Barack Obama, as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017, accomplished significant reforms and actions across domestic and foreign policy: Domestic Policy:
- Signed the Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare"), a landmark health care reform expanding coverage to millions of Americans
- Passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in 2009, a $787 billion stimulus to combat the Great Recession, creating jobs and supporting economic recovery
- Enacted the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act to regulate financial institutions and prevent future crises
- Repealed "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," allowing LGBT individuals to serve openly in the military
- Signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to address wage discrimination
- Expanded the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage
- Implemented new ethics guidelines to reduce lobbyist influence and signed executive orders banning torture and restricting lobbying
- Advocated for gun control measures, including executive orders after the Sandy Hook shooting to impose background checks and limit assault weapons
- Promoted LGBT rights, becoming the first sitting president to publicly support same-sex marriage
- Took steps on climate change, including signing the Paris Agreement and limiting carbon emissions through executive orders
- Reformed immigration enforcement programs and lifted some travel restrictions to Cuba
Foreign Policy:
- Ended U.S. military involvement in the Iraq War and reduced troop levels in Afghanistan while continuing counterterrorism efforts
- Ordered Operation Neptune Spear, the raid that killed Osama bin Laden in 2011
- Authorized drone strikes against terrorist targets, including Anwar al-Awlaki in Yemen
- Led the 2011 military intervention in Libya, contributing to the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi
- Negotiated the Iran nuclear deal (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action)
- Normalized diplomatic relations with Cuba
- Imposed sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine and interference in U.S. elections
Other Notable Actions:
- Nominated Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court, diversifying the judiciary
- Signed the Budget Control Act to address the national debt ceiling and avoid default
- Awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize for efforts in international diplomacy
Overall, Obama's presidency was marked by efforts to recover the economy, reform healthcare and financial systems, advance civil rights, and pursue a pragmatic foreign policy focused on counterterrorism and diplomacy
