Biden wants Congress to take action on gun reform

Biden addressed State Department employees with a public speech at the department Thursday afternoon, his first time doing so since taking office and ahead of a second speech on foreign policy later in the afternoon.

Speaking directly to employees at home and abroad, Biden said, "I promise I'm going to have your back," insisting also that, "America is back."

"The main message that I want to communicate to you all is that, whether you're part of the newest class of foreign service officers and you’ve worked for decades in the civil service or foreign service, or your locally employed staff, your vital and success, the strength of our nation depends in no small part on you," he said.

"America is back. America is back. Diplomacy is back. You are the center of all that I intend to do. You are the heart of it. We're going to rebuild our alliances. We're gonna re-engage the world and take on the enormous challenges we face dealing with the pandemic, dealing with global warming, and again standing up for democracy and human rights around the world," he said.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivered opening remarks before introducing Harris, who spoke ahead of Biden. Harris spoke about the administration's commitment to State Department staff and to setting an example on the global stage.

"Today, we are here in person to tell you that we are committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accountability, inclusivity and diplomacy on the global stage as a partner and a leader," Harris said.

House impeachment managers are requesting that former President Donald Trump testify either before or during his Senate impeachment trial slated to kick off in full next week.

"Two days ago, you filed an Answer in which you denied many factual allegations set forth in the article of impeachment. You have thus attempted to put critical facts at issue notwithstanding the clear and overwhelming evidence of your constitutional offense," the letter from Lead Manager Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., began, referring to Trump's legal team's response to their legal brief laying out the change for "incitement of insurrection."

"In light of your disputing these factual allegations, I write to invite you to provide testimony under oath, either before or during the Senate impeachment trial, concerning your conduct on January 6, 2021," Raskin requested on behalf of the managers.

"If you decline this invitation, we reserve any and all rights, including the right to establish at trial that your refusal to testify supports a strong adverse inference regarding your actions (and inaction) on January 6, 2021," the letter finished, asking for a response from Trump by Friday at 5 p.m.

The crux of Trump's legal argument is that the trial is unconstitutional as he is out of office and a denial that he violated the oath of office, while skirting into election fraud territory, according to his formal answer to the article of impeachment submitted through his attorneys on Tuesday.

-ABC News' Trish Turner

Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, at Thursday's White House press briefing said Biden would announce "an end to American support for offensive operations in Yemen" in afternoon remarks at the State Department.

Sullivan said the move was aimed at stopping support for "the types of offensive operations that have perpetuated a civil war in Yemen that has led to a humanitarian crisis."

Under then-President Donald Trump, the United States backed a Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen that has been widely criticized for alleged human rights abuses.

Sullivan noted that the Biden administration had frozen two U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates the Trump administration had green-lighted; the U.A.E. is part of the coalition fighting the Houthis in Yemen.

That halt would not include U.S. action against al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), Sullivan said.

Biden will also name a special envoy for Yemen Thursday, Sullivan added.

-ABC News' Ben Gittleson and Justin Gomez

Biden is set to announce "a presidential memorandum on protecting the rights of LGBTQ individuals worldwide" during his remarks at the State Department later Thursday, said Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan.

Sullivan announced the imminent memo while previewing the president's visit to the State Department and answered several national security-focused questions at Thursday's White House press briefing. 

"It reflects his deep commitment to these issues both here in the United States and everywhere around the world," Sullivan said. "And the United States will speak out and act on behalf of these rights as we go."

-ABC News' Ben Gittleson and Justin Gomez