ukraine, he thought he’d conquer Kyiv in a matter of days.  But the truth is: Since that war began, I’m the only one that’s stood in the center of Kyiv, not him.  Putin never has.  (Applause.)  Think about it.  It was a long train ride, but I’m the only commander in chief to visit a war zone not controlled by U.S. forces.  We helped the Ukrainians stop Putin. 

And now, nearly thr- — three years later, Putin has failed to achieve any of his strategic objectives.  He has failed thus far to subjugate Ukraine; failed to break the — break the unity of NATO; and failed to make large territorial gains. 

But there’s more to do.  We can’t walk away.  We rallied 50 nations to stand with Ukraine.  Not just in Europe but the first — for the first time in Asia as well, because those countries in Asia know what happens in Ukraine matters to them as well. 

We delivered air interceptors, massive numbers of munitions; enacted relentless, unprecedented sanctions to keep Ukraine in the fight.  And now Russia is struggling to replace what they are losing on the battlefield in terms of military equipment and fighters, and the ruble is under enormous pressure.

As I saw it, when Putin launched his invasion, I had two jobs: one, to rally the world to defend Ukraine, and the other is to avoid war between two nuclear powers.  We did both those things.  And today, Ukraine is still free, independent country with the potential — the potential for a bright future.  And we laid the foundation for the next administration so they can protect the bright future of the Ukrainian people. 

And now, look at Iran.  Did you ever think we would be where we are with Iran at this moment?  After those despicable attacks by Hamas on October the 7th, Iran directly attacked Israel twice with hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones.  And twice they failed because the United States organized a coalition of countries to stop them and ordered U.S. aircraft to come to the defense of Israel.  

Now Iran’s air defenses are in shambles.  Their main proxy, Hezbollah, is badly wounded.  And as we tested Iran’s willingness to revive the nuclear deal, we kept the pressure with sanctions.  Now Iran’s economy is in desperate straits.  All told, Iran is weaker than it’s been in decades. 

And if you want more evidence that we’ve seriously weakened Iran and Russia, just take a look at Syria.  President Assad was both countries’ closest ally in the Middle East.  Neither — neither could keep him in power.  Quite frankly, neither really tried very hard. 

Now, I cannot claim credit for every factor that led to Iran and Russia growing weaker in the past four years.  They did plenty of damage all by themselves.  But Israel did plenty of damage to Iran and its proxies.  But there’s no question our actions contributed significantly. 

And now, major authoritarian states are aligning more closely with one another — Iran, Russia, China, North Korea.  But that’s more out of weakness than out of strength.  So as the new administration begins, the United States is in a fundamentally stronger position with respect to these countries than we were four years ago. 

Today, I can report to the American people: We’re in a better strategic position in the long-term competition with China than we were when I took office.  You all recall many experts believed — were predicting it was inevitable that China’s economy would surpass ours.  According to many predictions, that would happen by the year 2030 or shortly thereafter. 

But we in this room said, “No.  If we make the investments in ourselves, if we protect our workers and technologies, that will not happen.”  Now, according to the latest predictions on China’s current course, they will never surpass us.  Period.

I met one on one with President Xi in consequential summits.  He and I have always been direct and straightforward with each other.  I made it clear we expect China and everyone to abide by the international rules.  And so, we stood up against unfair trade practices, taking action when China dumped subsidized goods — incredibly subsidized — on our markets to undercut our workers. 

We imposed target tariffs on critical sectors like cars, steel, and semiconductors, rather than across-the-board tariffs.  We imposed historic export controls on investments restrictions to ensure that China cannot — cannot use the most advanced technology and sensive data — and sens- — sensitive data against us. 

And critically, we enlisted our allies and partners to join us, building more convergence among our allies on a shared approach to China than ever existed and showing that it’s more effective to deal with China alongside of partners, rather than going it alone. 

But even while we compete vigorously, we’ve managed our relationship with China responsibly so it’s never tipped over into conflict.  We’ve created lines of communication between President Xi and myself and between the leaders of our militaries to avoid misunderstanding. 

We found ways to work with each other to address climate change, to reduce the flow of fentanyl into the United States — which, by the way, overdor- — overdose deaths are coming down across our nation.  And in my administration, we’ve seized more fentanyl at our border in two years than the previous five years combined. 

Today, I can also report to the American people: We’re [I’m] the first president in decades who is not leaving a war in Afghanistan to his successor.  When we got bin Laden during the Obama-Biden administration, the primary objective of war had been accomplished, and I believed that going forward, the primary threat of al-Qaeda would no longer be emanating from Afghanistan but from elsewhere and so we did not need to station sizable number of American forces in Afghanistan.

So, when I took office, I had a choice.  Ultimately, I saw no reason to keep thousands of servicemen in Afghanistan.  I think I had my schedule with me and I keep it on my — I don’t here.  I don’t have it, but I keep it on the back of my card, the actual number of dead and wounded that occurred in our longest war, to remind myself.  Keep spending hundreds of millions of dollars a day.  We’re now [no] longer doing that. 

In my view, it was time to end the war and bring our troops home, and we did. 

I commend the courage of all those who served in Afghanistan.  We grieve all 2,461 Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice in the longest war in American history.  And I grieve those brave service members whose lives were lost during the withdrawal. 

We also thank those inside and outside our government who have done so much to help thousands of Afghan families resettle in the United States. 

Remember, critics said if we ended the war, it would damage our alliances and it would create threats to our homeland from foreign-directed terrorism out of a safe haven in Afghanistan.  Neither has occurred.  Neither has occurred.  And our alliances have stayed strong. 

We’ve used our over-the-horizon capabilities to strike in Afghanistan and elsewhere when we had to — for instance, eliminating Zawahiri, the leader of al-Qaeda, who helped orchestrate the September 11th attacks.  And we did it without putting more American boots on the ground. 

And by ending the war, we’ve been able to focus our energy and resources on more urgent challenges.  There is nothing — I can tell you from my conversations with both Xi and Putin — nothing our adversaries and competitors, like Russia and China, would have liked more than seeing us continue to be tied down in Afghanistan for another decade. 

For all those reasons, ending the war was the right thing to do, and I believe history will reflect that. 

And from the moment I entered office, I also worked to free as many Americans as possible being held hostage or wrongfully detained overseas.  We brought home more than 75 Americans, by last count.  And in some cases, it took months, even years, of effort, like the prisoner swap with Russia over the past summer, a feat of diplomacy v- — involving all — many of you and involving multiple countries who joined complex negotiations at our request — another example of the power of our alliances.  If we did not have these relationships, those women and women [men] would likely still be in prison. 

And finally, I can report to the American people that we’ve restored our leadership on a range of other generational priorities. 

When I took office, we were no longer part of the international climate agreement.  We announced on day one that re- — we would join the Paris Accord — rejoin. 

And we’ve led by example; we’ve conserved hundreds of millions of acres — hundreds of millions of acres of land and water, more than any president in American history; making investments in clean energy and convincing other nations to join us. 

Thanks to our efforts, the world has reached the goal of investing $100 billion every year in public and private funds to reduce greenhouse emissions, to drive down the cost of clean energy, to help developing nations adapt to climate change. 

Our administration has launched a transformative initiative to build high-impact infrastructure in developing nations.  It’s called PGI.  You all know that better than anyone.  This is our alternative to what China offers with its massive projects across Africa and beyond.  But their approach features no workers’ rights, no environmental protections, unmanageable debt, shoddy construction — all in exchange for military access to ports and other exploitative purposes. 

By contrast, we’ve leveraged $600 billion and unleashed the private sector to build an infrastructure in order to grow economies and combat climate change.  As an example, I was recently in Angola to see a major project being built with the help of American public funding, which brought in even more private investment. 

We’re building the first-ever transcontinental railroad across Africa that will significantly improve the economies of the region, will help farmers transport crops to new global markets, will transport critical minerals that would — that need — that are needed for electric vehicles and semiconductors.  China used to control the supply chains and these materials, but not for long. 

Now, make no mistake: There are serious challenges that the United States must continue to deal with in Ukraine, in the Middle East, in the Indo-Pacific.  We must keep the pressure on the Houthis, who are attacking ships in the Red Sea, launching missiles at Israel, and firing at American forces.  We must deter North Korea as they rattle their saber and draw closer to Russia.  And new challenges will certainly emerge in the months and years ahead. 

But even — but even so, it’s clear: My administration is leaving the next administration with a very strong hand to play.  And we’re leaving them an America with more friends and stronger alliances, whose adversaries are weaker and under pressure; an America that once again is leading, uniting countries, setting the agenda, bringing others together behind our plans and visions; an America which is no longer at war, which has made historic investments in American workers, American energies, Am- — American factories, generating the strongest economy in the world, which is now in a much better position to win the future against any competitor. 

These wins are not partisan.  They’re American.  They benefit all Americans and reflect America’s endless capacity for leadership and reinvention. 

Look, folks, the United States should take full advantage of our diplomatic and geopolitical opportunities we’ve created to keep bringing countries together to deal with challenges posed by China; to make sure Putin war — Putin’s war ends in a just and lasting peace for Ukraine; and to capitalize on a new moment for a more stable, integrated Middle East. 

To do that, the next administration must make sure the fall of Assad does not lead to the resurgence of ISIS in Syria and across the region.  It must carry forward the commitment that America will never, never allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon. 

And on the war between Israel and Hamas, we’re on the brink of a proposal that I laid out in detail months ago finally coming to fruition.  I have learned in many years of public service to never, never, never, ever give up. 

So, I spoke to prime minister of Israel yesterday.  I spoke to the amir of Qatar today.  I look forward to speaking with President Sisi soon.  We’re pressing hard to close this. 

The deal we have structured would free the hostages, halt the fighting, provide security to Israel, and allow us to significantly surge humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians, who have suffered terribly in this war that Hamas started.  They’ve been through hell.  So many innocent people have been killed.  So many communities have been destroyed. 

The Palestinian people deserve peace and the right to determine their own futures.  Israel deserves peace and real security.  And the hostages and their families deserve to be reunited.  And so, we’re working urgently to close this deal. 

And as we deal with immediate challenges, in my view, we have to look to the future.  I urge the next administration to carry forward two issues that have been central to my presidency and which shape the future, in my view. 

On artificial intelligence, we are in the lead and we must stay in the lead.  We must not offshore artificial intelligence, as we once did with computer chips and other critical technologies.  AI has the power to reshorp — reshape economies, governments, national security, entire societies.  And it must be the United States and our closest allies that lead the way to ensure people’s rights are respected, their safety is protected, and their data is secure. 

And likewise, the clean energy transition will race ahead in the years to come.  I know in some incoming administration — some in the incoming administration are skeptical about the need for clean energy.  They don’t even believe climate change is real.  I think they come from a different century. 

They’re wrong.  They are dead wrong.  It’s the single greatest existential threat to humanity.  And the clean energy transition is already happening. 

China is trying to dominate the clean energy, manufacturing critical minerals, supply chains.  They want to capture the market of the future and create new dependencies. 

The United States must win that contest, and we will shape the global economy and the planet for decades to come. 

Let me close with this.  Like many of you, I’ve dedicated a significant portion of my career to our nation’s foreign policy — as chair of the Foreign Relations Committee as a senator, as vice president for eight years, and now president of the United States.  I put together one of the most competent foreign policy teams, I would argue, in American history, sitting in this room and before my eyes.  

Throughout my career, the world has gone — undergone tremendous change.  But certain things have always held true.  At our best, America leads not only by the example of our power but the power of our example. 

In the past four years, we’ve used that power not to go it alone but, instead, to bring countries together, to increase shared security and prosperity, to stand up to aggression, and to solve problems through diplomacy wherever possible; and to relentlessly defend democracy, civil rights, and human rights, because that’s who we are.  That’s who we are.

You’ve heard me say it many times before.  We’re the only country on Earth founded on an idea.  Every other country is founded on geography, religion, ethnicity, or some other unifying factor.  But America was built on an idea — on an idea — literally, not figuratively.  That idea was all women and men are created equal, the idea that has inspired the world for 250 years and counting. 

We’re always reaching to do better, always looking to the future, and, at our best, always seeking progress for our people and for people everywhere. 

It’s been the honor of my life to serve as your president.  And today, I’m optimistic about our future — as optimistic as I’ve ever been. 

We just have to remember who in the hell we are.  You’ve heard me say it many times.  We’re the United States of America, for God’s sake.  There is nothing, nothing, nothing beyond our capacity if we do it together and commit to it — nothing.

So, thank you all for all you’ve done.  I hope many of you are going to be staying in the next administration to keep this moving. 

May God bless you all.  And may God protect our troops. 

Thank you, thank you, thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.  Thank you.  (Applause.)

2:51 P.M. EST

The post Remarks by President Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the Administration’s Work to Strengthen America and Lead the World appeared first on The White House.

U.S. Department of State
Washington, D.C.

2:23 P.M. EST

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Good afternoon.  (Applause.)  If I didn’t say anything, this would go on all afternoon — (laughter) — for good reason.

Mr. President, it is an honor to welcome you back to the State Department.

On day one of this administration, you shared a few things with me.  You told me something that we long discussed, reminded me that American engagement, American leadership is essential. 

If we’re not engaged, if we’re not leading, you said, someone else is likely to be doing it and probably not in a way that advances our interests or values.  Or maybe no one’s doing it, and then we’re likely to have a vacuum filled with bad things before it’s filled with good things. 

But the other thing you told me, Mr. President, was that there’s a greater premium than ever before on finding ways to cooperate, to coordinate, to work with other countries if we’re going to get done what we need to get done for the American people. 

And so, you instructed me, you instructed all of us to get out there, to rebuild, to rejuvenate, even to reimagine our alliances and partnerships. 

And I remember what you told me then.  You said, “We don’t know when this is going to make a difference, when we’re going to need these friendships, these partnerships, but someday, some way, somewhere, they’re going to be critical for advancing the national interest.”  And that’s exactly what the men and women of this department have done, and we’ve been able to carry out that charge for two reasons. 

First, the people you see before you and so many others who are out in the field or embassies and consulates — you said when you came here four years ago that the leadership of diplomats of every stripe doing the daily work of government is essential.  And they proved it.

That daily work has become nightly work — (laughter) — 24/7, 7 days a week — hammering out agreements, jumping into action in crisis, creating opportunities for our citizens around the world, producing expert advice for you and your team at the White House. 

Everyone heres know — here knows this work can be tough, it’s often not very glamorous, but it makes us stronger.  It makes the world a better place. 

And we simply couldn’t do it without the extraordinary men and women that you have before us, as well as our remarkable partners in government, starting with the great White House team led by Jake Sullivan, my friends and colleagues from across the administration — the secretary of Defense, Samantha Power at USAID, the secretary of the Treasury, Commerce, and so on.  All of these partnerships that we’ve built and built with their teams have made a difference. 

So, to all of my colleagues, thank you.  Thank you for your friendship.  Thank you for your partnership. 

There’s one other reason that we’ve been able to reengage and rejuvenate our diplomacy.  Mr. President, that’s you. 

You have never wavered in the conviction that when America leads, when America engages, there is little we cannot accomplish and that this country remains a force for good, a force for progress around the world.

Your unshakable belief in the promise of America has inspired me for more than 20 years.  It’s inspired so many people in this department and around the world. 

Simply put, it’s been the privilege of my lifetime to work for you, to work with you, to work with this extraordinary team that you’ve assembled. 

And it’s the honor of a lifetime to be able to introduce, one more time, the 46th president the United States, Joe Biden.  (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  (Applause.) 

Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you, thank you.  Please.  Thank you.  (Applause.) 

Thank you, thank you, thank you. 

It’s good to be back at the State Department. 

Tony, if I may start by saying this, you’re one of the finest men I’ve ever known in any undertaking for one important reason: You have –- (applause) — you’re not only brilliant, you have incredible character.  You have character.  You have more integrity than almost anybody I know.  Thank you for always sticking with me.  Appreciate it.  (Applause.)

Folks, I’m grateful for his counsel and his friendship as well, but I also want to thank the members of my Cabinet and the members of the Congress who are today.  And to all — all our diplomats and development experts, service members, and intelligence professionals: Many of the achievements we’re going to discuss today were — are the result of your hard work.  And that’s not hyperbole.  It’s true.  Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you for your extraordinary service. 

You know, I come here to the State Department to report on the Ameri- — to the American people on the progress we’ve made in the last four years in our foreign policy in our presidency. 

I’ve said many times: We’re at an inflection point.  The post-Cold War period is over.  A new era has begun.  In these four years, we faced crises that — and we’ve been tested.  We’ve come through those tests stronger, in my view, than we entered those tests.  This is a fierce competition underway — the future of the global economy, technology, human values, and so much else. 

Right now, in my view, thanks to our administration, the United States is winning the worldwide competition.  Compared to four years ago, America is stronger, our alliances are stronger, our adversaries and competitors are weaker, and we have not gone to war to make these things happen. 

During my presidency, I’ve increased America’s power in every dimension.  We’ve increased our diplomatic power, creating more allies the United States has ever had in the history of our nation.  We’ve increased our military power, making the most significant investments in the Defense Industrial Base in decades. 

We’ve increased the technology power, taking the lead on artificial intelligence and other technologies of the future. 

And we’ve increased the economic power, building the most dynamic economy in the world from the bottom up and the middle out, not the top down. 

In short, Kamala and I took office.  Our nation had become stronger at home — are stronger in the world.  And now, America is more capable and, I would argue, better prepared than we’ve been in a long, long time.  While our competitors and adversaries are facing stiff headwinds, we have the wind at our back because of all of you.

This is what we’re heading into.  And over to the next administration, that’s what we’re handing it to.

Today, I want to lay out what we’ve done and the opportunities we’ve created for America and those opportunities going forward. 

Today, I can report to the American people: Our sources of national power are far stronger than they were when we took office.  Our economy is booming, although there is more work to do.  Our technologies, from artificial intelligence to biotech, quantum, and — to advanced semiconductors are the envy of the world. 

And we have made the most significant investments in America and the American workers since the New Deal to rebuild our roads and bridges, our ports and airports, clean water systems, affordable high-speed Internet, and so much more; to build American manufacturing; to make advanced semiconductors, which we invented here at home.  And we made the largest investment in climate and clean energy ever, anywhere on Earth in the history of the world, spurring nearly $500 billion in private-sector investment. 

We’ve also significantly strengthened the defense industrial base, investing almost $1.3 trillion in procurement and research and development.  In real dollars, that’s more than America did in any four-year period during the Cold War.  This is going to ensure that we’re fully equipped to fight and win wars, which is also the best way to deter wars in the first place. 

Today, I can report to the American people: Our alliances are stronger than they’ve been in decades.  NATO is more capable than it’s ever been.  And many more of our Allies are paying their fair share.  Before I took office, nine NATO Allies were spending 2 percent of their GDP on defense.  Now 23 are spending 2 percent. 

And look at the Indo-Pacific.  We’ve made partnerships stronger and created new partnerships to challenge China’s aggressive behavior and to rebalance power in the region.  We did what few thought was possible: to build the first-ever trilateral partnership between the United States, Japan, and South Korea and then another among the United States, Japan, and the Philippines, drawing closer our Pacific allies to defend our shared security and prosperity. 

We brokered a defense pact known as AUKUS among the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific allies as only America is able to do. 

And we’ve taken the Quad to the next level.  The United States, Japan, Austria — Australia, and India.  When we were — had that first meeting, I was dumbfounded when they all called and said, “Can we do this at your house?”  (Laughter.)  You think I’m kidding.  (Laughter.)  My wife said, “No problem.”  (Laughter.) 

It was during the U.N. meeting, and we thought we were going to do it in New York, but they wanted to do it in Delaware.  I said, “Why?”  They said, “We can know — then people will know we’re really friends.”  (Laughter.)

Our democracies, with vibrant ec- — economies, working closely — security, supply chains, technology, and so much more. 

In the Red Sea, we brought together more than 20 countries for (inaudible) civil- — to protect civilian ships from attack by the Houthis, defending freedom of navigation in one of the world’s busiest waterways. 

And we have strengthened partnerships all across the Americas, defending democracy and targeting corruption, addressing migration, increasing prosperity, and protecting Amazon rainforest, which captures billions of tons — billions of tons of carbon from the atmosphere every year. 

Overall, we’ve reinvigorated people’s faith in the United States as a true, true partner. 

Today, I can report to the American people: Our adversaries are weaker than they were when we came into this job four years ago.  Just consider Russia.  When Putin invaded Ukraine, he thought he’d conquer Kyiv in a matter of days.  But the truth is: Since that war began, I’m the only one that’s stood in the center of Kyiv, not him.  Putin never has.  (Applause.)  Think about it.  It was a long train ride, but I’m the only commander in chief to visit a war zone not controlled by U.S. forces.  We helped the Ukrainians stop Putin. 

And now, nearly thr- — three years later, Putin has failed to achieve any of his strategic objectives.  He has failed thus far to subjugate Ukraine; failed to break the — break the unity of NATO; and failed to make large territorial gains. 

But there’s more to do.  We can’t walk away.  We rallied 50 nations to stand with Ukraine.  Not just in Europe but the first — for the first time in Asia as well, because those countries in Asia know what happens in Ukraine matters to them as well. 

We delivered air interceptors, massive numbers of munitions; enacted relentless, unprecedented sanctions to keep Ukraine in the fight.  And now Russia is struggling to replace what they are losing on the battlefield in terms of military equipment and fighters, and the ruble is under enormous pressure.

As I saw it, when Putin launched his invasion, I had two jobs: one, to rally the world to defend Ukraine, and the other is to avoid war between two nuclear powers.  We did both those things.  And today, Ukraine is still free, independent country with the potential — the potential for a bright future.  And we laid the foundation for the next administration so they can protect the bright future of the Ukrainian people. 

And now, look at Iran.  Did you ever think we would be where we are with Iran at this moment?  After those despicable attacks by Hamas on October the 7th, Iran directly attacked Israel twice with hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones.  And twice they failed because the United States organized a coalition of countries to stop them and ordered U.S. aircraft to come to the defense of Israel.  

Now Iran’s air defenses are in shambles.  Their main proxy, Hezbollah, is badly wounded.  And as we tested Iran’s willingness to revive the nuclear deal, we kept the pressure with sanctions.  Now Iran’s economy is in desperate straits.  All told, Iran is weaker than it’s been in decades. 

And if you want more evidence that we’ve seriously weakened Iran and Russia, just take a look at Syria.  President Assad was both countries’ closest ally in the Middle East.  Neither — neither could keep him in power.  Quite frankly, neither really tried very hard. 

Now, I cannot claim credit for every factor that led to Iran and Russia growing weaker in the past four years.  They did plenty of damage all by themselves.  But Israel did plenty of damage to Iran and its proxies.  But there’s no question our actions contributed significantly. 

And now, major authoritarian states are aligning more closely with one another — Iran, Russia, China, North Korea.  But that’s more out of weakness than out of strength.  So as the new administration begins, the United States is in a fundamentally stronger position with respect to these countries than we were four years ago. 

Today, I can report to the American people: We’re in a better strategic position in the long-term competition with China than we were when I took office.  You all recall many experts believed — were predicting it was inevitable that China’s economy would surpass ours.  According to many predictions, that would happen by the year 2030 or shortly thereafter. 

But we in this room said, “No.  If we make the investments in ourselves, if we protect our workers and technologies, that will not happen.”  Now, according to the latest predictions on China’s current course, they will never surpass us.  Period.

I met one on one with President Xi in consequential summits.  He and I have always been direct and straightforward with each other.  I made it clear we expect China and everyone to abide by the international rules.  And so, we stood up against unfair trade practices, taking action when China dumped subsidized goods — incredibly subsidized — on our markets to undercut our workers. 

We imposed target tariffs on critical sectors like cars, steel, and semiconductors, rather than across-the-board tariffs.  We imposed historic export controls on investments restrictions to ensure that China cannot — cannot use the most advanced technology and sensive data — and sens- — sensitive data against us. 

And critically, we enlisted our allies and partners to join us, building more convergence among our allies on a shared approach to China than ever existed and showing that it’s more effective to deal with China alongside of partners, rather than going it alone. 

But even while we compete vigorously, we’ve managed our relationship with China responsibly so it’s never tipped over into conflict.  We’ve created lines of communication between President Xi and myself and between the leaders of our militaries to avoid misunderstanding. 

We found ways to work with each other to address climate change, to reduce the flow of fentanyl into the United States — which, by the way, overdor- — overdose deaths are coming down across our nation.  And in my administration, we’ve seized more fentanyl at our border in two years than the previous five years combined. 

Today, I can also report to the American people: We’re [I’m] the first president in decades who is not leaving a war in Afghanistan to his successor.  When we got bin Laden during the Obama-Biden administration, the primary objective of war had been accomplished, and I believed that going forward, the primary threat of al-Qaeda would no longer be emanating from Afghanistan but from elsewhere and so we did not need to station sizable number of American forces in Afghanistan.

So, when I took office, I had a choice.  Ultimately, I saw no reason to keep thousands of servicemen in Afghanistan.  I think I had my schedule with me and I keep it on my — I don’t here.  I don’t have it, but I keep it on the back of my card, the actual number of dead and wounded that occurred in our longest war, to remind myself.  Keep spending hundreds of millions of dollars a day.  We’re now [no] longer doing that. 

In my view, it was time to end the war and bring our troops home, and we did. 

I commend the courage of all those who served in Afghanistan.  We grieve all 2,461 Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice in the longest war in American history.  And I grieve those brave service members whose lives were lost during the withdrawal. 

We also thank those inside and outside our government who have done so much to help thousands of Afghan families resettle in the United States. 

Remember, critics said if we ended the war, it would damage our alliances and it would create threats to our homeland from foreign-directed terrorism out of a safe haven in Afghanistan.  Neither has occurred.  Neither has occurred.  And our alliances have stayed strong. 

We’ve used our over-the-horizon capabilities to strike in Afghanistan and elsewhere when we had to — for instance, eliminating Zawahiri, the leader of al-Qaeda, who helped orchestrate the September 11th attacks.  And we did it without putting more American boots on the ground. 

And by ending the war, we’ve been able to focus our energy and resources on more urgent challenges.  There is nothing — I can tell you from my conversations with both Xi and Putin — nothing our adversaries and competitors, like Russia and China, would have liked more than seeing us continue to be tied down in Afghanistan for another decade. 

For all those reasons, ending the war was the right thing to do, and I believe history will reflect that. 

And from the moment I entered office, I also worked to free as many Americans as possible being held hostage or wrongfully detained overseas.  We brought home more than 75 Americans, by last count.  And in some cases, it took months, even years, of effort, like the prisoner swap with Russia over the past summer, a feat of diplomacy v- — involving all — many of you and involving multiple countries who joined complex negotiations at our request — another example of the power of our alliances.  If we did not have these relationships, those women and women [men] would likely still be in prison. 

And finally, I can report to the American people that we’ve restored our leadership on a range of other generational priorities. 

When I took office, we were no longer part of the international climate agreement.  We announced on day one that re- — we would join the Paris Accord — rejoin. 

And we’ve led by example; we’ve conserved hundreds of millions of acres — hundreds of millions of acres of land and water, more than any president in American history; making investments in clean energy and convincing other nations to join us. 

Thanks to our efforts, the world has reached the goal of investing $100 billion every year in public and private funds to reduce greenhouse emissions, to drive down the cost of clean energy, to help developing nations adapt to climate change. 

Our administration has launched a transformative initiative to build high-impact infrastructure in developing nations.  It’s called PGI.  You all know that better than anyone.  This is our alternative to what China offers with its massive projects across Africa and beyond.  But their approach features no workers’ rights, no environmental protections, unmanageable debt, shoddy construction — all in exchange for military access to ports and other exploitative purposes. 

By contrast, we’ve leveraged $600 billion and unleashed the private sector to build an infrastructure in order to grow economies and combat climate change.  As an example, I was recently in Angola to see a major project being built with the help of American public funding, which brought in even more private investment. 

We’re building the first-ever transcontinental railroad across Africa that will significantly improve the economies of the region, will help farmers transport crops to new global markets, will transport critical minerals that would — that need — that are needed for electric vehicles and semiconductors.  China used to control the supply chains and these materials, but not for long. 

Now, make no mistake: There are serious challenges that the United States must continue to deal with in Ukraine, in the Middle East, in the Indo-Pacific.  We must keep the pressure on the Houthis, who are attacking ships in the Red Sea, launching missiles at Israel, and firing at American forces.  We must deter North Korea as they rattle their saber and draw closer to Russia.  And new challenges will certainly emerge in the months and years ahead. 

But even — but even so, it’s clear: My administration is leaving the next administration with a very strong hand to play.  And we’re leaving them an America with more friends and stronger alliances, whose adversaries are weaker and under pressure; an America that once again is leading, uniting countries, setting the agenda, bringing others together behind our plans and visions; an America which is no longer at war, which has made historic investments in American workers, American energies, Am- — American factories, generating the strongest economy in the world, which is now in a much better position to win the future against any competitor. 

These wins are not partisan.  They’re American.  They benefit all Americans and reflect America’s endless capacity for leadership and reinvention. 

Look, folks, the United States should take full advantage of our diplomatic and geopolitical opportunities we’ve created to keep bringing countries together to deal with challenges posed by China; to make sure Putin war — Putin’s war ends in a just and lasting peace for Ukraine; and to capitalize on a new moment for a more stable, integrated Middle East. 

To do that, the next administration must make sure the fall of Assad does not lead to the resurgence of ISIS in Syria and across the region.  It must carry forward the commitment that America will never, never allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon. 

And on the war between Israel and Hamas, we’re on the brink of a proposal that I laid out in detail months ago finally coming to fruition.  I have learned in many years of public service to never, never, never, ever give up. 

So, I spoke to prime minister of Israel yesterday.  I spoke to the amir of Qatar today.  I look forward to speaking with President Sisi soon.  We’re pressing hard to close this. 

The deal we have structured would free the hostages, halt the fighting, provide security to Israel, and allow us to significantly surge humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians, who have suffered terribly in this war that Hamas started.  They’ve been through hell.  So many innocent people have been killed.  So many communities have been destroyed. 

The Palestinian people deserve peace and the right to determine their own futures.  Israel deserves peace and real security.  And the hostages and their families deserve to be reunited.  And so, we’re working urgently to close this deal. 

And as we deal with immediate challenges, in my view, we have to look to the future.  I urge the next administration to carry forward two issues that have been central to my presidency and which shape the future, in my view. 

On artificial intelligence, we are in the lead and we must stay in the lead.  We must not offshore artificial intelligence, as we once did with computer chips and other critical technologies.  AI has the power to reshorp — reshape economies, governments, national security, entire societies.  And it must be the United States and our closest allies that lead the way to ensure people’s rights are respected, their safety is protected, and their data is secure. 

And likewise, the clean energy transition will race ahead in the years to come.  I know in some incoming administration — some in the incoming administration are skeptical about the need for clean energy.  They don’t even believe climate change is real.  I think they come from a different century. 

They’re wrong.  They are dead wrong.  It’s the single greatest existential threat to humanity.  And the clean energy transition is already happening. 

China is trying to dominate the clean energy, manufacturing critical minerals, supply chains.  They want to capture the market of the future and create new dependencies. 

The United States must win that contest, and we will shape the global economy and the planet for decades to come. 

Let me close with this.  Like many of you, I’ve dedicated a significant portion of my career to our nation’s foreign policy — as chair of the Foreign Relations Committee as a senator, as vice president for eight years, and now president of the United States.  I put together one of the most competent foreign policy teams, I would argue, in American history, sitting in this room and before my eyes.  

Throughout my career, the world has gone — undergone tremendous change.  But certain things have always held true.  At our best, America leads not only by the example of our power but the power of our example. 

In the past four years, we’ve used that power not to go it alone but, instead, to bring countries together, to increase shared security and prosperity, to stand up to aggression, and to solve problems through diplomacy wherever possible; and to relentlessly defend democracy, civil rights, and human rights, because that’s who we are.  That’s who we are.

You’ve heard me say it many times before.  We’re the only country on Earth founded on an idea.  Every other country is founded on geography, religion, ethnicity, or some other unifying factor.  But America was built on an idea — on an idea — literally, not figuratively.  That idea was all women and men are created equal, the idea that has inspired the world for 250 years and counting. 

We’re always reaching to do better, always looking to the future, and, at our best, always seeking progress for our people and for people everywhere. 

It’s been the honor of my life to serve as your president.  And today, I’m optimistic about our future — as optimistic as I’ve ever been. 

We just have to remember who in the hell we are.  You’ve heard me say it many times.  We’re the United States of America, for God’s sake.  There is nothing, nothing, nothing beyond our capacity if we do it together and commit to it — nothing.

So, thank you all for all you’ve done.  I hope many of you are going to be staying in the next administration to keep this moving. 

May God bless you all.  And may God protect our troops. 

Thank you, thank you, thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.  Thank you.  (Applause.)

2:51 P.M. EST

The post Remarks by President Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the Administration’s Work to Strengthen America and Lead the World appeared first on The White House.

The White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI) has issued Rising Together, its final report to President Joe Biden. The report offers a comprehensive review of the Biden-Harris Administration’s historic investments in Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities and includes:

• A broad summary of WHIAANHPI’s activities to uplift AA and NHPI visibility, support communities in crisis, strengthen federal employment pathways, and promote capacity building;

• Updates from 29 federal agencies detailing the implementation of their action plans and steps they have undertaken since the release of the National Strategy to Advance Equity, Justice, and Opportunity for AA and NHPI Communities;

• 86 community-centered, expert-informed recommendations from the President’s Advisory Commission on AA and NHPIs to address systemic barriers in the federal government’s policies and programs, many of which have already been implemented under the Biden-Harris Administration; and

• A snapshot of progress made across seven strategic priority areas, including combating anti-Asian hate, promoting belonging, advancing data disaggregation, improving language access, addressing COVID-19 recovery, expanding outreach and engagement, and diversifying the federal workforce.

To view the full report, please visit: wh.gov/whiaanhpireport2025.

The post White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders: Final Report to the President appeared first on The White House.

The White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI) has issued Rising Together, its final report to President Joe Biden. The report offers a comprehensive review of the Biden-Harris Administration’s historic investments in Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities and includes:

• A broad summary of WHIAANHPI’s activities to uplift AA and NHPI visibility, support communities in crisis, strengthen federal employment pathways, and promote capacity building;

• Updates from 29 federal agencies detailing the implementation of their action plans and steps they have undertaken since the release of the National Strategy to Advance Equity, Justice, and Opportunity for AA and NHPI Communities;

• 86 community-centered, expert-informed recommendations from the President’s Advisory Commission on AA and NHPIs to address systemic barriers in the federal government’s policies and programs, many of which have already been implemented under the Biden-Harris Administration; and

• A snapshot of progress made across seven strategic priority areas, including combating anti-Asian hate, promoting belonging, advancing data disaggregation, improving language access, addressing COVID-19 recovery, expanding outreach and engagement, and diversifying the federal workforce.

To view the full report, please visit: wh.gov/whiaanhpireport2025.

The post White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders: Final Report to the President appeared first on The White House.

Today, Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall convened current and future Cabinet members to conduct a statutorily-mandated Principals-Level Presidential Transition Exercise in accordance with President Biden’s direction to carry out a professional transition. This traditional meeting provided a structured opportunity to share lessons learned over the last four years and help the incoming team prepare to protect the Homeland beginning at 12 noon on January 20, 2025. Over the course of two hours, current and future Cabinet members discussed a range of scenarios, including preventing and responding to terrorist attacks as well as managing pathogens like avian flu. Participants underscored the interconnectedness between homeland incidents and global challenges. Participants in the dynamic and interactive discussion included:

Outgoing Administration 

• Secretary of Homeland Security Ali Mayorkas
• Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Kristie Canegallo  
• FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell
• Attorney General Merrick Garland
• Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg
• Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dennis McDonough
• Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland
• Deputy Secretary of Defense Kath Hicks
• Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs ADM Chris Grady
• Small Business Administrator Isabel Guzman
• Deputy Director for National Intelligence for Mission Integration Morgan Muir
• Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Xochi Torres-Small
• Acting Under Secretary of State for Policy John Bass
• Deputy Sectary of Energy David Turk
• Acting EPA Administrator Jane Nishida
• Acting NCTC Director Brett Holmgren
• U.S. Coast Guard Commandant ADM Linda Fagan 
• Deputy Director of the FBI Paul Abbate
• Deputy Director of CISA Nitin Natarajan 
• Director of the CDC Dr. Many Cohen (virtual)
• Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (HHS) Dawn O’Connell
• Administrator of TSA Dave Pekoske 

Incoming Administration 

• Secretary of Homeland Security Nominee Kristi Noem
• Secretary of Transportation Nominee Sean Duffy
• Secretary of Defense Nominee Pete Hegseth
• Secretary of Veterans Affairs Nominee Douglas Collins
• Secretary of State Nominee Marco Rubio
• Director of National Intelligence Nominee TulsiGabbard
• Secretary of Energy Nominee Chris Wright
• Administrator of the EPA Nominee Lee Zeldin
• Secretary of Commerce Nominee Howard Lutnick
• Secretary of Labor Nominee Lori Chavez-DeRemer  
• Deputy Secretary of HHS Nominee Jim O’Neill
• Secretary of Education Nominee Linda McMahon
• Secretary of Treasury Nominee Scott Bessent  
• Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Nominee Scott Turner
• National Security Advisor Mike Waltz
• Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Alex Wong
• Director of the National Economic Council Kevin Hasset

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The post Readout of White House Presidential Transition Exercise appeared first on The White House.

Today, Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall convened current and future Cabinet members to conduct a statutorily-mandated Principals-Level Presidential Transition Exercise in accordance with President Biden’s direction to carry out a professional transition. This traditional meeting provided a structured opportunity to share lessons learned over the last four years and help the incoming team prepare to protect the Homeland beginning at 12 noon on January 20, 2025. Over the course of two hours, current and future Cabinet members discussed a range of scenarios, including preventing and responding to terrorist attacks as well as managing pathogens like avian flu. Participants underscored the interconnectedness between homeland incidents and global challenges. Participants in the dynamic and interactive discussion included:

Outgoing Administration 

• Secretary of Homeland Security Ali Mayorkas
• Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Kristie Canegallo  
• FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell
• Attorney General Merrick Garland
• Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg
• Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dennis McDonough
• Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland
• Deputy Secretary of Defense Kath Hicks
• Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs ADM Chris Grady
• Small Business Administrator Isabel Guzman
• Deputy Director for National Intelligence for Mission Integration Morgan Muir
• Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Xochi Torres-Small
• Acting Under Secretary of State for Policy John Bass
• Deputy Sectary of Energy David Turk
• Acting EPA Administrator Jane Nishida
• Acting NCTC Director Brett Holmgren
• U.S. Coast Guard Commandant ADM Linda Fagan 
• Deputy Director of the FBI Paul Abbate
• Deputy Director of CISA Nitin Natarajan 
• Director of the CDC Dr. Many Cohen (virtual)
• Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (HHS) Dawn O’Connell
• Administrator of TSA Dave Pekoske 

Incoming Administration 

• Secretary of Homeland Security Nominee Kristi Noem
• Secretary of Transportation Nominee Sean Duffy
• Secretary of Defense Nominee Pete Hegseth
• Secretary of Veterans Affairs Nominee Douglas Collins
• Secretary of State Nominee Marco Rubio
• Director of National Intelligence Nominee TulsiGabbard
• Secretary of Energy Nominee Chris Wright
• Administrator of the EPA Nominee Lee Zeldin
• Secretary of Commerce Nominee Howard Lutnick
• Secretary of Labor Nominee Lori Chavez-DeRemer  
• Deputy Secretary of HHS Nominee Jim O’Neill
• Secretary of Education Nominee Linda McMahon
• Secretary of Treasury Nominee Scott Bessent  
• Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Nominee Scott Turner
• National Security Advisor Mike Waltz
• Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Alex Wong
• Director of the National Economic Council Kevin Hasset

###

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President Biden spoke today with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel to congratulate him on the ceasefire and hostage release deal with Hamas. The two leaders discussed the unimaginable conditions the hostages – including Americans – have experienced over their 15 months in captivity and the terrible suffering their families have faced, and expressed their joy that hostages will soon be reunited with their families.

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The post Readout of President Joe Biden’s Call with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel appeared first on The White House.

President Biden spoke today with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel to congratulate him on the ceasefire and hostage release deal with Hamas. The two leaders discussed the unimaginable conditions the hostages – including Americans – have experienced over their 15 months in captivity and the terrible suffering their families have faced, and expressed their joy that hostages will soon be reunited with their families.

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