U.S. Executive Branch Update – October 5, 2023

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

POTUS' Schedule*

12:00 p.m. EDT – THE PRESIDENT receives a briefing on Ukraine from members of his national security team | Oval Office

VPOTUS' Schedule*

9:25 a.m. EDT – THE VICE PRESIDENT and THE SECOND GENTLEMAN depart Washington, D.C., en route to San Francisco, California

11:50 a.m. EDT – THE VICE PRESIDENT and THE SECOND GENTLEMAN arrive at San Francisco International Airport

1:00 p.m. PDT – THE VICE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at the memorial service for Senator Dianne Feinstein; THE SECOND GENTLEMAN attends | San Francisco City Hall

White House Press Briefing*

1:00 p.m. EDT – Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre | James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

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

Recap of Tuesday-Wednesday, October 3-4, 2023

Note: All colored text denotes hyperlinks.

The White House

October 4

• Remarks by President Biden on the Administration's Efforts to Cancel Student Debt and Support Students and Borrowers
• Press Release: President Biden Announces an Additional $9 Billion in Student Debt Relief for 125,000 Americans
• Transcript: Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre
• Judicial Nominations: President Biden Names Thirty-Ninth Round of Judicial Nominees
• Nominations Sent to the Senate

October 3

• Readout of President Biden's Call with Allies and Partners
• Readout of President Biden's Call with Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani of Qatar
• Readout of President Biden's Call with President William Ruto of Kenya
• Readout of Meeting with Lin-Manuel Miranda and the Professional Non-Profit Theater Coalition on the Biden-⁠Harris Administration's Commitment to the Arts and Humanities
• Readout of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's Meeting with Guatemalan President-elect Bernardo Arévalo
• Transcript: Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and NSC Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby
• Statement from Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on the House Motion to Vacate
• Nomination: President Biden Announces Hampton Dellinger as Nominee for Special Counsel, Office of the Special Counsel
• Nomination Sent to the Senate
• Press Release: Biden-⁠Harris Administration Takes Major Step Forward in Lowering Health Care Costs; Announces Manufacturers Participating in Drug Price Negotiation Program

Office of Management & Budget (OMB)

• Statement of Administration Policy: H.R. 4394 — Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024

Department of Defense (DOD)

October 3

• Readout: Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III Call With Pakistan Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir
• Transcript: Sabrina Singh, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary, Holds an On-Camera Press Briefing
• Article: Continued Support to Ukraine, Replenishing Military Stocks: Priorities for Department
• Press Release: October' Domestic Violence Awareness Events Call for Unity to End Abuse
• Contracts for October 3, 2023

October 4

• Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Meeting with Japanese Minister of Defense Kihara Minoru
• Remarks by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III Welcoming Japanese Defense Minister Kihara Minoru to the Pentagon
• Article: Austin Says U.S. Committed to Defending Japan, Including Senkaku Island
• Article: General Says Middle East is a Theater for Strategic Competition
• Contracts for October 4, 2023

Department of State

Daily Schedule | Thursday, October 5, 2023

Domestic

• October 4: Remarks | Secretary Antony J. Blinken During a Conversation at The University of Texas at Austin Moderated by Former U.S. Ambassador to NATO Kay Bailey Hutchison
• October 4: Statement | Department of State Announces Professional Development Opportunity With Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University
• October 4: Remarks | Secretary Antony J. Blinken's Remarks Following a Tour of Capital Factory
• October 3: Remarks | Secretary Antony J. Blinken During a Conversation at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy Moderated by Ambassador David Satterfield
• October 3: Remarks | Secretary Antony J. Blinken at a Meet and Greet with Houston-based Department of State Staff
• October 3: Statement | One Year Later: Leveraging the Power of City and State Diplomacy
• October 3: Statement | Department of State Advances Reunification of Unaccompanied Afghan Minors with Updated Parolee Form

Europe

• October 3: Readout | Secretary Blinken's Call with Swedish Foreign Minister Billström
• October 3: Statement | Day of German Unity

Middle East

• October 3: Statement | Iraq National Day

Africa

• October 3: Statement | Lesotho National Day

Western Hemisphere

• October 2: Statement | UN Security Council Authorizes Multinational Security Support Mission to Haiti

Department Press Briefings

• October 3: Transcript | Department Press Briefing
• October 4: Transcript | Department Press Briefing

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)

October 4

• Readout: Administrator Samantha Power's Call with UN Secretary-General António Guterres
• Advisory: Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman Travels to Mexico

U.S. Mission to the United Nations (USUN)

October 4

• Remarks at Meeting of the Sixth Committee on Agenda Item 86: Protection of Persons in the Event of Disasters
• Remarks at a Third Committee General Discussion on the Advancement of Women

October 3

• Press Release: ICYMI | Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield's Conversation with Artist and Content Creator Devon Rodriguez
• Remarks at a Third Committee Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women and Girls
• Remarks at a Third Committee Interactive Dialogue with the Working Group on Discrimination Against Women and Girls
• Remarks at a Third Committee Interactive Dialogue with UN Women Director of Strategic Partnerships Daniel Seymour
• Remarks at the Second Committee National Statement During UNGA 78

Department of the Treasury

October 3

• Sanctions: Treasury Targets Large Chinese Network of Illicit Drug Producers
• Remarks by Deputy Secretary Adeyemo at a Press Conference Announcing New Treasury Action Against Fentanyl Supply Chain
• Sanctions List Updates: Counter Narcotics Designations

October 2

• Remarks by Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes Elizabeth Rosenberg at the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists Assembly Conference

The Federal Reserve

• Speech by Governor Bowman on the role of research, data, and analysis in banking reforms | October 4

Security Exchange Commission (SEC)

• Press Release: SEC Names Stephanie Allen as Director of Media Relations and Speechwriting | October 4

Department of Justice (DOJ)

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) | Daily Press Releases

October 4

• Statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland on Transfer of Forfeited Munitions to Ukraine
• Press Release: Ohio Man Charged with Operating Illegal Gambling Businesses and Tax Fraud
• Press Release: Jury Convicts Long Island Fishing Captain of Conspiracy, Mail Fraud and Obstruction of Justice

October 3

• Press Release: Justice Department Announces Eight Indictments Against China-Based Chemical Manufacturing Companies and Employees
• Press Release: President of Metalhouse LLC Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Launder Over $150 Million to Promote Russian Sanctions Violations
• Press Release: Telecommunications Consultant Pleads Guilty to Violating Sanctions on Iran
• Press Release: Leader of $20M COVID-19 Relief Fraud Ring Sentenced to 15 Years
• Press Release: Three Individuals Convicted in $93M Home Health Fraud and Money Laundering Scheme
• Press Release: Justice Department to Monitor Compliance with Federal Voting Rights Laws in Alaska Jurisdictions
• Press Release: Washington Man Sentenced for Hate Crime Targeting LGBTQI+ Community at Seattle Nightclub

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

October 4

• CBP Press Release: Houlton Border Patrol Sector Hosts Maine's United States Attorney & Staff for Visit (Maine)

October 3

• Press Release: DHS Investigation Leads to Indictments Against China-Based Companies and Employees for Fentanyl Trafficking
• CBP Press Release: Eagle Pass CBP officers seize hard narcotics worth over $500K (Texas)
• CBP Press Release: Laredo CBP officers apprehend man wanted on sexual assault, strangulation warrant at Gateway to the Americas Bridge (Texas)
• CBP Press Release: CBP officers seize methamphetamine and marijuana at the Bridge of the Americas (Texas)
• CBP Press Release: Tulsa CBP seizes potentially harmful agricultural products from Asia (Oklahoma)

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

• Link to daily press releases

Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)

October 4

• Press Release: United States Announces Successful Resolution of Rapid Response Mechanism Labor Matter at Grupo Yazaki Auto Components Factory
• Press Release: ICYMI | Wall Street Journal: No Apologies for Avoiding a Race to the Bottom
• Advisory: Ambassador Katherine Tai to Travel to Atlanta, GA
• Advisory: Ambassador Katherine Tai to Discuss Updates on Biden-Harris Administration's Worker-Centered Trade Agenda at the Center for American Progress
• Advisory: United States to Participate in Sixth Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) Negotiating Round in Kuala Lumpur
• Advisory: USTR to Hold Stakeholder IPEF Listening Session for Sixth Negotiating Round

October 3

• Advisory: United States and Kenya to Hold Second Negotiating Round Under the Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership

Department of Commerce

October 4

• Advisory: U.S. Department of Commerce and USTR to Hold Stakeholder IPEF Listening Sessions for Sixth Negotiating Round
• Advisory: United States to Participate in Sixth Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) Negotiating Round in Kuala Lumpur

October 2

• Press Release: Commerce Updates Semiconductor Alert Mechanism

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

October 4

• Advisory: FTC and DOJ to Co-Host October 5 Workshop on the 2023 Draft Merger Guidelines

October 3

• Advisory: FTC to Host Roundtable Discussion on October 4 on Artificial Intelligence and the Creative Fields

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

October 4

• Press Release: FCC Announces Almost $38 Million in Emergency Connectivity Funding
• Press Release: Carr Warns Against Following Europe's Lead on Internet Controls

Export-Import (EXIM) Bank

• Advisory: EXIM Chair Reta Jo Lewis in Detroit to Host Exporter Roundtable; Give Fireside Chat at University of Detroit Mercy

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

October 4

• Press Release: USDA Announces $27.6 Million to Support Underserved and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers through the 2501 Program

October 3

• Press Release: U.S. Department of Agriculture Announces Key Staff Appointments

Department of the Interior (DOI)

October 4

• Press Release: Deputy Secretary Beaudreau to Step Down at Interior Department

October 3

• Press Release: Secretary Haaland Visits Virginia to Highlight How President Biden's Investing in America Agenda Is Helping Build Healthy Communities

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

• Press Release: EPA $6.3M grant to Salmon-Safe expands agricultural certification program across Columbia Basin
• Press Release: EPA Approves Joint Task Force-Red Hill Pre-Defueling Preparedness Report
• Link to other EPA press releases

Department of Transportation (DOT)

October 3

• Press Release: Biden-Harris Administration Announces New Climate and Transportation Research Funding
• Press Release: ICYMI | Wide Range of Support for FAA Administrator Nominee Mike Whitaker

Department of Labor (DOL)

October 4

• Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor to host annual conference for nation's mine safety, health trainers at National Mine Health and Safety Academy, Oct. 10-12
• Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor sues Chicago security company, owner after investigation finds employer misclassified guards, violated wage laws

October 3

• Press Release: Federal court orders former Boise dog daycare facility, owner to pay $50K to two employees fired after reporting COVID-19 safety concerns
• Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor cites Wisconsin Dollar General for electrical hazards
• Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor settlement agreement affirms citations issued to New Jersey contractor that exposed workers to energized power lines

Department of Education

• Press Release: Biden-Harris Administration Announces an Additional $9 Billion in Student Debt Relief | October 4

Health & Human Services (HHS)

October 4

• Press Release: SAMHSA Announces Nearly $35M in Grant Awards for Comprehensive Behavioral Health Care and HIV Prevention and Care for Historically Underserved Populations

October 3

• Press Release: Biden-Harris Administration Moves Forward with Medicare Drug Price Negotiations to Lower Prescription Drug Costs for People with Medicare

Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

October 4

• Press Release: FDA Takes Steps to Advance the Development of Novel Therapies for Stimulant Use Disorders

October 3

• Press Release: FDA Authorizes Updated Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine Formulated to Better Protect Against Currently Circulating Variants
• Press Release: FDA Roundup | October 3, 2023

Housing & Urban Development (HUD)

October 4

• Press Release: HUD Charges New Orleans Owner and Property Manager Based on Racial Linguistic Profiling and Familial Status Discrimination

October 3

• Press Release: HUD Awards $160.1 Million in Grants to Create and Preserve Affordable Housing for Low-Income Seniors

Government Accountability Office (GAO)

October 3

• Report: Federal Contracting | Agencies Can Better Monitor E-Verify Compliance
• Report: Human Rights | Agency Actions Needed to Address Harassment of Dissidents and Other Tactics of Transnational Repression in the U.S.

Congressional Budget Office (CBO)

October 4

• Cost Estimate: H.R. 5860, Continuing Appropriations Act, 2024 and Other Extensions Act

October 2

• Cost Estimate: H.R. 760, Chinese Military and Surveillance Company Sanctions Act of 2023

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