Apart from keeping America safe from terrorism, which I mentioned in a separate thread, here are some of the Obama administration's other first day accomplishments:
Putting the brakes on:
Putting the brakes on:
- Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel has issued a directive to all federal agencies and departments to halt implementation of any unfinalized 'midnight regulations' by the Bush administration, pending review.
Bloomberg reports,
In the closing weeks of his administration, Bush issued rules that critics said make it more difficult to protect U.S. workers from exposure to toxic chemicals, reduce the use of employee medical leave and open more land to oil and gas exploration. The effort was supported by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and industry organizations.<br /><br />
Not all of Bushs so-called midnight rules had become final when he left office today, and Emanuels action blocks those still pending. - Obama has requested a 120-day suspension on all trials at the Guantanamo Bay facility.
VOA reports:
A halt in legal proceedings would give the Obama administration time to review individual cases, as well as the entire military tribunal system.
The order would affect 21 pending cases, including cases against five men accused of plotting the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
Critics say detainees at the facility, most of whom have been held for years without charge, are denied basic rights.
- In a procedural move, Obama made his previously-announced cabinet nominations official. Six of them have already been confirmed.
- Today, Obama is nominating former Maine senator George Mitchell as envoy to the Middle East, and has scheduled a meeting of the National Security Council to reassess the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. (source)