John Kerry, Alejandro Mayorkas, Avril Haines among Joe Biden’s cabinet picks

Alejandro Mayorkas will be the first Latino to run the Homeland Security Department and Avril Haines will be the first woman to serve as Director of National Intelligence, while former Secretary of State John Kerry has been tapped as climate czar and a member of the National Security Council, President-elect Biden’s transition team announced Monday.

Mayorkas and Haines mark the first Cabinet announcements from the incoming commander-in-chief, who will require Senate approval in order to serve in the posts.

Mayorkas served as deputy Homeland Security secretary from 2013 to 2016. He would also be the first immigrant to serve in the role. During his tenure under the Obama-era DHS, he led the implementation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program.

Haines, meanwhile, has worked under Biden for over a decade. She served under President Obama as a principal deputy national security advisor from 2015-2017.

She also worked under Biden during his time as Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman from 2007-2008.

Kerry’s official title will be “special presidential envoy for climate,” and he will sit on the National Security Council as part of his duties. The move will mark the first time the NSC has included an official dedicated exclusively to climate change.

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