President Obama asked each member of his Cabinet to write an Exit Memo on the progress we’ve made, their vision for the country’s future, and the work that remains in order to achieve that vision. Here are their key points on the work ahead to refocus and reaffirm American leadership in the world.
Completing the Trans-Pacific Partnership
“The completion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership is essential to America’s economic strength, to our leadership in the Asia-Pacific region, and to our national security. But trade remains a complicated and highly charged topic for many citizens. To address these challenges, our government needs to reconsider our approach to delivering the benefits of completed trade agreements to our citizens.”
—Secretary Pritzker
Safeguarding our Nation’s Cybersecurity
“Cyber threats are increasing in their frequency, scale, sophistication, and severity. This affects everyone, across the country and around the globe…. Earlier this month, the bipartisan Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity released its final report. The Commission’s recommendations affirm the course that this Administration has laid out…. But the report also makes clear that there is much more to do. I encourage the next Administration, Congress, the private sector, and the general public to build on the progress we have made and continue to make cybersecurity a top national security priority.”
—Secretary Johnson
Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism
“The fight against ISIL and violent extremism more broadly is a generational challenge that cannot be won overnight. It will require efforts on the battlefield and online, today and in years to come. But I am absolutely confident that, working with our coalition partners, we will win this fight and ISIL will be defeated.”
—Secretary Kerry
Closing Guantanamo Bay
“I remain convinced that the responsible closure of the detention center at Guantanamo Bay will benefit our national security….For this reason, in February 2016 the White House submitted a plan to Congress for the permanent closing of the detention facility at Guantanamo and an appropriate, secure, alternative location for housing those detainees in the United States. The next Administration should act to continue this progress and achieve the responsible closure of the Guantanamo detention facility.”
—Secretary Carter
Investing in Global Development
“There is no question that we have hard work ahead of us. As a country and as a global community, we have to answer volatility with stability, injustice with human rights, despair with opportunity, and conflict with peace. We have to improve our national and economic security by building open and flourishing partners for the United States, enhancing global cooperation, and unlocking opportunities for American businesses in emerging markets. We need to maintain the strategic patience for transformation to take hold, and adapt our systems and institutions for today’s ever-changing world. And even as we respond to the most pressing global challenges, we need to have the foresight to invest in our shared future.”
—Administrator Smith
