The Biden Administration sits in the unusual position of having an outgoing President who was the Democratic candidate for President just weeks ago. With President Biden’s Vice President now taking the helm as the Democratic candidate on the campaign trail and President Biden having less than five months left in office, here are the areas the President will focus on for the remainder of his term:
Election of Vice President Harris: Without question, the President will be leveraging his influence, donor base, and supporters to campaign for the Harris-Walz ticket. Expect to see the President campaigning at times and also bringing the Vice President into high-profile announcements and events, such as the recent return of Americans unjustly imprisoned in Russia. While he is not likely to be a regular surrogate for the campaign, they will strategically welcome him to unify the party and remind voters of the work the Biden-Harris White House accomplished in their first term.
Implementation of Key Priority Policies: The President remains focused on implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which is largely the release of funding across the country. This White House will prioritize speed and scale as they political uncertainty beyond 2024 could put some of the funding at-risk next year.
Lame-Duck Deal Making: President Biden does not shy away from a bipartisan deal when Congress is willing to work with him. Should the political dynamic call for potential dealmaking at the end of the year for a large set of legislative possibilities (FY 2025 funding, Farm Bill, NDAA, etc.), President Biden could play an important role in moving legislation prior to the start of the 119th Congress. Since this is a time when Congress often wants to clear the agenda for the next Congress and Administration, President Biden could end his tenure with some last-minute victories.
The Regulatory Agenda: The Administration has an aggressive regulatory agenda for the remainder of this year, despite the risk of reversal next year should Republicans win. Advancing that agenda around core priorities will be important for the White House.
Foreign Wars: With conflict impacting both Ukraine and Israel and political uncertainty leaving both without a clear understanding of U.S. involvement beyond President Biden’s time in the office, the White House will be watching these evolving situations closely.
Despite not being on the campaign trail touting his own agenda, President Biden and his administration will have their hands full for the remainder of his term. There is no lack of issues that need to be addressed in the near-term, and distractions from the campaign only create additional hurdles to resolution.
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