White House communications director Kate Bedingfield criticized the New York Times on Thursday for its editorial calling on President Biden to “slow down” executive actions.
“While the NYT board criticizes President Biden, he is for taking quick executive action to reverse Trump Admin’s most blatant actions, I cannot help remembering that during the primaries they encouraged voters to consider what a president could do through an action executive, ” Bedingfield said in a tweet.
“So my question is what actions did the president take to reverse Donald Trump’s executive orders would they like to see him not proceed?” the head of communication continued.
“Of course, we are also pursuing our agenda through legislation. That’s why we’re working so hard to get the American Rescue Plan approved, to begin with! ” she added.
In his editorial, Gray Lady noted that the president issued a series of executive orders, including a commitment to re-adhere to the Paris climate agreement, ending the travel ban from countries with increased terror concerns, canceling the license for the pipeline Keystone XL, interrupting construction of the border wall with Mexico and mandatory use of a mask on federal property.
“These movements are being met with applause by Democrats and others eager to see the legacy of Donald Trump’s presidency quickly dismantled,” says the Times article.
“Meanwhile, Republicans are complaining about the presidential exaggeration and accusing Biden of betraying his promise to seek unity.”
The Times continued: “But this is not the way to make law. A polarized and narrowly divided Congress may offer Biden little choice but to employ executive actions or see his entire agenda hostage.
“These directives, however, are an imperfect substitute for legislation. They are intended to provide guidance to the government and to work within the discretion granted to the executive under existing law or the Constitution, ”he continued.
“They do not create new laws – although executive decrees have the force of law – and are not intended to serve as an end around the will of Congress.”
He added: “Undoing some of Trump’s excesses is necessary, but Biden’s legacy will depend on his ability to strike deals with Congress.”