The official said that the cost implications of changing the private prison were not a “motivating factor”.
“The motivating factor, however, was the fact that private prisons are not only encouraged to profit from human lives, but more importantly, the Justice Department inspector general’s report showed that I am terrible in terms of protection and security for those incarcerated, “said the official.
Biden will also establish that it is his government’s policy to condemn and denounce anti-Asian prejudice, the official told reporters on Tuesday.
“He will also instruct the Department of Health and Human Services to provide best practices to eliminate anti-Asian bias in the federal government’s Covid-19 response and to guide the Department of Justice to partner with Asian American and island communities. Pacific to prevent bullying, harassment and hate crimes, “said the official.
Biden will issue a memorandum directing Housing and Urban Development to take steps to promote equitable housing, with the government official saying that the memorandum will direct the department “to mitigate racial prejudice in housing and to affirmatively advance our country’s fair housing laws. “
The memo will also “make it clear that we have to recognize the role the federal government played for much of the 20th century, implementing discriminatory housing policies in the United States, from straight lines to mortgage discrimination and destructive construction of federal highways to correct this story, “said the official.
Biden will also take steps to reaffirm the federal government’s commitment to tribal sovereignty and consultation.
Reporters were also told by a senior administration official that “the president has asked (the Office of Administration and Budget) to examine opportunities to incorporate racial equality into his work (.)”
Biden specifically asked the office, which plays a role in drafting the government’s annual budget proposals, to assess opportunities to allocate resources “more equitably to target groups that have been poorly served or hampered by federal investments in the past” in their presentation of annual budget, said the official.
The official said that while previous presidential administrations had “an interest in promoting justice and equity”, the Biden administration intends to integrate equity policy holistically into its domestic policy efforts.
“Never before has there been this whole government approach, where every part of the White House, every agency in all its work, not in a silo, not in one, you know, an Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, but in everything they do, “said the official.
The official indicated that Tuesday’s executive actions are the first of more Biden government initiatives related to equity – including support for future legislation in Congress.
An earlier draft of Tuesday’s plans indicated that the president would issue an executive order creating a policing commission, something he promised he would create if he were elected. He also indicated that Biden would sign an order to reinstate an Obama-era policy that prohibits the transfer of military equipment to local police departments.
Biden’s voting history in Congress on criminal justice and prison reform issues had an impact on his presidential campaign. And Tuesday’s actions, taking place less than a week ago in his presidency, appear to be an apparent attempt to correct what he admitted to be one of his shortcomings.
Biden helped draft the 1994 crime bill, which set strict federal sentencing standards and which critics argue has led to an era of mass incarceration.
“We have predators on our streets that society has created, in part because of their neglect,” said Biden. “They are beyond the limits of many of these people, beyond the limits,” continued Biden. “And it’s a sad comment about society. We have no choice but to get them out of society.”
Biden’s vice president, who was once his opponent in the 2020 presidential race, said in 2019 that she believed the project had caused mass incarceration.
“That criminal bill – that 1994 criminal bill – contributed to the mass incarceration in our country. He encouraged it and it was the first time that we had a federal three-strike law. It financed the construction of more prisons in the states. , I disagree, unfortunately, “said Harris.
CNN DJ Judd, Daniel Dale, Andrew Kaczynski and Kate Sullivan contributed to this report.
This story has been updated to include additional reports.