Posted March 11, 2021 | by KimS | in Biden Administration, Cabinet, DemDaily

DemDaily: The Cabinet Count. Where They Stand

March 11, 2021

President Biden came three steps closer to filling his Cabinet Wednesday with the confirmations of Merrick Garland as US Attorney General, and Marcia Fudge as HUD Secretary, and Michael Regan as EPA Administrator.

The Biden Cabinet count now stands at 18 Cabinet or Cabinet-level nominees who have been confirmed or assumed office. Seven more await confirmation at various stages of the process.

(Image: Politico)

The Cabinet includes the heads of 15 Executive Departments and ten "Cabinet-level" positions. Along with the Vice President, they serve as the President's closest formal advisors.

Withdrawn

Deputy OMB nominee Shalanda Young. Soon to be promoted? (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

Neera Tanden's nomination for Director of the Office of Management and Budget was withdrawn on March 2, 2021. The former CEO of progressive think tank Center for American Progress, who would have been the first woman of color and first South Asian American to become OMB Director, stepped back after it was clear that GOP criticism of her "partisan" nature would prevent confirmation.

The top contender for Tanden's replacement appears to be Shalanda Young, Biden's nominee for Deputy OMB Director, who is expected to be confirmed for that post in the next week.

Other names floated include Ann O'Leary, former chief of staff to California Governor Gavin Newsom (D), Gene Sperling, top economic adviser to former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, and former Biden economic advisor Sarah Bianchi.