According to unnamed sources first reported by the Washington Post, Biden will announce the first federal office for gun-violence prevention.
President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are expected to formally make the announcement of the new office Friday afternoon at a White House event and provide further details.
Gun-control advocates have been trying to get President Biden to take executive action on firearms, including the specific creation of a federal office dedicated to gun-violence prevention since he took office. In January of this year, 117 groups sent a letter to the White House calling for such an office, among other demands.
News reports say President Joe Biden will announce the creation of the first federal office for gun-violence prevention at the end of the week. The Washington Post cited four anonymous sources who have been allegedly been briefed on the executive action.
Biden aide Stefanie Feldman is reported to lead the new office, according to the Post. The Community Justice Action Fund’s Greg Jackson and Everytown for Gun Safety’s Rob Wilcox, leaders of the two prominent gun-control groups, are also expected to hold key roles, reports National Review.
In June 2022, Biden signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which increased background checks for gun buyers under 21, and allocated money to states to implement “red flag” laws.
The Safer Communities Act also allocated billions of dollars for mental health and school-safety programs. Proponents touted it as the first gun-control legislation signed into law in about 30 years.
“I really think this is a testament to survivors, impacted communities, pushing for years the administration to do this,” an anonymous source with direct knowledge of the plan told Politico.
National Review reports: “So far this year, there have been more than 500 shootings in the U.S. in which four or more people were injured or killed, according to the Gun Violence Archive.”
