Shangdian is so excited to meet the new Cabinet! The Cabinet is a committee of the President's best people. They advise the President on important decisions that impact our country. These are people the President has picked, and each one of them runs sections of the government. It’s very important you know who they are, because the decisions that they make can greatly influence our day to day lives.
By the way, I have some new Cabinet members to get to know! Well, first we have the Vice President, Kamala Harris. She is such an inspiring leader, and because she is the FIRST woman, FIRST Black person, and FIRST South Asian person to be Vice President in ALL of American history, she is SUPER special! Kamala has an important role to play and will be assisting the President by throwing out ideas and working together on key decisions.
Another key cabinet member is Antony Blinken. But he is Secretary of State — a very powerful office. That will mean working with other countries around the world on many big issues. This included trade (which is how countries buy and sell things to one another), and immigration (people moving between countries), and safety (keeping our country safe from potential threats).
Next up is Janet Yellen, the new Treasury secretary. Janet has a super important job because she is going to help manage OUR country’s money. That means she will make major decisions about taxes, spending and maintaining a strong economy. And Janet is also the first woman ever to have this important position in the history of our country!
Another important member is Alejandro Mayorkas. He will run the Department of Homeland Security. This department has a major role in protecting our nation from threats such as terrorism, which can be a harsh activity from groups trying to harm people, and also natural disasters, such as hurricanes and floods. Alejandro will also handle rules regarding immigration and border security.
Next -- we've appointed Deb Haaland to serve as the new Secretary of the Interior. Deb’s job is to oversee our country’s public lands — places like national parks, where people can go to enjoy nature. She’ll also help safeguard wildlife and oversee our natural resources — think water and forests. And Deb will partner with Native American tribes to ensure their rights and meaningful needs are represented.
Miguel Cardona is the new Secretary of Education. Miguel’s job is critical because he will oversee education policies and programs. His aim is to ensure that every child in our nation is given the opportunity to attend a good school and receive a quality education. He knows that it shouldn’t matter where a child comes from or how much money their family has; all kids should have the same opportunities to learn and succeed.