Let's be honest - when you search for "Biden's accomplishments as president", you're probably tired of political spin. You want straight facts about what's changed since January 2021. Maybe you're writing a school paper, prepping for debate night, or just trying to understand where our tax dollars went. Whatever brought you here, I get it. Like that time my neighbor Dave insisted "Biden hasn't done anything!" over barbecue last summer. Made me realize how little most folks actually know about presidential actions beyond headlines.
So here's what we'll do: We'll walk through each major area policy by policy, with dollar amounts and real-world impacts. Not just the White House talking points - we'll look at challenges too. Because honestly? Some things worked better than others.
Economic Moves That Actually Hit Your Wallet
Remember those $1,400 checks? That was just the opening act. The American Rescue Plan (March 2021) was Biden's first big economic play. We're talking $1.9 trillion. Yeah, trillion with a T. Beyond the stimulus payments, it kept childcare centers open and expanded healthcare subsidies. Did it fuel inflation? Economists still debate that, but here's what's undeniable:
- Child poverty dropped over 40% in 2021 (mainly from expanded Child Tax Credit)
- 7.9 million people kept health insurance through COBRA subsidies
- Over 90% of K-12 schools reopened within 5 months
Then came the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (November 2021). This $1.2 trillion package is fixing things we actually see daily. Like when I hit that monstrous pothole on Main Street last month? Crews started repairing it last week. Here's where the money's going:
| Infrastructure Area | Funding Amount | What You'll Notice |
|---|---|---|
| Roads & Bridges | $110 billion | Repairing 65,000+ miles of highways |
| Public Transit | $39 billion | New electric buses in 35+ cities |
| Clean Water | $55 billion | Replacing lead pipes in 400,000+ homes |
| High-Speed Internet | $65 billion | Rural areas finally getting broadband |
The CHIPS Act (August 2022) might sound niche but matters. We're bringing computer chip manufacturing back from Asia. Companies have already pledged $166 billion for new U.S. factories - think Ohio and Arizona. Should create 40,000+ jobs. Still, critics argue subsidies for giant corporations rarely trickle down fairly.
See that construction near the old mall? That's a new semiconductor plant. Local paper says it'll hire 1,800 people. But my cousin's small electronics shop hasn't seen cheaper parts yet. Big investments take years to feel real.
Healthcare Changes Affecting Real People
Healthcare moves don't make flashy headlines but impact millions. Under Biden, more people have coverage than ever before:
- ACA enrollment hit record 16.3 million in 2022
- Insulin capped at $35/month for seniors (Medicare)
- States can now negotiate drug prices for Medicaid
But the Inflation Reduction Act (August 2022) contained healthcare bombshells most missed. Starting next year, Medicare can finally negotiate drug prices. And there's a $2,000 annual cap on out-of-pocket prescription costs for seniors. Grandpa's heart meds won't bankrupt him anymore.
Where Healthcare Falls Short
Let's be real though - my deductible still stings. Biden wanted free community college and lower Medicare eligibility to 60. Those died in Congress. And while insulin got capped for seniors? No luck for my diabetic friend in her 30s paying $300 monthly.
Climate Action You Can Actually See
Biden rejoined the Paris Agreement on day one. But the Inflation Reduction Act became the biggest climate bill in U.S. history. We're talking $370 billion for clean energy. What this means in practical terms:
| Program | Funding | Consumer Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Electric Vehicle Tax Credits | $36 billion | Up to $7,500 off new EVs |
| Home Energy Rebates | $9 billion | $1,750 for heat pumps |
| Solar Tax Credits | $30 billion | 30% system cost reduction |
Already seeing effects. Last month, Georgia broke ground on a solar panel factory employing 2,500 people. And my mechanic says EV repairs now make up 30% of his business versus 5% pre-Biden. Still, climate activists are furious about the Willow oil drilling approval.
Foreign Policy Wins and Stumbles
Biden's biggest foreign policy accomplishment seems clear: strengthening NATO against Russia. After Putin invaded Ukraine, Biden united allies in ways nobody expected:
- Coordinated $113 billion in Ukraine aid
- Got historically neutral Sweden/Finland to join NATO
- Froze $300+ billion in Russian central bank assets
The Afghanistan withdrawal remains the darkest stain though. Thirteen soldiers killed during evacuation. Thousands of Afghan allies abandoned. Even Biden supporters admit this was horribly executed. When those images aired? Felt like national trauma.
China Strategy Shift
Less visible but critical: reshaping China policy. Biden restricted advanced semiconductor exports and boosted Pacific alliances. The AUKUS pact with Australia/UK counters China's naval expansion. Smart strategy? Maybe. But my nephew's manufacturing job relies on Chinese trade. These moves make businesses nervous.
Social Policies Changing Daily Life
Biden's accomplishments include quiet reforms with big impacts:
- Appointed Ketanji Brown Jackson - first Black female Supreme Court justice
- Canceled $132 billion in student debt (before Supreme Court blocked wider relief)
- Expanded veterans' healthcare for burn pit exposure
- Passed first major gun safety law in 28 years (enhanced background checks)
That gun law? Doesn't go nearly as far as activists wanted. But since it passed, over 200 illegal gun sales got stopped during background checks. Feels incremental until you meet parents from Uvalde.
My VA hospital finally has funding for the burn pit clinic they promised for years. Small win? Tell that to my brother-in-law coughing since Iraq.
Top 5 Most Impactful Biden Achievements (So Far)
Based on funding, reach, and long-term consequences:
- Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act - Fixing things we use daily
- Inflation Reduction Act - Climate + healthcare game changer
- American Rescue Plan - Pandemic economic lifeline
- CHIPS Act - Reshoring critical manufacturing
- PACT Act - Biggest veterans' healthcare expansion ever
Honest Questions Americans Are Asking
Q: Did Biden create more jobs than Trump?
A: Technically yes - over 13 million jobs added since 2021 versus Trump's 6.6 million pre-pandemic. But context matters. Many were post-COVID reopenings.
Q: Why do I still struggle with inflation?
A: Pandemic supply chain mess + Ukraine war spiked prices globally. Recent drops (from 9% to 3.4% inflation) don't erase earlier pain. My grocery bill proves it.
Q: Is my student debt getting canceled?
A: For about 4 million public workers/defrauded students? Yes. Wider forgiveness got axed by courts. New repayment plans (SAVE) cap payments at 5% of income though.
Q: What happened to "Build Back Better"?
A> It got chopped into pieces. Major chunks passed (climate, drug prices) as the Inflation Reduction Act. Free community college and paid leave didn't survive.
Where Biden's Presidency Still Struggles
No honest review of Biden's accomplishments ignores the rough patches:
- Border crisis continues: Record migrant encounters (2.5 million in 2023)
- Crime concerns linger: Though murder rates dropped 12.8% in 2023
- Age questions persist: 81% in NBC poll worry about his fitness
And honestly? The communication fails baffle me. Why not shout about replacing toxic lead pipes from every rooftop? Instead we hear partisan bickering. Feels like opportunities missed.
Final Reality Check
Love him or hate him, Biden's policy footprint is massive. We're rebuilding roads, capping insulin prices, and shifting energy policy for decades. No president since LBJ has passed so many major bills in one term.
But big government spending comes with trade-offs. Inflation hit hard. Border security worsened. And some promises remain unfulfilled. When assessing Biden's accomplishments as president, it's both/and - historic legislation alongside real shortcomings.
What stays with me? Driving past infrastructure projects that wouldn't exist otherwise. Hearing veterans finally get burn pit care. Seeing solar panels go up in coal country. Policy isn't abstract - it's new jobs, safer bridges, cheaper medicines. That's the tangible impact of Biden's years in office, like them or not.