Biden’s Final Days in Office

In the weeks leading up to President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, about 10 inches of snow fell on Washington, D.C. Many schools closed. Untreated sidewalks iced over.

Now, much of the snow in the nation’s capital has congealed into a dispiriting gray muck — a fitting symbol of the vibe veteran photographer Stephen Voss captured in the city during the final lap of Joe Biden’s presidency. In November, 92 percent of D.C. voters cast their lot with Kamala Harris.

Biden, who once described himself as a “bridge” to the next generation, came into office following Trump in the middle of a global pandemic and amid a great racial reckoning. Now, Trump is poised to take office once again in a post-pandemic nation riven by partisan differences.

Voss, who also chronicled Biden’s first 100 days four years ago, traveled around the city and through the halls of Congress — shooting contentious Cabinet hearings, a memorial for Hamas hostages, flags flying at half-mast in honor of former President Jimmy Carter — encapsulating the essence of a city in a crestfallen mood.

Preparations are underway around Washington as the city awaits the swearing-in of President-elect Donald Trump. It’s been a peaceful transfer of power to a new administration.

Biden, who has been in politics for over 50 years, is no stranger to Washington. However, high inflation, doubts about his age and a disappointing debate performance last summer soured the public’s perception of him. Now, as his presidency winds down, local gift sellers are putting Biden/Harris souvenirs on sale, making room for new Trump merchandise.

While it’s business as usual on the Hill as Congress holds hearings for Trump’s Cabinet picks, those nominees are promising they won’t be serving up business as usual in Washington. Many don’t have high-level experience in the areas they’ll be overseeing if they’re confirmed. Others have made bold proclamations about gutting the federal workforce.

Although the lights are fading on Biden’s time in the White House, the president’s schedule has been filled with ceremonial duties. He gave the eulogy at Carter’s funeral, declared two national monuments in California, brokered a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas, and gave his “final address” from the Oval Office, where he warned Americans of a “dangerous concentration of power” moving into Washington.

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