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The Biden White House’s policy agenda in its final year was shaped by a combination of political urgency, bureaucratic maneuvering, and legislative realities. While President Biden remained the nominal leader, his administration prioritized accelerating regulatory actions and legislative priorities ahead of the 2024 election, anticipating potential Republican reversals. Agencies rushed to finalize “economically significant” rules before May 2024 to shield them from repeal under the Congressional Review Act if Republicans regained power. This surge in rulemaking—66 significant regulations in April 2024 alone—suggests career officials and cabinet members exercised substantial operational control to lock in progressive policies on equity, climate, and social programs.
Congressional dynamics further constrained executive authority. With Republicans holding a razor-thin House majority and Democrats relying on Independents in the Senate, Biden’s team faced legislative gridlock, forcing reliance on regulatory channels rather than bipartisan deals. Vice President Kamala Harris’s increased visibility during this period, particularly after Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 race, positioned her as a key ideological driver within the administration.
The administration’s focus on advancing racial equity initiatives and housing investments through executive action—rather than Congress—highlighted a pattern of circumventing legislative opposition. Critics argue this regulatory blitz created a de facto shadow government of unelected bureaucrats advancing partisan priorities, a charge amplified by Biden’s declining public appearances and debate performances in 2024. Ultimately, control rested less with any single figure than with institutional momentum favoring progressive policy entrenchment ahead of a potential Trump restoration.
