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On Thursday, Biden said he had decided on his choice for treasury secretary, but officials said he has also reached a decision – or is on the verge of doing so – on other critical government posts, some of which should be announced sooner. Thanksgiving. Mondays and Tuesdays are seen as trial days for first introductions by Biden’s cabinet members, an official said, with more to come later.
Lael Brainard, a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, is considered the main contender to lead the Department of the Treasury. If selected, she would become the first female secretary to the Treasury, a move that would help Biden begin delivering on his promise to appoint a different government. But three officials close to Biden’s transition declined to say whether Brainard was the final choice, saying it’s a tightly held decision that the president-elect would likely reveal right after Thanksgiving.
But Biden could announce his choice of secretary of state as early as next week, officials said, along with another government post.
Biden had spoken to his advisors about taking a much slower approach, including waiting for the Georgia Senate ballot election result to result in control of the Senate, but Trump’s actions motivated Biden to move without delay. .
“There is a desire to convey that we are governing, operating and functioning,” an official close to the transition said, explaining the urgency that Biden’s team faces in the wake of Trump’s antics.
It’s only been a week since Ron Klain was named incoming White House chief of staff, but that decision-making jump started the movement within Biden’s team. And Jeff Zients, a transition co-chair, has been working for months on a range of options for Biden to make senior staff decisions.
Biden virtually interviewed potential members of the government, with one or two exceptions, officials said, as serious steps are being taken to safeguard his health in light of rising coronavirus cases.
In an interview with CNN’s “The Situation Room” Thursday night, Klain said that more White House personnel announcements will be made Friday. Those posts should be for the Office of Legislative Affairs and the Office of Presidential Personnel, CNN learned, as well as the White House Social Secretary.
Carlos Elizondo is expected to be named Social Secretary of the White House on Friday, a transition official told CNN.
Elizondo worked in the Obama administration as a social secretary for then Vice President Biden and then Second Ms. Jill Biden. He will be only the second man to serve as the White House social secretary and will inherit a unique dynamic as the White House adapts its activities to the coronavirus era.
Elizondo is the third Latin to be named in the east wing. Earlier in the week, Anthony Bernal was named Senior Advisor to Jill Biden and Julissa Reynosa Pantaleon was chosen as Chief of Staff.
Senator Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat from Illinois, is under consideration to lead the Department of Defense, officials said, a decision that would be historic. Not only is Duckworth a decorated veteran, but she would also be the first woman to serve as a secretary of defense. Michèle Flournoy, who has held key defense roles in the Clinton and Obama administrations, is also a major contender for the post.
“This has sped up more than we thought,” said an official, noting that Biden was expected to be the winner less than two weeks ago.
CNN’s Arlette Saenz and Caroline Kelly contributed to this report.
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