As the new administration completed its first week, the American Psychological Association voiced approval of policies President Joe Biden has adopted to address the COVID-19 pandemic, racism, immigration, climate change, LGBTQ rights and access to health care, among others. Yet APA noted that work still remains for the White House and Congress to work together to permanently address this host of important issues that face the nation.
“We are gratified to see the immediate steps taken by the new administration that will ultimately benefit the health and mental health of our nation,” said APA President Jennifer F. Kelly, PhD. “We applaud President Biden’s application of science to public policy and salute his elevating the job of director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to a Cabinet-level position. The president’s day one efforts to accelerate the manufacture and equitable distribution of vaccines, tests and protective equipment are crucial to our nation’s response to COVID-19. We look forward to working together to apply psychological science to this important work.”
The policy positions of the new administration, as reflected in the executive orders that Biden has issued and revoked, align with APA’s key priorities, Kelly said.
“We appreciate the White House’s actions to help ensure the humane treatment of immigrants to the United States, and particularly for the reunification of children who were separated from their parents,” said APA CEO Arthur C. Evans, PhD. “We also support the administration’s actions to reinstate the policy allowing transgender people to serve in the military, since scientific research shows not only the deleterious effects of discrimination but that gender identity is irrelevant to the ability to serve our nation. We are also pleased that this White House has made curbing global warming a priority, especially given growing anxiety and concern about the environment documented by psychological research,” said Evans.
Racial equity is another area where APA and the field of psychology have much to offer and where the White House is moving in a positive direction, Kelly said. “We wholeheartedly applaud the administration’s actions aimed at advancing racial equity and creating a COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force. The White House is also taking important steps toward ending systemic racism in housing and criminal justice,” she said. “And we support the administration’s plan to end the ban on certain diversity training and direct federal agencies to take action to advance diversity, equity and inclusion and root out workplace discrimination.” Evans noted that issuing executive orders and policy statements may not immediately change how federal agencies act in some cases because rules may have already been finalized by the prior administration. “In addition, Congress should enact laws to make permanent many of these new policies,” he said. “Legislative action is necessary to address lingering uncertainty and ensure that America is focused on grappling with the many crises we face in a thoughtful, research-based way.”
