Joe Biden: Indo-Americans are taking over US, says Biden as they continue to secure key positions

WASHINGTON: Indo-Americans take control of the country, US President Joe biden said Thursday, referring to the high number of people in the community who are securing a place in his administration.
Less than 50 days before his presidency, Biden has appointed at least 55 Indo-Americans to key leadership positions in its administration ranging from its speech-maker to NASA, to almost every wing of government.
“Americans of Indian descent (sic) are taking control of the country. You (Swati Mohan), my vice president (Kamala Harris), my speechwriter (Vinay Reddy),” Biden said in a virtual interaction with NASA scientists. involved in the historic landing of Perseverance Landing on Mars.

Indian-American Scientist Swati Mohan is leading the guidance, navigation and control operations for NASA’s Mars 2020 mission.
Biden, who was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States on Jan.20, made history by appointing at least 55 Indo-Americans to key positions in his administration. That does not include Vice President Kamala Harris, who is an elected post, and Neera Tanden, who a day earlier withdrew her appointment as director of the White House Office of Management and Budget.

Almost half of them are women and a significant number of them work in the White House. Until now, the Obama-Biden administration (2009-2017) has the distinction of appointing the largest number of Indo-Americans in any administration, the previous administration Donald Trump was not left out in appointing the very first Indian-American rank in cabinet and within the National Security Council.
The Biden administration first appointed such a large number of Americans of Indian descent in the first 50 days of its administration. Last week, Dr. Vivek Murthy testified before a Senate committee of the US Surgeon General and Vanita Gupta is set to appear for her confirmation hearing for the Deputy Attorney General of the Department of Justice.

“It is impressive to see how many Indian-Americans were ready to enter the public service. There have been so many additions since we launched our list of government leaders last month on the occasion of the holiday. Presidents. I am so proud to see that our community has gone from strength to strength! ”a prominent American-Indian philanthropist and founder of the Indiaspora, Mr. Rangaswami, told PTI.
While the community is disappointed that Tanden had to withdraw her nomination due to fierce opposition from Republicans, Indo-American women have reached a new high in the Biden administration. Biden has sought to speak with Swati Mohan, Head of Guidance and Control Operations, March 2020. She is not, however, a political appointee.
Indo-American women named by Biden include Uzra Zeya, Under Secretary of State for Emergency Preparedness, Democracy, and Human Rights, State Department; Mala Adiga: Policy Director to Dr Jill Biden; Aisha Shah: Head of Partnerships, White House Digital Strategy Office; Sameera Fazili, deputy director of the United States National Economic Council (NEC); Sumona Guha: Senior Director for South Asia at the National Security Council, White House; and Sabrina Singh: Deputy Press Secretary, Vice President of the White House.

Shanthi Kalathil has been appointed Democracy and Human Rights Coordinator, National Security Council, White House; Garima Verma has been appointed Digital Director of the Office of the First Lady; Sonia Aggarwal as Senior Advisor for Climate Policy and Innovation; Office of Domestic Climate Policy, White House; Neha Gupta: Associate Lawyer, White House Lawyers Office; and Reema Shah as Deputy Assistant Counsel, White House Attorneys Office.

Tanya Das has been appointed Chief of Staff, Bureau of Science, Department of Energy; Shuchi Talati: Chief of Staff, Bureau of Fossil Energy, Department of Energy; Mini Timmaraju: Senior Advisor to the Director, Office of Personnel Management; Sohini Chatterjee: Senior Policy Advisor, US Mission to the United Nations, Aditi Gorur: Policy Advisor, US Mission to the United Nations; and Bhavya Lal is the acting chief of staff of NASA.

Dimple Chaudhary has been appointed Deputy General Counsel for National Resource Protection Programs, Environmental Protection Agency; Sharmistha Das is the Deputy General Counsel, Department of Homeland Security; Ruchi Jain is the Deputy Solicitor of General Law, Ministry of the Interior; Meera Joshi is Acting Administrator, Federal Road Transport Administration, Ministry of Transport; Aruna Kalyanam is the Assistant Under-Secretary for Taxation and Budget, Department of the Treasury.
“We are delighted that this administration reflects America’s diversity by including an unprecedented number of South Asians. The inclusion by the Biden-Harris administration of South Asians in key senior management positions will undoubtedly inspire countless South Asians to aspire to public office and run for the public. It’s a proud moment for our community, ”Neha Dewan of South Asians told PTI for Biden.
Gautam Raghavan, deputy director in the office of presidential personnel; Bharat Ramamurti, deputy director of the National Economic Council; Tarun Chhabra, senior director of technology and national security at the White House of the National Security Council; Vedant Patel, deputy press secretary to the president of the White House, is among several other Indo-Americans who have secured key positions in the Biden administration.