In December 2020, President-elect Joe Biden made a promise. He has pledged to form the most racially and gender-diverse Cabinet in US history.
Later, within a few weeks, the names of those who would be nominated by Biden for the ministers of the new US government were announced. They still have to go through the hearing procedure in the relevant committees of the Congress. But, as a rule, this procedure is rather formal.
Now more specifically about those who would enter the Biden Cabinet.
U.S. Secretary of State
Anthony Blinken
Before appointment:
- Deputy National Security Advisor (2013-2015);
- Deputy Secretary of State (2015-2017) under President Barack Obama;
During Bill Clinton's presidency, Blinken worked in the State Department and held senior positions in the staff of the National Security Council.
Political views: called Turkey "an important US ally", criticized Trump's decision to withdraw US troops from northern Syria, called Brexit "a complete mess."
As the BBC clarifies, Blinken became one of the first American diplomats to announce in 2014 that the United States is studying the possibility of transferring lethal weapons to Ukraine.
He also stressed that the United States is "deeply committed to the future of Ukraine and its success." Blinken has repeatedly stated that Moscow is involved in the events in Donbas.
U.S. Treasury Secretary
Janet Yellen
Before appointment:
- Chairman of the US Federal Reserve System (2014-2018);
- A member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (1994-1997, 2010-2018). She chaired the Council of Economic Advisers under President Bill Clinton (1997-1999).
As of November 2020, Yellen was a Research Fellow at the Brookings Institution.
Defense Minister
Lloyd Austin
Austin is a four-star army general. Served as Commander of the US Central Command. He was the last commander of the US Armed Forces during the Iraqi Operation New Dawn, which ended in December 2011.
Related news: Joe Biden picks defense secretary: Who is Lloyd Austin?
Attorney General
Merrick Garland
Before appointment:
- Chief Justice of the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia (2013 - 2020).
Minister of Internal Affairs
Deb Haaland
Before appointment:
United States Representative for the 1st Congressional District of New Mexico. Former chairman of the New Mexico Democratic Party.
One of the first two Indian women to be elected to the US Congress.
May become the first Native American woman to head the Interior Ministry, and the first Native American woman in the US government in the history of this country.
Minister of Agriculture
Tom Vilsack
Before appointment:
- US Secretary of Agriculture (2009-2017)
- Governor of Iowa (1999-2007);
- Mayor of Mount Pleasant (1987-1992).
Minister of Commerce
Gina Raimondo
Before appointment:
- Treasurer General of Rhode Island (2011-2015);
- Governor of Rhode Island (2015-present).
Minister of Labor
Marty Walsh
Before appointment:
- Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (1997-2014);
- Mayor of Boston (2014-present).
Minister of Health and Human Services
Xavier Becerra
Former member of the California State Assembly and still the current California Attorney General.
Deputy Minister of Health
Rachel Levine
It is not for nothing that we dwelt on the candidacy of the Deputy Minister of Health. Rachel Levine is the first transgender person to hold a federal office.
According to the Voice of America, Levine is a pediatrician. Since 2017, she has headed the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
Minister of Housing and Urban Development
Marcia Fudge
Former Mayor of Warrensville Heights, Ohio, Former Chairman of the Council of Blacks of the United States Congress.
Transport Minister
Pete Buttigieg
He was one of the contenders for the presidential elections from the Democrats but lost the primaries. Mayor of South Bend, Indiana from 2012 to 2020. Openly gay.
Energy Minister
Jennifer Granholm
Before appointment:
- Attorney General of Michigan (1999-2003);
- Governor of Michigan (2003-2011).
Minister of education
Miguel Cardona
Commissioner of Education for the State of Connecticut.
Secretary for Veterans Affairs
Denis McDonough
Former head of the White House administration (2013-2017).
Secretary of Homeland Security
Alejandro Mayorkas
Former Director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (2009-2013).
Former Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security (2013-2016).
Chief of Staff of the White House
Ron Klein
Former chief of staff for Vice President Al Gore (1995-1999) and Vice President Joe Biden (2009-2011).
Director of National Intelligence
Avril Haynes
Former deputy director of the CIA (2013-2015).
Former Deputy National Security Advisor (2015-2017).