THE PRESIDENCY of Joe Biden has been shaped by a mix of notable achievements and significant challenges. From spearheading robust COVID-19 policy and infrastructure investments to navigating economic turbulence and controversial foreign policy, Biden’s time in office has reflected the complexities of governing a divided nation. His administration has pushed forward ambitious climate and economic policies, but persistent issues like inflation and partisan gridlock continue to test his leadership.
One of Biden’s early successes was his administration’s aggressive response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Upon taking office, Biden pushed for a rapid expansion of the vaccine distribution infrastructure, allowing the majority of Americans to get vaccinated, and reducing the severity of COVID-19 infections. Additionally, he put forth the American Rescue Plan Act to provide economic relief to citizens and businesses negatively impacted by the pandemic. Many blame the $1.9 trillion ARPA bill for high levels of inflation, though some hold different opinions.
Associate Professor of Economics Eric Tymoigne de-emphasized ARPA as a contributing factor to inflation.
“Some inflationary pressures came from that, but it was not the main source of inflation. That fell on its own as supply chain disruptions and price gouging went away,” said Tymoigne.
Biden has overseen a significant number of judicial appointments, including nominating the first Black woman, Ketanji Brown Jackson, to the Supreme Court in February 2022.
“Biden has nominated more people of color and more women than any prior president has, so I certainly think that will be seen as one of his major accomplishments in remaking the federal judiciary to match what America’s actual demographics are,” said Associate Professor of Political Science Ben Gaskins.
One of the most criticized actions of Biden’s presidency was the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan in August 2021. Though Biden inherited the agreement to withdraw from his predecessor, the rapid collapse of the Afghan government, the takeover by the Taliban and the tragic scenes at Kabul airport damaged his administration’s credibility. The loss of 13 U.S. service members in a terrorist attack during the evacuation alongside the broader humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan sparked bipartisan condemnation.
Biden has also faced significant backlash about his handling of the Israel-Hamas war. Many throughout the U.S. feel alienated from Biden’s response to the ongoing war in Israel, and disagree with his continued aid and allyship with Israel.
“It’s one of those positions that no matter what Biden does, he will face significant criticism,” Gaskins said, “but he is also not distancing himself from Israel enough to satisfy people who think that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.”
In the following June, progressive news organization Truthout reported an estimated $25 million in weapons and military assistance has been sent to Israel every day since Oct. 7th.
Despite many successes, Biden has faced significant hurdles due to a narrowly divided Congress. Efforts to pass more ambitious reforms, such as voting rights protections, expanded healthcare access and climate initiatives, have been foiled by the filibuster and opposition within his own party — most notably from Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema, who blocked key aspects of his Build Back Better agenda.
Professor of Political Science Ellen Senjan commends the Biden administration’s ability to push through a divided Congress despite partisan opposition.
“It’s very difficult to pass major legislation without a strong majority in Congress, especially in the Senate,” said Seljan. “Given the current political climate, I would have expected total gridlock, or even government shutdowns, over the past few years, but that didn’t happen.”
With the end of his term rapidly approaching, we are faced with the question: Has this presidency been
a success?
“It’s hard to objectively define success,” Gaskins said “In terms of domestic policy, Biden has been better than many people expected. I think historians will look back and say, ultimately (his was) an average, decent presidency.”
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