President-elect Joe Biden is beginning to name nominees to head cabinet agencies in his administration, with his first slate of nominees focusing on national security and foreign policy posts.
In a statement on Monday, Pelosi said Biden’s appointees make up a “historic, high-powered national security and foreign policy team that will be ready to lead on Day One.”
“This battle-tested team is trusted at home and respected around the world, bringing decades of experience and a legacy of unmatched diplomatic achievements to the critical mission of keeping the American people safe,” she said.
“These patriots will not only repair the damage wrought by the Trump Administration, they will restore America’s critical and preeminent role in the international arena. They will revitalize our foreign policy leadership: refreshing our alliances, re-energizing our commitment to our values and interests, rebuilding our institutions, and reevaluating and strengthening the tools in our diplomatic arsenal.”
Additionally, she said Biden’s nominees would “chart a forward-looking strategy focused on meeting the challenges of the 21st Century.”
Specifically, she said the team would work to end the coronavirus pandemic, fight climate change, combat “transnational terrorism,” and work to achieve nuclear nonproliferation.
She said House Democrats look forward to working with the nominees in their positions, and added, “We urge the Senate to follow precedent and hold hearings on these nominees in January before the inauguration. In the mission to safeguard our national security, we cannot accept any delay.”
Republicans currently have a majority in the Senate. However, that could change if Democrats win two run-off elections for Georgia’s Senate seats.
On Monday, Biden revealed he is nominating Alejandro Mayorkas to lead the Department of Homeland Security, John Kerry to serve as the Presidential Envoy for Climate, Avril Haines to serve as the director of national intelligence, and Antony Blinken to serve as secretary of state, as IJR reported.
Under the Biden-Harris administration, American national security and foreign policy will be led by experienced professionals ready to restore principled leadership on the world stage and dignified leadership at home. Read more: https://t.co/ojrTxrzafV
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) November 23, 2020
Biden’s chief of staff, Ron Klain, revealed on Sunday that the president-elect would begin announcing his picks to lead cabinet agencies.