Aftermath of the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol
Events by month[]
January[]
January 20: Joe Biden becomes the 46th U.S. President.
January 20: Kamala Harris becomes the 49th U.S. Vice President.
January 1
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States: The United States surpasses 20million cases of COVID-19.[1]
The U.S. Senate votes 81–13 for the National Defense Authorization Act 2021, overriding a veto by President Donald Trump for the only time in his presidency.[2]
Montana Initiative 190 comes into effect, making Montana the 13th state to legalize recreational cannabis.[3][4]
All books and films published in 1925 enter the public domain in the United States.[5]
January 2 – COVID-19 pandemic: New York becomes the fourth state to surpass one million COVID-19 cases, following Texas, California, and Florida.[6]
January 3 – The Washington Post publishes an audio recording of President Donald Trump urging Georgia Secretary of StateBrad Raffensperger to change the state's 2020 presidential election results in his favor.[7]
Two runoff elections are held in Georgia to decide U.S. Senate seats, with incumbent Senator Kelly LoefflerfacingRaphael Warnock and Senator David PerduefacingJon Ossoff.
President Donald Trump signs an executive order barring transactions with eight Chinese software applications, including Alipay, WeChat Pay, and Tencent QQ.[9]
January 6
Five people die and at least 56 police officers and five civilians are injured after supporters of President Donald Trump storm the United States Capitol, forcing Congress to evacuate.[10] Congress reconvenes and formally certifies Joe Biden as the next President of the United States on the morning of January 7.[11] President Trump formally concedes to an orderly transitionof power to Joe Biden.[12]
During the Electoral College vote count, Senator Ted Cruz and RepresentativePaul Gosar object to Arizona's election results, the first time a vote is forced to accept or reject the objection since 2004.[13][14] Representative Scott Perry and Senator Josh Hawley subsequently object to Pennsylvania's election results.
January 7
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk becomes the world's richest person, with a net worth exceeding $185billion, surpassing Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos.[15]
Facebook indefinitely bans President Donald Trump from all of its platforms, citing his role in the January 6 Capitol riot.[16]Twitter permanently suspends Trump's personal account the next day, January 8.[17]
Betsy DeVos resigns as Education Secretary in protest of President Trump's role in the January 6 Capitol riot.[18]
January 8
Amid an industry crackdown on extremist content following the January 6 Capitol riot, Google removes the mobile app of social networking service Parler from Google Play.[19]Apple suspends the app from its App Store the next day, January 9.[20] Parler goes offline a day later, January 10, when Amazon ceases to provide its cloud computing services.[21]
After 36 years, Alex Trebek's final episode of Jeopardy! airs. Ken Jennings becomes the temporary host on January 11 as the search for a new permanent host continues.[22]
January 11 – Alabama Crimson Tide football head coach Nick Sabansurpasses former head coach Bear Bryant for most national titles won in college football history, seven total, following a 52-24 win over the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2021 CFB National Championship.[24]
January 13
Donald Trump becomes the first U.S. president to be impeached for a second time, following a 232–197 vote in the House of Representatives.[25]
Former Governor of MichiganRick Snyder is charged with two counts of willful neglect of duty in connection with the Flint water crisis. Former state health director Nick Lyon and many others are also charged.[26]
Lisa Marie Montgomery is executed by the federal government, the first female federal inmate to be executed since 1953.[27]
COVID-19 pandemic: The NHL's shortened2020–21 season begins, running for 56 games per team and ending on May 8.[28]
January 14 – COVID-19 pandemic: Texas becomes the first state to administer one million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.[29]
January 15 – The National Rifle Association files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and announces plans to reincorporate in Texas.[30]
January 16
Dustin Higgs is executed by the federal government, becoming the 13th and final person to be executed by the Trump administration.[31]
President-elect Joe Biden announces he will elevate the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to a Cabinet-level position, making its nominated director Eric Lander the first biologist in the Cabinet, if confirmed by the U.S. Senate.[32]
January 17 – Riley June Williams, a 22-year-old woman suspected of stealing House SpeakerNancy Pelosi's laptop during the January 6 Capitol riot, is charged by the FBI with intent to sell the device to Russian foreign intelligence services.[33]
January 18
Vice President-electKamala Harris resigns from her U.S. Senate seat. Her chosen successor, former CaliforniaSecretary of StateAlex Padilla, will become the first Latino to represent California in the Senate.[34]
The 1776 Report is released by the 1776 Commission.[35]
On his final full day in office, President Trump issues pardons for 144 people.[37]
New York State Office of Court Administration employee Brendan Hunt is arrested by the FBI for encouraging public executions of members of the U.S. Congress on social media.[38]
January 20
Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th President of the United States. Kamala Harris becomes the first woman, first Asian American, and first African American to become Vice President of the United States.[39] Donald Trump becomes the first outgoing president to boycott his successor's inauguration since Andrew Johnson in 1869.[40]
President Biden signs his first executive orders reversing several Trump administration actions, including rejoining the Paris Agreement and the World Health Organization, repealing the 2017 travel bans, ending funding for the United States–Mexico border wall, and revoking the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline.[41]
January 21 – The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves Cabenuva as a complete regimen for the treatment of HIV/AIDS.[42][43]
January 22 – Recreational cannabis sales begin in Arizona.[44]
The Tampa Bay Buccaneersadvance to Super Bowl LV after a 31–26 victory against the Green Bay Packers, the first time an NFL team will play the Super Bowl on their home field.[46]
January 25
President Biden repeals the Trump administration's ban on transgender personnel in the military.[47]
COVID-19 pandemic: Minnesota reports the first national case of the Lineage P.1variant of SARS-CoV-2.[48]
Dominion Voting Systems sues former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, accusing him of defamation during the 2020 presidential election.[49]
January 26
COVID-19 pandemic: The Biden administration announces it will purchase 200million COVID-19 vaccine doses from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna, in addition to the prior order of 400million.[50]
January 27
The U.S. Army announces new personal grooming and appearance standards, relaxing rules regarding makeup and jewelry and allowing for more diverse hairstyles.[51]
President Biden signs a series of executive orders regarding climate change, including halting new oil and gas leases on public lands, procuring an all-electric federal vehicle fleet, and doubling offshore wind power by 2030.[52]
One of the 14 men accused in the Gretchen Whitmer kidnapping plot pleads guilty and agrees to testify against his co-defendants, with sentencing set for July 8.[53]
Investment funds report major losses after video game retailer GameStop's stock prices rise 900 times their record low.[54] The next day, January 28, financial services company Robinhood restricts the trade of stocks of several companies, including GameStop, triggering outrage online.
January 31 – February 3 – A major winter storm strikes the Northeastern United States, bringing nearly 3 feet (0.91 m) of snow to some areas, causing over 575,000 power outages, and killing six people.[55]
February[]
February 1
Oregon Measure 110 comes into effect, making Oregon the first state to decriminalize the possession of small quantities of all illicit drugs.[56]
Actress Evan Rachel Wood alleges that Marilyn Mansonsexually abused and groomed her as a teenager. Four other women make similar claims while Manson denies the allegations.[57] The next day, February 2, Manson is dropped by his record label, Loma Vista Recordings, and removed from two TV shows: American Gods and Creepshow.[58][59]
February 2
2021 Sunrise, Florida shootout: During the service of a warrant, a suspect kills two FBI agents and injures three others before barricading himself inside his home. He is later found dead, reportedly from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.[60] The shootout was the most violent incident in the FBI's history since 1986.[61]
The United States Senate votes 50–49 to pass a budget resolution that would allow Democrats to pass President Biden's $1.9 trillion relief package without support from Republicans.[62] Three days later, February 5, the Senate passes a $1.9 trillion budget for COVID-19 relief. The 50-50 tie-breaker vote is broken by Vice President Kamala Harris.[63]
Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos steps down after more than 26 years to focus on Blue Origin and names Amazon Web Services CEO Andy Jassy as his successor.[64]
February 4
The United States House of Representatives votes 230-199 to remove Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) from her assignments on the Education and Labor and Budget committees and following controversial comments made about the mass shootings in Parkland and Sandy Hook, as well as calling for violence towards Democrats, and the support of numerous conspiracy theories such as QAnon.[65]
Smartmatic files a $2.7billion defamation lawsuit against the Fox Corporation and its cable news hosts Lou Dobbs, Jeanine Pirro, and Maria Bartiromo as well as frequent guests and ex-President Donald Trump's former lawyers Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell, who spread false conspiracy theories about them after the 2020 United States presidential election.[66]
February 5
U.S. RepsAndrew Clyde (R-GA) and Louie Gohmert (R-TX) are fined $5,000 for refusing to go through the metal detectors outside the House chamber.[67]
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves Breyanzi to treat large B-cell lymphoma.[68]
February 7
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers win Super Bowl LV, defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 31–9, making them the first wildcard team to win the Super Bowl since the 2010 Green Bay Packers and the first to win it in their home stadium.[69]
U.S. RepRon Wright (R-TX) passes away at the age of 67 after contracting COVID-19, making him the first sitting member of Congress to die of the disease.[70]
February 8 – South Dakota Constitutional Amendment A, which would have legalized recreational cannabis in South Dakota on July 1, is struck down as unconstitutional by judge Christina Klinger.[71]
February 9
The second impeachment trial of Donald Trump begins.[72] He is acquitted four days later, February 13 with a 57–43 vote in the Senate, ten votes short of the required two-thirds majority for conviction.[73]
President Biden terminates the national emergency declaration on the US-Mexico border which President Trump had used to pay for his wall.[75]
In Fort Worth, Texas, at six people are killed in an accident involving 133 vehicles on Interstate 35W, affected by weather conditions left by a snowstorm system.[76]
February 12
The United States Senate votes by unanimous consent to award United States Capitol Police officer Eugene Goodman the Congressional Gold Medal for keeping rioters away from the Senate chamber during the storming of the United States Capitol.[77]
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves Cosela as the first therapy in its class to reduce the frequency of chemotherapy-induced bone marrow suppression.[78]
February 15 – House SpeakerNancy Pelosi announces that Congress will establish a 9/11-styled commission to investigate the January 6 riot at the United States Capitol.[79]
February 13–17 – A major winter storm kills 58 people in the United States (and 12 in Mexico) and causes over 9,724,000 power outages across 13 states in the Midwest and Southwest, with Southwest Power Pool declaring an "energy emergency".[80][81][82]
February 17
COVID-19 pandemic: North Dakota confirms their first case of the UK variant of SARS-CoV-2.[83]
The former Trump Plaza hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey is demolished in a controlled implosion.[84]
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves the Patient Specific Talus Spacer 3D-printed talus implant for humanitarian use. The Patient Specific Talus Spacer is the first in the world and first-of-its-kind implant to replace the talus—the bone in the ankle joint.[85]
February 18 – NASA successfully lands its Perseverance rover on Mars, seven months after launching.[86]
February 19 – The U.S. officially rejoins the Paris Agreement, 107 days after leaving.[87]
February 22
Enabling legislation for New Jersey Public Question 1 is signed into law by governor Phil Murphy, making New Jersey the 14th state to legalize recreational cannabis.[88]
The Supreme Court rejects a last-ditch attempt by Donald Trump to shield his financial records, and issues an order requiring his accountants to turn over his tax and other records to prosecutors in New York.[89]
Dominion Voting Systems sues Mike Lindell for $1.3billion for defamation, claiming he spread false conspiracy theories about them after the 2020 presidential election.[90]
COVID-19 pandemic – The United States surpasses 500,000 deaths from COVID-19. In response, President Biden orders flags to fly at half-mast for five days.[91][92]
2021 Cameron, Texas explosion – an 18-wheeler hits a freight train, causing a fire that burns down a nearby structure.[94]
February 24 – COVID-19 pandemic: Johnson & Johnson's vaccine candidate receives emergency use authorization from the FDA. The single-shot vaccine is 66% effective in combating the virus and can be stored in regular, unspecialized refrigerators.[95]
February 25
COVID-19 pandemic: The number of vaccines administered in the United States exceeds 50million.[96]
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves Amondys 45 for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. This is the first FDA-approved targeted treatment for people with the exon 45 skipping mutation.[97]
February 26
Washington's felony drug possession law is struck down as unconstitutional by the Washington Supreme Court, making Washington the 2nd state (after Oregon) to remove criminal penalties for possession of illicit drugs.[98]
Representative Paul Gosar and former RepresentativeSteve King[99] attend The America First Political Action Conference, whose organizer is Nick Fuentes. Gosar's attendance was the subject of controversy.[100][101][102]
February 27
The House of Representatives passes the American Rescue Plan Act, President Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package. It will next be sent to the Senate.[103]
Virginia's legislature passes an adult-use cannabis legalization law, though the law (including both retail sales and simple possession) initially did not come into effect until 2024.[104] It is later amended to legalize cannabis possession in Virginia beginning on July 1, 2021, while keeping the original 2024 retail sales start date.[105]
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is accused of sexual harassment by a second former aide to the governor Charlotte Bennett after alleging that he harassed her late last spring, during the height of the state's fight against the coronavirus.[106]
March[]
March 2
A major car crash in Imperial County, California kills 13 people and injures 13 others.[107]
COVID-19 pandemic
Against CDC warnings, Texas Governor Greg Abbott lifts the statewide mask requirement and allows businesses to open at 100% capacity beginning March 10.[108]
Oregon reports its first cases of the Lineage P.1 variant in two people from Douglas County who previously traveled to Brazil.[109]
March 5
COVID-19 pandemic
Illinois reports its first case of the Lineage P.1 variant first detected in Brazil in a person from Chicago.[110]
Tennessee reports its first case of the 501.V2 variant first detected in South Africa.[111]
March 6 – The Senate passes the American Rescue Plan Act, President Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package.[112]
March 7 – March 2021 Hawaii floods – Floods in Hawaii leave one missing, destroy six homes, force evacuations, and leave 1,300 without electricity.[113]
March 8
Missouri Senator Roy Blunt announces he will not run for re-election in 2022.[114]
The murder trial for Derek Chauvin, a former police officer involved in the killing of George Floyd last May, begins with jury selection.[115][116]
COVID-19 pandemic
Hawaii reports its first case of South Africa's 501.V2 variant in an Oahu resident with no travel history.[117]
Michigan reports its first case of the 501.V2 variant in a child from Jackson County.[118]
March 10
COVID-19 pandemic
Michigan surpasses 600,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19.[119]
New Jersey reports its first case of 501.V2 variant first detected in South Africa.[120]
The United States House of Representatives votes 220–211 to pass the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The stimulus bill was signed into law by President Biden the next day.[121]
Cannabis in South Dakota
Attorneys defending Amendment A, which would have legalized cannabis in the state on July 1 before being struck down by a lower court judge, submit their arguments to the South Dakota Supreme Court.[122]
An attempt to delay the effective date of South Dakota's medical cannabis law from July 2021 until January 2022 fails due to disagreements between the South Dakota House and Senate on the proposed legislation.[123]
March 11
COVID-19 pandemic
Minnesota reports its first case of the South African 501.V2 variant of COVID-19. The patient is a person from the Twin Cities area who became ill on January 24 and tested positive on January 29.[124]
Washington reports its first case of the Lineage P.1 variant of SARS-CoV-2, which originated in Brazil. The patient is a person from the King County.[125]
South Dakota reports its first case of the Lineage B.1.1.7 variant of SARS-CoV-2, which originated in the United Kingdom.[126]
March 12
The family of George Floyd, the man killed while in police custody last May, sparking nationwide (and later worldwide) protests against police brutality and systemic racism, settles their lawsuit against the city of Minneapolis for $27million.[127]
COVID-19 pandemic
COVID-19 vaccination in the United States: The U.S. surpasses 100million COVID-19 vaccine doses administered.[128]
Arizona reports its first three cases of the Lineage P.1 variant, which originated in Brazil.[129]
March 14 – Marvin Scott[130] died on March 14, 2021 in police custody at a correctional facility in McKinney, Texas.[131][132]
March 14–15 – A blizzard in Colorado brings over 24.1 inches (61 cm) of snow, passing a record of 23.8 inches (60 cm) set in 1982, to become the fourth largest recorded snowfall in Denver history and the largest since 2003 when the city received 31.8 inches (81 cm). It also leaves tens of thousands of people without power and some stranded in their cars after roads are closed.[133] In Wyoming, over 31 inches (79 cm) were received in Cheyenne, and 52.5 inches (133 cm) in the Laramie Range.[134]
March 15 – Three people are killed and one injured when a small plane crashes in Pembroke Pines, Florida.[135]
March 16
COVID-19 pandemic: Massachusetts confirms its first case of the Lineage P.1 variant that originated in Brazil.[136]
2021 Atlanta spa shootings – Eight people are killed and one is injured in a trio of shootings at spas in the Metro Atlanta, Georgia area. A suspect is arrested 150 miles south of Atlanta later that day and charged with eight counts of murder and one count of attempted murder two days later, March 18.[137][138]
March 17
The IRS announces that the deadline for Tax Day will be postponed to May 17.[139]
COVID-19 pandemic: North Dakota confirms its first four cases of the California variant of SARS-CoV-2. Additionally, seven cases of the UK variant are also confirmed.[140]
March 18–19 – The U.S. and China hold talks in Alaska to discuss relations, with topics ranging from Taiwanese security to Black Lives Matter.[141]
March 19 – COVID-19 pandemic – Mississippi reports its first case of the 501.V2 variant, which was originally detected in South Africa, in a person in Harrison County.[142]
March 22 – 2021 Boulder shooting: 10 people are shot dead at a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado. It is the third deadliest mass shooting in the state's history, behind the 1999 Columbine High School massacre which left 13 dead and 24 injured, and the 2012 Aurora theater shooting which left 12 dead and 70 injured.[144] A 21-year-old suspect, Ahmad Al Issa, is arrested after being shot in the leg by police.[145]
March 24
COVID-19 pandemic: Georgia reports its first case of the Lineage P.1 variant, which was originally detected in Brazil. It was found in a resident in Newton County.[146]
COVID-19 pandemic: More than 30million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States.[147]
March 25
Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: The Senate votes 92–7 to pass the Paycheck Protection Program Extension Act of 2021, a bill that would extend the Paycheck Protection Program until May 31. President Biden signed the bill into law on March 30.[148][149]
Tornadoes in Alabama kill five people, destroy several homes, and cause thousands of power outages.[150]
The North Dakota state senate rejects a bill to legalize recreational cannabis in the state by a 10-37 vote.[151]
March 26
COVID-19 pandemic
Maine reports its first case of the Lineage P.1 variant, which was originally detected in Brazil.[152]
Wisconsin confirms their first cases of the Lineage P.1 and 501.V2 variants of SARS-CoV-2.[153]
Arizona reports its first case of the 501.V2 variant, which was originally detected in South Africa.[154]
New Jersey amends its alcohol and cannabis laws to allow police to notify parents or guardians after a first-time offense by a minor, following strong opposition to the prohibition on first-time notifications implemented when New Jersey legalized cannabis the previous month.[155]
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves Abecma to treat multiple myeloma. Abecma is the first cell-based gene therapy approved by the FDA for the treatment of multiple myeloma.[156]
March 29
In Minnesota, opening statements begin at the trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin, who is accused of murdering 46-year-old black man George Floyd by kneeling on his neck.[157]
The Arkansas Senate passes HB1570, a bill prohibiting access to gender-affirming care for transgender minors, including reversible puberty blockers and hormones.[158]
A judge orders three men charged with plotting to kidnapMichigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer to stand trial, after a three-day preliminary hearing. Threat of terrorism charges are also dismissed against two of the defendants.[159]
Killing of Adam Toledo – A 13-year-old Latino boy, Adam Toledo, is shot and killed by an officer of the Chicago Police Department.[160][161]
March 30 – Both houses of the New York State Legislature pass a bill to legalize recreational cannabis in New York, which, upon being signed by governor Andrew Cuomo the following day, made New York the 15th state to legalize recreational cannabis.[162]
March 31
2021 Orange, California office shooting – Four people are killed and two others, including the suspect, are injured in a shooting at an office building.[163]
President Biden unveils a $2 trillion infrastructure plan.[164][165]
Governor Greg Gianforte signs a bill that bans Sanctuary cities in the state of Montana into law.[166][167][168] Montana becomes the 13th state to ban sanctuary cities.
April[]
April 2
April 2021 United States Capitol car attack: The Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. is placed under lockdown after a suspect rams a car into a barricade on Constitution Avenue and exits the vehicle holding a knife. Two police officers are injured in the attack and taken to a hospital, where one dies from his injuries. The suspect is killed by Capitol Police.[169]
COVID-19 vaccination – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that over 100million people have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.[170]
April 6
COVID-19 pandemic
COVID-19 vaccination – President Biden announces that the deadline for all states to make all adults eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine will be moved up from May 1 to April 19.[171]
Colorado reports their first cases of the Lineage P.1 variant of SARS-CoV-2 in two people from Boulder County.[172]
Transgender discrimination – The state of Arkansas becomes the first state to ban surgery, hormones and puberty blockers for transgender youths.[173][174]
April 7
COVID-19 pandemic – Oklahoma surpasses 8,000 deaths from COVID-19.[175]
2021 Rock Hill shooting – Five people are killed, and one seriously wounded by gunshots at a house in Rock Hill, South Carolina. The shooter, former NFL cornerback Phillip Adams, later committed suicide.[176]
April 9
President Biden requests Congress to authorize a $1.5 trillion federal spending plan in 2022, which includes an emphasis on public health, as well as major increase in science and research funding.[177]
The U.S. House Ethics Committee announces that they have opened an investigation into Rep.Matt Gaetz (R - FL) over sexual misconducts and federal sex-trafficking.[178]
During his show, Tucker Carlson argued that the Democratic Party "is trying to replace the current electorate, the voters now casting ballots, with new people, more obedient voters from the Third World". He also said, "Everyone wants to make a racial issue out of it, 'Ooh, the white replacement theory.' No, no, no, this is a voting rights question. I have less political power because they are importing a brand-new electorate. Why should I sit back and take that?" The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and others said that Carlson was endorsing the Great Replacement, a white nationalist conspiracy theory that claims white people are being systemically replaced through declining white birth rates and high rates of immigration.[179][180] In an open letter to Fox News, ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt called for the network to fire Carlson.[179]
April 11
Killing of Daunte Wright – Police in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis, kill a Black man during an attempted arrest following a traffic stop, leading to rioting and looting in the city in the subsequent days.[181][182] The protests later spread to the surrounding area and other cities and states, as far away as Portland, Oregon.[183] The suspect, Officer Kim Potter, later resigned and was charged with second-degree manslaughter.[184]
COVID-19 pandemic – California surpasses 60,000 deaths from COVID-19.[185]
April 12
COVID-19 drug development – The U.S. government terminates a deal with Eli Lilly & Co. for 350,856 remaining doses of the single antibody bamlanivimab that were scheduled to be delivered by the end of March. The deal will instead be focused on a supply of combined antibodies with etesevimab.[186]
Microsoft announces the $20billion acquisition of AI firm Nuance Communications, the second largest deal in its history, after LinkedIn in 2016.[187]
April 15
Chicago police release graphic footage of an officer shooting dead 13-year-old Adam Toledo in a dark alley.[188]
Indianapolis FedEx shooting: Nine people are killed, including the shooter, and seven injured, in a mass shooting at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis.[189]
April 16
The media reports that U.S. Republican Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Paul Gosar are forming the America First Caucus.[190][191] It is scrapped within a day, following criticism from other GOP members.[192]
COVID-19 drug development: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revokes the emergency use authorization (EUA) for bamlanivimab.[193]
COVID-19 pandemic
Virginia reports its first two cases of the Lineage P.1 variant, which was originally detected in Brazil.[194]
Michigan extends their restrictions on gatherings and dining to May 24 amid a rise of cases. The state also expands their mask mandate to children ages 2–4 years.[195]
The number of vaccines administered in the United States exceeds 200million.[196]
April 18 – COVID-19 vaccination: The CDC reports that over 50% of Americans have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. At least 130 million adults have received the first dose, while 84 million adults have also received the second dose.[197]
April 20 – Trial of Derek Chauvin: Derek Chauvin is found guilty on all counts in the murder of George Floyd.[198]
April 21
COVID-19 pandemic
Michigan surpasses 800,000 confirmed cases and 17,000 confirmed deaths.[199]
South Dakota confirms their first case of the Lineage P.1 variant in Pennington County.[200]
April 22 – President Biden pledges to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030 compared to 2005 levels.[201]
April 24
A runoff election is held in its Louisiana's 2nd congressional district vacant since Representative Cedric Richmond resigned to become the Director of the Office of Public Liaison and an advisor to President Biden. Troy Carter wins with 48,511 of the 87,806 votes cast (55.25%).[202]
A viral Internet meme encourages users named Josh Swain to compete at an event in Lincoln, Nebraska and battle for the right to use the name Josh Swain. The event draws a crowd of several hundred people, and raises over $8,000 in charity.[203]
April 25 – The 93rd Academy Awards, the third in a row with no official host,[204] are held at both Union Station and Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.[205] Due to the ceremony's delay from February 28 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cinema, films from two calendar years were eligible at the same point, with the cut-off date being the intended original Awards date.[206]Chloé Zhao's Nomadland wins three awards, including Best Picture, Best Director and Frances McDormand for Best Actress. David Fincher's Mank leads the nominations with ten, while Anthony Hopkins wins Best Actor for The Father (becoming the oldest winner in an acting category), Daniel KaluuyaBest Supporting Actor for Judas and the Black Messiah and Youn Yuh-jungBest Supporting Actress for Minari.[207] Keeping in line with other award ceremonies reporting viewership declines, the telecast garners 10.4 million viewers according to Nielsen estimates, down 56% from the previous year and making the broadcast by far the lowest-rated in Oscar history.[208]
April 26 – COVID-19 pandemic – The CDC says that fully vaccinated Americans can go outside without wearing a mask unless they are in large crowds.[209]
April 27 – COVID-19 pandemic – Colorado surpasses 500,000 cases of COVID-19.[210]
April 28
2021 Joe Biden speech to a joint session of Congress: On the eve of his 100th day in office, President Biden gives his first address to a joint session of Congress encouraging them to pass $4 trillion worth of spending bills, including the American Jobs Plan and the American Families Plan, both part of his Build Back Better Plan.[211]
The South Dakota Supreme Court hears oral arguments on an appeal of a ruling which struck down South Dakota Amendment A, which would have legalized recreational cannabis in the state on July 1, 2021.[212]
April 30
COVID-19 pandemic
Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic – The White House announces the U.S. will begin restricting travel from India starting May 4 due to rising cases of the Lineage B.1.617 which originated in the latter country.[213]
Michigan reports its first case of Lineage B.1.617, first discovered in India, in a person from Clinton County.[214]
May[]
May 1 – Lubbock, Texas votes to become the largest city in U.S. to ban abortion with the "sanctuary city for the unborn".[215][216][217]
May 4 – COVID-19 pandemic – Michigan relaxes several restrictions regarding face mask requirements and outdoor gatherings.[218]
May 5 – South Carolina House votes to add firing squad to execution methods; South Carolina would become the fourth state to use firing squad after Mississippi, Oklahoma and Utah.[219]
May 7 – Colonial Pipeline cyberattack: An oil pipeline in Houston is hacked by DarkSide causing the pipeline operator to shut down its entire network, the source of nearly half of the U.S. East Coast’s fuel supply.[220]
May 9 – 2021 Colorado Springs shooting: Seven people are shot dead at a birthday party in Colorado Springs, Colorado.[221]
May 11 – The Colonial Pipeline shutdown enters its fifth day. Panic buying by motorists causes many eastern seaboard gas stations to begin running dry. U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm urges calm and to not hoard.[223]
May 12
Colonial Pipeline begins restarting, but warns that it will take several days for things to return to normal operations.[224]
COVID-19 vaccination – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) adopts the FDA recommendation to provide the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine to adolescents aged 12–15 years old.[225]
May 13 – COVID-19 pandemic – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that all "fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance".[226][227]
May 14
Colonial Pipeline operations return to normal late in the day, but gas outages at retail stations will take several days to clear.[228]
Transgender discrimination – Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signs a public school "bathroom bill" into law. The legislation denies transgender students and staff in public schools access to facilities aligning with their gender identity.[229]
May 17
Former Matt Gaetz associate Joel Greenberg pleads guilty to six charges of sex trafficking.[230]
The State Department tells Americans not to travel to Japan due to a spike in COVID-19 cases there.[232]
Delaware reports their first case of the Lineage B.1.617 variant that originated in India.[233]
A suspicious package is sent to the home of U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY). The incident is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and United States Capitol Police.[234]
May 25
2021 George Floyd protests
New York City MayoralcandidateShaun Donovan is arrested during a protest near the Holland Tunnel.[235]
Protests break out across the country to mark the first anniversary of the killing of George Floyd.[236]
Manhattan District AttorneyCyrus Vance Jr. announces that he has convened a grand jury in his criminal investigation into former President Trump over his real estate business, as well as the Trump Organization.[237][238]
COVID-19 pandemic
COVID-19 vaccination – The CDC announces that 50% of the American adult population has been fully vaccinated.[239]
COVID-19 vaccines – Moderna says that their vaccine is 100% effective in teenagers between the ages of 12 and 17 years old. They say that they will seek approval from the FDA in early June.[240]
Michigan surpasses 19,000 confirmed deaths from COVID-19.[241]
May 26 – 2021 San Jose shooting: A mass shooting occurs at a Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority rail yard in San Jose, California, leaving ten people dead, including the gunman who committed suicide.[242]
May 27 – The Department of Energy launches Perlmutter, the world's fastest AI-specialized supercomputer, with four exaflops of performance.[243]
May 30
2021 Hialeah shooting: A mass shooting in Hialeah, Florida leaves two dead and 20 injured.[244]
JBS S.A. cyberattack: A ransomware cyberattack hits several beef processing plants and slaughterhouses in Utah, Texas, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania. Russian firm REvil has been accused of being the perpetrators of the attack.[245]
June[]
June 1
A firefighter is killed and another injured in a shooting at a Los Angeles County Fire Department station in Santa Clarita.[246]
A special election is held in New Mexico to fill a vacancy in its 1st congressional district left by Deb Haaland when she resigned to become President Biden's Secretary of the Interior. Democrat Melanie Stansbury wins with 79,837 of the 132,262 votes cast (60.36%).[247]
COVID-19 pandemic
COVID-19 vaccines – Moderna seeks full approval from the FDA for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.[248]
Michigan lifts several face mask requirements at outdoor gatherings and loosens them at indoor gatherings and businesses. Fully vaccinated people are allowed to not wear masks in public, but unvaccinated and partially vaccinated people are still required to do so.[249]
June 2 – Paul Allard Hodgkins, a Tampa man who was seen in the U.S. Senate chamber chamber during the January 6 riot at the United States Capitol, pleads guilty, making him the second suspect to do so after Jon Schaffer.[250]
June 3 – The FBI announces that it has opened an investigation into Postmaster GeneralLouis DeJoy over campaign fundraising.[251]
June 4
Facebook's Oversight Board announces its ban on former President Donald Trump's personal account will last until January 2023. Trump was originally banned for posting a message supportive of the 2021 United States Capitol attack.[252] It also announces that it will no longer grant blanket immunity to politicians who use its service, especially if their posts are deemed to be deceptive or abusive.[253]
District Judge Roger Benitez overturns California's ban on assault weapons.[254]
A letter to Apple'sTim Cook is made public, in which staff request more flexibility over remote work, following the company's decision to return its 150,000 employees to the office.[255]
The FDA approves the first new medication since 2014, semaglutide (Wegovy), for chronic weight management.[256]
June 5 – Aftermath of the 2021 United States Capitol attack – The Department of Justice says that over 465 people have been arrested since the 2021 United States Capitol attack. It is also seeking information on 250 other suspects.[257]
June 6
Aftermath of the 2021 United States Capitol attack – Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) announces he has served Mo Brooks (R-AL) with a lawsuit that accuses him of being responsible for inciting the January 6 riot at the Capitol.[258]
COVID-19 vaccination in the United States: The U.S. surpasses 300 million COVID-19 vaccine doses administered.[259]
The United States defeats Mexico 3–2 after extra time in the final to become the first champions of the CONCACAF Nations League.[260]
June 7
Twitter suspensions: Twitter announces that they have suspended the account of American scientist Rebekah Jones for spamming and "platform manipulation" after she paid other users to follow her.[261]
Aducanumab (Aduhelm), the first new medication for Alzheimer's disease in 20 years, is approved by the FDA.[262]
Vice President Kamala Harris visits Guatemala, making it her first oversees trip as Vice President. She urges migrants not to come to the United States–Mexico border.[263][264]
June 9 – President Biden visits the United Kingdom for the 2021 G7 summit, his first international trip as President.[265] Biden also signs the New Atlantic Charter with British Prime MinisterBoris Johnson, attends the 2021 Brussels summit with leaders of NATO countries, and meets with Russian PresidentVladimir Putin in Geneva, Switzerland the next week.[266][267]
June 10 – The Maine Legislature passes a law mandating the state government completely divest from fossil fuel by 2026. If signed into law, Maine will be the first state to divest from the fossil fuel industry.[268]
June 12 – COVID-19 misinformation: YouTube announces that it has suspended U.S. Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) for violating their policies about promoting unproven alternative therapies to treat COVID-19.[269]
June 11–13 – List of mass shootings in the United States in 2021 – At least 10 people are killed and another 50 are injured in nine mass shootings in six states.[270]
June 14
American intelligence specialist Reality Winner, who was convicted in 2018 for leaking an NSA report on Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections to news site The Intercept, is released from prison.[271]
COVID-19 pandemic
Hawaii reports their first case of the Lineage B.1.617Delta variant in an Oahu resident who traveled to Nevada.[272]
VermontGovernorPhil Scott announces that 80% of individuals in his state have received a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, becoming the first U.S. state to do so. Following the milestone, Scott announced that the state would lift their restrictions.[273]
June 15
COVID-19 pandemic
California authorities remove the mask mandate for outdoor activities.[274]
The nationwide death toll from the virus exceeds 600,000, equal to the annual cancer death toll.[275]
June 16 – Texas Governor Greg Abbott signs Texas House Bill 1927, eliminating the requirement for Texas residents to obtain a license to carry handguns either concealed or openly starting September 1, 2021.[276]
June 17
Politico obtains a recording of William Braddock, GOP candidate in a Florida congressional seat, threatening to send "a Russian and Ukrainian hit squad" to fellow Republican opponent Anna Paulina Luna to make her "disappear."[277]
The House votes, by 268 to 161, to repeal the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002.[278]
President Biden signs a bill making Juneteenth an official federal holiday.[279]
June 18 – 2021 NBA playoffs: The Los Angeles Clippers advance to their first NBA Conference Finals after a 131-119 victory against the Utah Jazz in game 6, in which they will play the Phoenix Suns.[280]
June 19
COVID-19 pandemic: Indiana reports its first case of the Delta variant of COVID-19.[281]
The first Juneteenth under federal holiday status is celebrated.
June 20
2021 Arizona wildfires – An outbreak of wildfires begins in Arizona due to thunderstorms producing dry lightning coming through the state from June 14 to June 20. Due to the outbreak, as well as fire danger, many national forests in the state of Arizona are closed to the public. The only people allowed in the forests are firefighters and people who own property in the forests.[282][283]
2021 Atlantic hurricane season – Thirteen people are killed in Alabama during Tropical Storm Claudette. Ten of the victims die in a single car crash, nine of whom are children.[284]
An EF3 tornado strikes the Illinois cities of Naperville, Woodridge, and Darien, destroying 12 homes, damaging an additional 100, and injuring six people.[285][286]
June 21
Las Vegas Raidersdefensive endCarl Nassib becomes the first National Football League player to come out as openly gay.[287]
Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Jaylen Twyman is shot along with three others while visiting his aunt in Washington, DC.[288]
June 22
2021 New York City mayoral election – Residents of New York City head to the polls to elect a new mayor. This is the first time that a New York City election is determined using rank-choice voting.[289]
2021 Buffalo mayoral election – Community activist and self-avowed socialistIndia Walton defeats incumbent mayor Byron Brown to win the Democratic primary. As the Democratic candidate is overwhelmingly favored to win the mayoralship in November, this will possibly be the first time that a socialist will be mayor of a major American city since 1960.[290]
COVID-19 pandemic: Michigan lifts its face mask requirements and capacity restrictions on indoor events.[291] Masks are still required for nursing homes, prisons, hospitals, schools, funeral directors, and agricultural workers. Usage at businesses is optional.[292]
June 23 – COVID-19 pandemic – Washington reports their first case of the Lineage P.1Gamma variant in an unvaccinated Clallam County resident who traveled out of the state.[293]
June 24
Surfside condominium building collapse – A 12-story condominium apartment building in Surfside, Florida partially collapses.[294] At the official end of search on July 23, the death toll is 97, with one further person unaccounted for.[295]
A pedestrian bridge on Interstate 295 collapses in northeastern Washington, D.C., injuring five.[296]
Infrastructure policy of the Joe Biden administration: President Biden announces that he has reached a bipartisan infrastructure deal with Senators.[297]
Aftermath of the 2021 United States Capitol attack – Over 500 suspects have been arrested since the Capitol riot. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announces that the first suspect is arrested for assaulting media during the events of January 6.[298]
The Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court suspends former New York City MayorRudy Giuliani from practicing law over his false claims about the 2020 election.[299]
Microsoft unveils Windows 11, the latest generation of its computer operating system.[300]
The Federal Aviation Administration approves a request to rename McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, currently the seventh-busiest airport by passenger traffic in the United States, to Harry Reid International Airport.[301]
June 25
Defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning advance to the Stanley Cup Finals to face the Montreal Canadiens.[302]
Former police officer Derek Chauvin is sentenced to 22.5 years in prison for the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May 2020.[303]
June 26
COVID-19 pandemic – Michigan reports its first case of Lineage B.1.617Delta variant in a fully vaccinated Ottawa County resident.[304]
In Southeast Michigan, a rainband sets up across Washtenaw County and Wayne County. The local weather radar estimated that some areas in Detroit received 6 in (150 mm) of rain. Local highways like I-75, I-94, and I-96 were flooded, and hundreds of cars were left stranded.[305]
2021 Albuquerque hot air balloon crash – Five people are killed when a hot air balloon crashes into power lines in Albuquerque, New Mexico.[306]
June 29
Recreational cannabis becomes legal in New Mexico.[307]
San Jose becomes the first city in the nation to mandate that gun owners both purchase liability insurance for their firearms and to pay an annual fee to cover costs to the city's services for gun-related injuries and deaths, after the city council unanimously adopted the measures.[308]
June 30
Comedian Bill Cosby's sexual assault conviction is overturned by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, paving the way for his release.[309]
A grand jury in Manhattan indicts the Trump organization, as well as CFOAllen Weisselberg.[310]
An intentional controlled detonation of illegal fireworks by the Los Angeles Police Department in a busy neighborhood of South Los Angeles does not go as planned, injuring seventeen people, including 10 LAPD officers, and damaging windows, cars, and buildings.[311]
July[]
July 1
Recreational cannabis becomes legal in Virginia.[105]
Medical cannabis becomes legal in South Dakota.[123]
COVID-19 vaccination – Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announces a month-long vaccination raffle in which residents can win a total of $5 million in cash (one grand prize of $2 million or three prizes of $1 million) and $500,000 total in college scholarships for children ages 12–17 years old (nine prizes of $55,000). The winners were drawn on August 4.[312]
July 2 – Hundreds of businesses are hit by a large-scale cyberattack, linked to the Russian REvilransomware gang.[313]
July 2–5 – At least 233 people were killed and 618 people were injured in over 500 shootings nationwide during the Independence Day weekend.[314]
July 6 – 2021 New York City mayoral election – Eric Adams was declared the winner of the Democratic primary for mayor of New York City.[315]
July 7 – The Tampa Bay Lightning defeat the Montreal Canadiens (4-1) in the 2021 Stanley Cup Finals to win their second consecutive Stanley Cup.[316]
July 8 – Attorney Michael Avenatti is sentenced to 2.5 years in prison for attempting to extort Nike.[317]
July 9
Twitter suspensions – Twitter announces that they have suspended political commentator and nationalist Nick Fuentes.[318]
President Biden signs a 72-point executive order placing tighter regulations and scrutiny on major corporations in a variety of sectors, including Big Tech companies. Policies outlined include banning non-compete clauses, curbing the ability of manufacturers to restrict the right to repair certain products, granting the Federal Trade Commission the ability to set guidelines on data collection, banning unfair competition practices in online marketplaces, and ordering the Food and Drug Administration to work with states and Native American tribes on procuring cheaper medicines from Canada.[319]
Illinois becomes the first state to teach history about Asian Americans in public schools.[320]
July 11–13 – The 2021 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was held in Denver.[321]Henry Davis was selected first overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates.[322]
July 12
Actor Drake Bell is sentenced to two years of probation for child endangerment.[323]
Ghislaine Maxwell, the long-time friend and partner of Jeffrey Epstein, appears in court in relation to allegations of sex trafficking.[324]
July 13 – The American League defeat the National League (5–2) in the 2021 MLB All-Star Game.[325]
July 16 – Michael Gargiulo (a.k.a. the Hollywood Ripper) is sentenced to death for two murders.[326]
July 17 – A shooting occurs outside of Nationals Park during a game between the San Diego Padres and the Washington Nationals during the sixth inning, causing the game to get postponed until Sunday.[327]
July 19 – Fox News host Sean Hannity urges viewers to take the threat of COVID-19 seriously, as well as urging viewers to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.[328]
July 20
Blue Origin NS-16: On the 52nd anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, Jeff Bezos successfully launches the Blue Origin rocket New Shepard 4 in Van Horn, Texas, carrying himself, his brother Mark, 82 year old retired pilot Wally Funk, and 18 year old college student Oliver Daemen. The rocket lands back on Earth within minutes, completing the first manned spaceflight with reusable rockets.[329]
Tom Barrack, founder of Colony Capital and an advisor of Donald Trump, is indicted for making false statements to the FBI and being an unregistered agent for the United Arab Emirates.[330]
The Milwaukee Bucks defeat the Phoenix Suns (4–2) in the 2021 NBA Finals to win their first championship since 1971.[331]
July 21
The 2021 NHL Expansion Draft is held at Gas Works Park in Seattle, where the 32nd NHL team, the Seattle Kraken fills out its first ever roster of players.[332]
Santa Monica based video game publisherActivision Blizzard, Inc. is hit with a massive lawsuit from the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing after a two year investigation reveals a "frat boy" like work environment where female employees face sexual harassment, discrimination, and retaliation for speaking out against the company.[333]
The Tennessee State Building Commission announces that the statue of Nathan Bedford Forrest will be moved from the Tennessee State Capitol to the Tennessee State Museum.[334]
The Missouri Supreme Court unanimously upholds a 2020 amendment to the state's constitution that expanded Medicaid eligibility.[335]
July 23 – Cleveland's Major League Baseball team announces that they will change their name from the Indians to the Guardians, resolving a decades-long controversy.[336]
July 25 - 2020 Summer Olympics: American fencer Lee Kiefer wins a gold medal at the women’s foil event for fencing, making her the first American woman to do so. Additionally, Anastasija Zolotic becomes the first American woman to win a gold medal in taekwondo.[337][338]
July 27
A runoff election is held in Texas to fill a vacancy in its 6th congressional district due to the death of Ron Wright on February 7. Republican Jake Ellzey wins with 20,837 of the 39,116 votes cast (53.27%).[339]
Whatcom County, Washington becomes the first state county to ban new fossil fuel infrastructure. The new law also places restrictions on existing fossil fuel facilities, such as a requirement that any greenhouse gases emitted from expansion be offset.[340]
July 28
The Senate votes 67-32 to advance the American Jobs Plan, a bipartisan $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill.[341]
Swimming at the 2020 Summer Olympics: Florida swimmer Bobby Finke becomes the first American to win a gold medal at the 800 metre freestyle event at the Olympics.[342]
July 29
Trevor Milton, billionaire and founder of the Nikola electric truck startup, is indicted on three counts of fraud.[343]
Suni Lee wins a gold medal in the gymnastics all-around competition, making her the first Asian American to win a gold medal in gymnastics during the Olympics.[344]
COVID-19 vaccination: Vermont becomes the first U.S. state to vaccinate 70% of children aged 12 to 17 years old.[345]
July 30
The Senate votes 66-28 to allow debates to begin on the American Jobs Plan.[346]
Tax returns of Donald Trump: The Department of Justice rules that the U.S. Treasury must hand the tax returns of former President Donald Trump to Congress.[347]
Swimming at the 2020 Summer Olympics: Caeleb Dressel breaks a world record in the 100m butterfly during the Olympics, finishing in 49.45 seconds.[348]
COVID-19 pandemic: Florida reports 21,683 cases of COVID-19, a new single-day record.[350]
August[]
August 2
COVID-19 pandemic
COVID-19 vaccination: Over 70% of adults are reported to have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.[351]
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham announces that he has tested positive for COVID-19, despite receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.[352]
August 3
COVID-19 vaccination: New York City mandates vaccines for indoor dining, gyms, and performances, becoming the first U.S. city to do so.[353]
A report released by New York Attorney GeneralLetitia James says that GovernorAndrew Cuomosexually harassed 11 women.[354]
August 4
Magistrate Judge N. Reid Neureiter of Colorado announces that two lawyers, Gary D. Fielder and Ernest John Walker, will be sanctioned for filing a lawsuit challenging the results of the 2020 election.[355]
COVID-19 pandemic: Louisiana reports 2,247 hospitalizations, a new single-day record.[356]
August 6
COVID-19 pandemic
COVID-19 vaccination: The CDC reports that 50% of the U.S. population (including both adults and children) is now fully vaccinated, or about 166 million people.[357]
Florida reports 22,783 new cases of COVID-19, a new single-day record.[358]
Aftermath of the 2021 United States Capitol attack: New Jersey gym owner Scott K. Fairlamb and Washington resident Devlyn D. Thompson plead guilty to assaulting U.S. Capitol Police officers during the Capitol riot, becoming the first suspects to do so.[359]
Karate at the 2020 Summer Olympics: American karateka Ariel Torres wins a bronze medal in the men's kata event, winning the first U.S. medal in karate.[360]
2021 California fire season: The Dixie Fire near Chico becomes the largest fire in the history of California.[361]
August 9
COVID-19 pandemic
COVID-19 vaccination
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announces that all service members will be required to get vaccinated by mid September.[362]
The CDC announces that 60% of Americans have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.[363]
August 10
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announces he will resign effective August 24 after an inquiry found he sexually harassed multiple women.[364]
The Senate votes 69-30 to pass the American Jobs Plan, a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill.[365]
Dominion Voting Systems sues conservative news channels One America News Network and Newsmax, plus former Overstock.com CEO Patrick M. Byrne, claiming they promoted false conspiracy theories about them after the 2020 presidential election.[366]
August 11
Aubrey de Grey, a leading anti-aging researcher and Chief Science Officer of the SENS Research Foundation, is placed on leave by his company, following sexual harassment allegations by two women in the field.[367]
The Senate votes to pass a $3.5 trillion reconciliation package, a day after the bipartisan infrastructure package passed.[368]
The Senate votes unanimously to confirm former Interior SecretaryKen Salazar as U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, making him the first of Biden's Ambassador nominees to be confirmed.[369]
August 12 – The Census Bureau reports that, per the results of the 2020 census, the population of White Americans declined for the first time in history, and population growth is at its lowest since the Great Depression. Conversely, Hispanic, Asian, and Multiracial Americans saw the largest growth, with the latter seeing an increase of 276%. Hispanics make up the largest group in California for the first time, with whites in Texas barely remaining the largest by 0.4%. The Southern and Western regions also saw the most growth.[370]
August 13
COVID-19 pandemic
Michigan surpasses 20,000 deaths from COVID-19.[371]
In Texas, multiple appeal courts uphold the mask mandates imposed in Bexar, Dallas, Harris, and Travis counties in an effort to override GovernorGreg Abbott's ban on them in schools.[372]
The New York State Assembly says that it won't impeach Governor Andrew Cuomo following his announcement that he would resign.[373]
Bob Dylan is accused of sexual assault and related offenses in 1965 by a woman identified as "J.C." who files a lawsuit against the singer. Dylan denies the allegations.[374]
August 14
President Biden authorizes 5,000 U.S. troops to be deployed in Afghanistan, as the Talibanseize all regional capitals except Kabul.[375]
Texas GovernorGreg Abbott tests positive for COVID-19. His office says he is fully vaccinated.[376]
Colorado GovernorJared Polis rescinds two proclamations dating from the 1860s that authorized settlers to kill "hostile Indians", which lead to the Sand Creek massacre.[377]
August 18 – R&B singer R. Kelly begins his trial at New York's Eastern District federal court, accused of racketeering, sexual abuse and bribery, all of which he denies.[378]
August 19
The Library of Congress, U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Capitol, and nearby congressional offices in Washington, DC are evacuated due to a bomb threat by the driver of a suspicious vehicle.[379]
Times Square in New York is evacuated due to a suspicious package.[380]
August 20 – The Alameda County Superior Court rules that California Proposition 22 (2020), which exempts app-based transportation and delivery companies like Uber and DoorDash from having to classify their workers as employees, is unconstitutional. The defendants, consisting of a coalition of gig economy companies, say they will appeal.[381]
August 22 – Antifa and the Proud Boys clash at an abandoned Kmart in Portland, Oregon.[382]
August 23 – COVID-19 vaccination: The FDA gives approval to the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (Comirnaty) for those aged 16 years and older.[383]
August 24
The US Supreme Court, Restore Trump era Remain in Mexico which requires migrants seeking asylum to remain in Mexico until their US immigration court date.[384][385]
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's resignation becomes official at midnight and Kathy Hochul becomes the first female New York Governor.[386]
August 25 – U.S. District JudgeLinda Vivienne Parker announces sanctions against Sidney Powell, L. Lin Wood, and other lawyers who were filing a lawsuit seeking to overturn President Biden's victory in Michigan last year. She also orders the lawyers to be referred to their home states for disbarment or suspension of law license.[387]
August 26 – Operation Allies Refuge: President Biden, in an address to the nation, says that the evacuation of American citizens will continue despite the terrorist attacks. He also vows that the U.S. will avenge the deaths of the 13 service members killed in the attacks by "hunting down" those responsible and "making them pay".[388]
August 29 – Hurricane Ida makes landfall at 11:55am CDT near Port Fourchon, Louisiana, on the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.[389]
Texas implements the "Heartbeat Act" banning abortions after six weeks of pregnancy.[391]
Texas residents are allowed to carry handguns without a license or training.[276]
Aftermath of the 2021 United States Capitol attack: The Department of Justice secures its 50th guilty plea in its criminal investigation of the January 6 riot at the Capitol.[392]
A state of emergency is declared in New York City after record rainfall and flash flooding shuts down much of the city's transportation system, caused by Tropical Storm Ida.[393]
September 2
Hurricane Ida
More than 45 deaths are reported in New York and the wider northeastern United States amid the ongoing flood emergency, as rescuers continue to search for stranded people.[394][395]
The Vine Street Expressway in Philadelphia is closed due to massive flooding on portions of the highway. The Park Towne Place residential complex is also evacuated due to flooding.[396][397]
September 3
Aftermath of the 2021 United States Capitol attack: Jake Angeli, the so-called "QAnon Shaman" pleads guilty to obstructing a proceeding of Congress on January 6.[398]
Texas Heartbeat Act: Texas state judge Guerra Gamble blocks the Texas Right To Life from suing Planned Parenthood under the pretext of the abortion law.[399]
September 4 – U.S. Transportation SecretaryPete Buttigieg and his husband Chasten Buttigieg announce the arrival of Penelope Rose and Joseph August Buttigieg into the family.[400]
September 8 – The Robert E. Lee Monument on Monument Avenue, a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee, is removed.[401]
September 9
COVID-19 vaccination in the United States: President Biden issues new federal vaccine requirements affecting up to 100 million Americans. All employers with more than 100 workers are required to be either vaccinated or test for the virus weekly, while 17 million workers at health facilities that receive federal Medicare or Medicaid are ordered to be fully vaccinated.[402]
Texas Governor Greg Abbott signs a bill that prohibits social media sites from banning or restricting users based on "the viewpoint of the user or another person," whether or not that viewpoint is expressed on the social media platform itself.[403]
September 10 – Trump–Ukraine scandal: Former Rudy Giuliani associate Igor Fruman pleads guilty to one count of soliciting a contribution by a foreign national.[404]
September 11:
Commemorations take place around the country to mark the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. A minute's silence is held at the exact time each hijacked plane crashed.[405]
British tennis player Emma Raducanu defeats Canadian Leylah Fernandez in the Women's Singles US Open with a score of 6–4, 6–3, becoming the first player in the Open Era to win a major tournament after coming through qualifiers.[406]
September 13 – COVID-19 pandemic in New York City: Schools in New York City reopen to one million children for the first time since the start of the pandemic in March 2020.[407]
September 14 – A recall election is held in California on whether GovernorGavin Newsom should remain in office, and who his successor should be if he is voted out.[408] Newsom defeats the recall and remains in office.
September 16 – Inspiration4 launched by SpaceX becomes the first all-civilian spaceflight, carrying a four-person crew on a three-day orbit of the Earth.[409]
Scheduled events[]
October[]
October 1 – A special commisson tasked with designing a new Massachusetts State Flag and Seal will complete its work.[410]
October 12 – The trial for five defendants charged federally in the Gretchen Whitmer kidnapping plot will begin in Grand Rapids, Michigan.[412]
November[]
November 2
New Jersey and Virginia will hold gubernatorial elections.
A special election will be held in Ohio to fill a vacancy in its 11th congressional district left by Marcia Fudge when she resigned to become President Biden's Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.[413]
A special election will also be held in the same state to fill a vacancy in its 15th congressional district due to the resignation of Steve Stivers effective May 15 to become president and CEO of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.[414]
November 4 – An investigatory hearing will be held by the State Bar of Texas to kick off a multi-start process that would decide the fate of attorney Sidney Powell, who spread conspiracy claims after the 2020 presidential election.[415]
Deaths[]
Main articles: Deaths in 2021 and 2021 deaths in the United States
^Alper, Alexandra; Sherpardson, David; Goh, Brenda; Horwitz, Josh; Li, Pei; Crossley, Gabriel (January 5, 2021). Lewis, Matthew; Adler, Leslie; Feast, Lincoln; Elgood, Giles (eds.). "Trump bars U.S. transactions with eight Chinese apps including Alipay". Reuters. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
^Thrush, Glenn; Dewan, Shaila; Eligon, John; MacFarquhar, Neil (January 7, 2021). "Questions mount over law enforcement's failure to protect the Capitol". The New York Times. ISSN0362-4331. Retrieved January 8, 2021. Mr. Sund said more than 50 Capitol Police and Washington Metro Police officers had been injured, and several Capitol Police officers were hospitalized with serious injuries.
^Mascaro, Lisa; Tucker, Eric; Jalonick, Mary Clare; Taylor, Andrew; Colvin, Jill; Miller, Zeke; Freking, Kevin; Fram, Alan; Daly, Matthew; Rama, Padmananda; Fox, Ben; Khalil, Ashraf; Barrow, Bill (January 7, 2021). "Biden win confirmed after pro-Trump mob storms US Capitol". apnews.com. Associated Press. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
^Chief Brian Harvey (March 18, 2021). "Message from the Chief". cityofallen.org. Archived from the original on March 28, 2021. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
^Macaya, Melissa; Wagner, Meg; Rocha, Veronica; Mahtani, Melissa; Alfonso III, Fernando (April 2, 2021). "Officer killed in attack near US Capitol". CNN. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
^"COVID-19 Vaccination". U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). February 11, 2020. Retrieved May 14, 2021. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^"FDA Approves First COVID-19 Vaccine" (Press release). U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). August 23, 2021. Archived from the original on August 23, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
^Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).