A government watchdog has sparked a major controversy by alleging that the Biden administration

used an autopen—an electromechanical device that replicates signatures—to sign nearly all of President Joe Biden’s

executive orders. This claim, revealed by the Oversight Project (a division of the Heritage Foundation),

raises questions about who was truly driving decision-making in the administration and whether unelected staffers were effectively in charge.

I. The Autopen Allegation: Unmasking the Hidden Hand

The autopen, a device designed to precisely reproduce a person’s signature, is legally accepted in certain situations.

However, its use to sign significant legal documents without the president’s direct involvement has sparked concerns

about authenticity and accountability. The Oversight Project’s report claims that almost all of Biden’s executive orders

(except for the letter announcing his withdrawal from the 2024 race) were signed using the autopen.

The report compares Biden’s signatures, noting their striking uniformity, which suggests automation. The phrase

“WHOEVER CONTROLLED THE AUTOPEN CONTROLLED THE PRESIDENCY” was tweeted by the Oversight Project,

implying that the real decision-makers were not Biden but the aides operating the device.

This allegation has raised questions about Biden’s cognitive ability and whether his staff were issuing

orders without his personal consent. Critics argue that if critical executive actions were

signed by the autopen, the public may have been misled about who was truly in charge.