CNN
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President Joe Biden has tasked his crew with developing with an agenda for his closing six months in workplace, defining key priorities for the administration as he seems to be to safe a one-term legacy – together with a strong schedule on the world stage.
On a name with political appointees throughout companies Wednesday afternoon, White Home chief of workers Jeff Zients laid out 4 foremost pillars for Biden’s crew to execute in a lame duck interval: the continued implementation of key laws; decreasing prices and rising the economic system via further strikes on scholar debt aid and efforts to convey down prescription drug costs; defending private freedoms and civil rights by calling out hate and extremism; and making certain US energy, safety and management on this planet, in accordance with audio of the decision obtained by CNN.
On the fourth level, nationwide safety adviser Jake Sullivan steered Biden would maintain a busy schedule in worldwide issues: “You may count on to see very busy months of exercise, of summits and journeys to make sure that we do all the pieces we are able to to go away it on the sphere,” Sullivan stated, including that there could be “high-level summits each right here and overseas.”
However earlier than that, Sullivan stated Biden’s most pressing precedence “is to keep away from escalation into a bigger battle within the Center East and to ship the ceasefire and hostage deal that he’s labored so arduous to ship.”
These feedback come because the US is working via diplomatic channels – together with Biden calls with the Egyptian president and the emir of Qatar this week – amid heightened tensions within the Center East. Hezbollah has vowed retaliation for Israel’s assassination of a prime commander.
Sullivan additionally outlined Biden’s hopes and expectations for the battle in Ukraine because the clock ticks on his time in workplace with no speedy decision in view: “President Biden is decided to place Ukraine able to prevail and make sure that Russia fails in its effort to overcome Ukraine. And he desires them in the very best place on the battlefield in order that they’re in the very best place on the negotiating desk. And you may count on a flurry of labor, together with our companions, with President Zelensky to attain that consequence earlier than he passes the baton.”
He additionally famous that the Biden administration shall be rolling out a “main nationwide safety memorandum on synthetic intelligence” within the coming weeks.
Zients advised the crew that Biden inspired his prime lieutenants to kind a plan “to complete as robust as we began” when he introduced final month that he wouldn’t search a second time period and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris.
Biden, Zients stated, “requested us to proceed to push the envelope and search for alternatives for brand new coverage along with the implementation of laws and present coverage,” however he conceded that some efforts that require new laws could possibly be “difficult” given time constraints and a divided Congress.
“Even when we are able to’t get the laws handed, it’s actually vital to place a stake within the floor,” Zients stated, pointing to final week’s rollout of Biden’s proposed Supreme Courtroom reforms.
He inspired the crew to spend the subsequent month recharging earlier than the ultimate stretch. “August, this month is an efficient interval to get a bit relaxation and recharge. … I encourage you to do this, and I encourage your groups to do it too as a result of all of us need to run via that tape collectively via January 21,” Zients stated.
Political appointees usually flip over from administration to administration. With Biden not working for reelection, it’s unclear whether or not a possible Harris administration would maintain Biden’s political appointees in place, although there would doubtless be some turnover. And whereas there may be typically overlap for continuity, together with profession officers, most of Biden’s political appointees could be unlikely to remain in a possible second Trump time period.