All permanent members of the Cabinet of the United States as heads of executive departments require the advice and consent of the United States Senate following appointment by the president before taking office. The vice presidency is exceptional in that the position requires an election to office pursuant to the United States Constitution. The president may also designate heads of other agencies and non-Senate-confirmed members of the Executive Office of the President as Cabinet-level members of the Cabinet. The Cabinet meets with the president in the Cabinet Room, a room adjacent to the Oval Office.
The following have been named as Cabinet appointees by the president of the United States.[9]
Director of the Office of Management and Budget Announced March 2, 2021 (acting director as deputy) Assumed office March 24, 2021 (acting director as deputy) Announced November 24, 2021 (director) Assumed office March 17, 2022 (director)
Below is a list of confirmations for Cabinet positions, Cabinet-level positions, and other significant positions that were approved through the Senate from January 2021 onwards, by a recorded roll-call vote, rather than by a voice vote.
^After final passage, Austin's waiver to serve as Secretary of Defense was signed into law by President Biden on January 22, 2021.
^Due to the tied vote in committee, a discharge petition was required to bring Becerra's nomination to the floor, which passed 51–48 on March 11, 2021.
^Committee votes scheduled for February 24, 2021, were cancelled that day, prior to withdrawal.
^Burns was elevated to the Cabinet on July 21, 2023.[10]
Elected officials
President
On November 7, 2020, it was announced that DemocratJoe Biden defeated the incumbent president, Donald Trump, in the 2020 presidential election. Joe Biden received 306 electoral votes compared to Trump's 232 electoral votes, with 270 needed to win the presidency. He assumed office on January 20, 2021.
Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) was elected vice president of the United States, receiving 306 electoral votes, compared to the incumbent vice president, Mike Pence, who received 232 electoral votes. An elected vice president does not require Senate confirmation, and the vice president does not serve at the president's pleasure.
Having assumed office on January 20, 2021, she is the first female vice president of the United States as well as the first African American and Asian American to hold the second-highest office.
A nomination for Secretary of State is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Foreign Relations Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.
Foreign Relations Committee hearing held on January 19, 2021, and approved 15–3 on January 25, 2021. Confirmed 78–22 and sworn in on January 26, 2021.[13]
A nomination for Secretary of the Treasury is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Finance Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.
Finance Committee hearing held on January 19, 2021, and approved by unanimous consent on January 22, 2021. Confirmed 84–15 on January 25, 2021, and sworn in on January 26, 2021.[15]
A nomination for Secretary of Defense is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Armed Services Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote. Biden's announced nominee, retired Gen. Lloyd Austin, required a congressional waiver to be granted under the National Security Act of 1947 before he was confirmed.[17]
Waiver process:
House Armed Services Committee closed-door briefing held and approved without objection on January 21, 2021. Floor vote passed 326–78 on January 21, 2021.
Senate Armed Services Committee hearing held and approved by voice vote on January 21, 2021. Floor vote passed 69–27 on January 21, 2021.
Armed Services Committee hearing held on January 19, 2021, and approved by unanimous consent on January 21, 2021. Confirmed 93–2 and sworn in on January 22, 2021.[19]
A nomination for Attorney General is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Judiciary Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.
Judiciary Committee hearings held on February 22–23, 2021, and approved 15–7 on March 1, 2021. Cloture invoked 70–29 on March 9, 2021. Confirmed 70–30 on March 10, 2021, and sworn in on March 11, 2021.[21]
A nomination for Secretary of the Interior is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote. Biden reportedly offered the position to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico, but she turned it down.[23]
Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing held on February 23, 2021, and approved 11–9 on March 4, 2021. Cloture invoked 54–42 on March 11, 2021. Confirmed 51–40 on March 15, 2021, and sworn in on March 16, 2021.[24]
A nomination for Secretary of Agriculture is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.
A nomination for Secretary of Commerce is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.
Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing held on January 26, 2021, and approved 21–3 on February 3, 2021. Cloture invoked 84–15 on March 1, 2021. Confirmed 84–15 on March 2, 2021, and sworn in on March 3, 2021.[28]
Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing held on February 4, 2021, and approved 18–4 on February 11, 2021. Cloture invoked 68–30 on March 18, 2021, and confirmed 68–29 on March 22, 2021. Sworn in on March 23, 2021.[30]
Finance Committee hearing held on February 24, 2021, and tied 14–14 on March 3, 2021. Motion to discharge to the floor passed 51–48 on March 11, 2021. Cloture invoked 50–49 on March 17, 2021. Confirmed 50–49 on March 18, 2021, and sworn in on March 19, 2021.[36]
A nomination for Secretary of Housing and Urban Development is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.
Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee hearing held on January 28, 2021, and approved 17–7 on February 4, 2021. Cloture invoked 69–30 on March 9, 2021. Confirmed 66–34 and sworn in on March 10, 2021.[37]
A nomination for Secretary of Transportation is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.
The nomination of a secretary-designate is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.
Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing held on January 27, 2021, and approved 13–4 on February 3, 2021. Cloture invoked 67–32 on February 24, 2021. Confirmed 64–35 and sworn in on February 25, 2021.[42]
Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing held on February 3, 2021, and approved 17–5 on February 11, 2021. Cloture invoked 66–32 on February 25, 2021. Confirmed 64–33 on March 1, 2021, and sworn in on March 2, 2021.[44]
A nomination for Secretary of Veterans Affairs is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.
Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing held on January 27, 2021, and approved by unanimous consent on February 2, 2021. Confirmed 87–7 on February 8, 2021, and sworn in on February 9, 2021.[46]
Cabinet-level officials have positions that are considered to be of Cabinet level, but which are not heads of the executive departments. Which exact positions that are considered to be cabinet-level varies with each president. Biden has announced he will elevate three positions to Cabinet-level, while removing the director of the Central Intelligence Agency.[49]
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
Environment and Public Works Committee hearing held on February 3, 2021, and approved 14–6 on February 9, 2021. Cloture invoked 65–35 and confirmed 66–34 on March 10, 2021. Sworn in on March 11, 2021.[50]
Intelligence Committee hearing held on January 19, 2021, and approved by unanimous consent on January 20, 2021. Confirmed 84–10 on January 20, 2021, and sworn in on January 21, 2021.[55]
The U.S. trade representative has been a Cabinet-level member since 1974, the beginning of Gerald Ford's presidency.
Finance Committee hearing held on February 25, 2021, and approved by unanimous consent on March 3, 2021. Cloture invoked 98–0 on March 16, 2021. Confirmed 98–0 on March 17, 2021, and sworn in on March 18, 2021.[56]
The UN ambassador was previously in the Cabinet from 1953 to 1989, 1993 to 2001, and 2009 to 2018.
Foreign Relations Committee hearing held on January 27, 2021, and approved 18–4 on February 4, 2021. Cloture invoked 75–20 on February 22, 2021. Confirmed 78–20 on February 23, 2021, and assumed office after presenting credentials on February 25, 2021.[57]
This position was previously in the Cabinet from 2009 to 2017.
Cecilia Rouse
Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee hearing held on January 28, 2021, and approved by unanimous consent on February 4, 2021. Cloture invoked 94–5 and confirmed 95–4 on March 2, 2021. Sworn in on March 12, 2021.[59]
Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee hearing held on April 18, 2023, and approved 12–11 on May 11, 2023. Cloture invoked 50–49 and confirmed 50–49 on June 13, 2023. Sworn in on July 10, 2023.[60]
Administrator of the Small Business Administration
Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee hearing held on February 3, 2021, and approved 15–5 on February 24, 2021. Cloture invoked 80–18 and confirmed 81–17 on March 16, 2021. Sworn in on March 17, 2021.[63]
Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing held on July 20, 2022, and approved 15–13 on July 27, 2022. Cloture invoked 58–38 on September 21, 2022. Confirmed 56–40 on September 22, 2022, and sworn in on October 3, 2022.[71]
This position was previously in the Cabinet from 2017 to 2021.
Nominated as a non-Cabinet level position. Intelligence Committee hearing held on February 24, 2021, and approved by unanimous consent on March 2, 2021. Confirmed by voice vote on March 18, 2021. Sworn in on March 19, 2021.[72]
The White House chief of staff has traditionally been the highest-ranking staff employee of the White House. The responsibilities of the chief of staff are both managerial and advisory over the president's official business. The chief of staff is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the president; it does not require Senate confirmation. The first Cabinet or Cabinet-level position appointee announced by Biden was White House chief of staff Ron Klain.[74] He stepped down in February 2023, and he was succeeded by Jeff Zients.[75][76][77]
^Biden held the chairmanship from January 3 to January 20, then was succeeded by Jesse Helms until June 6, and thereafter held the position until 2003.
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