2009 · Crisis and first acts
The administration began with ethics and transparency directives, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, economic recovery legislation, and steps toward closing the Guantánamo detention facility. Sonia Sotomayor became the first Latina Supreme Court justice. The year ended with a renewed Afghanistan strategy and the Copenhagen climate conference.
- January 20: first inauguration
- February 17: Recovery Act signed
- August 8: Sotomayor sworn in
- December 10: Nobel Peace Prize lecture
2010 · Health reform and political reversal
The Affordable Care Act and Dodd–Frank became law. Elena Kagan joined the Supreme Court. The Deepwater Horizon spill tested federal emergency response, while the midterm elections transferred House control to Republicans.
- March 23: Affordable Care Act signed
- July 21: Dodd–Frank signed
- December 22: repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell signed
2011–2012 · Conflict, compromise, reelection
The 2011 raid in Abbottabad killed Osama bin Laden. The administration ended the formal U.S. military mission in Iraq and confronted debt-ceiling negotiations at home. In 2012, Obama announced support for marriage equality and won reelection over Mitt Romney.
- May 1, 2011: bin Laden operation announced
- December 2011: Iraq withdrawal ceremony
- November 6, 2012: reelected
2013–2014 · A second-term agenda
The second inaugural address linked Seneca Falls, Selma, and Stonewall. Domestic debates centered on immigration, gun violence, surveillance, health-care implementation, and executive authority. The administration launched My Brother’s Keeper and pursued climate and labor actions.
- June 2013: Climate Action Plan
- October 2013: health insurance marketplaces open
- November 2014: immigration executive actions announced
2015–2016 · Agreements and closing arguments
The Iran nuclear agreement, Paris climate accord, reopening of diplomatic relations with Cuba, and Supreme Court recognition of marriage equality made 2015 a consequential year. In 2016 Obama visited Havana and Hiroshima, campaigned for Hillary Clinton, and reflected on democratic institutions under strain.
- July 2015: Iran agreement announced
- December 2015: Paris Agreement adopted
- March 2016: presidential visit to Cuba
- January 10, 2017: farewell address