President-elect Joe Biden announced on Thursday morning he has named his first Domestic nominees, including two former officials who worked under former President Barack Obama in Denis McDonough and Susan Rice.
McDonough has been tapped to be the secretary of Veterans Affairs. He served as White House Chief of Staff, Deputy National Security Advisor, and Chief of Staff of the National Security Council during the Obama-Biden Administration.
Rice has an extensive working relationship with Biden historically, serving as National Security Advisor from 2013-2017 in the Obama-Biden Administration, where she directed national security policies in global health, climate policy, international trade, development, and economic issues, relationships with allies, competition and cooperation with China and Russia, and managing U.S. foreign relations with all regions of the world.
Rice’s name was also mentioned as a possible choice to be Biden’s running mate prior to him picking Sen. Kamala Harris.
Tom Vilsack has been picked to be the Secretary of Agriculture. He is a former two-term governor of Iowa who served as Secretary of Agriculture for all eight years of the Obama-Biden Administration. Vilsack was unanimously confirmed by the Senate to lead the USDA in 2009 and led a successful campaign to increase food safety standards during his tenure.
Rep. Marcia Fudge of Ohio was selected to be the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, a position held by former San Antonio mayor Julian Castro during the Obama Administration. If confirmed, Fudge would be the first woman to lead HUD in more than 40 years and the second Black woman to lead the department.
Biden selected Katherine Tai to be the United States Trade Representative. She brings experience as from the Office of the United States Trade Representative and served as Chief Counsel for China Trade Enforcement. If confirmed, she would be the first Asian American and first woman of color to serve as U.S. Trade Representative.
