**Biden Admin Races to Cement Policies Before Potential Trump Return**

As President Joe Biden declared he would not seek reelection, he gathered his senior team at the White House with a directive: formulate a plan to "run through the tape" in his last six months in office, focusing on implementing key laws and cementing foreign policy. Chief of Staff Jeff Zients conveyed this intent to political appointees during a summer call, emphasizing the urgency of the administration's efforts.

Despite Biden’s push to solidify his agenda, the reality remains that a potential second Trump administration could swiftly undo much of it. Senator Chris Coons of Delaware, a close ally of Biden, expressed concern over the difficulty of making agencies and programs impervious to reversal by a determined successor. This echoes Biden’s own experience during his first hours in office, reversing many of Trump's policies.

A significant part of Biden's legacy includes several substantial legislative victories aimed at transforming the U.S. economy over the next decade. Key laws include the American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package; the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law; the CHIPS and Science Act, a $200 billion initiative to boost domestic chip manufacturing; and the $750 billion Inflation Reduction Act focusing on healthcare, tax, and climate measures. Collectively, these laws represent over $4 trillion in federal investment, spending, and tax credits.

Most funds from the American Rescue Plan have been deployed, with some reclaimed by Congress. However, funding from the CHIPS law and much of the infrastructure bill is allocated through the 2024 fiscal year, and some infrastructure funds extend beyond that, targeting long-term projects. The Inflation Reduction Act’s funding spans ten years, though the bulk needs to be utilized by the end of this fiscal year. Efforts to retract these funds would face substantial legal challenges due to their advanced deployment.

Biden’s administration has been working diligently, with a focus on quick and effective implementation of these laws, against Republican opposition campaigning for defunding or dismantling key projects. However, approximately $288 billion in infrastructure funds, $14.8 billion for the Inflation Reduction Act, and $10 billion earmarked for CHIPS projects remain for fiscal years 2025 and 2026.

Legal protections under the Impoundment Control Act limit any administration’s power to withhold already appropriated funds, offering some security to these legislations. Still, potential delays could arise from various legal strategies unless current officials continue their rapid pace.

The Biden administration highlights the growing popularity of these bills as a measure of their lasting impact. House Speaker Mike Johnson’s remarks on using a "scalpel and not a sledgehammer" on clean energy provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act illustrate the nuanced approach anticipated.

Foreign policy remains another critical area, with the U.S. providing over $50 billion in security aid to Ukraine since Russia's 2022 invasion. The administration aims to transfer as much aid and weaponry to Kyiv as possible before January, wary that unspent funds from the $61 billion appropriated by Congress might be reclaimed.

Officials emphasize their urgency to finance and deliver Ukraine aid swiftly, with the Defense Department instructed to allocate remaining funds by the end of Biden’s term. Moreover, the administration has coordinated efforts with the G7, committing to a $50 billion loan package for Ukraine, including $20 billion from the U.S., supported by frozen Russian assets.

In a strategic move, NATO’s involvement has been enhanced, with the alliance taking on a larger role in providing training and weapons systems to Ukraine. This international cooperation underscores broader efforts to insulate key policies from future political shifts.