Photo Courtesy of USA Today
Following the Trump administration’s final months at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and movements for social justice and human rights, expectations have been high for President Joe Biden and his administration. He kicked off his presidency with aggressive action to combat the challenges the country is facing. Rosanna Perotti, associate professor of political science at Hofstra University, acknowledges the challenges to and accomplishments of the Biden administration as its first 100 days unfold.
“For having been shut out of the White House during the transition for such a long time,” Perotti said, “the administration has really hit the ground running in both symbolic and material ways.”
Following every presidential election, there is a “transition period” where the president-elect transitions into their role and is briefed on the vital matters of the moment. Upon losing the election, the Trump administration did not allow Biden this courtesy. Despite this setback, Perotti believes Biden has made some “pretty impressive first strides” toward helping the country to recover from the pandemic, addressing racial inequities and attempting to restore a sense of unity in the country.
One of Biden’s main accomplishments since being inaugurated is the American Rescue Plan. This is a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 stimulus package that includes extending unemployment benefits, $1,400 direct payments to individuals, emergency paid leave, a 15% increase in food stamp benefits, tax provisions, small business grants, education funding and housing funding, among other things.
“It was ambitious on Biden’s part,” Perotti said. “It is such a huge victory that signals to Republicans and others who may be at odds with the administration that [the administration has] been able to do something big and important.”
Perotti believes that the United States is turning the corner on the pandemic largely because of the increased availability of the COVID-19 vaccine and the messaging from the president. “The president and his medical advisors are pretty much on the same page,” she said, “and are working with the states and not at odds with the states.”
Biden’s message from the beginning has been to chip away at the country’s deeply polarized political climate and emerge united as a nation.
“My main hope is that the United States can come out of this bitter internal conflict,” Perotti said, “but it cannot be done without leadership and messaging from the president.”
In addition to the COVID-19 pandemic, another issue that has divided the country is the racism and inequality that people of color in the U.S. face. However, Perotti thinks that Biden is taking steps in a positive direction through his administrative appointments and immigration policies.
“Voices of all different communities have to be heard at the top levels of policy making,” she said. “I think this administration … has sought to make the upper levels of bureaucracy look like America.”
The Biden-Harris administration has appointed more people of color to the presidential cabinet than ever before. In addition to this, Biden has taken steps to roll back some of the changes that the Trump administration made to immigration policies.
“Biden has taken measures on immigration that are really bold,” Perotti said. “Bolder than even immigration advocates expected him to be.”
President Biden has proposed a bill to Congress that would legalize many categories of undocumented immigrants in the United States. However, what Perotti finds unusual is that this bill does not have restrictive enforcement attached to it.
“Former presidents have not done that,” she said. “They’ve always thought that if they were going to propose something that is a liberalizing measure, they would [need to] pair it with something that was restrictive, and that’s not what he did.”
Perotti says that this message of inclusion is notable considering Biden’s age. At 78 years old, he is the oldest president the United States has ever had. However, he has taken actions and enacted policies that coincide with some of the demands from younger generations.
“Biden has illustrated that old dogs can learn new tricks,” Perotti said. “Just because you’re a part of the older generation, it’s not necessarily the case that you turn a deaf ear to the country’s future. I give Biden credit for being forward-thinking in that regard.”
While the Biden administration still has a long way to go in rebuilding and uniting the country and people have concerns about Biden’s capability to do so, Perotti believes he has made some significant strides in his first couple months as president. “The sense of worry and urgency has dissipated,” she said.
Time will tell how significantly the country can come back from the pandemic, how the nation can continue to move toward unity and equality and what role the Biden administration will play in that process. Nevertheless, the pressure on the new president’s administration is immense, with Republicans and Democrats alike eager to see what actions he will take in the remainder of his first 100 days and the next four years in office.
