Elected President Joe Biden
Joe BidenAzar in the letter of departure says the Capitol riot threatens to ‘slander’ the government’s achievements. House Democrats introduce measures to resist Trump’s bomb sale to Saudis On The Money: retail sales fall in latest sign of weakening economy | Fast food workers strike for minimum wage | US officials raise more concerns over Mexico’s handling of energy permits On Saturday, members of his science team rolled out on Saturday when he wanted to fill his administration and tackle the coronavirus pandemic.
Biden introduces Eric Lander, his nominee for director of the Office of Scientific and Technological Policy (OSTP) and a designated presidential scientific adviser; Alondra Nelson, his choice as OSTP Deputy Director for Science and Society; and Frances Arnold and Maria Zuber, his choice as co-chairs of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
Biden also said he will keep Francis Collins, the current director of the National Institutes of Health, in his current role.
‘This deeply respected group of diverse and eminently qualified scientists will gather the power of science to advance meaningful progress in people’s lives. “It will help the Biden-Harris government confront some of the greatest crises and challenges of our time, from climate change and the impact of technology on society to pandemics, racial inequality and the current historical economic downturn,” the Biden- transition team in a statement said press release.
“We are on the verge of making some of the most remarkable breakthroughs that will change our way of life,” the president-elect added.
The launches on Saturday focused on a variety of issues, but especially on the coronavirus pandemic, which Biden said would be his first priority. The president-elect also touched on his efforts to find a cure for cancer, which has been a top priority for him since the disease took the life of his son, Beau.
“We have made progress, but we can do so much more,” he said.
Under the staff announcement, he also announced that he would increase the position as presidential scientific adviser to a cabinet rank.
The deployment comes as Biden reveals his plan to halt the spread of COVID-19 and address the economic consequences of the pandemic.
Biden on Friday unveiled a $ 20 billion vaccination effort that would bolster the scope of the federal government’s response and is part of a broader $ 415 billion plan aimed at combating the COVID-19 pandemic.
“True, we are staying in a very dark winter,” Biden said Friday, noting that the country is rapidly approaching 400,000 deaths. “The rollout of vaccines in the United States has so far been a sad failure.”
In its first 100 days, Biden promised to administer 100 million vaccines and use federal resources, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to launch new mass vaccination sites. The administration also plans to expand state and local vaccination efforts across the country, including pharmacies and community health centers.
In total, Biden plans to hand out $ 1.9 billion to support coronavirus vaccination efforts, help reopen schools, provide critical assistance to workers and small businesses, tackle the famine crisis and send money to state and local governments .
Biden’s science team has deep experience in various fields. Lander, for example, is a leading researcher in mapping the human genome, and Arnold won the 2018 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.