Biden’s Final Week
This week marks President Joe Biden’s final week in office ahead of President-elect Trump’s January 20th inauguration.
The outgoing President will spend the week giving various remarks in Washington, largely commemorating his Administration’s accomplishments:
- Monday: A foreign policy address at the State Department
- Tuesday: A conservation proclamation address
- Wednesday: An Oval Office farewell address
- Thursday: A farewell ceremony at the Department of Defense
- Friday: A speech to the U.S. Council of Mayors
Meanwhile, lawmakers return to Washington this week to take up legislation and President-elect Trump’s cabinet nominations.
The House will consider several bills under expedited procedures dealing with Amtrak operations and federal disaster response. Legislation moving through regular order will include changes to Taiwan-US taxes and deportation policies.
Senators will also consider the House-passed Laken Riley Act dealing with immigration policy this week. Furthermore, Senate committees will hold nomination hearings for the following Trump Administration cabinet positions:
Tuesday
- Veterans Affairs: Douglas A. Collins to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs
- Armed Services: Peter B. Hegseth to be Secretary of Defense
- Energy and Natural Resources: Doug Burgum to be the Secretary of the Interior
Wednesday
- Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Kristi Noem to be Secretary of Homeland Security
- Judiciary: Pam Bondi to be Attorney General of the Department of Justice (second hearing Thursday)
- Commerce, Science and Transportation: Sean Duffy to be Secretary of Transportation
- Foreign Relations: Marco A. Rubio to be Secretary of State
- Intelligence: John L. Ratcliffe to be the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
- Energy and Natural Resources: Chris Wright to be the Secretary of the Department of Energy
- Homeland Security and Government Affairs: Russell Vought to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget
Thursday
- Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs: Scott Turner to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Department
- Environment and Public Works: Lee Zeldin to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
- Finance: Scott Bessent to be Secretary of the Department of Treasury
