Biden’s Latino Appointees to His Cabinet Awaiting Confirmations
Updated March 16, 2021
Of the four Latinos President Joe Biden has named to his cabinet only one is still waiting for confirmation: Xavier Becerra for secretary of the Health and Human Services Department.
His nomination — which is critical during the pandemic— has been slow to work it’s way through Senate committees due to some Republican opposition. It only made it out of committee last week.
If confirmed Becerra, will be the first Latino to serve as the U.S. Health and Human Services Department secretary.
The other Latinos confirmed to Biden’s cabinet are:
Isabel Guzman, became the latest nominee to be confirmed by the Senate on Tuesday with a vote of 81-17. She will lead the Small Business Administration which helps to administer the Payroll Protection Program.
Alejandro Mayorkas became America’s first Latino Homeland Security Secretary with a Senate vote of 56-43 on Feb. 2, according to NBC.
Miguel Cardona was confirmed as the U.S. Secretary of Education on March 1 with a vote of 64-33. He is the second Latino to hold that position, according to AL DÍA.
All four of these positions are critical areas for response to Covid-19 or in dealing with the aftermath of the Jan. 6 capital riots in Washington, D.C.
