By Josh Chang
Emboldened by a flurry of state certifications and capitalizing on the first inklings of cooperation from the Trump Administration, President-elect Joe Biden is rapidly ramping up his transition effort. Biden has named numerous key members of his upcoming administration, including Ron Klain as Chief of Staff, Antony Blinken as Secretary of State, Janet Yellen as Treasury Secretary, and John Kerry as climate czar.
Trump Campaign efforts to erode Biden’s victory have seemed increasingly futile in recent days, and Emily Murphy, the head of the General Services Administration, has cleared the Biden Transition to receive government funding.
Attorney General Barr has said there was no evidence of outcome-altering fraud, and the Trump Administration has also begun to share the President’s daily intelligence briefing with Biden.
Some Republicans are beginning to break with the President, although most remain loyal or silent.
Those typically less friendly to Trump were the first to speak out, including George W. Bush, Mitt Romney, and a few other moderate senators. Biden has said that many senators have privately acknowledged his win, but are waiting until the Electoral College meets on December 14th to do so publicly.
Biden’s cabinet is gradually filling-in via a spattering of press releases and press conferences. Many of the nominees are former Obama Administration officials, and compared to the Trump Administration, there are more women and people of color in top roles. Biden’s communication team consists largely of women, and Linda Thomas-Greenfield, a Black woman, will be the Ambassador to the United Nations.
Notably absent — progressive leaders. In a move that angered many on the left of the Democratic Party, Senator Elizabeth Warren, who was widely understood to be eyeing the Treasury Secretary position, was passed over for Former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen.
It is clear that Biden is charting a path of comparative moderation and normalcy. Not so certain, though, is whether or not that strategy will meet this moment of crisis and uncertainty.
