But Biden is still missing permanent officials to helm the key departments of Justice, Homeland Security and Health and Human Services (HHS), as well as the CIA let alone deputy positions across government that also need Senate-confirmed officials. Historically, presidents have seen their senior team confirmed more quickly than Biden. Former Presidents George W. Bush, Obama and Trump each had multiple secretaries confirmed on the day of their inauguration, while Biden had just one, Haines, who was confirmed last Wednesday evening.
ADVERTISEMENT “It’s lagging if you go back to the three previous administrations,” said Kathryn Tenpas, a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution who tracks administration staffing and turnover rates.