President-elect Joe Biden
Joe BidenFear of insider attack prompts additional FBI screening of National Guard troops: AP Iran convicts American businessman on spying charge: report DC, state capitals see few issues, heavy security amid protest worries MORE on Monday announced a slate of nominees to serve as deputy secretaries across his administration, further filling out his team just two days before he will take office.
Biden announced nominees to serve as deputy secretaries at the Departments of Interior, Agriculture, Health and Human Services (HHS), Transportation, and Education.
The transition team also officially announced that he would nominate Rohit Chopra, a member of the Federal Trade Commission, to be director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Gary Gensler
Gary GenslerHuffPost reporter: Biden SEC pick ‘easily the best bank regulator’ from Obama era Reimagining the role of the next SEC chair The future of ‘fintech’ is at stake for Biden and the Senate MORE, the head of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission under the Obama administration, to chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Those nominations had been previously reported.
Biden plans to nominate Elizabeth Klein, who worked in the Interior Department during the Clinton and Obama administrations, as deputy secretary of the Interior under Deb Haaland
Deb HaalandTrump sold off the Arctic Refuge — Biden can help save it OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Nine, including former Michigan governor, charged over Flint water crisis | Regulator finalizes rule forcing banks to serve oil, gun companies | Trump admin adds hurdle to increase efficiency standards for furnaces, water heaters Biden’s chief aide says president wants teams, no rivals MORE; Dr. Jewel Bronaugh, the commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, as deputy secretary of Agriculture under Tom Vilsack
Tom VilsackUSDA: Farm-to-school programs help schools serve healthier meals OVERNIGHT MONEY: House poised to pass debt-ceiling bill MORE; and Andrea Palm, the current secretary-designee of Wisconsin’s department of health services, as deputy secretary of Health and Human Services under Xavier Becerra
Xavier BecerraOVERNIGHT ENERGY: Groups sue EPA over ‘backwards’ lead rule | 12 states, green groups sue EPA over airline standards they deem insufficient | Biden taps Janet McCabe to serve as deputy at EPA 12 states, green groups sue EPA over airline standards they deem insufficient Democratic senator: COVID-19 relief is priority over impeachment trial MORE.
The president-elect will also nominate Polly Trottenberg, New York City’s transportation commissioner, as deputy secretary of Transportation under Pete Buttigieg
Pete ButtigiegOn The Money: Retail sales drop in latest sign of weakening economy | Fast-food workers strike for minimum wage | US officials raise concerns over Mexico’s handling of energy permits Buttigieg confirmation hearing slated for Thursday James Murdoch predicts ‘a reckoning’ for media after Capitol riot MORE and Cindy Marten, superintendent of the San Diego unified school district, as deputy secretary of Education under Miguel Cardona
Miguel CardonaParenting and polling in education’s new normal Community colleges need their own assistant secretary in Biden’s administration Public schools are the starting point for bridging our divides MORE.
“Our administration will hit the ground running to deliver immediate, urgent relief to Americans; confront the overlapping crises of COVID-19, the historic economic downturn, systemic racism and inequality, and the climate crisis; and get this government working for the people it serves,” Biden said in a statement Monday.
“These tireless public servants will be a key part of our agenda to build back better — and I am confident they will help make meaningful change and move our country forward,” he continued.
All but two of the newly-announced nominees for deputy secretary positions — Marten and Bronaugh — worked in positions in the Obama administration in the agencies where they will serve in the Biden administration if confirmed.
Marten has been an educator for more than three decades, serving in various positions including a teacher, superintendent and principal.
Bronaugh, who if confirmed would be the first woman of color to serve as deputy secretary of Agriculture, was tapped by then-Secretary Vilsack to serve as Virginia state executive director for the USDA Farm Service Agency during the Obama administration. Vilsack also hopes to reprise his role as Agriculture chief in the Biden administration.
The announcement comes as Biden prepares to be sworn in as the 46th president on Wednesday. Last week, Biden rolled out a $1.9 trillion economic relief proposal that he wants Congress to swiftly pass and also laid out his coronavirus vaccination plan. He also plans to sign roughly a dozen executive orders on his first day as president to address issues including immigration, climate change and the coronavirus pandemic.
It’s unclear how quickly the Senate will process Biden’s nominees. The first nomination hearings for members of his Cabinet begin on Tuesday, and it appears that Biden will enter office without a single Cabinet member confirmed on Wednesday.
The incoming administration is expected to appoint acting agency heads when Biden takes over, including career government officials and potentially a few Trump appointees, to helm various departments until a permanent secretary is confirmed.