The incoming transition of power between President Biden and President-elect Donald Trump sets the stage for a rushed implementation of key initiatives across multiple federal agencies.
According to ABC News, Biden administration officials are working intensively to allocate billions in grants and secure policy measures before Trump assumes office in January, following Vice President Kamala Harris's concession of defeat.
The urgency stems from Trump's declared intentions to rescind unspent funds from Biden's signature climate and health care legislation while halting clean-energy development projects. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the administration's commitment to fulfilling its congressional mandate until the very end.
The Transportation Department recently announced $3.4 billion in grants targeting passenger rail service improvements, port enhancement, highway safety, and sustainable transportation manufacturing. These allocations represent a portion of the broader $1 trillion infrastructure law and $375 billion climate law implementations.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the administration's determination to fulfill its duties, stating:
Let's make every day count. There's only one administration at a time. That's true now, and it will also be true after January 20th. Our responsibility is to make good use of the funds that Congress has authorized for us and that we're responsible for assigning and disbursing throughout the last three years.
The Environmental Protection Agency has accelerated its regulatory actions, establishing nationwide deadlines for lead pipe removal and implementing a new federal fee system for oil and gas companies exceeding certain methane emission levels.
The administration faces a race against time to secure Senate confirmation for numerous federal judge nominations. Recently, the Senate confirmed former prosecutor April Perry as a U.S. District Court judge in northern Illinois with a 51-44 vote, while more than a dozen nominations await further action.
The Defense Department must manage the allocation of $7.1 billion in weapons funding before the transition. Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Singh confirmed that the administration aims to utilize all congressionally allocated authority before departing.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has indicated that the funds are already obligated, potentially complicating any attempts by the incoming administration to reverse these commitments.
The Education Department is expediting the development of new federal rules for student loan cancellation based on financial hardship. The proposal's public comment period concludes on December 2, leaving a narrow window for implementation before the transition.
The department maintains the option to accelerate loan cancellation for students who were previously promised relief due to fraudulent practices by their educational institutions. This decision holds particular significance given the anticipated shift in policy under Trump's administration.
Education policy experts suggest that Secretary Miguel Cardona could resolve pending cases rather than transfer them to the incoming administration, which is expected to adopt a more favorable stance toward for-profit colleges.
As January approaches, the Biden administration continues its efforts to solidify key initiatives across multiple federal departments. These actions span infrastructure development, environmental protection, defense spending, judicial appointments, and education reform. The transition period highlights the complex interplay between outgoing and incoming administrations, with Biden officials working to secure their policy achievements while Trump's team prepares to implement significant changes to federal programs and spending priorities.
