Sen. Tammy Duckworth on Tuesday said the lack of Asian-American or Pacific Islander representation in President Joe Biden’s cabinet is “not acceptable” and threatened to withhold her vote on key nominations until the administration addresses the matter.
Duckworth, an Illinois Democrat, told reporters that she raised her concerns to White House officials earlier on Tuesday. Her threat to withhold support could complicate matters for Biden as moves forward with other high-level administration and judicial appointments that require Senate confirmation in an evenly divided Senate where Vice President Kamala Harris holds a tie-breaking vote.