Members of President Joe Biden's Cabinet
Joe Biden assumed office as president of the United States on January 20, 2021. The president has the authority to nominate members of his Cabinet to the United States Senate for confirmation under the Appointments Clause of the United States Constitution.
Before confirmation and during congressional hearings, a high-level career member of an executive department heads this pre-confirmed cabinet on an acting basis. The Cabinet's creation was part of the transition of power following the 2020 presidential election.
In addition to the 15 heads of executive departments, there are 10 Cabinet-level officials. Biden altered his cabinet structure, elevating the chair of the Council of Economic Advisers,[1] director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy[2] and ambassador to the United Nations as Cabinet-level positions.[3] Biden initially removed the director of the Central Intelligence Agency from his Cabinet, but reversed the move in July 2023.[4][5]
Confirmations had occurred at the slowest pace of any presidential cabinet in modern history that resulted from delays in facilitating an orderly transition of power and passing the organizing resolution for governing an evenly split Senate following the 2020–2021 United States Senate runoff elections in Georgia; and the second impeachment of Donald Trump.[6] By March 2021, a pick-up in the first half of the month brought confirmations close to pace.[7] Biden is the first president since Ronald Reagan in 1981 to have all of his original Cabinet secretary nominees confirmed to their posts.[8]
This article documents the nomination and confirmation process for any successful or unsuccessful Cabinet nominees of the Biden administration. They are listed in order of creation of the Cabinet position (also used as the basis for the United States presidential line of succession).
Cabinet
All permanent members of the Cabinet of the United States as heads of executive departments require the advice and consent of the United States Senate following appointment by the president before taking office. The vice presidency is exceptional in that the position requires an election to office pursuant to the United States Constitution. The president may also designate heads of other agencies and non-Senate-confirmed members of the Executive Office of the President as Cabinet-level members of the Cabinet. The Cabinet meets with the president in the Cabinet Room, a room adjacent to the Oval Office.
The following have been named as Cabinet appointees by the president of the United States.[9]
Confirmation process
Below is a list of confirmations for Cabinet positions, Cabinet-level positions, and other significant positions that were approved through the Senate from January 2021 onwards, by a recorded roll-call vote, rather than by a voice vote.
Confirmation votes
Committee process
Notes
- ^ After final passage, Austin's waiver to serve as Secretary of Defense was signed into law by President Biden on January 22, 2021.
- ^ Due to the tied vote in committee, a discharge petition was required to bring Becerra's nomination to the floor, which passed 51–48 on March 11, 2021.
- ^ Committee votes scheduled for February 24, 2021, were cancelled that day, prior to withdrawal.
- ^ Burns was elevated to the Cabinet on July 21, 2023.[10]
Elected officials
President
On November 7, 2020, it was announced that Democrat Joe Biden defeated the incumbent president, Donald Trump, in the 2020 presidential election. Joe Biden received 306 electoral votes compared to Trump's 232 electoral votes, with 270 needed to win the presidency. He assumed office on January 20, 2021.
Vice President
Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) was elected vice president of the United States, receiving 306 electoral votes, compared to the incumbent vice president, Mike Pence, who received 232 electoral votes. An elected vice president does not require Senate confirmation, and the vice president does not serve at the president's pleasure.
Having assumed office on January 20, 2021, she is the first female vice president of the United States as well as the first African American and Asian American to hold the second-highest office.
Nominated candidates for Cabinet positions
The following cabinet positions are listed in order of their creation (also used as the basis for the United States presidential line of succession).
Secretary of State
A nomination for Secretary of State is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Foreign Relations Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.
- Foreign Relations Committee hearing held on January 19, 2021, and approved 15–3 on January 25, 2021. Confirmed 78–22 and sworn in on January 26, 2021.[13]
Secretary of the Treasury
A nomination for Secretary of the Treasury is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Finance Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.
- Finance Committee hearing held on January 19, 2021, and approved by unanimous consent on January 22, 2021. Confirmed 84–15 on January 25, 2021, and sworn in on January 26, 2021.[15]
Secretary of Defense
A nomination for Secretary of Defense is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Armed Services Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote. Biden's announced nominee, retired Gen. Lloyd Austin, required a congressional waiver to be granted under the National Security Act of 1947 before he was confirmed.[17]
Waiver process:
- House Armed Services Committee closed-door briefing held and approved without objection on January 21, 2021. Floor vote passed 326–78 on January 21, 2021.
- Senate Armed Services Committee hearing held and approved by voice vote on January 21, 2021. Floor vote passed 69–27 on January 21, 2021.
- Signed into law on January 22, 2021.[18]
Confirmation process:
- Armed Services Committee hearing held on January 19, 2021, and approved by unanimous consent on January 21, 2021. Confirmed 93–2 and sworn in on January 22, 2021.[19]
Attorney General
A nomination for Attorney General is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Judiciary Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.
- Judiciary Committee hearings held on February 22–23, 2021, and approved 15–7 on March 1, 2021. Cloture invoked 70–29 on March 9, 2021. Confirmed 70–30 on March 10, 2021, and sworn in on March 11, 2021.[21]
Secretary of the Interior
A nomination for Secretary of the Interior is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote. Biden reportedly offered the position to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico, but she turned it down.[23]
- Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing held on February 23, 2021, and approved 11–9 on March 4, 2021. Cloture invoked 54–42 on March 11, 2021. Confirmed 51–40 on March 15, 2021, and sworn in on March 16, 2021.[24]
Secretary of Agriculture
A nomination for Secretary of Agriculture is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.
Secretary of Commerce
A nomination for Secretary of Commerce is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.
Secretary of Labor
A nomination for Secretary of Labor is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.
Marty Walsh
Julie Su
On February 7, 2023, it was reported that Walsh would be resigning in the coming days in order to become President of the National Hockey League Players' Association. Walsh will be the second member of the presidential cabinet to resign, after Eric Lander, who resigned as Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy in early 2022. After pressure from the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, Biden nominated Deputy Secretary Julie Su to the position.[32]
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Although historically the nominee also holds meetings with the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, officially a nomination for Secretary of Health and Human Services is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the United States Senate Committee on Finance, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.
- Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee consultative hearing held on February 23, 2021.[35]
- Finance Committee hearing held on February 24, 2021, and tied 14–14 on March 3, 2021. Motion to discharge to the floor passed 51–48 on March 11, 2021. Cloture invoked 50–49 on March 17, 2021. Confirmed 50–49 on March 18, 2021, and sworn in on March 19, 2021.[36]
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
A nomination for Secretary of Housing and Urban Development is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.
Secretary of Transportation
A nomination for Secretary of Transportation is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.
Secretary of Energy
The nomination of a secretary-designate is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.
- Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing held on January 27, 2021, and approved 13–4 on February 3, 2021. Cloture invoked 67–32 on February 24, 2021. Confirmed 64–35 and sworn in on February 25, 2021.[42]
Secretary of Education
A nomination for Secretary of Education is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
A nomination for Secretary of Veterans Affairs is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.
- Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing held on January 27, 2021, and approved by unanimous consent on February 2, 2021. Confirmed 87–7 on February 8, 2021, and sworn in on February 9, 2021.[46]
Secretary of Homeland Security
A nomination for Secretary of Homeland Security is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.
Nominated candidates for Cabinet-level positions
Cabinet-level officials have positions that are considered to be of Cabinet level, but which are not heads of the executive departments. Which exact positions that are considered to be cabinet-level varies with each president. Biden has announced he will elevate three positions to Cabinet-level, while removing the director of the Central Intelligence Agency.[49]
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
- Environment and Public Works Committee hearing held on February 3, 2021, and approved 14–6 on February 9, 2021. Cloture invoked 65–35 and confirmed 66–34 on March 10, 2021. Sworn in on March 11, 2021.[50]
Director of the Office of Management and Budget
Neera Tanden
- Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing held on February 9, 2021. Committee vote cancelled on February 24, 2021.[52]
- Budget Committee hearing held on February 10, 2021. Committee vote cancelled on February 24, 2021.
- Nomination withdrawal announced on March 2, 2021, and officially submitted to the Senate on March 25, 2021.[53]
Shalanda Young
- Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing held on February 1, 2022, and approved 8–6 on February 9, 2022.
- Budget Committee hearing held on February 1, 2022, and approved 15–6 on February 9, 2022.
- Cloture invoked 53–31 on March 14, 2022, and confirmed 61–36 on March 15, 2022. Sworn in on March 17, 2022.[54]
Director of National Intelligence
- Intelligence Committee hearing held on January 19, 2021, and approved by unanimous consent on January 20, 2021. Confirmed 84–10 on January 20, 2021, and sworn in on January 21, 2021.[55]
Trade Representative
The U.S. trade representative has been a Cabinet-level member since 1974, the beginning of Gerald Ford's presidency.
- Finance Committee hearing held on February 25, 2021, and approved by unanimous consent on March 3, 2021. Cloture invoked 98–0 on March 16, 2021. Confirmed 98–0 on March 17, 2021, and sworn in on March 18, 2021.[56]
Ambassador to the United Nations
The UN ambassador was previously in the Cabinet from 1953 to 1989, 1993 to 2001, and 2009 to 2018.
- Foreign Relations Committee hearing held on January 27, 2021, and approved 18–4 on February 4, 2021. Cloture invoked 75–20 on February 22, 2021. Confirmed 78–20 on February 23, 2021, and assumed office after presenting credentials on February 25, 2021.[57]
Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers
This position was previously in the Cabinet from 2009 to 2017.
Cecilia Rouse
- Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee hearing held on January 28, 2021, and approved by unanimous consent on February 4, 2021. Cloture invoked 94–5 and confirmed 95–4 on March 2, 2021. Sworn in on March 12, 2021.[59]
Jared Bernstein
Administrator of the Small Business Administration
Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and Science Advisor to the President
Biden elevated this position to the Cabinet for the first time, emphasizing the importance of science in the administration.[66]
His staff role as Science Advisor to the President does not require Senate confirmation, and he began the role on January 25, 2021.[67]
Eric Lander
- Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing held on April 29, 2021, and approved 22–6 on May 20, 2021. Confirmed by voice vote on May 28, 2021. Sworn in on June 2, 2021.[68]
- Announced resignation on February 7, 2022, effective February 18, 2022.[69]
Arati Prabhakar
- Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing held on July 20, 2022, and approved 15–13 on July 27, 2022. Cloture invoked 58–38 on September 21, 2022. Confirmed 56–40 on September 22, 2022, and sworn in on October 3, 2022.[71]
Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
This position was previously in the Cabinet from 2017 to 2021.
- Nominated as a non-Cabinet level position. Intelligence Committee hearing held on February 24, 2021, and approved by unanimous consent on March 2, 2021. Confirmed by voice vote on March 18, 2021. Sworn in on March 19, 2021.[72]
- Elevated to the Cabinet on July 21, 2023.
White House Chief of Staff
The White House chief of staff has traditionally been the highest-ranking staff employee of the White House. The responsibilities of the chief of staff are both managerial and advisory over the president's official business. The chief of staff is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the president; it does not require Senate confirmation. The first Cabinet or Cabinet-level position appointee announced by Biden was White House chief of staff Ron Klain.[74] He stepped down in February 2023, and he was succeeded by Jeff Zients.[75][76][77]
See also
Notes
- ^ Biden held the chairmanship from January 3 to January 20, then was succeeded by Jesse Helms until June 6, and thereafter held the position until 2003.
References
- ^ Johnson, Martin (December 1, 2020). "Biden elevates Economic Advisers chair to Cabinet". The Hill.
- ^ Zimmer, Carl (January 16, 2021). "Biden to Elevate Science Adviser to His Cabinet". The New York Times.
- ^ Falk, Pamela (November 20, 2020). "Will Biden tap a U.N. ambassador to "reclaim America's leading position"?". CBS News.
- ^ Lee, Matthew (January 11, 2021). "Biden chooses veteran diplomat Burns as CIA director". Associated Press.
- ^ a b Merchant, Normaan (July 21, 2023). "Biden names CIA Director William Burns to his Cabinet". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
- ^ Jaffe, Alexandra (March 2, 2021). "Biden's Cabinet half-empty after slow start in confirmations". Associated Press. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
- ^ Levine, Marianne. "Senate revs its confirmation engine to fill Biden's Cabinet". Politico. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
- ^ Liptak, Kevin (March 23, 2021). "Biden first president in decades to have first-pick Cabinet secretaries confirmed". CNN. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
- ^ Biden Cabinet – White House.gov
- ^ "Statement from President Joe Biden on Director Bill Burns". July 21, 2023.
- ^ "Joe Biden: The President-Elect". President-Elect Joe Biden. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
- ^ "Kamala Harris: The Vice President-Elect". President-Elect Joe Biden. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
- ^ PN78-3 – Antony John Blinken – Department of State
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "The Cabinet". President-Elect Joe Biden. Archived from the original on March 19, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
- ^ PN78-24 – Janet Louise Yellen – Department of the Treasury
- ^ Franck, Thomas (November 30, 2020). "Biden announces economic team, confirms Janet Yellen as Treasury nominee". CNBC. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
- ^ Foran, Clare (January 22, 2021). "Senate confirms Lloyd Austin to be first Black defense secretary". CNN. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
- ^ H.R.335 – To provide for an exception to a limitation against appointment of persons as Secretary of Defense within seven years of relief from active duty as a regular commissioned officer of the Armed Forces.
- ^ PN78-1 – Lloyd James Austin – Department of Defense
- ^ Seligman, Lara; Pager, Tyler; O'Brien, Connor; Bertrand, Natasha (December 7, 2020). "Biden picks retired general Lloyd Austin to run Pentagon". POLITICO. Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
- ^ PN78-7 – Merrick Brian Garland – Department of Justice
- ^ "Biden to name Judge Merrick Garland as attorney general". AP NEWS. January 6, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
- ^ Alonso-zaldivar, Ricardo (December 4, 2020). "Sources: Lujan Grisham offered, turned down Interior post". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
- ^ PN78-11 – Debra Anne Haaland – Department of the Interior
- ^ Eilperin, Juliet; Grandoni, Dino. "Biden picks Rep. Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) to be first Native American interior secretary". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
- ^ PN78-22 – Thomas J. Vilsack – Department of Agriculture
- ^ Nichols, Hans (December 8, 2020). "Biden to pick Vilsack for agriculture secretary, Fudge for HUD". Axios. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
- ^ PN78-15 – Gina Marie Raimondo – Department of Commerce
- ^ "Biden to nominate Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo to be commerce secretary". www.cbsnews.com. January 7, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
- ^ PN78-23 – Martin Joseph Walsh – Department of Labor
- ^ Conradis, Brandon (January 7, 2021). "Biden taps Boston Mayor Marty Walsh for Labor secretary: report". TheHill. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
- ^ "CAPAC Endorses Julie Su as the Nation's Next Secretary of Labor | Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC)". capac-chu.house.gov. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
- ^ PN388 — Julie A. Su — Department of Labor
- ^ Scheiber, Noam (February 28, 2023). "Biden Nominates Julie Su as U.S. Labor Secretary". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
- ^ Cole, Devan (February 16, 2021). "Senate committee to hold confirmation hearing for Biden's HHS nominee next week". CNN. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
- ^ PN78-2 – Xavier Becerra – Department of Health and Human Services
- ^ PN78-6 – Marcia Louise Fudge – Department of Housing and Urban Development
- ^ "Biden to tap Marcia Fudge to lead housing agency". POLITICO. December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
- ^ PN78-4 – Peter Paul Montgomery Buttigieg – Department of Transportation
- ^ Easley, Jonathan (May 5, 2019). "Documents provide glimpse into Buttigieg's military service". TheHill. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
- ^ Nick Niedzwiadek (December 16, 2020). "Biden points to 'precedent-busting appointments' as he rolls out Buttigieg pick". Politico. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
- ^ PN78-8 – Jennifer Mulhern Granholm – Department of Energy
- ^ "Biden to tap former Michigan Gov. Granholm to lead Energy Department". POLITICO. December 15, 2020. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
- ^ PN78-5 – Miguel A. Cardona – Department of Education
- ^ Meckler, Laura; Strauss, Valerie; Viser, Matt (December 22, 2020). "Biden picks Miguel Cardona, Connecticut schools chief, as education secretary". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
- ^ PN78-14 – Denis Richard McDonough – Department of Veterans Affairs
- ^ "Denis McDonough, Secretary of Veterans Affairs". President-Elect Joe Biden. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
- ^ PN78-13 – Alejandro Nicholas Mayorkas – Department of Homeland Security
- ^ "Biden taps longtime diplomat William Burns for CIA director". www.cbsnews.com. January 11, 2021. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
- ^ PN78-16 – Michael Stanley Regan – Environmental Protection Agency
- ^ Dennis, Brady; Mufson, Steven; Eilperin, Juliet. "Biden picks top North Carolina environmental official to run EPA". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
- ^ PN78-19 – Neera Tanden – Executive Office of the President
- ^ Mattingly, Phil; Sullivan, Kate (March 2, 2021). "White House pulls Tanden nomination". CNN. Archived from the original on March 3, 2021. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
- ^ PN1437 – Shalanda Young – Executive Office of the President
- ^ PN78-10 – Avril Danica Haines – Office of the Director of National Intelligence
- ^ PN78-18 – Katherine C. Tai – Executive Office of the President
- ^ PN78-20 – Linda Thomas-Greenfield – Department of State
- ^ Jakes, Lara; Crowley, Michael; Sanger, David E. (November 23, 2020). "Biden Chooses Antony Blinken, Defender of Global Alliances, as Secretary of State". The New York Times. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
- ^ PN78-17 – Cecilia Elena Rouse – Executive Office of the President
- ^ PN383 — Jared Bernstein — Executive Office of the President
- ^ "Biden announces reshaped economic team, naming 2 new top advisers". CBS News. February 14, 2023. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
- ^ "Biden appoints Lael Brainard, Jared Bernstein to key economic jobs". Axios. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
- ^ PN78-9 – Isabella Casillas Guzman – Small Business Administration
- ^ Collins, Andrew Restuccia and Eliza (January 8, 2021). "Biden Taps Boston Mayor, Rhode Island Governor for Cabinet Positions". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- ^ "Isabel Guzman, Small Business Administrator". President-Elect Joe Biden. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- ^ a b Kaplan, Sarah. "Biden will elevate White House science office to cabinet-level". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
- ^ Facher, Lev (February 1, 2021). "Eric Lander Is Brilliant, Connected, and Controversial. Now Joe Biden Wants Him to 'Reinvigorate' American Science". Stat. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
- ^ PN78-12 – Eric S. Lander – Executive Office of the President
- ^ Sink, Justin. "Embattled Biden Science Adviser Eric Lander Resigns after Outcry". Bloomberg News. Archived from the original on February 8, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
- ^ "President-elect Biden Announces Key Members of his White House Science Team". President-Elect Joe Biden. January 15, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
- ^ PN2267 — Arati Prabhakar — Executive Office of the President
- ^ PN82 — William Joseph Burns — Central Intelligence Agency
- ^ "Statement from President Joe Biden on Director Bill Burns". The White House. July 21, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- ^ Schrer, Michael (November 11, 2020). "Biden's choice of Ron Klain to run White House signals rejection of Trump-era chaos". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
- ^
- ^ Phil Mattingly; Kaitlan Collins (January 22, 2023). "Jeff Zients to replace Ron Klain as White House chief of staff". CNN. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
- ^ Anders Hagstrom; Brooke Singman; Greg Wehner (January 22, 2023). "Biden to tap former COVID czar Jeff Zients as new chief of staff". Fox News. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cabinet Members of the Joe Biden administration.