Susan Rice was a contender earlier this year to be Joe Biden’s running mate. (Archive)
Wilmington: U.S. President-elect Joe Biden on Thursday elected Susan Rice, who was former President Barack Obama’s national security adviser, to head the White House domestic policy council as part of a series of appointments to its administration in development. Gov. Tom Vilsack will serve a second term as Secretary of Agriculture, Obama White House Aide Denis McDonough as Secretary of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Rep. Marcia Fudge to head the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Katherine Tai As a US Trade Representative The choice of Rice, 56, as Biden’s top domestic policy adviser came as a surprise given her extensive experience in foreign policy. In addition to her role as Obama’s national security adviser, she was previously his ambassador to the United Nations. Earlier this year, she was a candidate to be Biden’s running mate. Vilsack, 69, served as USDA secretary under Obama for eight years and as governor of Iowa from 1999 to 2007 and is viewed by establishment Democrats as a wise choice, in large part because of her restraint. politics and lasting relationships with large-scale farmers.
But his confirmation in Congress is expected to face headwinds from progressive Democrats. Critics argue that Vilsack is comfortable with corporate agribusiness and major lobbyists like the American Farm Bureau Federation and the US Dairy Export Council, where he is currently CEO. He had been a strong supporter of Biden’s presidential candidacy (except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated channel).