Biden to hold first Cabinet meeting on Thursday

President Biden will hold his first Cabinet meeting on Thursday, days after the Senate confirmed all 15 of the president’s Cabinet secretaries.

Principal Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed the plans during an exchange with reporters aboard Air Force One on Wednesday afternoon.

Biden will “convene his first full Cabinet meeting just a day after rolling out his American Jobs Plan, which will be a key topic of discussion,” she said. 

“The focus of the meeting will be working together to continue implementing and communicating about the American rescue plan and how it continues to deliver for working families, discussing the role Cabinet members will play in advocating for the American Job plan, and ensuring we accelerate our federal COVID-19 response, and that Americans don’t let their guards down,” she said. 

Jean-Pierre said that the cabinet meeting will take place in the East Room in order to adhere to social distancing protocols. 

The meeting was first reported by the Associated Press. 

.@POTUS hosts his first Cabinet meeting. Be sure to follow this account for the latest news and updates surrounding this historic Cabinet — a Cabinet that looks like the country it serves. https://t.co/03CmSHJ3In

— White House Cabinet Affairs (@Cabinet) March 31, 2021

All 16 permanent members of the Cabinet, which includes the vice president and heads of the executive departments, will attend the meeting in person, according to the AP.

Biden’s core Cabinet was officially completed on March 22, when the Senate confirmed Marty Walsh as secretary of Labor.

Other Cabinet-ranked officials, including White House chief of staff Ron Klain and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, will also attend in person, the wire service reported.

In total, the White House said 25 people will attend the meeting, according to the AP.

Biden’s Cabinet, however, is not yet fully complete. The president still has to nominate someone to serve as director of the Office of Management and Budget, after Neera Tanden, Biden’s initial pick for the job, withdrew her nomination after it was met with opposition in the Senate.

Shalanda Young, the acting budget head who was recently confirmed to be deputy director of the OMB, will attend the Cabinet meeting, the AP reported.

Additionally, Eric Lander is awaiting confirmation to be director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the wire service noted.

This story was updated at 3:57 p.m.