“These qualified, experienced communicators bring diverse perspectives to their work and a shared commitment to building this country back better.”
Joe Biden has confirmed that his senior press team will be comprised of an all female staff.
The Biden administration will be the first in history to have solely female communications staff.
President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris today announced new members of the White House staff who will serve in senior communications roles.
For the first time in history, these communications roles will be filled entirely by women.https://t.co/SjWAWJg941
— Biden-Harris Presidential Transition (@Transition46) November 29, 2020
As well as the all-female team, four of the top roles will also be filled by women of colour, with the president saying he wants “diverse perspectives” within his administration.
Kate Bedingfield, Biden’s former communications director during his presidential campaign, will now take on the role of White House communications director, while Jen Psaki, a long-time Democratic spokeswoman, is going to be Biden’s press secretary.
She tweeted over the weekend: “Honored to work again for @JoeBiden, a man I worked on behalf of during the Obama-Biden Admin as he helped lead economic recovery, rebuilt our relationships with partners (turns out good practice) and injected empathy and humanity into nearly every meeting I sat in.”
Honored to work again for @JoeBiden, a man I worked on behalf of during the Obama-Biden Admin as he helped lead economic recovery, rebuilt our relationships with partners (turns out good practice) and injected empathy and humanity into nearly every meeting I sat in.
— Jen Psaki (@jrpsaki) November 29, 2020
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris’ chief of staff, Karine Jean Pierre, will also be part of the White House communications team.
Sources close to the White House also revealed that Biden plans to name Neera Tanden, the president and CEO of Centre for American Progress, as director of the Office of Management and Budget.
In a statement announcing the new team Biden said: “Communicating directly and truthfully to the American people is one of the most important duties of a President, and this team will be entrusted with the tremendous responsibility of connecting the American people to the White House.
“These qualified, experienced communicators bring diverse perspectives to their work and a shared commitment to building this country back better.”