Biden signs order to increase federal food benefits, among executive actions to stabilize the U.S. economy Jeff Stein and Laura Reiley, The Washington Post Jan. 22, 2021 FacebookTwitterEmail President Biden speaks about the coronavirus pandemic before signing executive orders at the White House on Jan. 21.Washington Post photo by Jabin Botsford. WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden on Friday signed a significant increase in federal food assistance for millions of hungry families and other executive actions intended to stabilize the deterioration of the economy, weighed down by the raging coronavirus pandemic. At a ceremony signing at the White House, Biden touted his $1.9 trillion economic relief measure being debated in Congress, highlighting surprise support from former senior Trump economic adviser Kevin Hassett.