U.S. President Joe Biden is planning to sign executive actions on police reform as his administration seeks to unilaterally jumpstart an issue that’s a top priority for a key constituency.
Biden said he is planning to sign the order this month.
The executive actions on police reform are in response to Biden’s uphill battle to advance voting rights legislation
The move could coincide with a similar effort by some Democratic lawmakers to revive the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which stalled on Capitol Hill after failed attempts to craft a bipartisan measure.
The police reforms is part of what appears to be a last-ditch effort by the Biden administration to take action on some of the president’s signature initiatives in the run-up to his State of the Union Address on March 1.
The orders come as Biden’s frustrations grow deeper and his landmark Build Back Better plan and voting rights legislation remains in limbo, sinking his poll numbers to 33%, according to a recent Quinnipiac survey.
The actions are still being finalized, and it is not yet clear how they would differ from the justice department’s actions last year that restricted chokeholds and “no-knock” warrants
Two people familiar with the discussions said the White House could roll out the executive actions to mark the beginning of Black History Month in February.
Biden also is expected to use the moment to criticize former President Donald Trump, the people familiar with the discussions said. The president was sharply critical of Trump during a Jan. 6 anniversary speech and again on Tuesday while giving remarks on voting rights.
