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Appointments and Nominations

Biden announced his appointees for top White House communications roles on Sunday. “For the first time in history, these communications roles will be filled entirely by women,” the Transition said in a statement.

Kate Bedingfield, White House communications director

Kate Bedingfield was a deputy campaign manager and communications director for the Biden presidential campaign. During the Obama administration, Bedingfield worked as a communications director for Biden, associate communications director, deputy director of media affairs, and director of response. Outside of government service, Bedingfield has been the chief spokeswoman and vice president of corporate communications at the Motion Picture Association of America.

Jen Psaki, White House press secretary

Jen Psaki served as White House communications director during the Obama administration. She also held other key communications roles, including State Department spokesperson, deputy White House communications director, and deputy White House press secretary. Psaki worked on presidential campaigns for John Kerry and Barack Obama. Psaki is currently leading the confirmations team for the Biden Transition.

The other five appointments include the following Biden campaign and Obama administration veterans:

• Elizabeth Alexander, communications director for the first lady
• Ashley Etienne, communications director for the vice president
• Karine Jean-Pierre, principal deputy press secretary
• Symone Sanders, senior advisor and chief spokesperson for the vice president
• Pili Tobar, deputy White House communications director

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News

• The New York Times reported that Tom Donilon, a former national security advisor during the Obama administration, declined to serve as CIA director because he did not want to return to government. Others in consideration for that post include Michael Morell, Sue Gordon, Vincent Stewart, Rep. Elissa Slotkin (Mich.), and Darrell Block.

• Biden is expected to name an appointee to lead a new climate office or policy council similar to the Domestic Policy Council. This would be the second high-level climate position in Biden’s administration following the announcement of climate envoy designate John Kerry.

• The Wall Street Journal reported that Biden will nominate Center for American Progress CEO Neera Tanden as director of the Office of Management and Budget and Princeton University labor economist Cecilia Rouse as chairwoman of the Council of Economic Advisors.

• Biden was injured while playing with his German shepherd Major over the weekend, suffering hairline fractures in his right foot. NBC News reported he will likely have to wear a walking boot for several weeks.

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Transition in Context: What is ascertainment?

Under the Presidential Transition Act, the administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA) is responsible for ascertaining—or identifying—the apparent winner of the presidential election. Doing so allows the president-elect to begin to receive funding, office space, and support services in the transition between administrations.

The GSA administrator has typically made this ascertainment shortly after the presidential election with the exception of the 2000 presidential election. In that year, the GSA administrator did not ascertain the election until December 13, after the Supreme Court decided the Florida recount case, Bush v. Gore.

The GSA ascertained the results of the election on November 23, 2020, identifying Biden as the apparent winner. GSA Administrator Emily Murphy said in a letter, "Please know that I came to my decision independently, based on the law and available facts. I was never directly or indirectly pressured by any Executive Branch official—including those who work at the White House or GSA—with regard to the substance or timing of my decision.”

According to the Center for Presidential Transition, recent incoming administrations have had 77 days to prepare for the transfer of power. The Biden Transition will have 57.

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What We’re Reading

• NBC News: Biden's transition challenges grow by the day
• NPR: Wait, Wait, Don't Inaugurate: Why The U.S. Takes So Long To Change Presidents

• Politico: ‘They’ll freeze them out’: Democrats fear Senate Republicans will block Biden’s judges