In an interview broadcast on NBC on Tuesday night, Biden told NBC that there was already “significant representation among progressives in our administration,” but said there was “really nothing on the table.”
“But one thing is very critical: removing someone from the senate, removing someone from the House of Representatives, especially exporting a person with consequences, is a really difficult decision to make,” Biden said. “I have a very ambitious, very progressive agenda, and we need really strong leaders in the House and Senate to make it happen.”
Biden said he was open to considering the name of a Republican who voted for President Donald Trump in an administrative place, saying, “I want this country to unite. Our administration aims to unite again. We can’t sustain this heated political This must end. ”
The comments are likely to deter leftists who want to see Biden nominate progressive champions for top roles in the administration.
“I can’t wait to work with Secretary Yellen to strengthen our economy to tackle inequality and protect consumers,” Warren wrote in a second tweet.
If Biden rules out elected legislators, it’s not just about names as famous as Warren and Sanders. Michigan MP Andy Levin has been approved by a number of unions as a candidate to lead the Department of Labor, and Ohio MP Marcia Fudge has the support of the next Secretary of Agriculture in a few quarters. Both would see their path to cabinet positions closed by a de facto ban on appointments from the ranks of Congress.
Both Warren and Sanders come from states with a Republican governor, which means that if they left the Senate to join the administration, governors have the right to appoint Republicans to fill their seats until a special election. However, Governor Phil Scott of Vermont has suggested filling the seat with an independent MP who would join the Democrats, as Sanders does.
Republicans are currently controlling the Senate with a shaving difference, but Senate control will be determined by two election elections in Georgia in early January.
Whether Republicans retain control of the Senate may affect who Biden appoints and who is confirmed by a majority vote. Warren and Sanders are the stars of the progressive left and have a hard time winning Republicans or even a few moderate Democratic votes.
The president-elect and his transitional team have made progress despite the obstacles introduced by the Trump government. Trump refused to give in to the election, which Biden firmly won, and repeatedly made false allegations about election fraud and widespread voter fraud. But after being nominated as the election winner for weeks, the Biden team was informed Tuesday that the General Services Administration had informed Bident that the Trump administration was ready to begin the formal transition process.
CNN Greg Krieg contributed to the report.
