Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) abandoned a threat late Tuesday to block President Joe Biden’s so-called non-diverse nominees from getting confirmed with unanimous Democratic support, a move that comes after she received diversity “assurances” from the White House.
“Senator Duckworth appreciates the Biden Administration’s assurances that it will do much more to elevate [Asian American and Pacific Islander] voices and perspectives at the highest levels of government, including appointing an AAPI senior White House official to represent the community, secure the confirmation of AAPI appointments and advance policy proposals that are relevant and important to the community,” said Ben Garmissa, Duckworth’s communications director, reports CBS News.
“Accordingly, she will not stand in the way of President Biden’s qualified nominees — which will include more AAPI leaders,” the senator’s communications director added.
The reversal comes after Duckworth and Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) revealed they planned to withhold support for the Biden administration’s nominees going forward, citing a lack of Americans of Asian descent in pre-eminent positions at the White House. The threat had the potential to stall the Biden administration’s nomination process, given that the Senate is currently evenly split between Democrats and Republicans.
“I’ve been talking to them for months and they’re still not aggressive, so I’m not going to be voting for any nominee from the White House other than diversity nominees,” Duckworth told reporters, before she spoke with the White House and changed her stance, reports The Associated Press. “I’ll be a no on everyone until they figure this out.”
The Illinois senator also called it “incredibly insulting” when, she alleges, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Jen O’Malley Dillon brought up Vice President Kamala Harris — who is partly of Indian descent — to address her diversity concerns, according to Politico. “Multiple times I’ve heard that. And that is not something you would say to the Black caucus: ‘Well, you have Kamala, we’re not going to put any more African Americans in the Cabinet because you have Kamala.’ Why would you say it to AAPI?” remarked Duckworth.
Hirono backed down after speaking with the White House, saying she would vote to “confirm the historic and highly qualified nominees President Biden has appointed to serve in his administration.” The Biden administration has also said it will hire an Asian American Pacific Islander liaison.
Based on the private conversation we had, I will continue voting to confirm the historic and highly qualified nominees President Biden has appointed to serve in his administration.
— Senator Mazie Hirono (@maziehirono) March 24, 2021
“The President has made it clear that his Administration will reflect the diversity of the country. That has always been, and remains our goal,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement, reports CNBC. “The White House will add a senior level Asian American Pacific Islander liaison, who will ensure the community’s voice is further represented and heard.”