What did president biden do good/bad
Executive summary
President Biden presided over notable legislative and policy wins—major infrastructure investment, semiconductor and clean-energy incentives, expanded social supports, drug pricing reforms, and a large post-pandemic jobs recovery—that supporters cite as concrete achievements [1] [2] [3]. Critics point to high inflation, a chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal, persistent migration and border complaints, and perceived communication and political weaknesses that undercut his legacy and reelection prospects [4] [5] [6].
1. Major legislative wins that reshaped investment and industry
The administration shepherded the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the CHIPS and Science Act, which together aimed to modernize roads, broadband and semiconductor production, and helped attract over $1 trillion in private investments and create construction and manufacturing jobs according to White House summaries and allied accounts [1] [7]. These moves are widely credited with boosting U.S. competitiveness in chip manufacturing after decades of decline and with catalyzing clean-energy and manufacturing projects under the “Investing in America” agenda [1].
2. Economic rescue, jobs and measurable consumer relief
Early in the term the American Rescue Plan delivered $1.9 trillion in relief, credited with accelerating recovery from the pandemic and supporting a rebound that produced millions of jobs and lowered the unemployment rate from pandemic highs [8] [3]. The administration also achieved prescription drug reforms—negotiating prices for certain Medicare drugs and capping insulin costs—which the White House says will reduce taxpayer and consumer costs [1].
3. Social policy gains: tax credits, rights and veterans’ support
Expanded tax credits, notably the Child Tax Credit in 2021, are credited with sharply reducing child poverty according to administration fact sheets, and the administration moved on LGBTQ+ rights—rescinding the transgender military ban and supporting the Respect for Marriage Act—and expanded veterans’ housing and suicide-prevention efforts [1] [2]. These are clear policy wins for constituencies prioritized by the president and his allies [1] [2].
4. Foreign policy highs and the Afghanistan nadir
Biden strengthened alliances—reaffirming NATO and rallying support for Ukraine—actions often cited as restoring multilateral U.S. leadership [6] [8]. Yet the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 stands as a stark failure in planning and execution, drawing bipartisan criticism and leaving a lasting blemish on his foreign-policy record [4] [6].
5. Inflation, communication and political fallout
Inflation remained a persistent problem throughout the presidency, with consumer prices rising substantially between 2020 and 2024 and inflation becoming a central voter concern; critics argue the administration failed to solve or adequately communicate its economic strategy on this front [9] [5]. Political opponents and oversight committees likewise tied economic and border problems to administration policy choices, framing them as part of an overarching design or mismanagement [10].
6. Immigration and border management: policy vs. perception
The administration pursued a mix of enforcement and new lawful pathways while also emphasizing root-cause strategies and regional cooperation; the White House claims reduced irregular migration from parts of Central America under those strategies, but Republican critics and some immigration-focused analysts argue Biden reversed deterrence-focused policies and presided over a border crisis that damaged public confidence [2] [10]. Reporting and oversight hearings reflect sharp partisan disagreement over whether outcomes were policy failures or systemic challenges [10] [2].
7. Institutional and judicial legacy, but limited political durability
Biden appointed a historically diverse federal judiciary and pushed through major domestic bills despite slim congressional margins, accomplishments that will persist institutionally [9] [1]. Still, commentators note that communication problems, questions about age and momentum, and high-priority setbacks left his achievements vulnerable to reversal and helped fuel his electoral defeat, as noted in retrospective coverage [6] [5].
Conclusion: a mixed, consequential presidency
The record combines substantive policy accomplishments—in infrastructure, industry policy, drug pricing, social supports and judicial appointments—with glaring failures and political liabilities in Afghanistan, inflation control, border politics, and messaging; assessments therefore depend heavily on whether one weights durable institutional change and legislation or immediate crises and political consequences more heavily [1] [4] [6].