President-Elect Joe Biden has begun to select his chief of staff and his cabinet. Announced on Wednesday, Nov. 11, Ron Klain will be Biden’s White House chief of staff. Other cabinet selections are still in process.
According to the Associated Press, many of Biden’s potential candidates have previously served in the Obama administration, some are from his current campaign staff and the Senate, while some are from state and local governments.
Klain is a member of the Democratic Party and is not a newcomer to the position of chief of staff. As reported by the Associated Press, Klain served as chief of staff to two former Vice Presidents: Al Gore from 1995-1999 and Joe Biden from 2009-2011.
Klain was an expected choice for Biden based on how long he has known the former Vice President. The two have had a working relationship for over 30 years.
“The chief of staff role is one of the most important positions for a president to select, and Biden’s close ties and history with Klain make this an obvious choice,” said junior Gian Capolino.
So far, the Trump administration is not being cooperative in the transition process. The Trump administration has not allowed Biden to have access to daily security briefings or other information necessary for a smooth transition of power.
According to the New York Times, Biden said he is “building an administration that looks like America.”
In a New York Times article, Klain said he will assemble “a talented and diverse team to work in the White House, as we seek to heal the divides in our country.”
Professor Gary Rose, Chair of the Department of Government at Sacred Heart, said, “I would like to see in the spirit of bipartisanship some Republicans appointed to cabinet positions along with mostly moderate Democrats.”
Rose is positive that Klain will be an asset to Biden’s cabinet.
“Klain will know how to work with President Biden and will bring a management style that blends well with the Biden administration,” said Rose.
Professor in the School of Communication, Media and the Arts, Gregory Golda, is also hopeful for change in Biden’s new cabinet.
“I would hope that we would see bolder progressive leadership coming from the Democrats,” said Golda.
“We can just hope that the cabinet members are people with wisdom, judgment and ideas which will help the president help the country,” said business professor, Richard Pate.
Capolino expects to see former presidential candidates in Biden’s cabinet.
“I would not be surprised to see Amy Klobuchar, Beto O’Rourke, Pete Buttigieg, Elizabeth Warren, and Bernie Sanders involved in the Biden administration in some capacity,” said Capolino.
According to the Associated Press, “Biden will be the first Democratic president in modern times trying to set up a first-term administration without his party controlling the Senate.”
The cabinet selection process is ongoing.
