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Biden Administration Nominations and Appointments

January 22, 2021
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NOTE: Last updated on April 6, 2021.

On Wednesday January 20, 2021, we saw the inauguration of the 46th President of the United States, Joseph R. Biden, Jr. His first task as president was signing 17 executive orders addressing issues related to COVID-19, climate change, immigration matters, the U.S. census and other key issues. On his second day in office, he released his National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness, in addition to more Executive Orders to fulfill this commitment. President Biden has also nominated individuals to fill his cabinet and other positions and is seeking Senate action to hold hearings and confirm his nominees as quickly as possible.

Below are the names of those nominated or appointed to date and, where possible, the dates of their confirmation, when hearings are scheduled or where no Senate action is required. We will update this information as it changes.

For additional questions, please contact Sheila P. Burke, Thomas Shaw, or a member of the Firm's Government Relations and Public Policy team.

Cabinet
Title Name Senate Committee Nomination Hearings Schedule
Secretary of State Antony Blinken Confirmed on January 26, 2021 
Secretary of Treasury Janet Yellen Confirmed on January 25, 2021 
Secretary of Defense Retired Gen. Lloyd Austin Confirmed on January 22, 2021
Attorney General Merrick Garland Confirmed on March 10, 2021
Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland Confirmed on March 15, 2021
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack Confirmed on February 23, 2021
Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo Confirmed on March 2, 2021
Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh Confirmed on March 22, 2021
Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra Confirmed on March 18, 2021
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Marcia Fudge Confirmed on March 10, 2021
Secretary of Commerce, Science and Transportation Pete Buttigieg Confirmed on February 2, 2021
Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm Confirmed on February 25, 2021
Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona Confirmed on March 1, 2021
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough Confirmed on February 8, 2021
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas Confirmed on February 2, 2021
EPA Administrator Michael Regan Confirmed on March 10, 2021
Director of OMB TBD TBD
Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines Confirmed on January 20, 2021
U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai Confirmed on March 17, 2021
U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield Confirmed on February 23, 2021
Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors Cecilia Rouse Confirmed on March 2, 2021
Small Business Administrator Isabel Guzman Confirmed on March 16, 2021
OSTP Director and Presidential Science Advisor Eric Lander TBD

Deputy Cabinet and Other Appointees
Title Name Senate Committee Nomination Hearings Schedule
Executive Office of the President
Member of the Council of Economic Advisers Jared Bernstein TBD
Member of the Council of Economic Advisers Heather Boushey TBD
Director of the Domestic Policy Council & Domestic Policy Advisor Susan Rice No confirmation required
Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor to the Director of the Domestic Policy Council Stefanie Feldman No confirmation required
Deputy Director of the Domestic Policy Council for Racial Justice and Equity Catherine Lhamon No confirmation required
Deputy Director of the Domestic Policy Council for Economic Mobility Carmel Martin No confirmation required
Deputy Director of the Domestic Policy Council for Immigration Esther Olavarria No confirmation required
Deputy Director of the Domestic Policy Council for Health and Veterans Affairs Christen Linke Young No confirmation required
Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality Brenda Mallory Confirmed on March 25
Special Envoy for Climate John Kerry No confirmation required
National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy No confirmation required
Deputy National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi No confirmation required
Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci No confirmation required
COVID-19 Equity Task Force Chair Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith No confirmation required
Coordinator of the COVID-19 Response and Counselor to the President Jeff Zients No confirmation required
Deputy Coordinator of the
COVID-19 Response		 Natalie Quillian No confirmation required
Director of the National Economic Council Brian Deese No confirmation required
Deputy Director of the National Economic Council David Kamin No confirmation required
Deputy Director of the National Economic Council Sameera Fazili No confirmation required
Deputy Director for the National Economic Council for Financial Reform and Consumer Protection Bharat Ramamurti No confirmation required
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan No confirmation required
Homeland Security Advisor
Deputy National Security Advisor		 Dr. Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall No confirmation required
Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technology Anne Neuberger No confirmation required
Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer No confirmation required
Deputy Director of Office of Management and Budget Shalanda Young Confirmed on March 23
Deputy Director for Management Jason Miller TBD
Office of Science and Technology Policy Deputy Director for Science and Society Dr. Alondra Nelson TBD
Co-Chair of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology Dr. Frances Arnold No confirmation required
Co-Chair of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology Dr. Maria Zuber No confirmation required
Office of Science and Technology Policy Chief of Staff Kei Koizumi No confirmation required
Office of Science and Technology Policy Legislative Affairs Director Narda Jones No confirmation required
State
Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman TBD
Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources Brian McKeon Confirmed on March 18
Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Affairs Bonnie Jenkins TBD
Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya TBD
Under Secretary for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland TBD
Treasury
Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo Confirmed on March 25
Executive Secretary Marti Adams No confirmation required
Chief Speechwriter and Senior Advisor Ryan Jacobs No confirmation required
Chief of Staff Didem Nisanci No confirmation required
Counselor to the Secretary Jacob Leibenluft No confirmation required
Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Calvin Mitchell No confirmation required
Deputy Chief of Staff Alfred I. Johnson No confirmation required
Deputy Chief of Staff Julie Brinn Siegel No confirmation required
Defense
Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks Confirmed (voice) on February 8
Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl TBD
Director of the Central Intelligence Agency William Burns Confirmed on March 18
Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency David Cohen TBD
Justice
Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco TBD
Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta No confirmation required
Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Kristen Clarke TBD
FBI Director Christopher Wray TBD
Interior
Deputy Secretary of the Interior Elizabeth Klein TBD
Agriculture
Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Dr. Jewel Bronaugh TBD
Commerce
Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves TBD
Labor
Information not yet available.
Health and Human Services
Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services Andrea Palm TBD
Assistant Secretary for Health Dr. Rachel Levine Confirmed on March 24
Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Dr. Rochelle Walensky No confirmation required
Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy Confirmed on March 22
Director of National Institutes of Health Dr. Francis Collins TBD
HUD
Information not yet available.
Transportation
Deputy Secretary of Transportation Polly Trottenberg TBD
Energy
Senior Advisor to the Secretary Christopher Davis No confirmation required
Director, Office of Technology Transitions (Chief Commercialization Officer) Vanessa Z. Chan No confirmation required
Commissioner of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Richard Glick TBD
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy Jennifer Wilcox No confirmation required
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Kelly Speakes-Backman No confirmation required
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs Ali Nouri No confirmation required
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Affairs Andrew Light No confirmation required
Education
Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten TBD
Veterans Affairs
General Counsel of Veterans Affairs Richard Sauber TBD (Announced February 19)
Homeland Security
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell TBD
Environmental Protection Agency
Deputy Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Janet McCabe TBD
Associate Administrator for Policy Victoria Arroyo No confirmation required
United States Agency for International Development
USAID Administrator Samantha Power TBD
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Director of the CFPB Rohit Chopra TBD
Securities Exchange Commission
Chair of the SEC Gary Gensler TBD


White House Personnel

Office of the Chief of Staff

  • White House Chief of Staff – Ron Klain

Press Office

  • White House Press Secretary – Jen Psaki
  • Assistant Press Secretary – Rosemary Boeglin

COVID-19 Response Team

  • COVID-19 Response Team Deputy Chief of Staff – Rosa Po
  • Senior Advisor to the COVID-19 Response Coordinator – Andy Slavitt
  • Chief Science Officer – Dr. David Kessler
  • COVID-19 Senior Policy Advisor – Sonya Bernstein
  • COVID-19 Policy Advisor – Osaremen Okolo
  • Policy Advisor – Amy Chang
  • Vaccinations Coordinator – Bechara Choucair
  • COVID-19 Intergovernmental Affairs Director – Eduardo Cisneros
  • COVID-19 Digital Director – Clarke Humphrey
  • Testing Coordinator – Carole Johnson
  • Policy Advisor for Testing – Vidur Sharma
  • Supply Coordinator – Tim Manning
  • Director of Strategic Communications and Engagement – Courtney Rowe
  • Deputy Director of Strategic Communications & Engagement – Ben Wakana
  • COVID-19 Data Director – Dr. Cyrus Shahpar
  • Senior Policy Advisor for COVID-19 Equity – Dr. Cameron Webb

National Security Council

  • Chief of Staff and Executive Secretary – Yohannes Abraham

Office of Legislative Affairs

  • Special Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff for the Office of Legislative Affairs – Kaitlyn Hobbs Demers
  • Special Assistant to the President and Senate Legislative Affairs Liaison – Zephranie Buetow
  • Special Assistant to the President and House Legislative Affairs Liaisons – Ashley Jones, Alicia Molt-West, Angela Ramirez and Lee Slater

Office of Presidential Personnel

  • Chief of Staff for the Office of Presidential Personnel – Rachel Wallace

Office of Scheduling & Advance

  • Director of Presidential Scheduling – Lisa Kohnke

White House Council on Environmental Quality

  • Senior Director for Environmental Justice – Dr. Cecilia Martinez

NOTE: Additional information can be made available by request.

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Authors

 
Sheila P. Burke*
T: 202.508.3457
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Thomas Shaw†
T: 202.654.4606
  Email Professional

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Baker Donelson professional not admitted to the practice of law.

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