Biden to sign orders that include moves toward $15 minimum wage for federal workers and contractors

It is currently $7.25 an hour.

The second executive order seeks to provide help in a variety of ways to those who are out of work or struggling to buy food.

"The American people can't afford to wait," said Brian Deese, the National Economic Council director, noting that Census Bureau data shows nearly 30 million people don't always have enough to eat.

His agenda next week includes steps to beef up requirements for the government to purchase goods and services from US companies, a push to eliminate private prisons, reestablishing the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, rescinding the so-called Mexico City policy blocking federal funding for nongovernmental organizations that provide abortion services, and changing border processing and refugee policies as well as establishing a family reunification task force.

Restoring civil service protections

Friday's first executive order will also revoke three executive orders signed by then- President Donald Trump in 2018 that made it easier to terminate federal employees and weaken their labor unions.

Biden's relief measure would extend it through September.

In addition, Biden will ask the Treasury Department to consider taking a series of actions to try to reach the estimated 8 million people who may have missed out on their stimulus payments because they don't normally file taxes.

And the executive order directs the Department of Labor to consider clarifying that unemployed Americans can refuse to take jobs they fear will jeopardize their health and still qualify for unemployment benefits.