The end of 2022 marks the halfway mark in Joe Biden’s first presidential term. At this point in Biden’s service, we have a perfect opportunity to reflect on the events of the last year and see what the administration has accomplished. How has Biden responded to the numerous global and domestic issues of 2022? What promises made by his campaign have been fulfilled? What promises were broken?

To start, in response to the Russian  invasion of Ukraine, the Biden administration collaborated with numerous other NATO and non-NATO countries to levy extreme economic sanctions on Russia. This resulted  in the crippling of Russian financial markets, banks and the country’s economy at large. In addition to the sanctions, the administration has passed through more than $27.4 billion in aid to Ukraine, providing a hand up over the Russian military. Most recently, the administration agreed in late January to send more armored vehicles and weaponry in aid.

The Biden Administration’s response has led to criticism from some who believe the aid could have been better spent. However, the response has also received praise, with others believing the actions were needed not only to protect Ukraine and keep Russia in check but also to send a warning to countries such as China. Supporters hope the U.S.’s actions will show any invasion in a globalized world will inevitably lead to devastating economic and military responses.

A problem affecting all Americans is the wave of inflation that has plagued the U.S. economy since the pandemic. Biden’s signature on theInflation Reduction Act was aimed at investing in deficit reduction, energy security and climate change management. The act was met with great controversy, some saying it did not adequately address inflation and others claiming it did. A key point of contention seemed to be the bill’s focus on climate change, something that further divided political parties’ support and stalled the bill’s enactment.

A notable promise being kept by Biden is his vow to put the U.S. on a course of net zero emissions by 2050– something he has been on track with since rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement.  Biden’s support for large and effective acts that set mandates for corporate business emissions contribute to the positive prospects for this commitment. 

However, there have also been broken promises by Biden’s administration, a prominent one being his commitment to ban new oil fracking on federal lands, something that was undermined by the Department of the Interior’s April 15 announcement that new fracking would occur in eight different U.S. states. Biden has additionally received criticism for a recent scandal after classified documents were discovered in his house. The event is now being investigated, drawing backlash from both sides.

Biden’s halfway mark performance is left to the perspective of the public. Do these actions reflect a good leader or a bad one? Do the pros outweigh the cons, or cons outweigh the pros? These are questions for  future voters to decide, but only after careful consideration of the facts.