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President Joe Biden ordered his Department of Justice to phase out its contracts with private prisons, one of multiple new planks in his broad-focused racial justice agenda.

Biden signed four additional executive actions after laying out his racial equity plan at the White House. The actions are aimed at combating discriminatory housing practices, reforming the prison system, respecting sovereignty of Tribal governments and fighting xenophobia against Asian Americans, especially in light of the Covid pandemic.

Here’s what Biden signed Tuesday, January 26th, according to a preview provided by senior administration officials:

• An executive order directing Biden’s attorney general to not renew DOJ contracts with privately operated criminal detention facilities;

• A presidential memorandum directing the Department of Housing and Urban Development to examine the effects of the Trump administration’s regulatory actions that “undermined fair housing policies and laws.” Based on that analysis, the memo also directs HUD to take steps to fully implement the requirements of the Fair Housing Act;

• An executive order pushing federal agencies to regularly and meaningfully engage with Tribal governments;

• And an executive memorandum directing the Health and Human Services Department and Biden’s Covid health equity task force to consider issuing best practices for advancing “cultural competency” and sensitivity toward Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders as part of its Covid response efforts. The memo also directs the DOJ to partner with those communities to prevent hate crimes and harassment against them.

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