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

POTUS' Schedule*

10:00 a.m. EDT - THE PRESIDENT receives the President's daily brief | Biden Residence, Wilmington, DE

1:00 p.m. EDT - THE PRESIDENT departs Wilmington, Delaware, en route Camp David

Upcoming White House Visit:

  • August 30: Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

VPOTUS' Schedule*

The White House had yet to release the Vice President's schedule for Friday.

Looking ahead: The Vice President will travel to Singapore and Vietnam this month (dates yet-to-be-announced) to strengthen relationships and expand economic cooperation with two critical Indo-Pacific partners of the United States.

*The US President (POTUS) and Vice President's (VPOTUS) daily schedules are subject to change.


Recap of Thursday, August 12, 2021

Note: Bold hyperlinks spotlight COVID-19 developments.

The White House

  • Appointments: President Biden Appoints Members to U.S. AbilityOne Commission | August 13, 2021
  • Fact Sheet: Biden Administration Takes Steps to Address COVID-?19 in Rural America and Build Rural Health Back Better | August 13, 2021
  • Remarks by President Biden on How His Build Back Better Agenda Will Lower Prescription Drug Prices
  • Fact Sheet: President Biden Calls on Congress to Lower Prescription Drug Prices
  • Remarks by President Biden at Virtual Meeting with Elected Officials to Discuss the Importance of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
  • Fact Sheet: Build Back Better Investments in Care Will Boost Economic Growth and Help Businesses Thrive
  • Transcript: Press Briefing by White House COVID-?19 Response Team and Public Health Officials
  • Statement: United States to Host Ninth Summit of the Americas in 2022 (Dec. 9-10)
  • Statement of President Joe Biden on the Fourth Anniversary of the Events at Charlottesville, Virginia

Department of Defense (DOD)

  • Transcript: Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby Holds a Press Briefing on Afghanistan
  • Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Call With President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani
  • Article: DOD Deploys Forces to Protect Kabul Embassy Drawdown
  • Article: China, Russia Pose Strategic Challenges for U.S., Allies, Admiral Says
  • Article: Japan's State Minister of Defense Visits U.S. Cyber Command
  • Article: Vice Admiral Discusses Potential of AI in Missile Defense Testing, Operations
  • Advisory: Guantanamo Periodic Review Board Media Invitation Announced August 24, 2021
  • Contracts for August 12, 2021

Department of State

  • Daily Schedule | Friday, August 13
  • August 12: Readout | Secretary Blinken and Secretary Austin's Call with Afghan President Ghani
  • August 12: Readout | Secretary Blinken's Calls with Foreign Minister Garneau, Foreign Minister Maas, and NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg
  • August 12: Readout | Secretary Blinken Meeting with Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Al-Thani
  • August 12: Readout | Deputy Secretary Sherman's Meeting with People's Republic of China Appointed Ambassador Qin Gang
  • August 12: Statement | U.S.-Australia-India-Japan Consultations (the "Quad") Senior Officials Meeting
  • August 12: Advisory | U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Feltman will Travel to Djibouti, Ethiopia, UAE (Aug. 15-24)
  • August 12: Statement | U.S. Donation of 5.5 Million Doses of COVID-19 Vaccine to CARICOM Countries
  • August 12: Transcript | Department Press Briefing

US Agency for International Development (USAID)

  • Press Release: Administrator Samantha Power at the USAID Global Leadership and Education Advancing Development (Global LEAD)

US Mission to the United Nations (UN)

  • Remarks at a UN Security Council Briefing on Somalia

Department of Justice

  • Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) | Daily Press Releases
  • Press Release: Justice Department Announces Expansion of Firearms Technical Assistance Project to Strengthen Community Response to Domestic Violence Incidents Involving Firearms
  • Press Release: San Fernando Valley Man Found Guilty in Terror Plot to Bomb a Rally in Long Beach
  • Press Release: Former DEA Special Agent Sentenced to Over 13 Years in Prison for Corruption-Related Charges
  • Press Release: Utah Man Convicted for Tax Fraud

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Customs and Border Protection (CBP)/US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS)

  • Readout of Secretary Mayorkas' Visit to South Texas
  • Speech: Secretary Mayorkas Delivers Remarks in Brownsville, Texas
  • Statement from Secretary Mayorkas on the Fourth Anniversary of the Events at Charlottesville, Virginia
  • Press Release: CBP Releases July 2021 Operational Update (Washington, D.C.)
  • Press Release: Border Patrol Agents Arrest Two Convicted Sex Offenders (California)
  • Press Release: USCIS Temporarily Extending Validity Period of Form I-693

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

  • Press Release: FEMA Provides $2.6 Million to Montana for COVID-19 Response
  • Press Release: Municipalities Have FEMA Support throughout their Recovery (Puerto Rico)

Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR)

  • Readout of Ambassador Katherine Tai's Virtual Meeting with South Korea's Trade Minister Yeo Han-Koo

Department of Commerce

  • Blog: 2020 Census Statistics Highlight Local Population Changes and Nation's Racial and Ethnic Diversity

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

  • Press Release: FTC Urges Federal Reserve Board to Require Debit Card Gatekeepers to Compete Fairly

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)

  • Press Release: FFIEC Issues Guidance on Authentication and Access to Financial Institution Services and Systems

US Export-Import Bank (EXIM)

  • Press Release: Biden-Harris Officials, International Business Leaders to Headline EXIM 2021 Virtual Annual Conference, Sept. 21-23

Department of Agriculture (USDA)

  • Press Release: Biden-Harris Administration Announces Availability of Up To $500 Million in Emergency Rural Health Care Funds Under the American Rescue Plan

Department of Interior (DOI)

  • Press Release: U.S. Departments of the Interior, Agriculture, and State of Wyoming Commit to Enhancing Wildlife Corridors

Department of Labor

  • Press Release: Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report
  • Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor recovers more than $73K for 256 healthcare workers at Pennsylvania, Maryland facilities following investigation
  • Press Release: Department of Labor announces $5M funding opportunity to improve respect for workers' rights in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras
  • Press Release: Amid recent trench collapses, U.S. Department of Labor reminds South Dakota employers, workers of excavation hazards
  • Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor obtains consent preliminary injunction restraining a Massachusetts tree service company from retaliating against employees
  • Press Release: United Behavioral Health, United Healthcare Insurance Co. plans to pay $15.6M, take corrective actions after federal, state investigations

Department of Education

  • Link to Education Department's press releases approving state plans to use the American Rescue Plan funds to support K-12 schools and students (South Carolina, Indiana, Alabama, North Dakota, New Jersey, Kentucky)

Health & Human Services (HHS)

  • Press Release: HHS Secretary Becerra to Require COVID-19 Vaccinations for HHS Health Care Workforce

Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

  • Press Release: FDA Authorizes Additional COVID-19 Vaccine Dose for Certain Immunocompromised Individuals
  • Press Release: FDA Grants First of its Kind Indication for Chronic Sleep Disorder Treatment

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