During his presidency from January 20, 2021, to January 20, 2025, Joe Biden signed more than 160 executive orders. These actions covered climate policy, racial equity, immigration, public health, economic recovery, technology, cybersecurity, federal labor standards, and national security.
Below is a verified breakdown of the most significant categories and notable executive orders he signed. This list highlights the orders with the greatest national impact or public visibility during his term.
Racial Equity and Civil Rights
Biden issued several executive orders aimed at expanding civil rights protections and improving federal equity efforts.
Key orders included:
- A governmentwide racial equity initiative requiring agencies to review barriers in federal programs.
- Strengthened civil rights enforcement across housing, education, health, and federal contracting.
- Expanded tribal consultation and Native community support.
- Initiatives to address discrimination in housing and lending sectors.
Climate and Environmental Policy
Climate action was one of Biden’s earliest and most extensive areas of executive authority.
Major environmental orders included:
- A large climate directive instructing agencies to prioritize emissions reduction, clean energy growth, and environmental justice.
- Federal conservation and climate resilience planning.
- A reorientation of public land management toward clean energy development.
- Strengthened federal sustainability goals for buildings, vehicles, and procurement.
These executive orders set the foundation for many long-term environmental programs that continued into 2025.
Public Health and COVID-19
Biden entered office during the COVID-19 pandemic, and his earliest actions focused on national health coordination.
His public health orders included:
- Mask and distancing rules on federal property and during interstate travel.
- Directives to expand vaccination, testing, and health-data coordination.
- Orders targeting PPE supply chains and medical equipment production.
- Long-term improvements to rural health, mental health coverage, and caregiver support.
He later signed reproductive health–related orders following major national legal changes affecting access to reproductive services.
Economy, Labor, and Consumer Protection
Biden used executive authority to strengthen worker protections and stabilize the economy.
Key economic and labor-related orders included:
- Raising the minimum wage for federal contractors.
- Strengthening worker safety rules and labor enforcement.
- Directing agencies to examine competition issues and reduce harmful corporate consolidation.
- A large supply-chain resilience initiative covering semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and critical minerals.
- Orders improving access to federal nutrition programs during economic disruptions.
Immigration and Border Policy
Biden issued multiple executive orders reshaping immigration policy and reversing prior directives.
These actions included:
- Rebuilding refugee admissions and humanitarian programs.
- Reviewing enforcement priorities and detention practices.
- Creating a tasking system for family reunification processes.
- Improving the naturalization system to reduce backlogs and modernize procedures.
- Directing agencies to examine asylum processing and restore certain protections.
Technology, Cybersecurity, and Artificial Intelligence
As technology rapidly evolved, Biden signed several executive orders related to digital security and emerging tech.
Notable technology-related orders included:
- A major cybersecurity modernization directive after federal systems faced breaches.
- Competition-focused actions affecting tech platforms.
- Broadband expansion direction for underserved communities.
- A 2025 executive-level directive addressing artificial intelligence safety and innovation leadership.
- Federal data privacy and digital infrastructure modernization initiatives.
National Security and Foreign Policy
Several executive orders addressed defense policy and global partnerships.
These included:
- Updated cybersecurity standards for critical infrastructure.
- Orders reorganizing national security priorities in climate, technology, and supply chains.
- Directives related to sanctions administration and foreign policy coordination.
- Federal workforce protections for employees working in national security roles.
Summary Table: Biden’s Executive Orders by Theme
| Category | Focus Areas |
|---|---|
| Racial Equity | Civil rights enforcement, agency equity reviews |
| Climate | Clean energy, conservation, climate resilience |
| Public Health | COVID response, medical supply chains, reproductive health |
| Economy & Labor | Wages, worker safety, competition, supply chains |
| Immigration | Refugees, enforcement reviews, naturalization modernization |
| Technology | Cybersecurity, AI, broadband, digital privacy |
| National Security | Infrastructure protection, defense modernization |
Why Biden Signed So Many Executive Orders
Presidents often use executive orders when:
- Congress is gridlocked
- Agencies need immediate direction
- Deadlines or emergencies require fast policy action
During Biden’s term, all three applied at different times, especially during the pandemic, supply-chain crises, and rapid AI developments.
Are All of Biden’s Executive Orders Still in Effect?
Not all of them.
After January 2025, the succeeding administration reviewed many Biden-era directives.
Some remain active, some were amended, and others were rescinded.
This transition process is standard for all presidential administrations.
Final Note
Many of Joe Biden’s executive orders continue to influence climate policy, technology regulation, labor standards, and public health planning well beyond his presidency.