United States: US Executive Branch Update – August 31, 2021

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

POTUS' Schedule*

9:30 a.m. EDT - THE PRESIDENT receives the President's Daily Brief | The White House

10:30 a.m. EDT - THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT meet with their national security team to receive intelligence, security, and diplomatic updates on the evolving situation in Afghanistan | Situation Room

1:30 pm. EDT - THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks on ending the war in Afghanistan | State Dining Room

VPOTUS' Schedule*

10:30 a.m. EDT - THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT will meet with their national security team to receive intelligence, security, and diplomatic updates on the evolving situation in Afghanistan | Situation Room

White House Press Briefing Schedule*

2:00 p.m. EDT - Press Briefing by White House COVID-19 Response Team and public health officials | James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

2:30 p.m. EDT - Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki | James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

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

Recap of Monday, August 30, 2021

Note: Bold hyperlinks spotlight COVID-19 developments.

The White House

• Statement by President Joe Biden (re: AFG)
• Statement by Press Secretary Jen Psaki on the Rocket Attack at Hamid Karzai International Airport
• Remarks by President Biden in Briefing on Hurricane Ida
• Readout of President Biden's Briefing with Gulf Coast Elected Officials on Hurricane Ida
• Transcript: Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, August 30, 2021
• Press Release: May 2021 Visitor Log Records Posted

Department of Defense (DOD)

• Statement by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III on the End of the American War in Afghanistan
• Transcript: Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby and Army Major General William "Hank" Taylor Hold a Press Briefing
• Transcript: Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby and General Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr. Hold a Press Briefing
• Article: Military Phase of Evacuation Ends, as Does America's Longest War
• Article: Force Protection Measures at Kabul Airport Thwart Attacks, General Says
• Article: National Guard Deployed to Areas Ravaged by Hurricane Ida
• Article: DOD Continues Aiding Haitians Following Earthquake, Tropical Storm
• Contracts for August 30, 2021

Department of State

• Daily Schedule | Tuesday, August 31
• August 30: Remarks | Secretary Antony J. Blinken's Remarks on Afghanistan
• August 30: Readout | Secretary Blinken's Call with Australian Foreign Minister Payne (re: AFG)
• August 30: Statement by the Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh/ISIS
• August 30: Readout | Special Representative Kim Meeting with ROK Special Representative Noh
• August 30: Advisory | Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry's Travel to Japan and the People's Republic of China
• August 30: Statement | Department of State Offers Reward for Information to Bring Chinese Fentanyl Trafficker to Justice
• August 30: Statement | Kyrgyz Republic National Day
• August 30: Statement | Malaysia National Day

US Mission to the United Nations (UN)

Afghanistan

• Explanation of Vote Delivered by Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield Following the Adoption of a UN Security Council Resolution on Afghanistan
• Joint Statement of the United Nations Group of Friends for the Protection of Journalists on the situation in Afghanistan
• Remarks by Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield at a UN Security Council Stakeout Following the Adoption of a Resolution on Afghanistan

Other Developments

• Remarks at a UN Security Council Briefing on the Situation in the Middle East
• Explanation of Vote at the Adoption of the Mandate Reauthorization of the UN Assistance Mission to Somalia (UNSOM)
• Statement by Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield?on International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances
• Remarks at the UN Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations Aug. 30-Sept. 10, 2021, Regular Session
• Statement during UNDP Executive Board Meeting on UNDP's 2022-2025 Strategic Plan (via VTC)

Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI)

• Press Release: ODNI Issues Summary of Assessment on COVID-19 Origins

Department of the Treasury

• Press Release: Settlement Agreement between the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control with First Bank SA and JC Flowers & Co.

Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC)

• Press Release: SEC Announces Three Actions Charging Deficient Cybersecurity Procedures

Department of Justice

• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) | Daily Press Releases
• Press Release: Justice Department and EPA Reach Clean Air Act Settlement with Gear Box Z for Selling Defeat Devices
• Press Release: Commercial Flooring Company Pleads Guilty to Antitrust and Money Laundering Charges
• Press Release: Attorney General Garland Issues Statement on 2020 FBI Hate Crimes in the United States Statistics
• Press Release: Sutter Health and Affiliates to Pay $90 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations of Mischarging the Medicare Advantage Program
• Press Release: Readout of Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta's Call with European Commission Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager
• Press Release: Justice Department and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Announce Actions to Resolve Lending Discrimination Claims Against Cadence Bank

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)/Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

• Press Release: CISA to Host Third Annual President's Cup Cybersecurity Competition
• Press Release: Agents Respond and Rescue 6 Lost Migrants Hours Apart (California)
• Press Release: CBP Officers Seize Assault Weapons and Ammunition at the DeConcini Port of Entry (Arizona)
• Press Release: Smuggler Abandons Migrant Mother and Child (Texas)
• Press Release: Laredo Sector Continues to Apprehend Individuals Using Trains for Transportation (Texas)
• Press Release: CBP Officers at Anzalduas International Bridge Snatch Fugitive Wanted on Indecency with a Child Warrant (Texas)
• Press Release: Laredo Port of Entry CBP Officers Seize Cocaine Worth Over $380K (Texas)
• Press Release: Brownsville CBP Officers Seize $288K in Cocaine at Gateway Bridge (Texas)
• Press Release: RGV Border Patrol Agents Seize Over 600 Pounds of Marijuana (Texas)
• Press Release: RGV Border Patrol Agents Arrest Seven Gang Members (Texas)

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Hurricane Ida

• Press Release: Louisiana Survivors Affected by Hurricane Ida Can Apply for Possible FEMA Assistance
• Press Release: Whole of Government Focuses on Lifesaving Measures, Power Restoration for Hurricane Ida Response
• Press Release: 58 Mississippi Counties Added to Hurricane Ida Emergency Declaration
• Press Release: ICYMI - FEMA Administrator Responds to Ida's Initial Impacts
• Press Release: FEMA Urges Residents to Stay Alert to Continuing Risks from Ida
• Press Release: President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves Major Disaster Declaration for Louisiana

Other Developments

• Press Release: FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance State-by-State Breakdown
• Press Release: Registration for FEMA Assistance Closes in Two Weeks (Michigan)
• Press Release: Territory and Federal Partners Execute Evacuation Shelter Drill in a Pandemic Environment (U.S. Virgin Islands)

Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR)

• Readout of Ambassador Katherine Tai's Meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Ukraine, Oleksiy Lyubchenko
• Readout of Ambassador Katherine Tai's Meeting with Chicago Asian American Community Leaders
• Remarks by Ambassador Katherine Tai at Chicago Federation of Labor Roundtable

Department of Commerce

• Press Release: Secretary Gina Raimondo and Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed Call for Major Federal Investment in America's Care Economy

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

• Press Release: Hurricane Ida Communications Status Report for August 30, 2021
• Press Release: Auction 110 Upfront Payment and Resubmission Deadlines Extended
• Press Release: OEA Extends Form 477 Deadline

Department of Energy (DOE)

• Press Release: DOE Releases New Reports Highlighting Record Growth, Declining Costs of Wind Power

Department of Interior (DOI)

• Press Release: Interior Department Announces Largest Expansion of Fishing and Hunting on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Managed Lands and Waters

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

• Link: Other Daily EPA Press Releases
• Press Release: After Successfully Obtaining a Preliminary Injunction, Justice Department and EPA Reach Clean Air Act Settlement with Gear Box Z for Selling Defeat Devices
• Press Release: EPA Approves Emergency Fuel Waivers for Louisiana and Mississippi
• Press Release: EPA Urges Communities in Hurricane Ida's Path to Avoid Indoor Air Dangers, Use Generators Safely

Department of Labor

• Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor, Mexican Consulate in Las Vegas enter alliance to promote workplace safety, health in the construction industry
• Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor urges workers, employers, public to be aware of hazards after Hurricane Ida
• Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor urges workers, employers, public to recognize hazards, ensure safety after Hurricane Ida
• Press Release: Sanford contractor pays more than $334K in back wages to 212 workers to resolve violations found in U.S. Department of Labor investigation
• Press Release: New Jersey healthcare staffing company pays $263K to 46 workers at veterans' medical centers following U.S. Department of Labor investigation
• Press Release: Surfside Beach restaurant pays more than $75K in back wages to 10 workers after U.S. Department of Labor finds employer shortchanged tipped employees

Department of Education

• Press Release: Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights Opens Investigations in Five States Regarding Prohibitions of Universal Indoor Masking

Health & Human Services (HHS)

• Press Release: HHS Secretary Becerra declares public health emergencies for states of Louisiana and Mississippi due to Hurricane Ida
• Press Release: Biden-Harris Administration Releases Medicaid and CHIP Guidance Targeting Vaccination and Testing for COVID-19
• Press Release: HHS Establishes Office of Climate Change and Health Equity

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.