News

Biden Names Dr. Rachel Levine As Assistant Health Secretary, Would Be First Openly Trans Federal Office Holder

President-elect Joe Biden’s historically diverse cabinet has become even more notable for his recent nomination of Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine as his new assistant health secretary. Levine will be the first openly trans person to hold federal office if the Senate confirms her.

Levine is an expert on the opioid crisis, adolescent medicine, eating disorders, medical marijuana and LGBTQ medicine. She has served as Pennsylvania’s president of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials since 2017. From her position, Levine has been one of Pennsylvania’s top health authorities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Biden praised his nominee in a statement. “Dr. Rachel Levine will bring the steady leadership and essential expertise we need to get people through this pandemic — no matter their zip code, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability — and meet the public health needs of our country in this critical moment and beyond,” he said. 

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!

A week of political news in your in-box.
We find the news you need to know, so you don't have to.

Brandon Mumei

Recent Posts

VIDEO: Drone Captures Crowd Of 34,000 At Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez & Bernie Sanders ‘Fight The Oligarchy’ Rally In Denver

https://youtu.be/egSfJh6Qwh0 More than 34,000 people turned out as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) and Sen.…

18 hours ago

Greenland’s New PM Jens-Frederik Nielsen Pushes Back Against Trump’s Take-Over Effort: ‘We Want To Be Greenlanders!’

Greenland's new prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, rejected President Donald Trump's effort to take control of the world's biggest…

23 hours ago

White House Removes Surgeon General’s Gun Violence Advisory Webpage

President Donald Trump signed an executive order in February directing the Department of Health & Human…

1 day ago

Defense Sec. Pete Hegseth Orders Halt To Russia-Related Cybersecurity Efforts

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered an end to all U.S. cybersecurity efforts against Russia…

2 days ago

Trump Orders Military To Draw Up Plans To Seize Panama Canal

The White House has reportedly ordered the U.S. military to develop plans to increase troops…

2 days ago

Trump Signs Executive Order Stripping Funding For Voice Of America, Accusing It Of Being ‘Anti-Trump’

President Donald Trump signed an executive order last week to strip federally funded news organization Voice of…

2 days ago