We are around three months into Joe Biden’s presidency and in order for him to achieve many of his goals during his four years, he needs his cabinet. The cabinet is a group of sixteen people tasked with leading various departments in this article. I will go through all fifteen cabinet members who are required to have Senate confirmation (Vice President Harris does not need to be confirmed).
Secretary of State - Anthony Blinkin (Confirmed) - Blinkin served many roles during the Obama-Biden presidency including deputy secretary of state and national security advisor to then Vice President Biden.
Secretary of the Treasury - Janet Yellen (Confirmed) - Yellen is the first woman to hold this position. Before becoming secretary she also made history becoming the first woman to chair the Federal Reserve. She has been dealing with money her whole life.
Secretary of Defense - General Lloyd Austin (Confirmed) - Gen. Austin is the first Black man to lead the Pentagon. Gen. Austin had to jump through some hoops because federal law requires that you have to be retired for seven years to become Secretary of Defense (Gen. Austin has only been retired for four). He was able to get a congressional waiver and is now serving as the Secretary of Defense.
Attorney General - Merrick Garland (Confirmed) - Appointed in 1997 to the District of Columbia Court of Appeals by Bill Clinton, Garland was going to be the replacement after the death of Supreme Court Justice Antony Scalia. However, then Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked confirmation hearings and let the next president (Donald Trump) appoint his successor.
Secretary of Interior - Deb Haaland (Confirmed) - If confirmed by the Senate she would be the first Native American Secretary of Interior. She made history in 2018 when she became one of two Native Americans elected to Congress.
Secretary of Agriculture - Tom Vilsack (Confirmed) - He was the former governor of Iowa and served as Obama’s Secretary of Agriculture during both of his terms.
Secretary of Commerce - Gina Raimondo (Confirmed) - She was the first female governor of Rhode Island and has held that position since 2015. Before she was the general treasurer of Rhode Island.
Secretary of Labor - Marty Walsh (Confirmed) - Walsh has been the Mayor of Boston since 2014 and before that, he led Boston’s Building and Construction Trades Council. He also is a veteran union operative.
Secretary of Health and Human Services - Xavier Becerra (Confirmed) - If confirmed Becerra would be the first Latino to lead HHS. He is currently the Attorney General of California and was the first Latino to hold that position. Before Attorney General, he served twelve terms in the House of Representatives.
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development - Marcia Fudge (Confirmed) - Fudge represented Ohio’s 11th district and had been in the position since 2008. She was also the first woman and African American to become mayor of Warrensville Heights, Ohio. While in congress she chaired the Congressional Black Caucus.
Secretary of Transportation - Pete Buttigieg (Confirmed) - Buttigieg makes history as the first LGBTQ cabinet secretary. The former South Bend, Indiana mayor also makes history as the youngest cabinet member at age 38.
Secretary of Energy - Jennifer Granholm (Confirmed) - She was the first woman elected as the governor of Michigan and served two terms. While governor she worked with the state’s auto industry which is helpful for Biden since he wants to switch to cleaner cars. She also was the state’s first female Attorney General.
Secretary of Education - Miguel Cardona (Confirmed) - A first-generation American, Cardona has been a leader in sending children back to school stating that too many students are falling behind due to online learning. Before becoming Secretary of Education, Cardona served as Connecticut’s Commissioner of Education.
Secretary of Veteran Affairs- Denis McDonough (Confirmed)- McDonough served as Obama’s chief of staff during his second term and was also the deputy national security advisor. He has also served in many other positions relating to national security.
Secretary of Homeland Security - Alejandro Mayorkas (Confirmed) - The first immigrant and Latino to head the Department of Homeland Security, Mayorkas served as the deputy secretary of Homeland Security. He also saw the implementation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA).
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