Wilmington:
US President-elect Joe Biden chose Susan Rice, who was national safety adviser to former President Barack Obama, on Thursday to lead the White House’s domestic policy council as aspect of a flurry of appointments to his establishing administration.
Biden also chose former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack to serve a second tenure as agriculture secretary, Obama White House aide Denis McDonough as Secretary of Veterans Affairs, US Representative Marcia Fudge to head the Department of Housing and Urban Development and Katherine Tai as US Trade Representative, his transition group mentioned in a statement.
The decision of Rice, 56, as Biden’s best domestic policy adviser came as somewhat of a surprise provided her comprehensive background in foreign policy. Besides her function as Obama’s national safety adviser, she earlier served as his ambassador to the United Nations. She was a contender earlier this year to be Biden’s operating mate.
Vilsack, 69, served as USDA secretary below Obama for eight years and as Iowa governor from 1999 to 2007 and is observed by establishment Democrats as a sound decision, largely mainly because of his moderate politics and longstanding relationships with massive-scale farmers.
But his congressional confirmation is anticipated to face headwinds from progressive Democrats. Critics argue Vilsack is cozy with corporate agribusiness and best lobbying groups such as the American Farm Bureau Federation and the US Dairy Export Council, exactly where he is presently the chief executive officer. He had been a staunch early backer of Biden’s presidential bid.
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