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Outgoing President Joe Biden will sign an executive order on Sunday, prioritizing government resources for economically distressed communities, just before leaving the White House. The initiative aims to assist incoming President Donald Trump in managing significant investments in infrastructure, semiconductors, energy, and broadband programs approved during Biden's term.
Approximately 15% of Americans, or 50 million people, live in distressed areas defined by poverty, unemployment, and declining businesses. Over the past four years, Biden’s administration has allocated $54 billion to Energy Communities reliant on coal, oil, and gas, alongside $210 million for tech hubs, $525 million for job training, and billions for infrastructure improvements.
Biden’s order directs a “whole-of-government” approach to streamline federal funding for communities experiencing economic distress, industrial transitions, and natural disaster recovery. A “No Wrong Door” strategy will simplify access to resources for these areas.
Lael Brainard, Biden’s economic adviser, emphasized the administration’s commitment to helping communities, particularly in the heartland, “turn setbacks into comebacks.” The Commerce Department also invested $700 million in tech hubs to expand innovation beyond traditional regions like Silicon Valley and Boston.
Biden highlighted the administration’s historic investments in struggling regions, including factory towns and coal communities, transforming them into innovation hubs. His order locks in effective strategies to boost local economies while addressing long-term development needs in disaster-hit areas.
This effort builds on Trump’s 2018 executive order that launched the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council, aimed at tackling high poverty and unemployment in distressed communities. As Trump prepares for his second term, he pledges to cut regulations and implement tariffs to bolster the U.S. economy further.
© Reuters.
