Biden Administration Rushes to Preserve Legacy Before Trump Takes Office
Getting Infrastructure Spending Out the Door
President Joe Biden and his administration are working against the clock to get billions in grants and projects out the door before President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January. The administration is hoping to preserve at least some of the outgoing president’s legacy and ensure that funds allocated for infrastructure projects continue to flow.
On Friday, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced over $3.4 billion in grants for projects designed to improve passenger rail service, help U.S. ports, reduce highway deaths, and support domestic manufacturing of sustainable transportation materials.
Speeding Up Environmental Goals
The Biden administration is also speeding up environmental grants and project approvals in what White House officials describe as "sprinting to the finish" of Biden’s four-year term. The Environmental Protection Agency has set a nationwide deadline for removal of lead pipes and announced nearly $3 billion to help local water systems comply.
The Energy Department has also announced a $544 million loan to a Michigan company to expand manufacturing of high-quality silicon carbide wafers for electric vehicles. The loan is one of 28 deals totaling $37 billion granted under a clean-energy loan program that was revived and expanded under Biden.
Ukraine Aid
The Pentagon is working to spend $7.1 billion in weapons from the Pentagon’s stockpiles before Trump is sworn in. This includes $4.3 billion from the 2024 supplemental and $2.8 billion that is still on the books in savings due to the Pentagon recalculating the value of systems sent.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has said the funds are already obligated, making it harder for the incoming administration to reverse the spending.
Pressure to Quickly Confirm Judicial Picks
The White House is also prioritizing getting Senate confirmation of as many federal judges as possible before Trump’s inauguration. The Senate has recently voted to confirm former prosecutor April Perry as a U.S. District Court judge in northern Illinois.
More than a dozen pending judicial nominees have advanced out of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and eight judicial nominations are awaiting committee votes and six are waiting for committee hearings.
Student Loan Forgiveness
The Education Department is hurrying to finalize a new federal rule that would cancel student loans for people who face financial hardship. The proposal is in a public comment period scheduled to end December 2.
After that, the department would have a narrow window to finalize the rule and begin carrying it out, a process that usually takes months. Like Biden’s other efforts, it would almost certainly face a legal challenge.
Conclusion
The Biden administration is working tirelessly to preserve its legacy before Trump takes office. The administration is rushing to get billions in grants and projects out the door, speed up environmental goals, and confirm judicial picks. While there are still many questions about what Trump will do in office, the Biden administration is committed to leaving a lasting impact.
FAQs
Q: What is the Biden administration doing to preserve its legacy before Trump takes office?
A: The administration is working to get billions in grants and projects out the door, speed up environmental goals, confirm judicial picks, and finalize student loan forgiveness.
Q: How much money is the Pentagon working to spend on Ukraine aid before Trump is sworn in?
A: The Pentagon is working to spend $7.1 billion in weapons from the Pentagon’s stockpiles.
Q: What is the Education Department doing to speed up student loan forgiveness?
A: The department is hurrying to finalize a new federal rule that would cancel student loans for people who face financial hardship.
