US Executive Branch Update – January 25, 2022

This report provides a snapshot of the US Executive Branch priorities via daily schedules and the prior day's press releases.

POTUS' Schedule*

10:15 a.m. EST - THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT receive the President's Daily Brief | Oval Office

VPOTUS' Schedule*

10:15 a.m. EST - THE VICE PRESIDENT will receive the President's Daily Brief | Oval Office

2:00 p.m. EST - THE VICE PRESIDENT will deliver remarks to the President's Interagency Task Force To Monitor and Combat Trafficking In Persons | South Court Auditorium

White House Press Briefing Schedule*

12:15 p.m. EST - Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki | James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

*The US President (POTUS) and Vice President's (VPOTUS) daily schedules are subject to change, as is the White House press briefing schedule.

Recap of Monday, January 24, 2022

Note: Bold hyperlinks spotlight COVID-19 developments.

The White House

• Readout of President Biden's Video Call with European Leaders on Russia and Ukraine
• Readout of the Second Meeting of the White House Competition Council
• Remarks by President Biden Before Meeting with the White House Competition Council
• Readout of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's Meeting with UAE and Saudi Arabia Ambassadors to the United States (Yemen, Houthis)
• Transcript: Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, January 24, 2022

Department of Defense (DOD)

• Transcript: Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby Holds a Press Briefing
• Article: Austin Places 8,500 Troops on Heightened Readiness to Deploy to Europe
• Article: DOD Is Making Significant Strides in Countering Human Trafficking, Official Says
• Article: 'Supernova of Energy': Fire Captain Inspires as He Leads
• Article: Medal of Honor Monday | Marine Corps Capt. Robert Hanson
• Press Release: DOD Awards Contract to Siemens Healthineers to Purchase COVID-19 Antigen Over-the-Counter Test Kits in Support of POTUS' 500 Million Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests
• Contracts for January 24, 2022

Department of State

• Daily Schedule | Tuesday, January 25

Russia, Ukraine

• January 24: Readout | Secretary Blinken's Participation in the EU Foreign Affairs Council
• January 24: Readout | Deputy Secretary Sherman's Call with OSCE Secretary General Helga Schmid
• January 24: Advisory | Deputy Secretary Sherman to Participate in a Conversation Hosted by Yalta European Strategy (Jan. 26)

Middle East

• January 24: Readout | Secretary Blinken's Call with Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Al-Thani (AFG, UKR)

Africa

• January 24: Statement | On Ongoing Events in Burkina Faso

Other Developments

• January 24: Remarks | Secretary Antony J. Blinken at the Fran Eizenstat and Eizenstat Family Memorial Lecture Series
• January 24: Transcript | Department Press Briefing

National Day Statement

• January 24: Statement | Australia National Day

US Agency for International Development (USAID)

• Readout: Administrator Samantha Power Meets with Hakainde Hichilema, President of Zambia
• Press Release: USAID Partners with Indonesian Government and Civil Society to Prevent Corruption

US Mission to the United Nations (UN)

• Readout: Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield's Meeting with Ukraine Permanent Representative to the United Nations Sergiy Kyslytsya
• Transcript: Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield's New York Foreign Press Center Briefing on Russia's Aggression Toward Ukraine
• Interview: Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield's Interview with Maria Ramos of TRT World News, Turkey (UKR, RUS)
• Remarks at a UN Security Council Briefing on Libya

Department of the Treasury

• Press Release: Treasury and The White House Announce New ChildTaxCredit.gov to Help Families Access the Full Child Tax Credit
• Guidance: Issuance of Ukraine-related General Licenses 13Q and 15K and Amended Frequently Asked Questions

Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC)

• Press Release: Former Financial Advisor Charged with Stealing $5.8 Million from Client

Department of Justice

• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) | Daily Press Releases
• Speech: Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Antitrust Division Delivers Remarks to the New York State Bar Association Antitrust Section
• Press Release: Owner of Health Care and Rehabilitation Facilities Indicted in $38 Million Payroll Tax Scheme
• Press Release: Justice Department Settles with Insurance Agency to Resolve Immigration-Related Discrimination Claims
• Press Release: North Carolina Man Indicted for Tax Evasion

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)/Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

• Press Release: DHS Advances Biden-Harris Efforts to Stop Flow of Goods Produced by Forced Labor
• Press Release: DHS Helps Law Enforcement Spot and Respond to Human Trafficking
• Readout of Secretaries Mayorkas and Cardona's Meeting with HBCU Presidents on International Day of Education
• Press Release: CBP Releases December 2021 Monthly Operational Update (Washington, D.C.)
• Press Release: Seven rescues within 48 hours in El Paso Sector (Texas)
• Press Release: Laredo CBP Officers Apprehend Two Fugitives Sought for Sexual Offenses (Texas)
• Press Release: Bee County Jail Escapee Apprehended by CBP Officers at Progreso Port of Entry (Texas)
• Press Release: CBP Expands Simplified Arrival to International Airports in the South (Louisiana)
• Press Release: CBP Officers at Peace Bridge Discover Narcotics and Firearm (New York)

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

• Link to daily press releases

Department of Commerce

• Press Release: Commerce Department Requests Information on Supporting a Strong U.S. Semiconductor Industry

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

• Press Release: FTC Announces Annual Update of Size of Transaction Thresholds for Premerger Notification Filings and Interlocking Directorates
• Press Release: FTC Approves Final Order Requiring Northeast Supermarkets Price Chopper and Tops Market Corp. to Sell 12 Stores as a Condition of Merger

US Export-Import Bank (EXIM)

• Press Release: EXIM Releases December 2021 Monthly Small Business Authorization Data

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) | January 20, 2022

• Press Release: Chairman Glick Statement on Weymouth Compressor Station
• Press Release: FERC Moves to Close Gap in Reliability Standards for Electric Grid Cyber Systems
• Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) Regarding Internal Network Security Monitoring for High and Medium Impact Bulk Electric System Cyber Systems
• Press Release: FERC Establishes Hearing in Proceeding on Proposed Rover Pipeline Penalty
• Press Release: FERC Revises Five-Year Oil Pipeline Price Index

Department of Interior (DOI)

• Press Release: Secretary Haaland Highlights Environmental Justice, Conservation Investments During Visit to John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge
• Press Release: Secretary Haaland Highlights President Biden's Infrastructure Investments to Address Legacy Pollution, Create Jobs in Pennsylvania Trip
• Press Release: Interior Department Calls for Nominations to Serve on Committee Coordinating Federal Actions on Invasive Species

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

• Press Release: EPA Announces Public Listening Session on the Draft Strategy to Reduce Lead Exposures and Disparities in U.S. Communities | January 25, 2022
• Press Release: EPA Requires Reporting on Releases and Other Waste Management of Certain PFAS, Including PFBS
• Link to other daily EPA press releases

Department of Transportation (USDOT)

• Press Release: USDOT Announces Rule to Help Department Move More Swiftly to Protect Aviation Consumers from Unfair and Deceptive Practices
• Press Release: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Announces $17.8 Million for Tribal Technical Assistance Program Centers to Help Tribes Administer Transportation Programs

Department of Labor

• Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor proposes $145K in fines after worker suffers fatal injury at Chicago-area pizza manufacturer
• Press Release: Tire, auto repair shop pays $79K in back wages after U.S. Department of Labor uncovers overtime violations
• Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor cites Pomp's Tire Service after Abbotsford worker suffers fatal trauma while attempting to mount tire on rim
• Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor commits to continuing the fight against human trafficking through collaboration, enforcement, outreach
• Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor offers webinar to help Southeast's restaurant employers avoid common child labor compliance violations

Department of Education

• Readout of Secretaries Cardona and Mayorkas's Meeting with HBCU Presidents on International Day of Education

Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

• Press Release: FDA Limits Use of Certain Monoclonal Antibodies to Treat COVID-19 Due to the Omicron Variant

Housing & Urban Development (HUD)

• Press Release: HUD Awards More Than $51 Million in Grants to Support Housing Counseling Programs, Partnerships with Minority Serving Institutions, and Training
• Press Release: HUD Appoints Four New Members to the Housing Counseling Federal Advisory Committee

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.