With just weeks left in office, US President Joe Biden has commuted the sentences of 37 of 40 federal death row inmates - potentially thwarting President-elect Donald Trump's plans to expand federal executions during his upcoming administration.

President Joe Biden on Monday vetoed a once-bipartisan effort to add 66 federal district judgeships, saying “hurried action” by the House left important questions unanswered about the life-tenured positions.

President Joe Biden has vetoed bipartisan legislation that would have added dozens of new federal judge positions in the coming years. The president had threatened to veto the bill because he didn’t want to give the president-elect new appointment opportunities,

President Biden made good on his threat and vetoed a bipartisan bill Monday to add 66 new judges to federal courts that were seen as understaffed. Biden claimed the bill was “too hurried” in garnering congressional approval — but some observers said he was likely predominantly concerned about the appointments President-elect Donald Trump might be able to make to the posts once in office.