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Appointments and Nominations

Jennifer Granholm, Secretary of Energy

Jennifer Granholm was governor of Michigan from 2003 to 2011 and attorney general of Michigan from 1999 to 2003. Since leaving office, Granholm has worked as an adjunct professor of law and public policy at the University of California-Berkeley, a senior advisor to The Pew Charitable Trusts' Clean Energy Program, and a contributor on political talk shows.

Debra Haaland, Secretary of the Interior

Debra Haaland (D-N.M.) was elected to Congress in 2018. An enrolled member of the Pueblo of Laguna, Haaland would be the first person of Native American descent to serve in this position. In the 116th Congress, Haaland served on the natural resources and armed services committees.

Haaland's district, New Mexico's 1st, is rated Solid Democratic. Vacancies in the U.S. House are filled by special election.

Michael Regan, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency

Michael Regan is the secretary of environmental quality in North Carolina. Gov. Roy Cooper (D) appointed him to the position in January 2017. Regan worked for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Clinton and Bush administrations from 1998 to 2008. He would be the first Black man to serve in this position.

Biden’s office also announced three other key administration appointments:

• Brenda Mallory as Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality. Mallory is the Director of Regulatory Policy at the Southern Environmental Law Center.
• Gina McCarthy as National Climate Advisor. McCarthy would lead the White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy and work as the counterpart to John Kerry, the presidential envoy for climate. She was EPA Administrator from 2013 to 2017.
• Ali Zaidi as Deputy National Climate Advisor. Zaidi worked in the Obama administration on the Climate Action Plan and helped negotiate the Paris Climate Agreement.

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News

• Axios reported that Biden’s team and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R) have discussed a bipartisan infrastructure package.

• Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-La.), Biden’s incoming director of the Office of Public Engagement, tested positive for COVID-19. Biden representative Kate Bedingfield said Richmond was not in close contact with Biden, and would quarantine for two weeks and be tested twice before returning to work.

• Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti (D) announced he had requested the transition team remove his name from consideration for any remaining positions. Garcetti said he made the decision due to the coronavirus pandemic. “This is a time to lead, and not to leave,” he said. 

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Transition in Context: In Their Words…

Here’s how Democratic and Republican leaders, advisers, and stakeholders have reacted to the nomination of Pete Buttigieg for Secretary of Transportation.

• “As a former city leader here in Indiana, Pete understands how critical infrastructure is to growth and opportunity. It will be good to have a Hoosier serving in this capacity.” – U.S. Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.), member of the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee

• “I would push back [against the notion that Buttigieg is not qualified] by saying he's extraordinarily talented. He's got a lot of what we call out here Midwest common sense, he’s a hard worker. And I think he'll serve, not you know as a Democrat or Republican obviously but as somebody trying to lead all of America, every community, rural, urban, wherever to be stronger.” – Former U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.)

• “He may not have the experience right now. His experience on the national level with transportation is going to be limited coming in.” – Eric Horvath, South Bend public works director

• “Former-Mayor Buttigieg’s forward-looking approach supported by data-driven decision making will serve him well as the next Secretary of Transportation. On behalf of AAR and the nation’s rail industry, we look forward to working with Mr. Buttigieg to modernize the nation’s surface transportation.” – Ian Jefferies, president of the Association of American Railroads

• “Pete Buttigieg is committed to transformational infrastructure investment that creates good jobs and he is ready to lead the fight for transportation workers. The TWU is looking forward to working with Secretary-designate Buttigieg to invest in public transit, raise safety standards for aircraft maintenance, prioritize Amtrak, and ensure that workers benefit from new technologies like autonomous vehicles as our economy grows.” – John Samuelsen, president of the Transport Workers Union

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What We’re Reading

• BBC: Biden cabinet: Does this new team better reflect America?
• The Washington Post: 45,000 names, 130 packets of information, and gut instincts: How Biden is managing his transition
• Associated Press: Transition Stumbles Test Biden's Bond With Capitol Hill