Biden signs first executive actions as president 

President Biden signed his first executive actions on Wednesday afternoon, hours after being sworn in as the 46th commander in chief.

Biden, wearing a mask while seated at the Resolute desk in the Oval Office, signed executive actions mandating mask use on federal property to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus; rejoining the Paris climate agreement; and extending support for underserved communities.

The executive actions are among 17 items that Biden is signing on Wednesday.

“I thought there’s no time to wait. Get to work immediately,” Biden told reporters. “There’s no time to start like today.”

On Wednesday, Biden is also expected to sign an order reversing Trump’s effort to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO) in the midst of the pandemic.