President-elect Joe Biden on Monday nominated five deputies to serve in the second spots at USDA, Transportation, Health and Human Services (HHS), Interior and Education. The nominees, who must be confirmed by the Senate, include Jewel H. Bronaugh at USDA; Polly Trottenberg at Transportation; Andrea Palm at HHS; Elizabeth Klein at Interior, and Cindy Marten at Education.
Klein, Palm, Bronaugh and Trottenberg worked in their same departments during the Obama administration. Bronaugh would be the first Black woman to serve in the senior role at USDA.
Biden had been under pressure to nominate a Black person to be Agriculture secretary but went with Tom Vilsack, who had the role under President Barack Obama.