Obama alum Seth Harris to serve as Biden labor adviser: report

Seth Harris, who previously served as acting Labor secretary under former President Obama, has reportedly been tapped by the White House to serve as labor adviser under the Biden administration.

Bloomberg reported Tuesday, citing an administration official, that Harris will assume the role of deputy assistant to the president for labor and economic matters under President Biden.

The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.

Harris previously served as deputy Labor secretary under Obama for roughly five years and acting secretary for the department for half a year. His experience also includes past roles as a labor adviser for Biden’s presidential campaign and serving on the Department of Labor’s transition team.

An administration official told Bloomberg that Harris will be Biden’s top labor adviser, coordinating relationships between the office and labor groups. The outlet also reported he will be overseeing workers’ rights efforts, among other responsibilities. 

Harris will also reportedly be working with Domestic Policy Council and the National Economic Council in the role. 

In an interview with Bloomberg, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said Harris will “help the president tremendously in the White House and help working people in the country.”

“Seth has a broad base of knowledge about the labor community,” he also said. 

However, the new reported hire may not come without opposition from some.

According to Bloomberg, some liberals have criticized Harris in the past for his work with law firm Dentons, where he was employed after his exit from the Obama administration.

Walmart is among the employers that the firm has defended in past labor disputes, the outlet noted.