Biden Administration Takes Shape

While President Trump has not yet conceded the 2020 election and the Trump legal team continues to pursue its various challenges, President-elect Joe Biden has begun naming senior advisors and announcing Cabinet picks. President-elect Biden’s first round of picks included his chief of staff and other close advisors that do not require Senate confirmation, tapping top campaign staff and long-time advisors for key White House positions. Along with these positions, the President-elect named members to the COVID-19 Advisory Board.

While much of the President-elect’s Cabinet has yet to be named, picks for a number of Cabinet and Cabinet-level positions have been announced, including former Obama official Antony Blinken for secretary of state, former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen for secretary of the treasury and a former deputy of homeland security under President Obama, Alejandro Mayorkas, for secretary of homeland security. In addition, Mr. Biden named former Secretary of State John Kerry to a Cabinet-level climate envoy position. The former Vice President has also nominated his chair of the Council of Economic Advisors, Ambassador to the United Nations, director of the National Economic Committee National Security Advisor and Director of National Intelligence.

This week, President-elect Biden announced his first controversial pick when he named Neera Tanden to head the Office of Management and Budget. Ms. Tanden is president of the Center for American Progress, a left-leaning policy research and advocacy organization, and will face opposition not only from Republicans but potentially also from the more progressive wing of the Democratic party loyal to Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT).

Other positions that have yet to be named could be filled by members or soon-to-be former members of Congress, including Rep. Abby Finkenauer (D-IA) to head the Department of Labor and Rep. Deb Haaland (D-NM) for secretary of the interior. No one has been named for secretary of transportation.

While most of the President-elect’s picks have been met without strong negative reaction and even some approval from Republicans, particularly for the selection of Janet Yellen, progressives and minorities continue to push for inclusion. Several progressive groups, including the Justice Democrats, released a memo to the Biden transition team urging Biden to embrace a progressive agenda and Cabinet picks while Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC) called out the president-elect for falling short on appointing Blacks.

The NRMCA Government Affairs team will continue to monitor the president-elect’s Cabinet nominees and evaluate their potential impact on the ready mixed concrete industry and our legislative agenda.

For more information or to comment, contact Andrew Tyrrell at atyrrell@nrmca.org.