Biden rounds out appointments to top science positions

Now nearly eight months into his administration, President Biden has filled out his White House science policy staff and nominated leaders for most top-level positions in federal science agencies. That record roughly matches the pace set by most other presidents of the last four decades (see the figure below) except Donald Trump, who was historically slow in making his appointments.

The slate of leaders Biden has picked reflect his administration’s focus on diversity, with women and people of color occupying many key positions. For example, he recently nominated physical chemist Geraldine Richmond and soil scientist Asmeret Asefaw Berhe for the top two science leadership positions at the Department of Energy. However, Biden declined to make pathbreaking selections for the positions of presidential science adviser and NASA administrator, which are two high-profile jobs that have always gone to men. He nominated geneticist Eric Lander and former senator Bill Nelson , respectively.

Many of Biden’s nominees are now in place. Some still require Senate confirmation, including a few who have been waiting several months. There are also a number of jobs for which appointees have yet to be named. Among civilian agencies with a portfolio in the physical sciences, perhaps the most prominent position without a nominee is the US Geological Survey director. Biden has requested a significant proportional increase in the USGS budget, in large part to bolster efforts in climate science.

Most controversially, Biden has not nominated anyone to lead the Food and Drug Administration, which is at the center of national attention because it is responsible for approving the use of COVID-19 vaccines. The agency is currently led in an acting capacity by Janet Woodcock, a medical researcher and long-standing senior official there. Biden reportedly considered picking Woodcock herself but faced opposition from senators in his own party. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), in particular, has complained about her role in approving addictive opioid painkillers as well as the agency’s recent decision to approve a drug for Alzheimer’s disease that many experts believe is inefficacious.

Editor’s note: This article is adapted from an 8 September post on FYI, which reports on federal science policy. Both FYI and Physics Today are published by the American Institute of Physics. To keep up to date on the status of positions across the government, consult FYI’s Federal Science Leadership Tracker .