Biden Announces Nominations For Economic Cabinet Positions

President-elect Joe Biden introduced his nominations to economic positions in his cabinet Tuesday, saying their first priority would be pushing through coronavirus relief.

Biden argued America is going through a “K-shaped” recovery from the pandemic, with some Americans thriving and others plummeting further into poverty. Biden’s economic team is the second group of cabinet members he has nominated, and they likely face tougher prospects of getting through a Republican Senate than the foreign policy team he announced before Thanksgiving. (RELATED: REPORT: Joe Biden Considering Rahm Emanuel For Transportation Secretary)

 

Biden nominated Obama administration alumna Janet Yellen to secretary of the treasury, Center for American Progress (CAP) President Neera Tanden to director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and former Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) chief of staff Wally Adeyemo to deputy treasury secretary.

“The goal is simple: To keep businesses and schools open safely, and for millions of Americans who have lost their jobs or hours, and have had to claim unemployment, we have to deliver them immediate relief,” Biden said.

The most controversial of his nominations is likely Tanden, who runs a partisan organization and worked under former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Republican Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton has said her nomination is a non-starter. She also allegedly punched a liberal reporter after he asked her about Clinton’s one-time support for the Iraq War, though she describes the interaction as a “push.”

 

Tanden also deleted more than 1,000 posts from her Twitter account just prior to her nomination. She had repeatedly criticized Republican senators on the platform, the same officials who will soon vote on her nomination

“I look forward to working together alongside the dedicated career professionals of the OMB to expand possibilities for every American family,” Tanden said Tuesday. “Thank all you for this profound opportunity to serve.”

Biden said his team would be focused primarily on softening the impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on the U.S. economy. He also argued any relief package passed before he assumes office won’t be sufficient.

 

Biden also appointed longtime aide Mike Donilon to senior economic adviser.