US President Joe Biden began to undo some of Donald Trump's key policies, hours after being sworn in.
US President Joe Biden prepares to sign a series of executive orders in the Oval Office, hours after his inauguration. Photo: AFP / Getty Images
"There is no time to waste when it comes to tackling the crises we face," he tweeted as he headed to the White House following his inauguration.
President Biden is signing 15 executive orders aimed at boosting the federal response to the coronavirus crisis.
Other moves will reverse the previous administration's stance on climate change, immigration and race relations.
President Biden "will take action - not just to reverse the gravest damages of the Trump administration - but also to start moving our country forward," a statement detailing the orders said.
So, what are some of the standout orders?
Coronavirus pandemic
Biden is to enact a range of measures to help tackle Covid-19, which has claimed more than 400,000 lives in the US. The president's executive orders will:
- Cease action to withdraw from the World Health Organisation (WHO). Virus expert Dr Anthony Fauci is set to participate in a WHO international executive board meeting this week on behalf of the US
- Centralise the national Covid-19 response in a move to co-ordinate the distribution of protective equipment, vaccines and tests
- Require masks and distancing on all federal property
- Launch a "100 Days Masking Challenge" asking people to mask up for 100 days
The climate crisis
Biden seeks to undo some of his predecessor's controversial orders relating to environmental policy by:
- Rejoining the 2015 Paris climate agreement, from which Trump formally withdrew the US last year
- Cancelling the controversial Keystone XL Pipeline, which environmentalists and Native American groups have fought for more than a decade
Immigration
The president has vowed to:
- Revoke Mr Trump's so-called Muslim ban, that restricted entry into the country from some primarily Muslim countries
- Stop the construction of the Mexico border wall
- BBC
