Biden elevates Economic Advisers chair to Cabinet

President-elect Joe Biden announced Tuesday that the chair of the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) would have a seat on his Cabinet.

Historically, the CEA chair — often seen as the country’s most influential economist, hasn’t sat on presidents’ Cabinets, though former President Obama bucked the trend during his presidency. President Trump, however, didn’t follow suit, deciding to exclude the position from his Cabinet.

Biden’s remarks came during a press conference in which he formally announced nominations for his economic team, including former Fed chair Janet Yellen as his pick for Treasury Secretary.

The former vice president described Cecilia Rouse, his pick for CEA chair, as “one of the most distinguished economists in the country.”

Currently the dean of Princeton’s public and international affairs school, Rouse would be the first Black person to chair the council, if confirmed.

“This is a moment of urgency and opportunity unlike any we’ve faced in modern times — the urgency of ending a devastating crisis and the opportunity to build a better economy in its wake,” Rouse said at the press conference. 

Half of Biden’s potential economic team are people of color. Neera Tanden, the president-elect’s choice to lead the Office of Management and Budget, would be the first first woman of color and South Asian American in the role. 

Wally Adeyemo, picked by Biden to be the No. 2 official at Treasury behind Yellen, would be the first Black deputy Treasury secretary and the highest-ranking Black official in the history of the department.

Biden is under pressure from Black advocates and lawmakers to have strong Black representation in his Cabinet. Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), the top Black politician in Congress, has voiced his displeasure with the president-elect’s Cabinet selections so far.

Rouse joins Linda Thomas-Greenfield as Black Americans who have been selected by Biden to serve in his Cabinet. Thomas-Greenfield was tapped to be the U.S.’s next U.N. ambassador last week.