President Joe Biden plans to sign an executive order on policing on Wednesday, the second anniversary of George Floyd’s death, three people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.
The order would require federal law enforcement to review and revise policies on use of force, and it would restrict the flow of surplus military equipment to local police. In addition, the order would encourage limitations on chokeholds and no-knock warrants by attaching strings to federal funding.
Biden is expected to sign the order alongside relatives of Floyd, whose killing by Minneapolis police sparked nationwide protests.
The order reflects a less extensive approach than Biden originally wanted because Congress was unable to agree on legislation that would have increased oversight of law enforcement. It is the result of months of negotiations among White House officials, civil rights groups and police organizations.
The administration began working on executive action after bipartisan talks to pass police reform legislation in Congress stalled last year.
Advocates said more needs to be done to enact comprehensive police reform, but applauded President Biden for taking action.
“We know full well that an executive order cannot address America’s policing crisis the same way Congress has the ability to, but we’ve got to do everything we can,” Derrick Johnson, president of the NAACP, said in a statement. “There’s no better way to honor George Floyd’s legacy than for President Biden to take action by signing a police reform executive order.”
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