If you’ve been keeping up with the news or read the recap of Biden’s first weeks in office featured in the last issue of The Current, you probably know a little bit about how President Biden has been taking strides to overturn the policies left by former president Donald Trump.
In his first few weeks, Biden has used executive orders to put an end to many infamous Trump-era policies. From revoking the travel ban on majority-Muslim countries to stopping the construction of the border wall and reversing the transgender ban in the military, Biden has demonstrated his resolve to bring about a new chapter in American history, one based on inclusion and consideration. The early actions of the new president have sparked hope in many Americans and throughout the world that this administration will be able to right many of the wrongs that have developed in the U.S. as a result of the past four years. I know I speak for more than myself when I say Jan. 20 felt like the first deep breath of fresh air I’d taken in a long time.
However, although being optimistic about the future of the Biden administration is certainly a good thing, it is important to remember that lasting change will take a lot more than a swipe of the president’s pen. One reason for this stems from how executive orders work. Enacted by the president, executive orders give the president the power to issue federal directives, and while they don’t create law, they play a large role in shaping policy. The problem is, with every new presidency, the orders are easily and often quickly revoked by the incoming administration, as Biden has demonstrated in his first weeks. To avoid this type of overhaul when a new administration takes office, lasting change must extend beyond executive orders.
Effective change needs to be a collaborative effort and will rely on the efforts of all of us. From the office of the president and the executive agencies to the local governments, creating a legacy that will last beyond Biden’s time in office will take work.
It’s important to consider the positive impacts that Biden’s actions have so far had on Americans both domestically and abroad, but even more important to remember that this month has just been the start. There are a lot of areas that need much more than an executive order to fix, including the U.S. immigration system, environmental policy and so much more. By remaining hopeful, but continuing to pressure your local, state and federal representatives to take meaningful action, you can play a role in shaping a brighter, kinder and healthier future.
