From the NLPC:
‘Clear Connection’ Between Tony Blinken, Biden Center and Chinese Cash Antony Blinken was confirmed today by the Senate as Secretary of State, even as Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) launched a vocal attack on the nomination. I briefed Senator Paul last night on our Complaint regarding the $22 million in anonymous Chinese cash that rolled into the University of Pennsylvania, home of the Biden Center, while Blinken served as its managing director. During his confirmation hearings, Blinken attempted to diffuse the questions about Chinese influence by saying that “President Trump was right in taking a tougher approach to China.” He went on to state that our relationship with Taiwan is “a commitment that will absolutely endure,” and endorsed his predecessor Mike Pompeo’s charge that China is practicing “genocide” against the Uyghurs. Click here or on the image for an interview with NLPC Counsel Paul Kamenar on One America News Network today. Click here for a Washington Free Beacon article. Believe me, I appreciate your support of our efforts to make Blinken accountable. Best, Peter Flaherty Chairman
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JANUARY 22, 2021
CHAIRMAN RISCH: ADMINISTRATION’S DECISION TO EXTEND NEW START FOR FIVE YEARS IS ILL-ADVISED WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement on the Biden Administration’s decision to extend the New START Treaty for five years: “I disagree with the Biden Administration’s decision to extend the New START Treaty for five years. By failing to seize the opportunity for a shorter extension, they have forfeited the opportunity for follow-on arms control negotiations. Having secured the longer extension he desired, President Putin has no incentive to negotiate with the United States and will, as he has done, decline to engage in any further discussions. “In the Resolution of Ratification for New START, I pushed for the Obama Administration to commit to follow on negotiations of tactical nuclear weapons that were excluded from that treaty. The Obama Administration was unable to secure those follow on negotiations with the Russians, and the Biden Administration will experience the same outcome. Today, the need is even greater given the giant strides being made on delivery systems, which the Russians claim are now outside New START’s limits. “In the wake of this extension, we should expect the Russians to continue to expand and improve their tactical nuclear weapons and exotic delivery systems; the Chinese government to continue or even accelerate the growth of its nuclear forces; and the North Koreans to pursue new nuclear capabilities, including tactical nuclear weapons and larger, solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles. “These growing threats make all the more critical and urgent the defense of America and our allies. We must urgently prioritize the complete modernization of the U.S. nuclear triad and ensure our nuclear posture continues to provide credible and effective deterrence for the United States and our allies.” ### Senate Republicans Endorse Biden’s Deep State Picks By Cliff Kincaid – January 23, 2021 In his column, “Clinton’s Brilliant Strategy,” Dennis Cuddy suggests that the fate of Donald J. Trump, going out of office under questionable circumstances, is a function of Hillary and Bill Clinton’s revenge. He writes, “Bill Clinton and the Democrats correctly believed that with Trump’s political inexperience, he could as president easily be ‘set up.’” Trump was elected, he writes, because the GOP base, comprised mostly of the Tea Party and Christian Right, “were tired of promises by the Republican Establishment never being fulfilled.” They wanted an outsider – Trump. But this turned out to be Trump’s Achilles heel. He didn’t understand the forces out to get him. The strange thing is that Senate Republicans seem eager to embrace these dangerous forces. Cuddy, an astute observer, notes the Clintons’ involvement in the World Government movement. This is critical to understanding the direction of the Democratic Party and the media’s role in masking our fate. You can find on my YouTube page a video entitled, “Hillary Clinton, Walter Cronkite and World Government,” featuring Hillary Clinton and Walter Cronkite at a World Federalist Association meeting in1999. Cronkite, the former CBS Evening News anchorman, received the "Norman Cousins Global Governance Award." Through a closed-circuit hook-up, Hillary praised Cronkite for his promotion of a one-world government. Cronkite’s association with the World Federalists had been known for years, but in the speech to the group he disclosed that he was asked decades ago to be a Washington lobbyist for the group. “I chose instead to continue in the world of journalism,” Cronkite said. Bringing the picture up to date, with the “election” of Joe Biden, Cuddy goes on to point out that Democratic Party control of all branches of government (with the Supreme Court to be expanded and controlled as well) will allow Biden to implement his “New World Order.” I fought one aspect of this when Biden ran the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and tried to ram through the U.N.’s Law of the Sea Treaty. We were part of a coalition that stopped its passage. The “Norman Cousins Global Governance Award” was also given to Clinton Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott, who, as a columnist for Time magazine, had written about a world in which nation-states would disappear and people would become world citizens. On that occasion, President Clinton sent a note to the gathering wishing them “future success.” Biden’s open endorsement of a New World Order actually came in a Wall Street Journal article titled, “How I Learned to Love the New World Order.” He backed U.S. military intervention in the Balkan war, supported the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, voted for the war on Iraq in 2003 and, as vice president, backed the U.S. military intervention in Libya. We can expect greater use of U.S. forces for U.N. peacekeeping missions. As researcher Trevor Loudon told me in an ASI TV interview and as he documents in his book White House Reds, Biden owes his political career to a group called the “Council for a Livable World.” It was started by alleged Soviet agent Leo Szilard. The Council was supported by money from Al Gore Sr., who in turn was funded by Soviet agent Armand Hammer. All of this will now play a role in America’s future. The Socialist International calls this a “New Horizon” for the United States, while columnist Bob Knight points out that, in an editorial, the Communist Party USA said that the Democrats’ total control may be temporary, so what they have to do in the next two years “is crucial.” The World Economic Forum, one of many globalist groups committed to the “Great Reset,” calls this “the new global situation.” It says heads of state and government, chief executives and leaders from civil society will convene under the theme of “A Crucial Year to Rebuild Trust.” In true Orwellian fashion, that “trust” will be enforced through censorship and arrests of dissenters. Rushing to accommodate Biden, Senate Republicans joined Democrats in confirming John Brennan loyalist Avril Haines as Director of National Intelligence by a vote of 84-10. She will play a crucial role in overseeing the 18 agencies that make up the U.S. Intelligence Community, at a cost of over $62 billion a year. Another $23.1 billion is spent on the Military Intelligence Program. A partisan Democrat and member of the Deep State, Haines was on the advisory council and the Governance Board for a group called National Security Action, dedicated to “Building a strong, unified, progressive opposition to the Trump administration’s dangerous policies…” On September 10, 2020, it had sponsored a forum for "rising progressive voices” to “take on Trump's failed approach and champion a progressive foreign policy vision for 2021 and beyond.” A total of 36 Senate Republicans voted for her nomination. Only 10 Republican Senators voted against her: Blackburn (R-TN), Braun (R-IN), Cruz (R-TX), Ernst (R-IA), Hagerty (R-TN), Hawley (R-MO), Lee (R-UT), Marshall (R-KS), Paul (R-KY), and Risch (R-ID). Ernest, a combat veteran and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said she had “serious concerns over Ms. Haines’ strong support for the disastrous Iran Nuclear Deal,” which largely benefited Iran. Interestingly, Haines’ previous work included serving as a member of the “high-level simulation exercise for pandemic preparedness and response” sponsored by the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security in partnership with the World Economic Forum and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that was held just a few months before the China virus was unleashed on the world. In addition to being a former Deputy Director of the CIA, she served as a member of the World Economic Forum's Global Future Council on Geopolitics. This panel was designed to “offer intellectual support to the Forum’s work on the Great Reset initiative, particularly the pillar devoted to promoting global cooperation and revitalizing the multilateral system." Biden’s nominee as director of the CIA, William J. Burns, was a member of the same panel. Strangely, Senator Marco Rubio, R-Fla., the top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, worked to expedite a vote on someone who is widely expected to push for more power and authority for the United Nations as part of the “Great Reset.” It appears that the Deep State has reaffirmed its control of both political parties, a fact that can only generate more hatred by the grass roots of the Republican establishment. *Cliff Kincaid is president of America’s Survival, Inc. www.usasurvival.org On the Reinstatement of State Department Diversity Training
01/22/2021 03:43 PM EST Ned Price, Department Spokesperson Restoring and strengthening American diplomatic leadership globally requires leveraging the full talent and richness of American diversity. To achieve a diplomatic corps truly representative of America, more progress is needed to recruit and retain a more diverse Department workforce and embrace a culture of inclusion and accountability, free of bias. In furtherance of these goals, the Department of State has announced the full resumption of employee training and professional development activities in support of diversity, equity, and inclusion. The Day One White House decision to rescind the previous administration’s Executive Order 13950 affirms the Biden Administration’s unwavering commitment to advancing racial and gender equity and a federal workforce that reflect the talents, abilities, and perspectives of the country they serve. The nearly 77,000 Department employees at over 275 missions worldwide and offices across the United States can rest assured of their new leadership’s commitment to a more diverse and inclusive workplace that begins with open discussion of challenges faced and shared commitment to advance progress. Executive Order on Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation
JANUARY 20, 2021 PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS 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. Every person should be treated with respect and dignity and should be able to live without fear, no matter who they are or whom they love. Children should be able to learn without worrying about whether they will be denied access to the restroom, the locker room, or school sports. Adults should be able to earn a living and pursue a vocation knowing that they will not be fired, demoted, or mistreated because of whom they go home to or because how they dress does not conform to sex-based stereotypes. People should be able to access healthcare and secure a roof over their heads without being subjected to sex discrimination. All persons should receive equal treatment under the law, no matter their gender identity or sexual orientation. These principles are reflected in the Constitution, which promises equal protection of the laws. These principles are also enshrined in our Nation’s anti-discrimination laws, among them Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq.). In Bostock v. Clayton County, 590 U.S. ___ (2020), the Supreme Court held that Title VII’s prohibition on discrimination “because of . . . sex” covers discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation. Under Bostock‘s reasoning, laws that prohibit sex discrimination — including Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, as amended (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.), the Fair Housing Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.), and section 412 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended (8 U.S.C. 1522), along with their respective implementing regulations — prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation, so long as the laws do not contain sufficient indications to the contrary. Discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation manifests differently for different individuals, and it often overlaps with other forms of prohibited discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race or disability. For example, transgender Black Americans face unconscionably high levels of workplace discrimination, homelessness, and violence, including fatal violence. It is the policy of my Administration to prevent and combat discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation, and to fully enforce Title VII and other laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation. It is also the policy of my Administration to address overlapping forms of discrimination. Sec. 2. Enforcing Prohibitions on Sex Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation. (a) The head of each agency shall, as soon as practicable and in consultation with the Attorney General, as appropriate, review all existing orders, regulations, guidance documents, policies, programs, or other agency actions (“agency actions”) that: (i) were promulgated or are administered by the agency under Title VII or any other statute or regulation that prohibits sex discrimination, including any that relate to the agency’s own compliance with such statutes or regulations; and (ii) are or may be inconsistent with the policy set forth in section 1 of this order. (b) The head of each agency shall, as soon as practicable and as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, including the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 551 et seq.), consider whether to revise, suspend, or rescind such agency actions, or promulgate new agency actions, as necessary to fully implement statutes that prohibit sex discrimination and the policy set forth in section 1 of this order. (c) The head of each agency shall, as soon as practicable, also consider whether there are additional actions that the agency should take to ensure that it is fully implementing the policy set forth in section 1 of this order. If an agency takes an action described in this subsection or subsection (b) of this section, it shall seek to ensure that it is accounting for, and taking appropriate steps to combat, overlapping forms of discrimination, such as discrimination on the basis of race or disability. (d) Within 100 days of the date of this order, the head of each agency shall develop, in consultation with the Attorney General, as appropriate, a plan to carry out actions that the agency has identified pursuant to subsections (b) and (c) of this section, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law. Sec. 3. Definition. “Agency” means any authority of the United States that is an “agency” under 44 U.S.C. 3502(1), other than those considered to be independent regulatory agencies, as defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(5). Sec. 4. 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 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 20, 2021. Socialist International
A new horizon in the United States 21 January 2021 The assumption of office by Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as the new President and Vice-President of the United States marks a significant turning point for the country and is a welcome moment for the world. Democracy in the United States has delivered a new course, in which the people once again have reaffirmed long held values and principles upon which that nation was built. At this crucial time during which the world is facing unprecedented challenges, the new administration is clearly focused on dealing with priorities recognised by the majority of its people and that are also present today on the agendas of many countries and governments around the globe. Today’s most important priorities converge on combatting and neutralising the virus that has so far ended the lives of over 2 million people, the recovery of national economies, halting the destruction of the environment, implementing humane responses to migration crises, countering racism and discrimination, promoting gender equality, the resolution of conflicts and securing peace and, above all, strengthening democracy and its institutions at a time when they are under threat by populist and authoritarian ideas in different parts of the world. The executive orders signed by President Biden on the very day he took office, which we strongly welcome, reflect his commitment to these crucial issues and are in stark contrast to his predecessor whose policy was characterised by insularity, hostility and mistrust. They highlight his understanding that only with a common approach will the nations of the world be able to overcome the many global challenges that humanity faces. The path he has chosen, one of searching for common agreement through multilateralism, is well reflected in his internationally widely applauded decisions to rejoin the World Health Organization and the Paris Climate Accord. In the battle to prevent catastrophic climate change, President Biden's executive order to rejoin the Paris Accord is a hugely significant move at a time when our planet is facing a climate emergency, and when progress on reducing emissions to limit global warming has been hampered not only by the withdrawal from the agreement by the United States, but also the delay to COP26 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. This year is therefore a vital moment for the new US administration and the rest of the world to re-evaluate their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and strengthen their commitment to new and existing plans for emissions reductions. The global battle to contain and overcome the Covid-19 pandemic is also an urgent priority and one which will be aided by the commitment by President Biden to rejoin the World Health Organization. The pandemic will continue to be a threat and a problem for all countries as it continues to spread in different parts of the world. The announcement that President Biden will bring the US into COVAX is therefore particularly welcome, as it will enable greater access to vaccines for countries regardless of income levels. The SI welcomes the announcement that the discriminatory travel ban enacted by the former president in 2017 in order to target predominantly Muslim countries will be repealed as well as the announcement to halt construction of the wall, regularise the situation of over 11 million undocumented migrants in the country and that of the so-called ‘dreamers’. We equally look forward once more to the role of the US as a fully engaged partner for peace, defending human rights globally and prioritising international development after four years of aggressive and threatening rhetoric and concerted efforts to slash development funding. A matter of particular importance is the Middle East, where the one-sided and transactional approach of the previous administration has severely damaged the prospects for a two-state solution and jeopardised long-term peace. In a positive step, President Biden has reiterated his support for the two-state solution and pledged to restore US aid and development funding to the West Bank and Gaza. The US continues to have an extremely significant global influence in the economic, global and cultural spheres and the consequences of its decisions are felt far beyond its borders. Long-term success for President Biden requires more than simply reversing the worst policies of his predecessor and there are many global challenges ahead that may require the kind of consensus-building that has been severely lacking over the last four years. The Socialist International is encouraged by the early commitments and actions of President Biden and will, together with its member parties, offer its support to multilateral initiatives that are in line with the aims and principles of the social democratic family. We will continue to work for a progressive, democratic and internationalist agenda that can thrive on the global stage. Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene Introduces Articles of Impeachment Against President Joe Biden1/21/2021 H.Res. 57: Impeaching Joseph R. Biden, President of the United States, for abuse of power by enabling bribery and other high crimes and misdemeanors.
Read the text here Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene Introduces Articles of Impeachment Against President Joe Biden January 21, 2021 Press Release Washington D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene introduced articles of impeachment against President Joe Biden for his corrupt actions involving his quid pro quo in Ukraine and his abuse of power by allowing his son, Hunter Biden, to siphon off cash from America’s greatest enemies Russia and China. Congresswoman Greene released the following statement: "President Joe Biden is unfit to hold the office of the Presidency. His pattern of abuse of power as President Obama's Vice President is lengthy and disturbing. President Biden has demonstrated that he will do whatever it takes to bail out his son, Hunter, and line his family's pockets with cash from corrupt foreign energy companies. President Biden is even on tape admitting to a quid pro quo with the Ukrainian government threatening to withhold $1,000,000,000 in foreign aid if they did not do his bidding. President Biden residing in the White House is a threat to national security and he must be immediately impeached." The case against President Joe Biden is vast and detailed:
Proclamation on Ending Discriminatory Bans on Entry to The United States
JANUARY 20, 2021 • PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION The United States was built on a foundation of religious freedom and tolerance, a principle enshrined in the United States Constitution. Nevertheless, the previous administration enacted a number of Executive Orders and Presidential Proclamations that prevented certain individuals from entering the United States — first from primarily Muslim countries, and later, from largely African countries. Those actions are a stain on our national conscience and are inconsistent with our long history of welcoming people of all faiths and no faith at all. Beyond contravening our values, these Executive Orders and Proclamations have undermined our national security. They have jeopardized our global network of alliances and partnerships and are a moral blight that has dulled the power of our example the world over. And they have separated loved ones, inflicting pain that will ripple for years to come. They are just plain wrong. Make no mistake, where there are threats to our Nation, we will address them. Where there are opportunities to strengthen information-sharing with partners, we will pursue them. And when visa applicants request entry to the United States, we will apply a rigorous, individualized vetting system. But we will not turn our backs on our values with discriminatory bans on entry into the United States. NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including sections 212(f) and 215(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. 1182(f) and 1185(a), hereby find that it is in the interests of the United States to revoke Executive Order 13780 of March 6, 2017 (Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States), Proclamation 9645 of September 24, 2017 (Enhancing Vetting Capabilities and Processes for Detecting Attempted Entry Into the United States by Terrorists or Other Public-Safety Threats), Proclamation 9723 of April 10, 2018 (Maintaining Enhanced Vetting Capabilities and Processes for Detecting Attempted Entry Into the United States by Terrorists or Other Public-Safety Threats), and Proclamation 9983 of January 31, 2020 (Improving Enhanced Vetting Capabilities and Processes for Detecting Attempted Entry Into the United States by Terrorists or Other Public-Safety Threats). Our national security will be enhanced by revoking the Executive Order and Proclamations. Accordingly, I hereby proclaim: Section 1. Revocations. Executive Order 13780, and Proclamations 9645, 9723, and 9983 are hereby revoked. Sec. 2. Resumption of Visa Processing and Clearing the Backlog of Cases in Waiver Processing. (a) The Secretary of State shall direct all Embassies and Consulates, consistent with applicable law and visa processing procedures, including any related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), to resume visa processing in a manner consistent with the revocation of the Executive Order and Proclamations specified in section 1 of this proclamation. (b) Within 45 days of the date of this proclamation, the Secretary of State shall provide to the President a report that includes the following elements: (i) The number of visa applicants who were being considered for a waiver of restrictions under Proclamation 9645 or 9983 on the date of this proclamation and a plan for expeditiously adjudicating their pending visa applications. (ii) A proposal to ensure that individuals whose immigrant visa applications were denied on the basis of the suspension and restriction on entry imposed by Proclamation 9645 or 9983 may have their applications reconsidered. This proposal shall consider whether to reopen immigrant visa applications that were denied due to the suspension and restriction on entry imposed by Proclamation 9645 or 9983, whether it is necessary to charge an additional fee to process those visa applications, and development of a plan for the Department of State to expedite consideration of those visa applications. (iii) A plan to ensure that visa applicants are not prejudiced as a result of a previous visa denial due to the suspension and restriction on entry imposed by Proclamation 9645 or 9983 if they choose to re-apply for a visa. Sec. 3. Review of Information-Sharing Relationships and a Plan to Strengthen Partnerships. Within 120 days of the date of this proclamation, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, shall provide to the President a report consisting of the following elements: (a) A description of the current screening and vetting procedures for those seeking immigrant and nonimmigrant entry to the United States. This should include information about any procedures put in place as a result of any of the Executive Order and Proclamations revoked in section 1 of this proclamation and should also include an evaluation of the usefulness of form DS-5535. (b) A review of foreign government information-sharing practices vis-à-vis the United States in order to evaluate the efficacy of those practices, their contribution to processes for screening and vetting those individuals seeking entry to the United States as immigrants and nonimmigrants, and how the United States ensures the accuracy and reliability of the information provided by foreign governments. (c) Recommendations to improve screening and vetting activities, including diplomatic efforts to improve international information-sharing, use of foreign assistance funds, where appropriate, to support capacity building for information-sharing and identity-management practices, and ways to further integrate relevant executive department and agency data into the vetting system. (d) A review of the current use of social media identifiers in the screening and vetting process, including an assessment of whether this use has meaningfully improved screening and vetting, and recommendations in light of this assessment. Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this proclamation 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 proclamation shall be implemented in a manner consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. (c) This proclamation 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. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twentieth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-one, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-fifth. JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR. Statement by John Kirby, Chief Pentagon Spokesman, on New START
JAN. 21, 2021 President Biden’s decision to seek a five-year extension of New START advances the nation's defense. Russia's compliance with the treaty has served our national security interests well, and Americans are much safer with New START intact and extended. We cannot afford to lose New START’s intrusive inspection and notification tools. Failing to swiftly extend New START would weaken America’s understanding of Russia’s long-range nuclear forces. Extending the treaty’s limitations on stockpiles of strategic nuclear weapons until 2026 allows time and space for our two nations to explore new verifiable arms control arrangements that could further reduce risks to Americans. And the Department stands ready to support our colleagues in the State Department as they effect this extension and explore those new arrangements. Just as we engage Russia in ways that advance American interests, we in the Department will remain clear-eyed about the challenges Russia poses and committed to defending the nation against their reckless and adversarial actions. Executive Order On Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal GovernmentJANUARY 20, 2021 •
PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONSBy the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1. Policy. Equal opportunity is the bedrock of American democracy, and our diversity is one of our country’s greatest strengths. But for too many, the American Dream remains out of reach. Entrenched disparities in our laws and public policies, and in our public and private institutions, have often denied that equal opportunity to individuals and communities. Our country faces converging economic, health, and climate crises that have exposed and exacerbated inequities, while a historic movement for justice has highlighted the unbearable human costs of systemic racism. Our Nation deserves an ambitious whole-of-government equity agenda that matches the scale of the opportunities and challenges that we face. It is therefore the policy of my Administration that the Federal Government should pursue a comprehensive approach to advancing equity for all, including people of color and others who have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality. Affirmatively advancing equity, civil rights, racial justice, and equal opportunity is the responsibility of the whole of our Government. Because advancing equity requires a systematic approach to embedding fairness in decision-making processes, executive departments and agencies (agencies) must recognize and work to redress inequities in their policies and programs that serve as barriers to equal opportunity. By advancing equity across the Federal Government, we can create opportunities for the improvement of communities that have been historically underserved, which benefits everyone. For example, an analysis shows that closing racial gaps in wages, housing credit, lending opportunities, and access to higher education would amount to an additional $5 trillion in gross domestic product in the American economy over the next 5 years. The Federal Government’s goal in advancing equity is to provide everyone with the opportunity to reach their full potential. Consistent with these aims, each agency must assess whether, and to what extent, its programs and policies perpetuate systemic barriers to opportunities and benefits for people of color and other underserved groups. Such assessments will better equip agencies to develop policies and programs that deliver resources and benefits equitably to all. Sec. 2. Definitions. For purposes of this order: (a) The term “equity” means the consistent and systematic fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals, including individuals who belong to underserved communities that have been denied such treatment, such as Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality. (b) The term “underserved communities” refers to populations sharing a particular characteristic, as well as geographic communities, that have been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life, as exemplified by the list in the preceding definition of “equity.” Sec. 3. Role of the Domestic Policy Council. The role of the White House Domestic Policy Council (DPC) is to coordinate the formulation and implementation of my Administration’s domestic policy objectives. Consistent with this role, the DPC will coordinate efforts to embed equity principles, policies, and approaches across the Federal Government. This will include efforts to remove systemic barriers to and provide equal access to opportunities and benefits, identify communities the Federal Government has underserved, and develop policies designed to advance equity for those communities. The DPC-led interagency process will ensure that these efforts are made in coordination with the directors of the National Security Council and the National Economic Council. Sec. 4. Identifying Methods to Assess Equity. (a) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) shall, in partnership with the heads of agencies, study methods for assessing whether agency policies and actions create or exacerbate barriers to full and equal participation by all eligible individuals. The study should aim to identify the best methods, consistent with applicable law, to assist agencies in assessing equity with respect to race, ethnicity, religion, income, geography, gender identity, sexual orientation, and disability. (b) As part of this study, the Director of OMB shall consider whether to recommend that agencies employ pilot programs to test model assessment tools and assist agencies in doing so. (c) Within 6 months of the date of this order, the Director of OMB shall deliver a report to the President describing the best practices identified by the study and, as appropriate, recommending approaches to expand use of those methods across the Federal Government. Sec. 5. Conducting an Equity Assessment in Federal Agencies. The head of each agency, or designee, shall, in consultation with the Director of OMB, select certain of the agency’s programs and policies for a review that will assess whether underserved communities and their members face systemic barriers in accessing benefits and opportunities available pursuant to those policies and programs. The head of each agency, or designee, shall conduct such review and within 200 days of the date of this order provide a report to the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy (APDP) reflecting findings on the following: (a) Potential barriers that underserved communities and individuals may face to enrollment in and access to benefits and services in Federal programs; (b) Potential barriers that underserved communities and individuals may face in taking advantage of agency procurement and contracting opportunities; (c) Whether new policies, regulations, or guidance documents may be necessary to advance equity in agency actions and programs; and (d) The operational status and level of institutional resources available to offices or divisions within the agency that are responsible for advancing civil rights or whose mandates specifically include serving underrepresented or disadvantaged communities. Sec. 6. Allocating Federal Resources to Advance Fairness and Opportunity. The Federal Government should, consistent with applicable law, allocate resources to address the historic failure to invest sufficiently, justly, and equally in underserved communities, as well as individuals from those communities. To this end: (a) The Director of OMB shall identify opportunities to promote equity in the budget that the President submits to the Congress. (b) The Director of OMB shall, in coordination with the heads of agencies, study strategies, consistent with applicable law, for allocating Federal resources in a manner that increases investment in underserved communities, as well as individuals from those communities. The Director of OMB shall report the findings of this study to the President. Sec. 7. Promoting Equitable Delivery of Government Benefits and Equitable Opportunities. Government programs are designed to serve all eligible individuals. And Government contracting and procurement opportunities should be available on an equal basis to all eligible providers of goods and services. To meet these objectives and to enhance compliance with existing civil rights laws: (a) Within 1 year of the date of this order, the head of each agency shall consult with the APDP and the Director of OMB to produce a plan for addressing: (i) any barriers to full and equal participation in programs identified pursuant to section 5(a) of this order; and (ii) any barriers to full and equal participation in agency procurement and contracting opportunities identified pursuant to section 5(b) of this order. (b) The Administrator of the U.S. Digital Service, the United States Chief Technology Officer, the Chief Information Officer of the United States, and the heads of other agencies, or their designees, shall take necessary actions, consistent with applicable law, to support agencies in developing such plans. Sec. 8. Engagement with Members of Underserved Communities. In carrying out this order, agencies shall consult with members of communities that have been historically underrepresented in the Federal Government and underserved by, or subject to discrimination in, Federal policies and programs. The head of each agency shall evaluate opportunities, consistent with applicable law, to increase coordination, communication, and engagement with community-based organizations and civil rights organizations. Sec. 9. Establishing an Equitable Data Working Group. Many Federal datasets are not disaggregated by race, ethnicity, gender, disability, income, veteran status, or other key demographic variables. This lack of data has cascading effects and impedes efforts to measure and advance equity. A first step to promoting equity in Government action is to gather the data necessary to inform that effort. (a) Establishment. There is hereby established an Interagency Working Group on Equitable Data (Data Working Group). (b) Membership. (i) The Chief Statistician of the United States and the United States Chief Technology Officer shall serve as Co-Chairs of the Data Working Group and coordinate its work. The Data Working Group shall include representatives of agencies as determined by the Co-Chairs to be necessary to complete the work of the Data Working Group, but at a minimum shall include the following officials, or their designees: (A) the Director of OMB; (B) the Secretary of Commerce, through the Director of the U.S. Census Bureau; (C) the Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers; (D) the Chief Information Officer of the United States; (E) the Secretary of the Treasury, through the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Tax Policy; (F) the Chief Data Scientist of the United States; and (G) the Administrator of the U.S. Digital Service. (ii) The DPC shall work closely with the Co-Chairs of the Data Working Group and assist in the Data Working Group’s interagency coordination functions. (iii) The Data Working Group shall consult with agencies to facilitate the sharing of information and best practices, consistent with applicable law. (c) Functions. The Data Working Group shall: (i) through consultation with agencies, study and provide recommendations to the APDP identifying inadequacies in existing Federal data collection programs, policies, and infrastructure across agencies, and strategies for addressing any deficiencies identified; and (ii) support agencies in implementing actions, consistent with applicable law and privacy interests, that expand and refine the data available to the Federal Government to measure equity and capture the diversity of the American people. (d) OMB shall provide administrative support for the Data Working Group, consistent with applicable law. Sec. 10. Revocation. (a) Executive Order 13950 of September 22, 2020 (Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping), is hereby revoked. (b) The heads of agencies covered by Executive Order 13950 shall review and identify proposed and existing agency actions related to or arising from Executive Order 13950. The head of each agency shall, within 60 days of the date of this order, consider suspending, revising, or rescinding any such actions, including all agency actions to terminate or restrict contracts or grants pursuant to Executive Order 13950, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law. (c) Executive Order 13958 of November 2, 2020 (Establishing the President’s Advisory 1776 Commission), is hereby revoked. 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 consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. (c) Independent agencies are strongly encouraged to comply with the provisions of this order. (d) 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 20, 2021. |