With the swearing-in of the new Biden Administration scheduled for tomorrow, the first set of confirmation hearings for several key posts within the Administration are set to start today. These include:
Read more about the nominees and the confirmation process here, here, and here.
President-elect Joe Biden has announced several key scientific positions in his administration.
Dr. Eric Lander will serve as Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy within the White House. Dr Lander is currently a professor at MIT. The President-elect also announced he will elevate the position to cabinet-level rank.
Dr. Francis Collins will continue serving as Director of the National Institutes of Health.
Several deputies were also announced. The full press release is available here.
Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf has resigned. According to a department email, he cited several court cases which found he served as Acting Secretary unlawfully, having deviated from the established line of succession. He has been in his position since November 2019.
Pete Maynor, current FEMA Administrator, will serve as DHS Acting Secretary until President Trump’s term expires in 9 days.
Read more.
The House has introduced articles of impeachment against President Trump accusing him of “incitement of insurrection”. Votes could occur as early as Wednesday. Even if the articles pass in the House, it is unlikely that the Senate would convene a trial, or vote to convict, before the President’s term ends. Read more.
US Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has reportedly resigned following yesterday’s violence at the US Capitol. An Acting Secretary has not been named. Information here.
Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has also resigned effective Monday, for the same reason. Steven Bradbury will serve as Acting Secretary of Transportation until the end of President Trump’s term. See here.
Check back for updates.