Politics
20 surprising Biden policies that flew under the radar
By Jake Beardslee · February 7, 2024
![](https://lightwavereports.com/media/pages/20-surprising-biden-policies-that-flew-under-the-radar/c89981ce34-1712427871/rally_img_0473_-52485933603.jpg)
Boosting Domestic Oil Production
Despite pledges to cut oil production, domestic oil production rose to record levels under Biden. Elvert Barnes from Silver Spring MD, USA/Wikimedia![](https://lightwavereports.com/media/pages/20-surprising-biden-policies-that-flew-under-the-radar/917bdd3b8b-1712427875/v20220708cs-0462-edit_-52308683903.jpg)
Making Birth Control Over-the-Counter
Biden issued an executive order encouraging access to birth control, shortly afterwards the FDA approved the first over-the-counter birth control pill, providing easier access to contraception. The White House/Wikimedia![](https://lightwavereports.com/media/pages/20-surprising-biden-policies-that-flew-under-the-radar/80823f7121-1712427873/secretary_blinken_with_president_biden_at_the_white_house.jpg)
Cracking Down on Corruption
Biden issued an executive order expanding and enforcing ethics rules for executive branch employees and White House staff. U.S. Department of State/Wikimedia![](https://lightwavereports.com/media/pages/20-surprising-biden-policies-that-flew-under-the-radar/a92adb1429-1712427861/p20220225as-0624_-51989165209.jpg)
Progressive Supreme Court Justice
Biden nominated Ketanji Brown Jackson as the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court. The White House/Wikimedia![](https://lightwavereports.com/media/pages/20-surprising-biden-policies-that-flew-under-the-radar/47326111b1-1712427868/president_biden_after_signing_the_infrastructure_investment_and_job_act_into_law.jpg)
Infrastructure Bill
Biden signed a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill to rebuild roads, bridges, expand broadband access and more. Office of the President of the United States/Wikimedia![](https://lightwavereports.com/media/pages/20-surprising-biden-policies-that-flew-under-the-radar/466b7317b3-1712427866/p20230213as-0550_-52693210716.jpg)
Climate Actions
Biden rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement, hosted a virtual climate summit, and set targets to cut US emissions in half by 2030. Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz - The White House/Wikimedia![](https://lightwavereports.com/media/pages/20-surprising-biden-policies-that-flew-under-the-radar/8a8a9c21eb-1712427870/president_joe_biden_delivers_remarks_on_airline_accountability_and_protecting_consumers_with_pete_buttigieg_on_may_8-_2023_at_th.jpg)
Protecting Consumers from Airline Delays
Biden proposed rules requiring airlines to refund tickets after flight cancellations or delays. The White House/Wikimedia![](https://lightwavereports.com/media/pages/20-surprising-biden-policies-that-flew-under-the-radar/996a4f49ec-1712427869/president_joe_biden_and_vice_president_kamala_harris_are_briefed_by_their_national_security_team.jpg)
Withdrawing Troops from Afghanistan
Biden oversaw the chaotic withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, ending America's longest war. The White House/Wikimedia![](https://lightwavereports.com/media/pages/20-surprising-biden-policies-that-flew-under-the-radar/2bb71c8454-1712427859/p20210720as-3425-2_-51417135942.jpg)
Diverse Administration
Biden appointed a historically diverse Cabinet and Administration with record numbers of women, people of color, LGBTQ folks, and first-generation Americans. The White House/Wikimedia![](https://lightwavereports.com/media/pages/20-surprising-biden-policies-that-flew-under-the-radar/a902a7e680-1712427864/p20220816cs-0389_-52386878143.jpg)
Tax Credits for Clean Energy
As part of the Inflation Reduction Act, Biden established tax credits to incentivize clean energy production and electric vehicle purchases. The White House/Wikimedia![](https://lightwavereports.com/media/pages/20-surprising-biden-policies-that-flew-under-the-radar/3aee421724-1712427865/p20220816es-0213_-52386946264.jpg)
Lowering Medicare Costs
The Inflation Reduction Act allowed Medicare to negotiate drug prices, introduced a cap on out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors, and more. The White House/Wikimedia![](https://lightwavereports.com/media/pages/20-surprising-biden-policies-that-flew-under-the-radar/0b84f0a7c9-1712427862/p20220809es-0333_-52385519067.jpg)
Chip Manufacturing Investments
Biden signed the CHIPS Act, providing $52 billion to boost US semiconductor chip research, development, and manufacturing. The White House/Wikimedia![](https://lightwavereports.com/media/pages/20-surprising-biden-policies-that-flew-under-the-radar/15d9966570-1712427856/bears_ears_national_monument_agreement_signing.jpg)
Restoring National Monuments
Biden restored environmental protections to three national monuments downsized by Trump - Bears Ears, Grand Staircase-Escalante, and Northeast Canyons. Bureau of Land Management Utah/Wikimedia![](https://lightwavereports.com/media/pages/20-surprising-biden-policies-that-flew-under-the-radar/49e8ecd062-1712427867/p20231004as-0429.jpg)
Lowering Monthly Student Loan Payments
Biden lowered income-based monthly student loan payments from 10% to 5% of discretionary income. The White House/Wikimedia![](https://lightwavereports.com/media/pages/20-surprising-biden-policies-that-flew-under-the-radar/e2728bf037-1712427860/p20210825as-0791-1_-51643804972.jpg)
Creating a Cyber Safety Review Board
Biden established an agency to investigate major cyberattacks and provide remediation guidance. The White House/Wikimedia![](https://lightwavereports.com/media/pages/20-surprising-biden-policies-that-flew-under-the-radar/f525c19bbb-1712427861/p20220103as-1019_-51903813811.jpg)
Supporting Small Meat Producers
Biden provided aid to small meatpacking producers to increase competition with major meatpackers. The White House/Wikimedia![](https://lightwavereports.com/media/pages/20-surprising-biden-policies-that-flew-under-the-radar/a0e4af1447-1712427872/remarks_by_president_biden_at_pgcc_-53189080375.jpg)
Making Community College Free
Biden proposed making community college tuition-free, aiming to increase access to education. Maryland GovPics/Wikimedia![](https://lightwavereports.com/media/pages/20-surprising-biden-policies-that-flew-under-the-radar/5291476d6b-1712427871/rally_img_0379_-52484866392.jpg)
Easing Medical Telehealth Restrictions
Biden eased restrictions on telehealth medical services, allowing easier virtual access to medications. Elvert Barnes from Silver Spring MD, USA/Wikimedia![](https://lightwavereports.com/media/pages/20-surprising-biden-policies-that-flew-under-the-radar/5614188b89-1712427855/1600px-joe_biden_-48651177132.jpg)
Expanding Overtime Pay
Biden proposed expanding overtime pay eligibility, allowing millions more workers to get time-and-a-half overtime pay. Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America/Wikimedia![](https://lightwavereports.com/media/pages/20-surprising-biden-policies-that-flew-under-the-radar/f2a66c28f8-1712427857/biden_junk_fees_meeting.jpg)