# Let's name a Biden Cabinet **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 8, 2020, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-a-biden-cabinet/925040 "2020-11-08T05:34:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-a-biden-cabinet/925040/302 "2021-03-16T15:52:24Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > Native Americans have lots of problems with poverty but you don’t hear much about that. I agree with most of your post, but I certainly disagree that we “don’t hear much” about problems with poverty for Native Americans. I sure do. On the reservation and in urban areas. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2021, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-a-biden-cabinet/925040/303 "2021-03-23T13:02:10Z")
Biden nominated a trans woman MD to be assistant secretary of health. She had a similar position oi Penn and she was approved unanimously for that job. I assume she will be approved hopefully very few votes against her. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2021, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-a-biden-cabinet/925040/304 "2021-03-23T19:42:30Z")
You’re referring to Rachel Levine. And I would not count on it – she was voted out of committee 13-9 with only Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins joining all 11 Democrats. I’d be shocked if she picked up even a couple more Republicans on the floor vote. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2021, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-a-biden-cabinet/925040/305 "2021-03-24T02:58:57Z")
Here’s her bio: [Rachel Levine - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Levine) ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2021, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-a-biden-cabinet/925040/306 "2021-03-24T22:02:32Z")
I hate to be proved right, but Rachel Levine was just confirmed by a vote of 52-48, with only Collins and Murkowski voting aye among all Senate Republicans. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2021, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-a-biden-cabinet/925040/307 "2021-03-24T23:32:17Z")
Anti trans hatred is basically a GOP party plank these days. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2021, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-a-biden-cabinet/925040/308 "2021-03-28T22:54:40Z")
So far the Senate has confirmed 21 our of 23 Cabinet-level appointments by President Biden. The only unfilled slots are Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (for which Biden has nominated Eric Lander) and Director of the Office of Management and Budget (Biden’s initial nominee, Neera Tanden, withdrew when it was clear she did not have the votes for confirmation. Biden has yet to pick a second nominee.) Not bad. I know little about the Lander nomination, but it’s been two-and-a-half months since he was nominated and he hasn’t even had his confirmation hearing yet. Wonder what’s going on there. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2021, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-a-biden-cabinet/925040/309 "2021-05-21T02:48:36Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy And because I know everyone has been on tenterhooks over the status of Biden’s nominee for Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, rest assured that [Eric Lander was approved by the Senate Commerce Committee](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/senate-panel-advances-biden-nomination-for-white-house-science-adviser) earlier today. Interesting that he has not submitted a new nominee for OMB Director nearly three months after Neera Tanden withdrew her nomination (although it was announced last week that she would take a senior staff position in the White House). ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2021, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-a-biden-cabinet/925040/310 "2021-05-21T14:41:35Z")
Here’s the updated Wiki page, including a nice, masked-and-socially-distanced portrait of the Cabinet and other top appointments so far: > **[Cabinet of Joe Biden](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabinet_of_Joe_Biden)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > > > Joe Biden assumed office as President of the United States on January 20, 2021. The president has the authority to nominate members of his Cabinet to the United States Senate for confirmation under the Appointments Clause of the United States Constitution. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-a-biden-cabinet/925040/311 "2021-06-30T16:23:59Z")
Not a Cabinet post but an important one. I wouldn’t want his job. [Randy Moore to become US Forest Service's first African American chief | CNN Politics](https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/29/politics/randy-moore-forest-service-chief/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-a-biden-cabinet/925040/312 "2021-06-30T18:21:44Z")
Yeah, given increasing wildfires and politicized disputes over Federal land use, that’s not gonna be an easy gig. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-a-biden-cabinet/925040/313 "2021-06-30T19:04:18Z")
With the benefit of hindsight, I want to say that I am deeply impressed by how effective Biden has been in filling his Cabinet. With Democrats holding the Senate by the skin of their teeth, he’s only had one nominee (Neera Tanden) withdraw because she couldn’t secure enough support to be confirmed. Contrast that with all the trouble Bill Clinton had getting an AG approved when he had 57 Democrats in the Senate. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2021, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-a-biden-cabinet/925040/314 "2021-07-12T13:14:33Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > First, I think Biden will reward his loyalty. But specifically to this post, he was a Naval officer, he’s a very bright guy (Rhodes Scholar), and his educational background seems pretty solid for this. > > From Wiki: > > > Garcetti was a visiting instructor of international affairs at the [University of Southern California](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Southern_California) and an assistant professor of [diplomacy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diplomacy) and world affairs at [Occidental College](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occidental_College).[[3]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Garcetti#cite_note-PressReleases-3) His academic work focused on [ethnic conflict](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnic_conflict) and [nationalism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationalism) in [Southeast Asia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southeast_Asia) and [Northeast Africa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northeast_Africa). During this time, he published articles and chapters of books on post-conflict societies, [Eritrean](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eritrea) nationalism, and [non-violent](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonviolence) [action](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_action).[[15]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Garcetti#cite_note-15) He has served on the [California](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California) board of [Human Rights Watch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Rights_Watch).[[16]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Garcetti#cite_note-ourcampaigns-16) > > > He met his future wife while they were both studying as [Rhodes Scholars](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhodes_Scholars)[[11]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Garcetti#cite_note-11)[[12]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Garcetti#cite_note-12) at [The Queen’s College, Oxford](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Queen%27s_College,_Oxford).[[13]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Garcetti#cite_note-13) He later studied for a [PhD](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PhD) in ethnicity and nationalism at the [London School of Economics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_School_of_Economics).[[3]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Garcetti#cite_note-PressReleases-3)[[14]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Garcetti#cite_note-14) > > I mean I’m not married to the guy as DNI, but it seems like it might be a good fit. Good thinking, **HL**. This is a very important diplomatic gig: > **[Biden nominates LA Mayor Eric Garcetti for India ambassador](https://www.aol.com/news/biden-nominates-la-mayor-eric-190108074-012933246.html)** > > President Joe Biden has nominated Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti to serve as ambassador to India, the White House said Friday, selecting a high-profile ally to serve in one of the most difficult diplomatic posts. Garcetti, if confirmed, would be... I like this appointment, too: > **[Captain ‘Sully’ Sullenberger Tapped For Biden Administration Post](https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewsolender/2021/06/15/captain-sully-sullenberger-tapped-for-biden-administration-post/?sh=85e0d3565c50)** > > Biden’s first slate of political nominees for ambassadorships also includes former Obama cabinet officials Tom Nides and Ken Salazar. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-a-biden-cabinet/925040/315 "2021-07-14T17:00:14Z")
> **[President Joe Biden nominates former GOP Sen. Jeff Flake as ambassador to Turkey](https://www.deseret.com/u-s-world/2021/7/13/22576122/president-joe-biden-nominates-republican-jeff-flake-as-turkey-ambassador)** > > Jeff Flake, who served 18 years representing Arizona in the U.S. Congress, has been nominated by President Joe Biden to be the next senior diplomat to the Republic of Turkey. Interesting. Thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-a-biden-cabinet/925040/316 "2021-07-14T17:10:14Z")
A Republican ex-senator who never drank the Trump Kool-Ade, and who has at least half a brain. I like it. Good bipartisan gesture. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-a-biden-cabinet/925040/317 "2021-07-14T17:17:26Z")
I’m not a fan of Flake, but as Republicans go, he’s got about as much spine as they come with these days. I agree that it is a good bi-partisan political move. And he’s got some overseas experience, so that’s not nothing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-a-biden-cabinet/925040.md?page=15)