March 25, 2021: President Joe Biden (D) announced on Wednesday that Vice President Kamala Harris (D) would oversee the White House’s efforts to address an increase in migrants at the southern border.
Every weekday, Ballotpedia is tracking key presidential appointments, executive actions, and policy developments from the Biden administration.
- The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is holding a confirmation hearing for Deanne Criswell to be the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
News
- Biden is holding the first news conference of his presidency on Thursday at 1:15 p.m. ET. Biden’s four direct predecessors each held one news conference within their first 60 days in office. President John F. Kennedy (D) held the most at seven in 60 days. This is Biden’s 65th day in office.
- Thirteen states, led by Louisiana, filed a lawsuit against Biden on Wednesday challenging a Jan. 27 executive order, which paused new oil and natural gas leases on public lands. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry (R) called it an abuse of presidential power. Wyoming separately filed a lawsuit on the same issue on Wednesday.
- Biden announced on Wednesday that Vice President Kamala Harris (D) would oversee the White House’s efforts to address an increase in migrants at the southern border on Wednesday. Her assignment includes working with Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries on the root issues of migration.
Transition in Context
The following chart compares the pace of Senate confirmations for the main Cabinet members—the 15 agency heads in the presidential line of succession—following the inaugurations of Presidents Barack Obama (D) and Joe Biden (D). It does not include Cabinet-rank officials that vary by administration.
Nine weeks after their respective inaugurations, Biden had all 15 of these secretaries confirmed. Obama had 14. One of these Obama Cabinet members—Secretary of Defense Robert Gates—was held over from the Bush administration.
