Treasury selection

Biden says he's made Treasury selection, but keeps name under wraps

The president-elect pledges that his pick "will be accepted by all elements of the Democratic Party."

By NICK NIEDZWIADEK

President-elect Joe Biden said Thursday he has settled on his choice for Treasury secretary and that he will announce that selection sometime this month.

“You’ll soon hear my choice for Treasury,” Biden told reporters at a news conference in Delaware. “We made that decision, and you’ll hear that just before or just after Thanksgiving.”

Biden also promised that the nominee will garner broad support from within the Democratic Party.

“You’ll find it is someone who I think is — will be accepted by all elements of the Democratic Party, from the progressive to the moderate coalitions,” he said.

Biden’s choice to run the Treasury Department is shaping up to be one of the most closely scrutinized selections for those trying to determine the ideological direction of his presidency. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), a favorite of the progressive left, has reportedly expressed interest in the position.

However, Biden also has to factor in the likelihood that his nominee will have to pass muster with Republicans in the Senate. There are two runoff elections in Georgia that will determine which party controls the majority in the chamber, and Democrats need to win both to hold the upper hand.

Even in that scenario, Democrats would not be able to afford anything but party unity to confirm Biden’s choices, requiring a careful triangulation for high-profile positions like the Treasury Department.

Biden has tapped a band of veteran Democratic operatives tasked with shepherding Cabinet selections through the looming high-wire confirmation acts. Biden is also hoping to leverage his decades in the Senate and relationship with Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to cut deals and be able to stock his administration.

In recent days, Biden has already announced other key selections, including longtime aide Ron Klain as chief of staff and tapping campaign manager, Jen O'Malley Dillon, to serve as his deputy.