The “Special 20” Indian-Americans in “Team Biden”; Joe Biden and Kamala Harris officially sworn into office

 

The United States got its 46th President on Wednesday as Joe Biden was officially sworn in as President of the United States of America during a ceremony at U.S Capitol. Notably, it is also for the first time in the US history that over 20 Indian-Americans have either been appointed or nominated to be part of the US administration with nearly 17 of them in key policy positions in the cabinet. While Kamala Harris, who has roots in India took oath as vice-president of the U.S becoming first woman to national office, there is a whole lot of Indian-Americans who have been announced to be a part of Biden’s cabinet.

 

On Wednesday, the world’s most dominant economic and military power, the United States of America got its 46th president, Joe Biden. The inauguration ceremony also marked the swearing-in of the first woman in American history elected to national office, Vice President Kamala Harris, that newly elected President better stated as “Don’t tell me things can’t change”.

 

As the world glued to their screens to witness this grand ceremonial celebration, India has a few more reasons to rejoice. It is the number of Indian Americans who have secured their places in Biden cabinet making the entire nation proud. Who are these “Special 20” in US President Joe Biden’s administration, have a look!

 

 

 

Born in Bedford, Massachusetts, Neera Tanden currently serves as the president of Centre for American Progress (CAP), an influential domestic policy think tank. She has been associated with the Centre in various capacities and is lauded for its success. Previously, Tanden (50) worked in Obama administration to pass the Affordable Care Act, and during the Trump administration, she called the CAP to the ramparts during Republicans’ efforts to repeal it.

 

 

 

Dr. Vivek Murthy will serve as US Surgeon General. Dr. Vivek Murthy (43) has earlier served as 19th Surgeon Deneral of the US under the Obama administration. He is being nominated to be the 21st US surgeon general.

 

The Indian-American is also the co-chair of the COVID-19 task force formed by Biden in Dec 2020. Dr. Murthy’s family hails from Karnataka in India. He did his Bachelor’s from Harvard University and pursued MD and MBA from Yale University. He completed his internal medicine residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston. He later joined the Harvard Medical School as faculty in internal medicine.

 

 

 

Vanita gupta, an Indian American will serve as Associate Attorney General in Biden’s administration. She would be the first woman of colour to serve in this role. Previously, she has served as acting assistant attorney general for the civil rights division from 2014-17. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Indian immigrant parents, Gupta did her Bachelors from Yale University. A reputed civil rights attorney in the Us, Gupta was country’s former chief civil rights prosecutor.

 

She received her Juris Doctor degree from New York University School of Law.

 

 

 

Another Indian-American diplomat, Uzra Zeya is nominated as the under secretary of state for civilian security, democracy, and human rights.

 

 

 

 

Among Biden’s inner circle is his top confident for year Vinay Reddy, who has been named as Director Speechwriting.

 

 

 

Bharat Ramamurti has been appointed as Deputy Director for the National Economic Council for Financial Reform and Consumer Protection.

 

 

 

 

For the first time ever among the Indian-Americans include two who trace their roots to Jammu Kashmir: Aisha Shah, who has been named as Partnership Manager at the White House Office of Digital Strategy, and Sameera Fazili, who would occupy the key position of Deputy Director at the US National Economic Council (NEC) in the White House.

 

 

 

Gautam Raghavan, who served at the White House in the previous Obama Administration returns to the White House as Deputy Director in Office of Presidential Personnel.

 

 

 

Young Vedant Patel all set to occupy a seat in the White House lower press, behind the briefing room, as Assistant Press Secretary to the President. He is only the third-ever Indian American to be part of the White House press shop.

 

 

 

Three Indian-Americans have made their way to the crucial National Security Council of the White House, thus leaving a permanent imprint on the country’s foreign policy and national security. Tarun Chhabra as Senior Director for Technology and National Security and Sumona Guha, Senior Director for South Asia, National Security Council and Shanthi Kalathil, Coordinator for Democracy and Human Rights.

 

 

 

While Sonia Aggarwal has been named Senior Advisor for Climate Policy and Innovation in the Office of the Domestic Climate Policy at the White House and Vidur Sharma has been appointed as Policy Advisor for Testing for the White House COVID-19 Response Team.

 

 

 

Two Indian Americans women have been appointed to the Office of the White House Counsel: Neha Gupta as Associate Counsel and Reema Shah as Deputy Associate Counsel.

 

 

 

Mala Adiga and Garima Verma will be serving the future First Lady Dr. Jill Biden as Policy Director and Digital Director respectively.