Biden to sign 15 executive orders hours after being sworn in as 46th US President

Biden would sign 15 executive orders including Paris accord and revoke the infamous travel ban imposed on Muslim countries by Trump administration.

President-elect Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States of America on Wednesday along with Indian-American, Kamala Harris who would become the first female Vice President of the US. The swearing-in ceremony of the President was not attended by the departing President Donald Trump. Mr Biden will sign 15 executive orders hours after being sworn in as the President and revoke a few controversial laws that were imposed by Mr Trump during his term.

Mr Biden will sign executive orders, directives, memoranda and letters to take initial steps to address COVID-19 pandemic, providing economic relief, tackling climate change and advancing racial equity, officials said. A fact sheet issued by the Biden Transition reveals that Mr Biden will reverse Trump administration's policies as well as start the process to move the country forward. Mr Biden will launch the 100 Days Masking Challenge, asking everyone to follow the rules to prevent oneself from COVID-19.

Mr Biden will rejoin the World Health Organisation and work hand in hand with the organisation to curb the pandemic and advance global health and health security. Mr Biden will sign an order to create the position of COVID-19 Response Coordinator who will directly report to the President about all elements of the COVID-19 response. He will also rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement and 30 days later, the US will officially become a member. The officials said in addition, he will sign an executive order that will address the climate crisis, create union jobs and advance environmental justice.

In another order, Mr Biden will start working on federal programs to outcast systemic racism and will execute policies to promote equality. The order shall provide impartial treatment and bridge the gap between communities and individuals including underserved communities like Black, Latino, Indigenous and Native Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities and religious minorities.

Mr Biden will reverse the immigration policy that restricted travel and immigration of people predominantly from Muslim countries- Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Yemen, Somalia and Sudan. He will also issue a proclamation in order to stop the construction of the wall at the U.S-Mexico border. It would revoke a national emergency that Mr Trump had declared. This would help save the money that was secured for the funding of the wall and would be used for other projects.

In another executive order, he will order every appointee to pledge to serve in the interest of the people and prevent oneself from personal gains. He will sign an order that directs the Department of Homeland Security to brace up the program of the Deferred Action for Childhood Migrants that Trump administration had terminated.The program provides deportation reprieves and work permits for the hundreds of thousands of Dreamers who were brought illegally as children to the US.