Statement from the Press Secretary

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 19, 2021

Statement from the Press Secretary  Today, President Donald J. Trump released his farewell address to the Nation. The video can be viewed by clicking here.

Proclamation Terminating Restrictions on Entry of Certain Travelers from the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, and Brazil

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 18, 2021 TERMINATING SUSPENSIONS OF ENTRY INTO THE UNITED STATES OF ALIENS WHO HAVE BEEN PHYSICALLY PRESENT IN THE SCHENGEN AREA, THE UNITED KINGDOM, THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND, AND THE FEDERATIVE REPUBLIC OF BRAZIL   - - - - - - -   BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA   A PROCLAMATION          In the wake of the unprecedented outbreak of COVID–19 in the United States, I took action to suspend and limit the entry of aliens recently present in certain foreign jurisdictions where significant COVID–19 outbreaks had occurred.  These jurisdictions included the People's Republic of China (excluding the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau), the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom (excluding overseas territories outside of Europe), the Republic of Ireland, and the Federative Republic of Brazil.        Understanding that the nature of the threat posed by COVID‑19 would evolve over time, I directed the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make recommendations to me regarding whether to continue, modify, or terminate the restrictions that I had previously imposed.  On January 12, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an order, effective January 26, 2021, requiring proof of a negative COVID-19 test or documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 for all air passengers arriving from a foreign country to the United States.  The Secretary has explained that this action will help to prevent air passengers from the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, and the Federative Republic of Brazil from spreading the virus that causes COVID-19 into the United States, as it is the Secretary's understanding that the vast majority of persons entering the United States from these jurisdictions do so by air.       Moreover, the Secretary expects cooperation from those jurisdictions in implementing the testing order.  Public health officials in the jurisdictions have a proven record of working with the United States to share accurate and timely COVID-19 testing and trend data, and the United States has active collaborations with the jurisdictions regarding how to make travel safe between our respective countries.  As a result of that record, the Secretary reports high confidence that these jurisdictions will cooperate with the United States in the implementation of CDC's January 12, 2021, order and that tests administered there will yield accurate results.      This cooperation stands in stark contrast to the behavior of the governments and state-owned enterprises of the People's Republic of China and the Islamic Republic of Iran, which repeatedly have failed to cooperate with the United States public health authorities and to share timely, accurate information about the spread of the virus.  Those jurisdictions' responses to the pandemic, their lack of transparency, and their lack of cooperation with the United States thus far in combatting the pandemic, cast doubt on their cooperation in implementing CDC's January 12, 2021, order.       Accordingly, the Secretary has advised me to remove the restrictions applicable to the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, and the Federative Republic of Brazil, while leaving in place the restrictions applicable to the People's Republic of China and the Islamic Republic of Iran.  I agree with the Secretary that this action is the best way to continue protecting Americans from COVID-19 while enabling travel to resume safely.         NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including sections 212(f) and 215(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. 1182(f) and 1185(a), hereby find that the unrestricted entry into the United States of persons who have been physically present in the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom (excluding overseas territories outside of Europe), the Republic of Ireland, and the Federative Republic of Brazil is no longer detrimental to the interests of the United States and find that it is in the interest of the United States to terminate the suspension of entry into the United States of persons who have been physically present in those jurisdictions.  Accordingly, I hereby proclaim:       Section 1.  Terminations.  Proclamation 9993 of March 11, 2020 (Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants of Certain Additional Persons Who Pose a Risk of Transmitting 2019 Novel Coronavirus), Proclamation 9996 of March 14, 2020 (Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants of Certain Additional Persons Who Pose a Risk of Transmitting 2019 Novel Coronavirus), and Proclamation 10041 of May 24, 2020 (Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants of Certain Additional Persons Who Pose a Risk of Transmitting 2019 Novel Coronavirus), are hereby terminated effective at 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time on January 26, 2021.       Sec. 2.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:            (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or           (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.      (b)  This proclamation shall be implemented in a manner consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.      (c)  This proclamation is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-one, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-fifth.                                  DONALD J. TRUMP

Executive Order on Protecting The United States From Certain Unmanned Aircraft Systems

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 18, 2021 EXECUTIVE ORDER   - - - - - - -   PROTECTING THE UNITED STATES FROM CERTAIN UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS          By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, find that additional actions are necessary to ensure the security of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) owned, operated, and controlled by the Federal Government; to secure the integrity of American infrastructure, including America's National Airspace System (NAS); to protect our law enforcement and warfighters; and to maintain and expand our domestic industrial base capabilities.  Accordingly, I hereby order:      Section 1. Policy.  UAS have tremendous potential to support public safety and national security missions and are increasingly being used by Federal, State, and local governments.  UAS are used, for example, to assist law enforcement and support natural disaster relief efforts.  Reliance on UAS and components manufactured by our adversaries, however, threatens our national and economic security.      United States Government operations involving UAS require accessing, collecting, and maintaining data, which could reveal sensitive information.  The use of UAS and critical components manufactured and developed by foreign adversaries, or by persons under their control, may allow this sensitive information to be accessed by or transferred to foreign adversaries.  Furthermore, the manufacturing of UAS involves combining several critical components, including advanced manufacturing techniques, artificial intelligence, microelectronic components, and multi-spectral sensors.  The Nation's capability to produce UAS and certain critical UAS components domestically is critical for national defense and the security and strength of our defense industrial base.      It is the policy of the United States, therefore, to prevent the use of taxpayer dollars to procure UAS that present unacceptable risks and are manufactured by, or contain software or critical electronic components from, foreign adversaries, and to encourage the use of domestically produced UAS.      Sec. 2.  Reviewing Federal Government Authority to Limit Government Procurement of Covered UAS.  (a)  The heads of all executive departments and agencies (agencies) shall review their respective authorities to determine whether, and to what extent consistent with applicable law, they could cease:           (i)    directly procuring or indirectly procuring through a third party, such as a contractor, a covered UAS;           (ii)   providing Federal financial assistance (e.g., through award of a grant) that may be used to procure a covered UAS;             (iii)  entering into, or renewing, a contract, order, or other commitment for the procurement of a covered UAS; or           (iv)   otherwise providing Federal funding for the procurement of a covered UAS.      (b)  After conducting the review described in subsection (a) of this section, the heads of all agencies shall each submit a report to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget identifying any authority to take the actions outlined in subsections (a)(i) through (iv) of this section.      Sec. 3.  Reviewing Federal Government Use of UAS.  (a)  Within 60 days of the date of this order, the heads of all agencies shall each submit a report to the Director of National Intelligence and the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy describing the manufacturer, model, and any relevant security protocols for all UAS currently owned or operated by their respective agency, or controlled by their agency through a third party, such as a contractor, that are manufactured by foreign adversaries or have significant components that are manufactured by foreign adversaries.       (b)  Within 180 days of the date of this order, the Director of National Intelligence, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the heads of other agencies, as appropriate, shall review the reports required by subsection (a) of this section and submit a report to the President assessing the security risks posed by the existing Federal UAS fleet and outlining potential steps that could be taken to mitigate these risks, including, if warranted, discontinuing all Federal use of covered UAS and the expeditious removal of UAS from Federal service.      Sec. 4.  Restricting Use of UAS On or Over Critical Infrastructure or Other Sensitive Sites.  Within 270 days of the date of this order, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) shall propose regulations pursuant to section 2209 of the FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016 (Public Law 114-190).       Sec. 5.  Budget.  (a)  The heads of all agencies shall consider the replacement of covered UAS to be a priority when developing budget proposals and planning for the use of funds.      (b)  The Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall work with the heads of all agencies to identify possible sources of funding to replace covered UAS in the Federal fleet in future submissions of the President's Budget request.           Sec. 6.  Definitions.  For purposes of this order, the following definitions shall apply:      (a)  The term "adversary country" means the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the People's Republic of China, the Russian Federation, or, as determined by the Secretary of Commerce, any other foreign nation, foreign area, or foreign non-government entity engaging in long-term patterns or serious instances of conduct significantly adverse to the national or economic security of the United States.      (b)  The term "covered UAS" means any UAS that:           (i)    is manufactured, in whole or in part, by an entity domiciled in an adversary country;           (ii)   uses critical electronic components installed in flight controllers, ground control system processors, radios, digital transmission devices, cameras, or gimbals manufactured, in whole or in part, in an adversary country;           (iii)  uses operating software (including cell phone or tablet applications, but not cell phone or tablet operating systems) developed, in whole or in part, by an entity domiciled in an adversary country;            (iv)   uses network connectivity or data storage located outside the United States, or administered by any entity domiciled in an adversary country; or           (v)    contains hardware and software components used for transmitting photographs, videos, location information, flight paths, or any other data collected by the UAS manufactured by an entity domiciled in an adversary country.      (c)  The term "critical electronic component" means any electronic device that stores, manipulates, or transfers digital data.  The term critical electronic component does not include, for example, passive electronics such as resistors, and non-data transmitting motors, batteries, and wiring.      (d)  The term "entity" means a partnership, association, trust, joint venture, corporation, government, group, subgroup, other organization, or person.      (e)  The term "Intelligence Community" has the same meaning set forth for that term in section 3003(4) of title 50, United States Code.      (f)  The term "National Airspace System" (NAS) means the common network of United States airspace; air navigation facilities, equipment, and services; airports or landing areas; aeronautical charts, information, and services; related rules, regulations, and procedures; technical information; and manpower and material.  The term also includes system components shared jointly by the Departments of Defense, Transportation, and Homeland Security.      (g)  The term "Unmanned Aircraft Systems" (UAS) means any unmanned aircraft, and the associated elements that are required for the pilot or system operator to operate safely and efficiently in the NAS, including communication links, the components that control the unmanned aircraft, and all critical electronic components.  The term UAS does not include any separate communication device, such as a cellular phone or tablet, designed to perform independently of a UAS system, which may be incorporated into the operation of a UAS.      Sec. 7.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:           (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or           (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.      (b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.      (c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.                                  DONALD J. TRUMP   THE WHITE HOUSE,     January 18, 2021.

Executive Order on Ensuring Democratic Accountability in Agency Rulemaking

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 18, 2021 EXECUTIVE ORDER - - - - - - - ENSURING DEMOCRATIC ACCOUNTABILITY IN AGENCY RULEMAKING        By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:      Section 1.  Purpose.  American democracy operates on the principle of the consent of the governed.  Regular elections for the Congress and the President and Vice President of the United States are designed to ensure that the officials responsible for making and executing the law are held accountable to the American people.  The President chooses Federal agency heads who exercise executive authority and implement his regulatory agenda.  The American people, in electing the President, thereby have a role in choosing the individuals who govern them.       However, some agencies have chosen to blur these lines of democratic accountability by allowing career officials to authorize, approve, and serve as the final word on regulations.  This practice transfers the power to set rules governing Americans' daily lives from the President, acting through his executive subordinates, to officials insulated from the accountability that national elections bring.  This practice undermines the power of the American people to choose who governs them and I am directing steps to end it.       Sec. 2.  Rulemaking by Senior Appointees.   (a)  To the extent permitted by law, the head of each agency shall:           (i)   require that agency rules promulgated under section 553 of title 5, United States Code (section 553), must be signed by a senior appointee; and           (ii)  require that only senior appointees may initiate the rulemaking process for agency rules promulgated under section 553 or may approve the agency's regulatory agenda.      (b)  Subsection (a) of this section shall not apply if the agency head:            (i)   determines that compliance with this section would impede public safety or security; and            (ii)  submits to the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (Administrator) within the Office of Management and Budget a notification disclosing the reasons for the exemption and publishes such notification, consistent with public safety, security, and privacy interests, in the Federal Register.        (c)  An agency head may not delegate authority to make the determination allowed by subsection (b) of this section.       (d)  The head of each agency shall ensure that the issuance of future agency rules promulgated under section 553 adheres to the requirements of this section.      Sec. 3.  Review of Existing Delegations of Rulemaking Authority.    Within 180 days of the date of this order, the head of each agency shall, to the extent permitted by law:      (a)  review delegations of authority regarding rulemaking and make any revisions necessary to ensure that such delegations are consistent with section 2 of this order; and      (b)  amend agency regulations governing agency management and procedure to incorporate the requirements of section 2 of this order.      Sec. 4.  Review of Existing Rules.    (a)  Within 90 days of the date of this order, the head of each agency shall review all significant rules the agency has issued over the last 12 years, and any other rules identified by the Administrator, to determine whether the rule was issued by a senior appointee.  For good cause shown, the Administrator may authorize an extension of the period within which an agency shall conduct such review.       (b)  Within 120 days of the date of this order, the head of each agency shall provide a report to the President, through the Administrator, summarizing the findings of the review.  For good cause shown, the Administrator may authorize an extension of the deadline to provide such report.      Sec. 5.  Definitions.    For the purposes of this order, the term:      (a)  "agency" has the meaning given that term in section 3(b) of Executive Order 12866 of September 30, 1993 (Regulatory Planning and Review), as amended, or any successor order; except that for purposes of this order:           (i)   the term shall include the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; and           (ii)  the term shall not include the Federal Bureau of Prisons of the Department of Justice;      (b)  "senior appointee" means an individual appointed by the President, or performing the functions and duties of an office that requires appointment by the President, or a non career member of the Senior Executive Service (or equivalent agency system);       (c)  "significant rule" means any rule that is also a "significant regulatory action" as defined in section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866, as amended, or any successor order; and       (d)  "rule" has the meaning given that term in section 551(4) of title 5, United States Code, except that such term does not include any rule of agency organization, procedure, or practice that does not substantially affect the rights or obligations of non-agency parties.      Sec. 6.  Implementation.    The Administrator shall provide guidance on the implementation of this order and shall monitor agency compliance with the order.       Sec. 7.  General Provisions.    (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:            (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or           (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.       (b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.      (c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.                         DONALD J. TRUMP

Executive Order on Protecting Americans From Overcriminalization Through Regulatory Reform

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 18, 2021 EXECUTIVE ORDER - - - - - - - PROTECTING AMERICANS FROM OVERCRIMINALIZATION THROUGH REGULATORY REFORM       By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and to improve transparency with respect to the consequences of violating certain regulations and to protect Americans from facing unwarranted criminal punishment for unintentional violations of regulations, it is hereby ordered as follows:     Section 1.  Purpose.   In the interest of fairness, Federal criminal law should be clearly written so that all Americans can understand what is prohibited and act accordingly.  Some statutes have authorized executive branch agencies to promulgate thousands of regulations, creating a thicket of requirements that can be difficult to navigate, and many of these regulations are enforceable through criminal processes and penalties.  The purpose of this order is to alleviate regulatory burdens on Americans by ensuring that they have notice of potential criminal liability for violations of regulations and by focusing criminal enforcement of regulatory offenses on the most culpable individuals.       Sec. 2.  Policy.  It is the policy of the Federal Government that:     (a)  Agencies promulgating regulations that may subject a violator to criminal penalties should be explicit about what conduct is subject to criminal penalties and the mens rea standard applicable to those offenses;     (b)  Strict liability offenses are "generally disfavored."  United States v. United States Gypsum, Co., 438 U.S. 422, 438 (1978).  Where appropriate, agencies should consider administrative or civil enforcement of strict liability regulatory offenses, rather than criminal enforcement of such offenses; and     (c)  Criminal prosecution based on regulatory offenses is most appropriate for those persons who know what is prohibited or required by the regulation and choose not to comply, thereby causing or risking substantial public harm.  Criminal prosecutions based on regulatory offenses should focus on matters where a putative defendant had actual or constructive knowledge that conduct was prohibited.     Sec. 3.  Definitions.   For the purposes of this order:     (a)  "Agency" has the meaning given to "Executive agency" in section 105 of title 5, United States Code.     (b)  "Mens rea" means the state of mind that by law must be proven to convict a particular defendant of a particular crime.  There are several such mental states in the law applied by Federal courts.  Two common mental states are "knowingly" and "willfully."  A defendant acts "knowingly" with respect to an element of the offense if he or she has knowledge of the essential facts comprising that element.  In addition, a defendant "willfully" violates a statute if he or she acts with a "bad purpose" that is with "knowledge that his [or her] conduct is unlawful."  Model Criminal Jury Instructions (3d Cir. 2018), ch. 5, sec. 5.02 cmt. (quotation marks omitted).  By contrast, strict liability offenses do not require the government to prove mens rea.  For instance, the jury instructions for the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit note that "[s]ome federal crimes are also strict or absolute liability offenses, without any mental state requirement."  Id. at ch. 5, General Introduction to Mental State Instructions.     (c)  "Person" has the meaning given it in section 1 of title 1, United States Code.     (d)  "Regulatory offense" means any violation of a regulation promulgated by an agency.     Sec. 4.  Promoting Regulatory Transparency.   (a)  All notices of proposed rulemaking (NPRMs) and final rules published in the Federal Register after issuance of this order should include a statement that describes whether individuals who violate any of the prohibitions -- or fail to comply with any requirements -- imposed by the regulation or rule may be subject to criminal penalties.  Agencies should draft this statement in consultation with the Department of Justice.  For purposes of this order, a regulation is treated as subjecting individuals to criminal penalties when violation of the regulation is itself a basis for criminal liability under Federal law.       (b)  The regulatory text of all NPRMs and final rules with criminal consequences published in the Federal Register after issuance of this order should, consistent with applicable law, explicitly state a mens rea requirement for each such provision or identify the provision as a strict liability offense, accompanied by citations to the relevant provisions of the authorizing statute.     (c)  Prior to publishing in the Federal Register an NPRM or final rule that contains a regulatory offense not specifically articulated in the authorizing statute that may subject a violator to potential criminal liability with no mens rea requirement or a regulatory offense that includes an element that does not require proof of mens rea (excluding jurisdictional and venue elements), the applicable agency should submit a brief justification for use of a strict liability standard as well as the source of legal authority for the imposition of such a standard, to the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in the Office of Management and Budget (Administrator).  In response to these agency submissions, the Administrator shall provide implementation guidance to agencies on this order, monitor agency regulatory actions pursuant to this order, and advise agencies if their actions are inconsistent with the principles set forth in this order and or otherwise conflict with the policies or actions of another agency.  After such consultation, a statement of justification should be published in the Federal Register with the NPRM and the final rule.     Sec. 5.  Agency Referrals for Potential Criminal Enforcement.   (a)  Within 45 days of the date of this order, and in consultation with the Department of Justice, each agency should publish guidance in the Federal Register describing its plan to administratively address regulatory offenses subject to potential criminal liability rather than refer those offenses to the Department of Justice for criminal enforcement.  Such guidance should make clear that when agencies are enforcing regulations related to statutory criminal violations subject to strict liability, and deciding whether to refer the matter to the Department of Justice, agencies should consider factors such as:         (i)    the harm or risk of harm, pecuniary or otherwise, caused by the alleged offense;         (ii)   the potential gain to the putative defendant that could result from the offense;           (iii)  whether the putative defendant held specialized knowledge, expertise, or was licensed in an industry related to the rule or regulation at issue; and          (iv)   evidence, if any is available, of the putative defendant's knowledge or lack thereof of the regulation at issue.       (b)  Notwithstanding these considerations, the guidance should not deter, limit, or delay agency referrals to the Department of Justice where either the putative defendant's state of mind is unknown because further investigation is required, or there exists a reasonable indication that a crime has been committed based on the evidence available.       (c)  When required by internal agency policies or practice, an agency may refer alleged regulatory offenses carrying potential criminal consequences to its designated investigation and law enforcement offices for investigation of the viability of the charge, subject to the guidance described in 5(a) of this order governing referral of regulatory offenses subject to strict liability.      Sec. 6.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:         (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or         (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.     (b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.     (c)  Notwithstanding any other provision in this order, nothing in this order shall apply:         (i)    to any action that pertains to foreign or military affairs, or to a national security or homeland security function of the United States (other than procurement actions and actions involving the import or export of non-defense articles and services);         (ii)   to any action that the Department of Justice takes related to a criminal investigation or prosecution, including undercover operations, or any civil enforcement action or related investigation by the Department of Justice, in addition to any action related to a civil investigative demand under 18 U.S.C. 1968;         (iii)  to any action related to counterfeit goods, pirated goods, or other goods that infringe intellectual property rights, or goods that are adulterated or misbranded, or goods for which regulatory approval was required prior to distribution but not obtained;         (iv)   to strict liability misdemeanor prosecutions concluded via plea agreement;         (v)    to any investigation of misconduct by an agency employee or any disciplinary, corrective, or employment action taken against an agency employee; or         (vi)   in any other circumstance or proceeding to which application of this order, or any part of this order, would, in the judgment of the head of the agency, undermine the national security.     (d)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.                         DONALD J. TRUMP   THE WHITE HOUSE,     January 18, 2021.

1776 Commission Takes Historic and Scholarly Step to Restore Understanding of the Greatness of the American Founding

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 18, 2021

1776 Commission Takes Historic and Scholarly Step to Restore Understanding of the Greatness of the American Founding    1776 Commission—comprised of some of America’s most distinguished scholars and historians—has released a report presenting a definitive chronicle of the American founding, a powerful description of the effect the principles of the Declaration of Independence have had on this Nation’s history, and a dispositive rebuttal of reckless “re-education” attempts that seek to reframe American history around the idea that the United States is not an exceptional country but an evil one. A copy of the report can be found here.

Proclamation on National School Choice Week, 2021

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 17, 2021 NATIONAL SCHOOL CHOICE WEEK, 2021   - - - - - - -   BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA   A PROCLAMATION          As we mark National School Choice Week, my Administration reaffirms its commitment to solving the civil rights issue of our time:  educational inequity.  We have made substantial progress on this front, but we must continue our efforts to ensure that each and every family in America has the freedom to choose an education that best meets their needs and values.      Our Nation currently spends more money per pupil than almost every other industrialized country in the world, yet nearly two-thirds of our youth are not proficient readers, and students across all age groups continue to struggle in math.  These failures are largely the result of a one-size-fits-all, industrial-style approach to education.  Currently, students are assigned to schools based on where they live, so only those whose families can afford to move to a better-performing school district or can afford private school tuition have a choice in the learning environment that best fits their child's needs.  That is fundamentally unfair and unjust.  All Americans, no matter their family income, deserve the opportunity to choose the best educational option for them.      What is often forgotten is that the failures of this rigid arrangement disproportionately affect racial minorities and distressed communities, perpetuating a cycle of poverty.  We can no longer allow America's classrooms to be an exception to our Nation's promise of equal opportunity for all.  Instead, we must provide equal access to a quality education for every American student, no matter where they reside.  In the land of the free, a child's zip code should never determine their future.      That is why, I recently issued an Executive Order on Expanding Educational Opportunity through School Choice that provides in-person options for low-income parents forced to send their children to virtual school during the pandemic.  But we must continue this progress.  Therefore, I renew my call to the Congress to pass the Education Freedom Scholarships and Opportunity Act, so we can finally take a giant step towards true liberty for students.  This landmark legislation would give more than 1 million children the freedom to attend the school that best fits their needs, and would create more than $5 billion in annual tax credits for those who donate to local scholarship funds, empowering more families to choose the best educational setting for their children.       I also call on the Congress to pass the School Choice Now Act, which will ensure every State can fund elementary and high school scholarship programs, so that students do not lose access to their school of choice because of economic disruptions.  As too many school districts across the country refuse to open, these scholarships are needed now more than ever so that families unable to afford private tutors or who work during the day can still provide an education for their children.      Education will always be one of the most important factors in a child's future success.  That is why I am fighting to empower all families -- of all races, backgrounds, and incomes -- with the freedom and the resources they need to make the best decisions for their children.  In America, more freedom leads to more opportunity -- especially in the classroom.  By embracing my Administration's school choice policy, we will make sure that every American student is able to fulfill their God‑given potential.      NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 24 to January 30, 2021, as National School Choice Week.      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventeenth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-one, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-fifth.                                  DONALD J. TRUMP

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT TRUMP IN FAREWELL ADDRESS TO THE NATION The White House

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 19, 2021

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT TRUMP IN FAREWELL ADDRESS TO THE NATION   The White House        THE PRESIDENT:  My fellow Americans: Four years ago, we launched a great national effort to rebuild our country, to renew its spirit, and to restore the allegiance of this government to its citizens.  In short, we embarked on a mission to make America great again -- for all Americans.      As I conclude my term as the 45th President of the United States, I stand before you truly proud of what we have achieved together.  We did what we came here to do -- and so much more.        This week, we inaugurate a new administration and pray for its success in keeping America safe and prosperous.  We extend our best wishes, and we also want them to have luck -- a very important word.          I’d like to begin by thanking just a few of the amazing people who made our remarkable journey possible.        First, let me express my overwhelming gratitude for the love and support of our spectacular First Lady, Melania.  Let me also share my deepest appreciation to my daughter Ivanka, my son-in-law Jared, and to Barron, Don, Eric, Tiffany, and Lara.  You fill my world with light and with joy.          I also want to thank Vice President Mike Pence, his wonderful wife Karen, and the entire Pence family.         Thank you as well to my Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows; the dedicated members of the White House Staff and the Cabinet; and all the incredible people across our administration who poured out their heart and soul to fight for America.        I also want to take a moment to thank a truly exceptional group of people: the United States Secret Service.  My family and I will forever be in your debt.  My profound gratitude as well to everyone in the White House Military Office, the teams of Marine One and Air Force One, every member of the Armed Forces, and state and local law enforcement all across our country.        Most of all, I want to thank the American people.  To serve as your President has been an honor beyond description.  Thank you for this extraordinary privilege.  And that’s what it is -- a great privilege and a great honor.        We must never forget that while Americans will always have our disagreements, we are a nation of incredible, decent, faithful, and peace-loving citizens who all want our country to thrive and flourish and be very, very successful and good.  We are a truly magnificent nation.        All Americans were horrified by the assault on our Capitol.  Political violence is an attack on everything we cherish as Americans.  It can never be tolerated.           Now more than ever, we must unify around our shared values and rise above the partisan rancor, and forge our common destiny.        Four years ago, I came to Washington as the only true outsider ever to win the presidency.  I had not spent my career as a politician, but as a builder looking at open skylines and imagining infinite possibilities.  I ran for President because I knew there were towering new summits for America just waiting to be scaled.  I knew the potential for our nation was boundless as long as we put America first.        So I left behind my former life and stepped into a very difficult arena, but an arena nevertheless, with all sorts of potential if properly done.  America had given me so much, and I wanted to give something back.        Together with millions of hardworking patriots across this land, we built the greatest political movement in the history of our country.  We also built the greatest economy in the history of the world.  It was about “America First” because we all wanted to make America great again.  We restored the principle that a nation exists to serve its citizens.  Our agenda was not about right or left, it wasn’t about Republican or Democrat, but about the good of a nation, and that means the whole nation.         With the support and prayers of the American people, we achieved more than anyone thought possible.  Nobody thought we could even come close.         We passed the largest package of tax cuts and reforms in American history.  We slashed more job-killing regulations than any administration had ever done before.  We fixed our broken trade deals, withdrew from the horrible Trans-Pacific Partnership and the impossible Paris Climate Accord, renegotiated the one-sided South Korea deal, and we replaced NAFTA with the groundbreaking USMCA -- that’s Mexico and Canada -- a deal that’s worked out very, very well.        Also, and very importantly, we imposed historic and monumental tariffs on China; made a great new deal with China.  But before the ink was even dry, we and the whole world got hit with the China virus.  Our trade relationship was rapidly changing, billions and billions of dollars were pouring into the U.S., but the virus forced us to go in a different direction.         The whole world suffered, but America outperformed other countries economically because of our incredible economy and the economy that we built.  Without the foundations and footings, it wouldn’t have worked out this way.  We wouldn’t have some of the best numbers we’ve ever had.        We also unlocked our energy resources and became the world’s number-one producer of oil and natural gas by far.  Powered by these policies, we built the greatest economy in the history of the world.  We reignited America’s job creation and achieved record-low unemployment for African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, women -- almost everyone.         Incomes soared, wages boomed, the American Dream was restored, and millions were lifted from poverty in just a few short years.  It was a miracle.  The stock market set one record after another, with 148 stock market highs during this short period of time, and boosted the retirements and pensions of hardworking citizens all across our nation.  401(k)s are at a level they’ve never been at before.  We’ve never seen numbers like we’ve seen, and that’s before the pandemic and after the pandemic.        We rebuilt the American manufacturing base, opened up thousands of new factories, and brought back the beautiful phrase: "Made in the USA.”        To make life better for working families, we doubled the child tax credit and signed the largest-ever expansion of funding for childcare and development.  We joined with the private sector to secure commitments to train more than 16 million American workers for the jobs of tomorrow.        When our nation was hit with the terrible pandemic, we produced not one, but two vaccines with record-breaking speed, and more will quickly follow.  They said it couldn’t be done but we did it.  They call it a “medical miracle,” and that’s what they’re calling it right now: a “medical miracle.”            Another administration would have taken 3, 4, 5, maybe even up to 10 years to develop a vaccine.  We did in nine months.          We grieve for every life lost, and we pledge in their memory to wipe out this horrible pandemic once and for all.        When the virus took its brutal toll on the world’s economy, we launched the fastest economic recovery our country has ever seen.  We passed nearly $4 trillion in economic relief, saved or supported over 50 million jobs, and slashed the unemployment rate in half.  These are numbers that our country has never seen before.         We created choice and transparency in healthcare, stood up to big pharma in so many ways, but especially in our effort to get favored-nations clauses added, which will give us the lowest prescription drug prices anywhere in the world.         We passed VA Choice, VA Accountability, Right to Try, and landmark criminal justice reform.         We confirmed three new justices of the United States Supreme Court.  We appointed nearly 300 federal judges to interpret our Constitution as written.          For years, the American people pleaded with Washington to finally secure the nation’s borders.  I am pleased to say we answered that plea and achieved the most secure border in U.S. history.  We have given our brave border agents and heroic ICE officers the tools they need to do their jobs better than they have ever done before, and to enforce our laws and keep America safe.         We proudly leave the next administration with the strongest and most robust border security measures ever put into place.  This includes historic agreements with Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, along with more than 450 miles of powerful new wall.         We restored American strength at home and American leadership abroad.  The world respects us again.  Please don’t lose that respect.         We reclaimed our sovereignty by standing up for America at the United Nations and withdrawing from the one-sided global deals that never served our interests.  And NATO countries are now paying hundreds of billions of dollars more than when I arrived just a few years ago.  It was very unfair.  We were paying the cost for the world.  Now the world is helping us.         And perhaps most importantly of all, with nearly $3 trillion, we fully rebuilt the American military -- all made in the USA.  We launched the first new branch of the United States Armed Forces in 75 years: the Space Force.  And last spring, I stood at Kennedy Space Center in Florida and watched as American astronauts returned to space on American rockets for the first time in many, many years.         We revitalized our alliances and rallied the nations of the world to stand up to China like never before.         We obliterated the ISIS caliphate and ended the wretched life of its founder and leader, al Baghdadi.  We stood up to the oppressive Iranian regime and killed the world’s top terrorist, Iranian butcher Qasem Soleimani.         We recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.         As a result of our bold diplomacy and principled realism, we achieved a series of historic peace deals in the Middle East.  Nobody believed it could happen.  The Abraham Accords opened the doors to a future of peace and harmony, not violence and bloodshed.  It is the dawn of a new Middle East, and we are bringing our soldiers home.        I am especially proud to be the first President in decades who has started no new wars.        Above all, we have reasserted the sacred idea that, in America, the government answers to the people.  Our guiding light, our North Star, our unwavering conviction has been that we are here to serve the noble everyday citizens of America.  Our allegiance is not to the special interests, corporations, or global entities; it’s to our children, our citizens, and to our nation itself.        As President, my top priority, my constant concern, has always been the best interests of American workers and American families.  I did not seek the easiest course; by far, it was actually the most difficult.  I did not seek the path that would get the least criticism.  I took on the tough battles, the hardest fights, the most difficult choices because that’s what you elected me to do.  Your needs were my first and last unyielding focus.        This, I hope, will be our greatest legacy: Together, we put the American people back in charge of our country.  We restored self-government.  We restored the idea that in America no one is forgotten, because everyone matters and everyone has a voice.  We fought for the principle that every citizen is entitled to equal dignity, equal treatment, and equal rights because we are all made equal by God.  Everyone is entitled to be treated with respect, to have their voice heard, and to have their government listen.  You are loyal to your country, and my administration was always loyal to you.        We worked to build a country in which every citizen could find a great job and support their wonderful families.  We fought for the communities where every American could be safe and schools where every child could learn.  We promoted a culture where our laws would be upheld, our heroes honored, our history preserved, and law-abiding citizens are never taken for granted.  Americans should take tremendous satisfaction in all that we have achieved together.  It’s incredible.        Now, as I leave the White House, I have been reflecting on the dangers that threaten the priceless inheritance we all share.  As the world’s most powerful nation, America faces constant threats and challenges from abroad.  But the greatest danger we face is a loss of confidence in ourselves, a loss of confidence in our national greatness.  A nation is only as strong as its spirit.  We are only as dynamic as our pride.  We are only as vibrant as the faith that beats in the hearts of our people.        No nation can long thrive that loses faith in its own values, history, and heroes, for these are the very sources of our unity and our vitality.        What has always allowed America to prevail and triumph over the great challenges of the past has been an unyielding and unashamed conviction in the nobility of our country and its unique purpose in history.  We must never lose this conviction.  We must never forsake our belief in America.        The key to national greatness lies in sustaining and instilling our shared national identity.  That means focusing on what we have in common: the heritage that we all share.        At the center of this heritage is also a robust belief in free expression, free speech, and open debate.  Only if we forget who we are, and how we got here, could we ever allow political censorship and blacklisting to take place in America.  It’s not even thinkable.  Shutting down free and open debate violates our core values and most enduring traditions. In America, we don’t insist on absolute conformity or enforce rigid orthodoxies and punitive speech codes.  We just don’t do that.  America is not a timid nation of tame souls who need to be sheltered and protected from those with whom we disagree.  That’s not who we are.  It will never be who we are.        For nearly 250 years, in the face of every challenge, Americans have always summoned our unmatched courage, confidence, and fierce independence.  These are the miraculous traits that once led millions of everyday citizens to set out across a wild continent and carve out a new life in the great West.  It was the same profound love of our God-given freedom that willed our soldiers into battle and our astronauts into space.        As I think back on the past four years, one image rises in my mind above all others.  Whenever I traveled all along the motorcade route, there were thousands and thousands of people.  They came out with their families so that they could stand as we passed, and proudly wave our great American flag.  It never failed to deeply move me.  I knew that they did not just come out to show their support of me; they came out to show me their support and love for our country.         This is a republic of proud citizens who are united by our common conviction that America is the greatest nation in all of history.  We are, and must always be, a land of hope, of light, and of glory to all the world.  This is the precious inheritance that we must safeguard at every single turn.        For the past four years, I have worked to do just that.  From a great hall of Muslim leaders in Riyadh to a great square of Polish people in Warsaw; from the floor of the Korean Assembly to the podium at the United Nations General Assembly; and from the Forbidden City in Beijing to the shadow of Mount Rushmore, I fought for you, I fought for your family, I fought for our country.  Above all, I fought for America and all it stands for -- and that is safe, strong, proud, and free.        Now, as I prepare to hand power over to a new administration at noon on Wednesday, I want you to know that the movement we started is only just beginning.  There’s never been anything like it.  The belief that a nation must serve its citizens will not dwindle but instead only grow stronger by the day.        As long as the American people hold in their hearts deep and devoted love of country, then there is nothing that this nation cannot achieve.  Our communities will flourish.  Our people will be prosperous.  Our traditions will be cherished.  Our faith will be strong.  And our future will be brighter than ever before.        I go from this majestic place with a loyal and joyful heart, an optimistic spirit, and a supreme confidence that for our country and for our children, the best is yet to come.        Thank you, and farewell.  God bless you.  God bless the United States of America.                           END

Executive Order on Protecting Law Enforcement Officers, Judges, Prosecutors, And Their Families

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 18, 2021

EXECUTIVE ORDER   - - - - - - -   PROTECTING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, JUDGES, PROSECUTORS, AND THEIR FAMILIES          By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:      Section 1.  Purpose.  Under the Constitution and Federal law, our Government vests in judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement officers the power to make decisions of enormous consequence.  Because of the importance of their work, these public servants face unique risks to their safety and the safety of their families.  Some who face or have received an adverse judicial decision have sought to intimidate or punish judges and prosecutors with threats of harm.  Moreover, judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement officers are symbols within our communities of law and order and may be targeted for that reason alone.  And at times, family members of public servants have become victims.  Last year, a former litigant before a Federal judge in New Jersey tragically murdered the judge's 20-year-old son and critically wounded her husband.  Judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement officers' resiliency in the face of the danger they regularly face is an inspiration for all of us in public service.      Judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement officers should not have to choose between public service and subjecting themselves and their families to danger.  My Administration has no higher priorities than preserving the rule of law in our country and protecting the men and women who serve under its flag.  Accordingly, I am ordering enhanced protections for judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement officers.  Federal law already allows Federal and State law enforcement officers to protect themselves by carrying a concealed firearm, but the Federal Government can do more to cut the red tape that Federal law enforcement officers must navigate to exercise their right.  The current threat to Federal prosecutors also demands an expansion of their ability to carry a concealed firearm, as allowed under the Department of Justice's existing authorities.  Finally, the Congress should act expeditiously to adopt legislation extending the right to carry a concealed firearm to Federal judges and pass other measures that will expand our capacity to combat threats of violence against judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement officers.        Sec. 2.  Removing Obstacles to Federal Law Enforcement Officers Qualifying For Concealed Carry Under the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004.  (a)  It shall be the policy of the United States to remove any undue obstacle  preventing current or retired Federal law enforcement officers from carrying a concealed firearm as allowed under the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004, as amended (18 U.S.C. 926B, 926C) (LEOSA).      (b)  The heads of all executive departments and agencies (agencies) that employ or have employed qualified law enforcement officers or qualified retired law enforcement officers, as those terms are defined in the LEOSA, shall act expeditiously to implement the policy set by subsection (a) of this section.      (c)  The heads of all agencies that employ or have employed qualified law enforcement officers or qualified retired law enforcement officers, as those terms are defined in the LEOSA, shall submit a report to the President, through the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, within 30 days of the date of this order, reporting on the implementation of this order and analyzing qualified persons' ability to carry a concealed firearm under the LEOSA.      (d)  The report required by subsection (c) of this section shall:             (i)    identify any obstacles that the agency's qualified law enforcement officers or qualified retired law enforcement officers presently face in carrying a concealed firearm under the LEOSA;           (ii)   identify any categories of the agency's qualified law enforcement officers or qualified retired law enforcement officers who are presently unable to carry a concealed firearm under the LEOSA;           (iii)  identify the steps the agency has taken to implement the policy set by subsection (a) of this section; and           (iv)   identify the steps the agency plans to take in the future to implement the policy set by subsection (a) and explain why it was not possible to take these steps before the report was submitted.      Sec. 3.  Authorizing Concealed Carry By Federal Prosecutors.  (a)  Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Attorney General shall propose a regulation revising section 0.112 of title 28, Code of Federal Regulations, to provide that the special deputation as a Deputy United States Marshal shall be granted upon request to any Federal prosecutor when the Federal prosecutor or his or her family members face risk of harm as a result of the Federal prosecutor's government service and as appropriate.      (b)  The regulation proposed pursuant to this section shall:            (i)   include with the special deputation the power to possess and carry firearms but not include law enforcement powers such as the power to make arrests for violations of Federal law and the court-related duties of United States Marshals; and           (ii)  require appropriate training in firearm safety and use as a condition to any special deputation.      (c)  Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Attorney General shall revise other Department policies to permit special deputation consistent with subsections (a) and (b) of this section to the extent consistent with applicable law.      Sec. 4.  Expanding the Federal Government's Protection of Judges, Prosecutors, and Law Enforcement Officers.  (a)  The Attorney General shall direct the Director of the Marshals Service to prioritize the protection of Federal judges and Federal prosecutors.      (b)  The Attorney General shall prioritize the investigation and prosecution of Federal crimes involving actual or threatened violence against judges, prosecutors, or law enforcement officers or their family members, if the family member was targeted because of that person's relation to a judge, prosecutor, or law enforcement officer.      (c)  The Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security shall coordinate a review within the executive branch to assess the feasibility, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, of facilitating the removal of, or minimizing the availability of, personally identifiable information appearing in public sources of judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement officers employed by the Federal Government, and shall use the results of this review to inform such persons of related security vulnerabilities.      (d)  Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Attorney General shall assess the need to revise subsection 0.111(e) of title 28, Code of Federal Regulations, to protect Federal prosecutors.  If any revision is needed, the Attorney General shall take immediate steps to issue a proposed rule that would amend section 0.111(e) accordingly.      (e)  The heads of all agencies shall examine the extent to which they collect personally identifiable information from judges, prosecutors, or law enforcement officers, and as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, allow such persons to provide a Post Office box address in lieu of home address information.      Sec. 5.  Proposing Legislation to Enhance the Protection of Judges, Prosecutors, and Law Enforcement Officers.  (a)  Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Attorney General shall develop and propose Federal legislation providing additional protection for judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement officers.       (b)  The proposed legislation described in subsection (a) of this section shall:             (i)    authorize current and former Federal judges and current and former Federal prosecutors to possess or carry firearms when they or their family members face risk of harm as a result of their Federal government service, irrespective of Federal, State, and local laws which may restrict the possession or carrying of firearms;           (ii)   promote the removal and minimization of personally identifiable information from public websites and records of current and former judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement officers, as appropriate and as allowed under the Constitution;           (iii)  expand the ability of judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement officers to use Post Office box addresses in lieu of home address information;           (iv)   authorize additional appropriations and authority for the Department of Homeland Security, Marshals Service, and Federal Bureau of Investigation, including appropriations to hire and train additional personnel and authority for agencies to respond to both civil unrest and threats to Federal courthouses;           (v)    increase penalties for threatened and actual violence against Federal judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement officers and their families, including providing that violence against a Federal judge, prosecutor, or law enforcement officer's family member shall be punished as though the act was committed against the Federal judge, prosecutor, or law enforcement officer if the family member was targeted because of that person's relation to a Federal judge, prosecutor, or law enforcement officer;           (vi)   prevent State and local governments from obstructing the ability of qualified law enforcement officers and qualified retired law enforcement officers, as those terms are defined by the LEOSA, from carrying a concealed firearm pursuant to the LEOSA, including by refusing to issue identification documents; and           (vii)  propose other amendments to strengthen the LEOSA, if appropriate.      Sec. 6.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:            (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or           (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.      (b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.      (c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.                                  DONALD J. TRUMP   THE WHITE HOUSE,     January 18, 2021.