Biden Gradually Picks His Cabinet Members for Upcoming Presidency

Carmella Neal, Editor
December 16, 2020

President-elect briefs the public
From the Boston Globe (Chip Somodevilla)

America’s President-Elect, Joe Biden, is building his cabinet for January 20, 2021. His choices involve a total of 15 department executives among other posts in his branch, such as White House Chief of Staff, CIA Director, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator, Small Business Administrator, Attorney General, Office Management and Budget Director, US Ambassador to the United Nations, Director of National Intelligence, Council of Economic Advisers Chairman and States Trade Representative Ambassador. 

 Every Cabinet positions requires Senate confirmation. So far, here are chosen cabinet members:  

  • Vice President: Kamala Harris 
  • Secretary of State: Antony Blinken  
  • Secretary of Treasury: Janet Yellen 
  • Secretary of Defense: General Lloyd Austin 
  • Secretary of Agriculture: Tom Vilsack  
  • Secretary of Health and Human Services: Xavier Becerra  
  • Secretary of Housing and Urban Development: Marcie Fudge 
  • Secretary of Veteran Affairs: Denis McDonough  
  • Secretary of Homeland Security: Alejandro Mayorkas  
  • Chief of Staff: Ron Klain  
  • Office of Management and Budget Director: Neera Tanden  
  • US Trade Representative: Katherine Tai 
  • National Intelligence Director: Avril Haines  
  • National Security Adviser: Jake Sullivan  
  • Ambassador of the UN: Linda Thomas-Greenfield 
  • Chairwoman of Council of Economic Advisers: Cecilia Rouse 
  • Special Presidential Envoy for Climate: John Kerry  
  • Communications Director: Kate Bedingfield  
  • Press Secretary: Jen Psaki  

 Kamala Harris, Ron Klain, Jake Sullivan, John Kerry, Kate Bedingfield and Jen Psaki are the only confirmed cabinet members.  

 Major picks will be announced in the coming weeks, such as Attorney general and CIA Director. Although there is hope for each confirmation on Biden’s team, the GOP is expected to meet with strong opposition.  

 This presidency will involve more women and people of color compared to predecessors and is expected to tackle major issues such as Covid-19 and climate change. With a little over a month until his inauguration, Biden will continue to release his picks for cabinet officials.