Biden Names All Female WH Communications Team

Jen Psaki

President-elect Joe Biden on Sunday named his White House senior communications staff, choosing a team of all women led by Jen Psaki, a veteran of President Barack Obama's administration, as his first press secretary, reports USAToday.

Psaki, who wore many hats under Obama including White House communications director, has overseen the confirmations team for Biden's transition team.

Turning to top campaign aides, Biden also tapped Kate Bedingfield as White House communications director and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris named Symone Sanders senior adviser and chief spokesperson for the vice president. Bedingfield worked as deputy campaign manager and communications director for the Biden-Harris campaign. Sanders served as a campaign senior adviser.

Other communications hires are: Elizabeth Alexander, communications director for first lady Jill Biden; Ashley Etienne, communications director for Harris; Karine Jean-Pierre, principal deputy press secretary; and Pili Tobar, deputy White House communications director.

The announcements come as Biden continues to build his Cabinet and White House staff, led by Chief of Staff Ron Klain while President Donald Trump refuses to concede the election that Biden won.

"Communicating directly and truthfully to the American people is one of the most important duties of a President, and this team will be entrusted with the tremendous responsibility of connecting the American people to the White House," Biden said in a statement. "I am proud to announce today the first senior White House communications team comprised entirely of women. These qualified, experienced communicators bring diverse perspectives to their work and a shared commitment to building this country back better."

From 2013 to 2015, Psaki served as the primary spokeswoman for the State Department, traveling 600,000 miles to more than 50 countries with Secretary John Kerry.

She earlier served as deputy White House communications director during Obama’s first term, coordinating and implementing the public response of the government to the financial crisis.