Harris Unveils Bold Executive Plans She’ll Enact Early in Office

Vice President Kamala Harris has disclosed several major policies she aims to implement soon after taking office, should she win against former President Donald Trump in the upcoming election.

In July, shortly after President Joe Biden opted out of a second term and endorsed Harris, she shared with reporters her intention to pursue executive action on so-called “assault weapons” if Congress fails to take action on the issue.

“I think it’s a great idea,” Harris remarked about potential mandatory gun buy-back programs.

“But listen, I don’t think we lack for great ideas. As I’ve said many times, we’ve had great ideas for decades. The problem is that Congress has not had the courage to act. That is why, from the beginning, I have said my agenda is to [attempt] to get Congress to act, but if they don’t, within the first 100 days of my administration, I’m gonna take executive action. What we need is action,” she emphasized.

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On Friday, Harris “confirmed her first potential executive order would be to eliminate college degree requirements for specific federal jobs if she is elected into office in November,” as reported by the Daily Caller.

Harris has faced considerable criticism since securing her party’s nomination, especially over her shifts on several progressive policies she previously backed before 2020. Speaking at an event at a local IBEW union hall in Janesville, Wisconsin, Harris clarified her intention to remove “unnecessary degree requirements for federal jobs.”

“The press is always asking me, ‘What are you going to do on day one?’ One of the things I’m doing on day one — because I can do it by executive order — is I will eliminate unnecessary degree requirements for federal jobs,” she stated. “And then I will challenge the private sector to do the same.”

Harris initially set this goal in September, aiming to lower degree requirements for some federal positions to expand opportunities for those without a four-year degree, according to Reuters.

Recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau, published in early 2023, indicates that over 62% of Americans aged 25 and older do not hold a bachelor’s degree. In the 2020 election, three out of five individuals without degrees represented a significant portion of the voter base.

This pledge aligns with Harris’s remarks to NBC News’ Yamiche Alcindor on Thursday, where she outlined her priorities for day one, focusing on economic policies designed to support an “opportunity economy” for Americans.

“Well, my first priority, which will be probably the package of bills, is about bringing down the cost of living,” Harris explained.

“So it’s about housing, it’s about child care, it’s about what we need to do to deal with grocery prices. So it’s not one, it’s a package that is with one singular purpose, bringing down the cost of living,” she added.

Despite reportedly seeking to distinguish herself from President Joe Biden, Harris continues to face challenges in defining how her presidency would diverge from his. Voters consistently cite the economy, inflation, and immigration as primary issues heading into the election.

Even with widespread dissatisfaction over Biden’s tenure, Harris recently told ABC’s “The View” that there wasn’t “a thing” she would change from the past five years.