Women will be in the Vice Presidency, in the press team and in the Secretary of the Treasury. For the first time, an African-American can lead the Pentagon, while two Latinos will assume home health and security.
Just over a month to go Joe Biden assume the Presidency of the United States. Before that date arrives, he must appoint the members of his cabinet, a job marked by the diversity of appointments.
Biden draws on heavyweights from the Democratic Party, with experience in the government of Barack Obama. They are figures he knows well because he was vice president in that administration.
At the same time, in a sign of change and differentiation with Donald Trump, Biden sets milestones. He appointed the first African-American to head the Pentagon, his communication team will be made up only of women and a Latino will be in Health, as well as in Homeland Security.
Here is a review by those elected to the Government of Biden.
Women in key positions
In the Biden government, the United States will have its first wife as Vice President: Kamala Harris. A similar milestone was reached at the Treasury Secretariat with the designation of Janet Yellen.
The White House spokeswoman will be Jen Psaki, who served three Democratic presidential campaigns. She was also a press secretary during the Obama administration.
The New White House Communications Director to be Kate Bedingfield. She held the same position, but in the Vice Presidency when Biden was in charge of that office.
The rest of the team will consist of Elizabeth E. Alexander, who will serve as Communications Director for the first lady, Jill Biden, and Ashley Etienne, which has the same responsibility, but with Vice President Harris.
An African American at the Pentagon
The next surprise came on December 8. That day Biden chose to lead the Department of Defense to retired general Lloyd Austin.
If he receives confirmation from the Senate, the general will become the first African-American to head the Pentagon.
This retired general was head of the Central Command in charge of operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen and Syria.
“He is uniquely qualified to take on the challenges and crises we face today,” stressed Biden.
Despite that resume, Austin has problems. In his civilian life he passed through “revolving doors”.
He held positions in private companies, which aroused criticism in the most progressive sectors of the Democratic Party.
However, the biggest problem you face is that He has only been out of the Armed Forces for four years. A 2008 law requires at least seven years to pass before retired military personnel can hold government posts.
Latinos in Homeland Health and Safety
During the campaign and after the victory, Biden said that one of his priorities will be the fight against the pandemic. That is why there was special attention to who will occupy the Ministry of Health.
That position went to a Latino. It’s about Xavier Becerra, who is the current California attorney general.
If confirmed by the Senate, Becerra will be the first Latino to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Becerra, of Mexican origin, has more than 20 years of legislative experience. He became the highest-ranking Hispanic in Congress. From there he assisted in the approval of Obama’s health care reform, known as Obamacare.
There will be another Latino in Biden’s cabinet. Is about Alejandro Mayorkas, who will head the Secretariat of National Security.
It is an important designation because that office is in charge of border and immigration control. The designation implies a radical change with Trump’s policy in favor of building a wall on the border with Mexico.
All of these positions will take over as of January 20, when the Biden era formally begins.
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