The opposition promised by Duckworth – which she said would not include “diversity nominees” like those supported by the Asian-Pacific-American, Hispanic or Black Caucuses Congress – comes at a time when Asian-American lawmakers and advocates expressed frustration at the lack of representation in Biden’s office. The members of the American Asian-Pacific Group in Hill had lobbied for candidates like Vivek Murthy and Julie Su to be appointed cabinet secretaries, but Murthy ended up being named Surgeon General and Su as Deputy Secretary of Labor.
Although none of the Biden Cabinet secretaries is of Asian American or Pacific Islander descent, United States trade representative Katherine Tai is of Chinese American descent and technically occupies a ministerial-level position. The appointment of Asian-American Neera Tanden to become head of Biden’s budget collapsed after opposition from Republican senators and Senator Joe Manchin (DW.Va.).
The majority of Biden’s nominees for consideration in the Senate this week are of diverse backgrounds, including Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services Rachel Levine, Deputy Treasury Secretary Adewale Adeyemo and Deputy Budget Director Shalanda Young. Duckworth’s statement could be tested once, during Deputy Secretary David Turk’s vote, but Turk’s confirmation should not falter due to his level of support from the Republican Party.
A besieged Pentagon Biden, Colin Kahl, could see his luck affected by the blockade promised by Duckworth if he persists. The Senate Armed Services Committee has yet to present Kahl’s nomination.
Another Asian-American Democratic senator, Mazie Hirono, of Hawaii, said on Tuesday that “I am prepared to join” Duckworth in defending the Biden nominees until key positions in his government incorporate better Asian-American representation.
“This is not about pitting one diversity group against another,” said Hirono on MSNBC. “I think this is a well-articulated and focused position.”
Asked what appointments the Biden administration might consider an Asian-American candidate, Duckworth suggested the FCC, the Office of Administration and Budget or a future position as secretary of the Cabinet.