Following his historic election, President Joseph R. Biden has been hard at work planning and appointing his historic Cabinet. This term’s nominations are proving to be the most diverse of their kind. 

Upon reading over the cabinet list, it is easy to notice the many celebrated firsts. Choices like Janet Yellen for Treasury Secretary, Gina Raimondo for Commerce Secretary, and Avril Haines for Director of National Intelligence are the first women to be selected to lead their respected departments, and also represent Biden’s steps towards gender equity. Lloyd Austin for Secretary of Defense, Michael S. Regan for EPA Administrator, Neera Tanden for Office of Management and Budget Director, and Katherine Tai for U.S Trade Representative are the first people of color in their fields of leadership as well.

LGBTQ Representation

This administration’s cabinet selection represents a momentous win for the LGBTQ+ community, with picks like Pete Buttigieg and Rachel Levine. Buttigieg, now being the Secretary of Transportation, is the first openly gay man to hold a cabinet position. Levine is the first ever transgender federal official to be appointed to a cabinet position, and now holds the office of Assistant Health and Human Services Secretary. 

Latino and Native American Representation

Three Latinos, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, Education Department Secretary Miguel Cardona, and Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, are now a part of the Biden administration, acting for the steadily growing 18% of American Latinos. Also joining the diverse melting pot that is Biden’s cabinet is Secretary of the Interior, Deb Haaland, the first Native American to hold the job of protecting the land and resources of tribal peoples. 

While the benefits of these selections will prove to bring diversity to a government which represents the people of an ever-changing and multicultural America, Biden has faced criticism in some aspects of his choices. Some constituents noted his pattern of selecting officials with which he worked closely along side during the Obama administration. Others argued that he could have done more to expand his inclusivity, like Madalene Mielke, president and CEO of the Asian Pacific American Institute of Congressional Studies, who described Biden’s failure to include any Asian American officials as both “insulting and infuriating”. 

Biden’s actions during the first 100 days of his presidency will set the standard and expectations for the next 4 years. Although his decisions may not please everyone, his efforts to bring about diversity and inclusion within government should never go unnoticed, as they bring hope for what’s next to come in his administration. 

White House Chief of Staff: Ron Klain – no confirmation required

Treasury Secretary: Janet Yellen – confirmed 1/25

Attorney General: Merrick Garland –  awaiting approval

Secretary of Defense: Lloyd Austin – confirmed 1/22

Secretary of State: Antony Blinken – confirmed 1/26

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator: Michael S. Regan – awaiting approval

Special Presidential Envoy for Climate: John Kerry – no confirmation required

White House Climate Czar: Gina McCarthy – no confirmation required

Secretary of the Interior: Deb Haaland – awaiting approval

CIA Director: William Burns – awaiting approval

Labor Secretary: Marty Walsh – awaiting approval

Commerce Secretary: Gina Raimondo – awaiting approval

Secretary of Homeland Security: Alejandro Mayorkas – confirmed 2/2

Secretary of Veterans Affairs: Denis McDonough – confirmed 2/8

Secretary of Transportation: Pete Buttigieg – confirmed 2/2

Secretary of Energy: Jennifer Granholm – confirmed 2/25

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations: Linda Thomas-Greenfield – confirmed 2/23

Director of National Intelligence: Avril Haines – confirmed 1/20

National Security Adviser: Jake Sullivan – no confirmation required

Office of Management and Budget Director: Neera Tanden – awaiting approval

White House Press Secretary: Jennifer Psaki – no confirmation required

Top White House Economic Adviser: Brian Deese – no confirmation required

U.S. Trade Representative: Katherine Tai – awaiting approval

Surgeon General: Vivek Murthy – awaiting approval

Health and Human Services Secretary: Xavier Becerra – awaiting approval

Assistant Health and Human Services Secretary: Rachel Levine – awaiting approval

White House Domestic Policy Council Director: Susan Rice – awaiting approval

Secretary of Agriculture: Tom Vilsack – confirmed 2/23

Housing and Urban Development Secretary: Marcia Fudge – confirmed 2/8

Education Department Secretary: Miguel Cardona – awaiting approval

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director: Rochelle Walensky – no confirmation required

Coordinator of the COVID-19 Response and Counselor to the President: Jeff Zients – no confirmation required

Chief Science Officer for COVID-19 Response: David Kessler – no confirmation required

Chief Medical Adviser on COVID-19: Dr. Anthony Fauci – no confirmation required

Deputy Chief of Staff: Bruce Reed – no confirmation required