President-elect Joe Biden’s transition team has announced his picks for his communications and economic teams. Most of his announced picks are women, several of whom are women of color, following his campaign promise to build a diverse administration.
Biden nominated Neera Tanden as director of the Office of Management and Budget. Tanden currently leads the Center for American Progress. If confirmed, Tanden, an Indian American, would be the first woman of color to lead the agency.
Cecilia Rouse, Princeton University labor economist, was nominated as chair of the Council of Economic Advisors, along with economists Heather Boushey and Jared Bernstein. Rouse, a Black woman, would be the first woman of color to lead the council.
The transition team announced the nomination of Kate Bedingfield as White House communications director. Bedingfield served as the deputy campaign manager and communications director on the campaign trail.
Jen Psaki was nominated as White House press secretary. She served previously as White House communications director under President Obama, and her deputy will be Karine Jean-Pierre, who was the first Black chief of staff for a vice-presidential nominee on the Biden-Harris campaign.
Former senior advisor for strategic planning Ashley Etienne will serve as Harris’ communications director, and Symone Sanders, senior advisor to Biden during his campaign, will serve as spokeswoman and senior advisor to Harris. Elizabeth Alexander, formerly Biden’s press secretary when he was vice president, will serve as incoming first lady Jill Biden’s communications director.
The Biden-Harris team’s appointees demonstrate a clear commitment to bringing more diverse voices to the decision-making table than ever before.
Sources: CNN 11/30/20; Washington Post 11/29/20; 19th News 11/29/20; Washington Blade 11/30/20