The White House | Illustration by Kayli Thompson | The Wright State Guardian
President-elect Joe Biden has begun to announce his picks to fill his Cabinet and White House staff. Biden has started with several historic picks.
Treasury Department
Biden has announced the nomination of former Federal Reserve chair Janet L. Yellen as treasury secretary. Yellen would be the first woman to lead the Treasury Department if confirmed. Yellen brings decades of experience as an economist having served under Presidents Clinton and Obama.
Biden is expected to nominate Neera Tanden as director of the influential Office of Management and Budget. Tanden is the child of Indian immigrants and would be the first woman of color to oversee the agency.
Cecilia Rouse will be appointed as chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, along with Heather Boushey and Jared Bernstein as the other two members. Rouse, who is African American, would be the first woman of color to chair the council.
“As a female professional I’m thrilled to see women taking on jobs that were previously closed off to them and I’m very interested to see how that changes the country and eventually history,” said education major Mackenzie New.
Communications team
Biden has made history in appointing an all-female communications team. His team will be led by Kate Bedingfield, who most recently served as Biden’s campaign communications director. Jennifer Psaki will take on the role of White House Press Secretary and she is joined by Pili Tobar as Deputy Communications Director and Karine Jean-Pierre as Principal Deputy Secretary.
Elizabeth Alexander will serve as the Communications Director for future First Lady Jill Biden. Wright State senior Leah Dryden said that as a young woman in politics she is inspired by a diverse all female team.
“I wanted Biden to be held to his word about having an inclusive cabinet, so I’m very happy that’s actually panning out,” said Dryden.
Advising team
Ron Kline, a long time Biden associate, has been tapped to be the new Chief of Staff. Kline is joined by Biden’s campaign manager Jen O’Malley Dillon as deputy chief of staff.
Mike Donilon and Steve Ricchetti will step in as senior adviser and counselor to the president, respectively.
Harris’ team
Vice-president elect Harris announced on Dec. 3 her chief of staff pick: Tina Flournoy. Flournoy has served as chief of staff for former President Bill Clinton since 2013 amongst several other high-ranking positions in the Democratic party.
Harris also announced that longtime advisor Rohini Kosoglu will serve as domestic policy advisor, and Nancy McEldowney will advise her on national security.
Symone Sanders and Ashley Etienne will serve as Harris’s chief spokesperson and communications director respectively, rounding out the all-female communications team.
