Biden’s Diversified America

Making a Change
Since taking office as President of the United States, Joe Biden is fulfilling his pledge to make his Cabinet the most diverse in the U.S. history, better representing the makeup of the country. Selection of Kamala Harris as the first female Vice President generated a rapturous response, which was considered a breath of fresh air after the last four years of turmoil. A diversified approach of appointing individuals based on merit rather than their gender, race and ethnicity seems to be the core objective of the Biden Administration. As such, South Asians in key roles are not only making a significant mark in the current Administration, but are also changing the shape of the US Cabinet from the previous conservative regime. Americans with South Asian roots are taking on pivotal posts in higher offices of the government as nominated by President Biden. Appointment of American Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis and Sri Lankans is manifesting an ethnically varied America, as well as, a proud representation for these countries.

Pakistani Americans in Key Roles
President Biden’s induction of Pakistani Americans in his Administration is generating prominence in Pakistani media. Zahid Qureshi of Pakistani origin has bagged a nomination for the US District Court for the District of New Jersey. As confirmed by the Senate, Qureshi would also be the first Muslim-American federal judge in the U.S history. Prior to his nomination, Qureshi worked for the Department of Homeland Security and served as a federal prosecutor in the District of New Jersey. If confirmed by the US Senate, Pakistani American Dilawar Syed will take the lead as Deputy Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA). An immigrant from Pakistan, Syed previously worked with the Obama Administration on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) and chaired the White House Initiative on AAPIs’ Economic Growth Committee. Moreover, President Biden has taken two more Pakistani Americans, Salman Ahmed and Ali Zaidi, under his wing. Ahmed is an advisor for national security and foreign policy and will now serve as Director Policy Planning at the US State Department. Before joining the Biden Administration, Ahmed worked as a Chief of Staff of the US Mission to the United Nations and Senior Policy Advisor to the US Permanent Representative to the United Nations. On the other hand, Ali Zaidi, a lawyer and a political advisor will join Biden’s team as Deputy National Climate Advisor. Zaidi played a focal role in drafting and implementing the Climate Action Plan for the Obama Administration and handled issues on the White House domestic policy team. It is noted that Zaidi is the highest ranking Pakistani American in the Biden Administration.

Women Making a Mark
Saima Mohsin, nonetheless a Pakistani-American took the position as the first Muslim US Attorney in the Eastern District of Michigan. Born in Pakistan, Mohsin has been working in the US Attorney’s Office since 2002 and holds decades of experience as a federal prosecutor. The Biden Administration has also instated two women from Indian-occupied Kashmir in key roles. Sameera Fazili is the Deputy Director of the National Economic Council (NEC) and Aisha Khan is a Partnership Manager at the White House Digital Strategy team.

Personalities of South Asia
These are some of the personalities of South Asian origin who are performing distinguished roles and bringing diversity to higher offices which is representing the true meaning of a ‘diversified America.’