Susan Rice, a current board member at streaming giant Netflix, will soon be leaving her post to serve under the Biden administration. Rice has a background in public service— from 2009 until 2013, she was U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and national security advisor to President Barack Obama during his second term. She also filled various roles under the Clinton administration, including a stint as a special assistant to President Clinton.
Rice was only the fourth woman in history to sit on the board of directors at Netflix.
She will now be leading the White House Domestic Policy Council, a role that does not require confirmation by the Senate. “We are grateful to Susan Rice for her many contributions on our board and congratulate her on her return to public service,” said Reed Hastings, Netflix chairman and co-CEO, to The Hollywood Reporter. Rice was also considered for the position of vice president, as well as secretary of State, according to Politico. Many are noting that this new, domestic role will be a change of pace for her, as she is best known for her involvement in foreign policy.
Rice will have deep involvement the administrations plans for racial equity, immigration and health care.
The announcement of Rice’s appointment came on the morning of Thursday, December 10 and will go into effect on January 20, 2021.
As documented by USA Today, Biden’s campaign revealed that Rice was chosen because she “knows government inside and out” and will “turbocharge the effort to build back better.” In addition to Rice being appointed, Katherine Tai was nominated for the role of U.S. trade representative, Marcia Fudge was tapped to run the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Tom Vilsack has been nominated to be Agriculture secretary, and Denis McDonough may be confirmed as secretary of Veterans Affairs.
“The roles they will take on are where the rubber meets the road — where competent and crisis-tested governance can make a meaningful difference in people’s lives, enhancing the dignity, equity, security, and prosperity of the day-to-day lives of Americans,” Biden said in a statement.