Cabinet of Joe Biden

Members of the Cabinet of the United States in the Biden administration will assume office after the inauguration of President Joe Biden on January 20, 2021, and after confirmation by the United States Senate. In addition to the 15 heads of executive departments, there will be nine Cabinet-level officials, with three positions being elevated to Cabinet-level, and one position being dropped.

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Announced nominees

All permanent members of the Cabinet of the United States as heads of executive departments require the advice and consent of the United States Senate following appointment by the president before taking office. The vice presidency is exceptional in that the position requires an election to office pursuant to the United States Constitution. The president may also designate heads of other agencies and non-Senate-confirmed members of the Executive Office of the President as Cabinet-level members of the Cabinet. The Cabinet meets with the president in a room adjacent to the Oval Office.

The following have been named as Cabinet appointees by the president of the United States.[1]

Cabinet members

Cabinet of President Joe Biden
  Individual elected to office and does not serve at the pleasure of the president of the United States (all other cabinet members do)
  Individual has yet to be confirmed by the United States Senate
  No Senate consent needed
Office
Date announced / confirmed		 Designee Office
Date announced / confirmed		 Designee

–

Vice President of the United States
Announced August 11, 2020
Assumed office January 20, 2021
Former U.S. Senator
Kamala Harris
of California

–

Secretary of State
Announced November 23, 2020
Assumed office January 26, 2021
Former Deputy Secretary
Antony Blinken
of New York

–

Secretary of the Treasury
Announced November 30, 2020
Assumed office January 26, 2021
Former Federal Reserve Chair
Janet Yellen
of California

–

Secretary of Defense
Announced December 8, 2020
Assumed office January 22, 2021
Retired General
Lloyd Austin
of Georgia

–

Attorney General
Announced January 7, 2021
Judge
Merrick Garland
of Maryland

–

Secretary of the Interior
Announced December 17, 2020
U.S. Representative
Deb Haaland
of New Mexico

–

Secretary of Agriculture
Announced December 10, 2020
Former Secretary
Tom Vilsack
of Iowa

–

Secretary of Commerce
Announced January 7, 2021
Governor
Gina Raimondo
of Rhode Island

–

Secretary of Labor
Announced January 7, 2021
Mayor
Marty Walsh
of Massachusetts

–

Secretary of Health and Human Services
Announced December 7, 2020
State Attorney General
Xavier Becerra
of California

–

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Announced December 10, 2020
U.S. Representative
Marcia Fudge
of Ohio

–

Secretary of Transportation
Announced December 15, 2020
Assumed office February 3, 2021
Former Mayor
Pete Buttigieg
of Indiana

–

Secretary of Energy
Announced December 17, 2020
Former Governor
Jennifer Granholm
of Michigan

–

Secretary of Education
Announced December 22, 2020
State Education Commissioner
Miguel Cardona
of Connecticut

–

Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Announced December 10, 2020
Assumed office February 9, 2021
Former White House Chief of Staff
Denis McDonough
of Maryland

–

Secretary of Homeland Security
Announced November 23, 2020
Assumed office February 2, 2021
Former Deputy Secretary
Alejandro Mayorkas
of Washington, D.C.

Cabinet-level officials

Office

Date announced / confirmed

 Designee Office

Date announced / confirmed

 Designee

–

Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
Announced December 17, 2020
Environmental Quality Secretary
Michael S. Regan
of North Carolina

–

Director of the Office of Management and Budget
Announced November 30, 2020
President of the Center for American Progress
Neera Tanden
of Massachusetts

–

Director of National Intelligence
Announced November 23, 2020
Assumed office January 21, 2021
Former Dep. National Security Advisor
Avril Haines
of New York

–

United States Trade Representative

Announced December 10, 2020
Ways and Means
Chief Trade Counsel
Katherine Tai
of Washington, D.C.

–

United States Ambassador to the United Nations
Announced November 23, 2020
Former Asst. Secretary of State
for African Affairs
Linda Thomas-Greenfield
of Louisiana

–

Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors
Announced November 30, 2020
Dean of the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs
Cecilia Rouse
of New Jersey

–

Administrator of the Small Business Administration
Announced January 7, 2021
Small Business Advocate Director
Isabel Guzman
of California

–

Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy
Science Advisor to the President
Announced January 15, 2021
Director of the Broad Institute
Eric Lander
of Massachusetts

–

White House Chief of Staff
Announced November 12, 2020
Assumed office January 20, 2021
Former Chief of Staff to the Vice President
Ron Klain
of Indiana

Confirmation process

Below is a list of confirmations for Cabinet positions, Cabinet-level positions, and other significant positions that were approved through the Senate from January 2021 onwards, by a recorded roll-call vote, rather than by a voice vote.

Timeline
Eric LanderIsabel GuzmanCecilia RouseLinda Thomas-GreenfieldKatherine TaiAvril HainesNeera TandenMichael S. ReganAlejandro MayorkasDenis McDonoughMiguel CardonaJennifer GranholmPete ButtigiegMarcia FudgeXavier BecerraMarty WalshGina RaimondoTom VilsackDeb HaalandMerrick GarlandLloyd AustinJanet YellenAntony Blinken

Senate votes
Senate confirmation votes of President Biden's cabinet
Sources: 

Affiliation: D denotes Democratic, R denotes Republican, and I-D denotes an independent that caucuses with Democrats.

Elected officials

President

On November 7, 2020, it was announced that Democrat Joe Biden defeated the incumbent president, Donald Trump, in the 2020 presidential election. Joe Biden received 306 electoral votes compared to Trump's 232 electoral votes, with 270 needed to win the presidency. He assumed office on January 20, 2021.

President of the United States
Portrait Name Date of birth Background Reference
Joe Biden November 20, 1942
(age 78)		 [2]

Vice President

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) was elected vice president of the United States, receiving 306 electoral votes, compared to the incumbent vice president, Mike Pence, who received 232 electoral votes. An elected vice president does not require Senate confirmation, and the vice president does not serve at the president's pleasure.

Having assumed office on January 20, 2021, she is the first female vice president of the United States as well as the first African American and Asian American to hold the second-highest office.

Vice President of the United States
Portrait Name Date of birth Background Reference
Kamala Harris October 20, 1964
(age 56)		 [3]

Nominated candidates for Cabinet positions

The following cabinet positions are listed in order of their creation (also used as the basis for the United States presidential line of succession).

Secretary of State

A nomination for Secretary of State is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Foreign Relations Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

  • Foreign Relations Committee hearing held and approved 15–3 on January 25, 2021. Confirmed 78–22 and sworn in on January 26, 2021.[4]
Secretary of State
Portrait Name Date of birth Background Reference
Antony Blinken April 16, 1962
(age 58)		 [5]

Secretary of the Treasury

A nomination for Secretary of the Treasury is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Finance Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

  • Finance Committee hearing held and approved by unanimous consent on January 22, 2021. Confirmed 84–15 on January 25, 2021 and sworn in on January 26, 2021.[6]
Secretary of the Treasury
Portrait Name Date of birth Background Reference
Janet Yellen August 13, 1946
(age 74)		 [7]

Secretary of Defense

A nomination for Secretary of Defense is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Armed Services Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote. Biden's announced nominee, retired Gen. Lloyd Austin, required a congressional waiver to be granted under the National Security Act of 1947 before he was confirmed.[8]

Waiver process:

  • House Armed Services Committee hearing held on January 15, 2021 and approved without objection on January 21, 2021. Floor vote passed 326–78 on January 21, 2021.
  • Senate Armed Services Committee hearing held and approved by voice vote on January 21, 2021. Floor vote passed 69–27 on January 21, 2021.
  • Signed into law on January 21, 2021.[9]

Confirmation process:

  • Armed Services Committee hearing held and approved by unanimous consent on January 21, 2021. Confirmed 93–2 and sworn in on January 22, 2021.[10]
Secretary of Defense
Portrait Name Date of birth Background Reference
Lloyd Austin August 8, 1953
(age 67)		 [11]

Attorney General

A nomination for Attorney General is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Judiciary Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

Attorney General
Portrait Name Date of birth Background Reference
Merrick Garland November 13, 1952
(age 68)		 [13]

Secretary of the Interior

A nomination for Secretary of the Interior is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote. Biden reportedly offered the position to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico, but she turned it down.[14]

Secretary of the Interior
Portrait Name Date of birth Background Reference
Deb Haaland December 2, 1960
(age 60)		 [16]

Secretary of Agriculture

A nomination for Secretary of Agriculture is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

Secretary of Agriculture
Portrait Name Date of birth Background Reference
Tom Vilsack December 13, 1950
(age 70)		 [18]

Secretary of Commerce

A nomination for Secretary of Commerce is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

Secretary of Commerce
Portrait Name Date of birth Background Reference
Gina Raimondo May 17, 1971
(age 49)		 [20]

Secretary of Labor

A nomination for Secretary of Labor is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

  • Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing held on February 4, 2021, vote pending.[21]
Secretary of Labor
Portrait Name Date of birth Background Reference
Marty Walsh April 10, 1967
(age 53)		 [22]

Secretary of Health and Human Services

Although historically the nominee also holds meetings with the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, officially a nomination for Secretary of Health and Human Services is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the United States Senate Committee on Finance, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

  • Finance Committee hearing pending.[23]
  • Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee consultative hearing pending.
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Portrait Name Date of birth Background Reference
Xavier Becerra January 26, 1958
(age 63)		 [5]

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

A nomination for Secretary of Housing and Urban Development is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Portrait Name Date of birth Background Reference
Marcia Fudge October 29, 1952
(age 68)		 [25]

Secretary of Transportation

A nomination for Secretary of Transportation is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

Secretary of Transportation
Portrait Name Date of birth Background Reference
Pete Buttigieg January 19, 1982
(age 39)		 [28]

Secretary of Energy

The nomination of a secretary-designate is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

Secretary of Energy
Portrait Name Date of birth Background Reference
Jennifer Granholm February 5, 1959
(age 62)		 [30]

Secretary of Education

A nomination for Secretary of Education is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

Secretary of Education
Portrait Name Date of birth Background Reference
Miguel Cardona July 11, 1975
(age 45)		 [32]

Secretary of Veterans Affairs

A nomination for Secretary of Veterans Affairs is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

  • Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing held on January 27, 2021, approved by unanimous consent on February 2, 2021. Confirmed 87–7 on February 8, 2021 and sworn in on February 9, 2021.[33]
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Portrait Name Date of birth Background Reference
Denis McDonough December 2, 1969
(age 51)		 [34]

Secretary of Homeland Security

A nomination for Secretary of Homeland Security is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

Secretary of Homeland Security
Portrait Name Date of birth Background Reference
Alejandro Mayorkas

November 24, 1959
(age 61)

 [5]

Nominated candidates for Cabinet-level positions

Cabinet-level officials have positions that are considered to be of Cabinet level, but which are not heads of the executive departments. Which exact positions that are considered to be cabinet-level varies with each president. Biden has announced he will elevate three positions to Cabinet-level, while removing the director of the Central Intelligence Agency.[36]

Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
Portrait Name Date of birth Background Reference
Michael S. Regan 1975/1976 (age 45–46) [38]

Director of the Office of Management and Budget
Director of the Office of Management and Budget
Portrait Name Date of birth Background Reference
Neera Tanden September 10, 1970
(age 50)		 [5]

Director of National Intelligence
  • Intelligence Committee hearing held and approved by unanimous consent on January 20, 2021. Confirmed 84–10 on January 20, 2021 and sworn in on January 21, 2021.[40]
Director of National Intelligence
Portrait Name Date of birth Background Reference
Avril Haines August 29, 1969
(age 51)		 [5]

U.S. ambassador to the United Nations

The UN ambassador was previously in the Cabinet from 1953 to 1989, 1993 to 2001, and 2009 to 2018.

  • Foreign Relations Committee hearing held on January 27, 2021 and approved 18–4 on February 4, 2021. Floor vote pending.[41]
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
Portrait Name Date of birth Background Reference
Linda Thomas-Greenfield 1952
(age 68–69)		 [5][42]

U.S. trade representative

The U.S. trade representative has been a Cabinet-level member since 1974, the beginning of Gerald Ford's presidency.

  • Finance Committee hearing pending.[43]
U.S. Trade Representative
Portrait Name Date of birth Background Reference
Katherine Tai 1974/1975 (age 45–46)[44] [5]

Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors

This position was previously in the Cabinet from 2009 to 2017.

Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors
Portrait Name Date of birth Background Reference
Cecilia Rouse December 18, 1963
(age 57)		 [5]

Administrator of the Small Business Administration
Administrator of the Small Business Administration
Portrait Name Date of birth Background Reference
Isabel Guzman 1971
(age 49–50)		 [47][48]

Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and Science Advisor to the President

Biden elevated this position to the Cabinet for the first time, emphasizing the importance of science in the administration.[49]

His staff role as Science Advisor to the President does not require Senate confirmation, and he began the role on January 25, 2021.[50] He is awaiting confirmation as director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy
Portrait Name Date of birth Background Reference
Eric Lander February 3, 1957
(age 64)		 [49][52]

White House chief of staff

The White House chief of staff has traditionally been the highest-ranking staff employee of the White House. The responsibilities of the chief of staff are both managerial and advisory over the president's official business. The chief of staff is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the president; it does not require Senate confirmation. The first Cabinet or Cabinet-level position appointee announced by Biden was White House chief of staff Ron Klain.[53]

White House Chief of Staff
Portrait Name Date of birth Background Reference
Ron Klain August 8, 1961
(age 59)		 [5]

See also

References
  1. Biden Cabinet – White House.gov
  2. "Joe Biden: The President-Elect". President-Elect Joe Biden. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  3. "Kamala Harris: The Vice President-Elect". President-Elect Joe Biden. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  4. PN78-3 — Antony John Blinken — Department of State
  5. "The Cabinet". President-Elect Joe Biden. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
  6. PN78-24 — Janet Louise Yellen — Department of the Treasury
  7. Franck, Thomas (November 30, 2020). "Biden announces economic team, confirms Janet Yellen as Treasury nominee". CNBC. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  8. Foran, Clare (January 22, 2021). "Senate confirms Lloyd Austin to be first Black defense secretary". CNN. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  9. H.R.335 – To provide for an exception to a limitation against appointment of persons as Secretary of Defense within seven years of relief from active duty as a regular commissioned officer of the Armed Forces.
  10. PN78-1 — Lloyd James Austin — Department of Defense
  11. Seligman, Lara; Pager, Tyler; O'Brien, Connor; Bertrand, Natasha (December 7, 2020). "Biden picks retired general Lloyd Austin to run Pentagon". POLITICO. Archived from the original on December 7, 2020. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  12. PN78-7 — Merrick Brian Garland — Department of Justice
  13. "Biden to name Judge Merrick Garland as attorney general". AP NEWS. January 6, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  14. Alonso-zaldivar, Ricardo. "Sources: Lujan Grisham offered, turned down Interior post". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  15. PN78-11 — Debra Anne Haaland — Department of the Interior
  16. Eilperin, Juliet; Grandoni, Dino. "Biden picks Rep. Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) to be first Native American interior secretary". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  17. PN78-22 — Thomas J. Vilsack — Department of Agriculture
  18. Nichols, Hans. "Biden to pick Vilsack for agriculture secretary, Fudge for HUD". Axios. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  19. PN78-15 — Gina Marie Raimondo — Department of Commerce
  20. "Biden to nominate Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo to be commerce secretary". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  21. PN78-23 — Martin Joseph Walsh — Department of Labor
  22. Conradis, Brandon (January 7, 2021). "Biden taps Boston Mayor Marty Walsh for Labor secretary: report". TheHill. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  23. PN78-2 — Xavier Becerra — Department of Health and Human Services
  24. PN78-6 — Marcia Louise Fudge — Department of Housing and Urban Development
  25. "Biden to tap Marcia Fudge to lead housing agency". POLITICO. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  26. PN78-4 — Peter Paul Montgomery Buttigieg — Department of Transportation
  27. Easley, Jonathan (May 5, 2019). "Documents provide glimpse into Buttigieg's military service". TheHill. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  28. Nick Niedzwiadek (December 16, 2020). "Biden points to 'precedent-busting appointments' as he rolls out Buttigieg pick". Politico. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  29. PN78-8 — Jennifer Mulhern Granholm — Department of Energy
  30. "Biden to tap former Michigan Gov. Granholm to lead Energy Department". POLITICO. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  31. PN78-5 — Miguel A. Cardona — Department of Education
  32. Meckler, Laura; Strauss, Valerie; Viser, Matt (December 22, 2020). "Biden picks Miguel Cardona, Connecticut schools chief, as education secretary". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  33. PN78-14 — Denis Richard McDonough — Department of Veterans Affairs
  34. "Denis McDonough, Secretary of Veterans Affairs". President-Elect Joe Biden. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  35. PN78-13 — Alejandro Nicholas Mayorkas — Department of Homeland Security
  36. "Biden taps longtime diplomat William Burns for CIA director". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  37. PN78-16 — Michael Stanley Regan — Environmental Protection Agency
  38. Dennis, Brady; Mufson, Steven; Eilperin, Juliet. "Biden picks top North Carolina environmental official to run EPA". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  39. PN78-19 — Neera Tanden — Executive Office of the President
  40. PN78-10 — Avril Danica Haines — Office of the Director of National Intelligence
  41. PN78-20 — Linda Thomas-Greenfield — Department of State
  42. Jakes, Lara; Crowley, Michael; Sanger, David E. (November 23, 2020). "Biden Chooses Antony Blinken, Defender of Global Alliances, as Secretary of State". The New York Times. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  43. PN78-18 — Katherine C. Tai — Executive Office of the President
  44. 唐家婕 (December 10, 2020). "拜登提名的贸易代表戴琪是谁?". Radio Free Asia. Archived from the original on December 10, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  45. PN78-17 — Cecilia Elena Rouse — Executive Office of the President
  46. PN78-9 — Isabella Casillas Guzman — Small Business Administration
  47. Collins, Andrew Restuccia and Eliza (January 8, 2021). "Biden Taps Boston Mayor, Rhode Island Governor for Cabinet Positions". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  48. "Isabel Guzman, Small Business Administrator". President-Elect Joe Biden. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  49. Kaplan, Sarah. "Biden will elevate White House science office to cabinet-level". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  50. Facher, Lev (February 1, 2021). "Eric Lander Is Brilliant, Connected, and Controversial. Now Joe Biden Wants Him to 'Reinvigorate' American Science". Stat. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  51. PN78-12 — Eric S. Lander — Executive Office of the President
  52. "President-elect Biden Announces Key Members of his White House Science Team". President-Elect Joe Biden. January 15, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  53. Schrer, Michael (November 11, 2020). "Biden's choice of Ron Klain to run White House signals rejection of Trump-era chaos". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
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