"Moritsugu will bring her experience and expertise to the Biden-Harris Administration where she will be a vital voice to advance the President and the Administration's priorities," officials said.
White House names Erika Moritsugu as Asian American and Pacific Islander liaison
Moritsugu, whose official title will be deputy assistant to the President and Asian American and Pacific Islander senior liaison, “will bring her experience and expertise to the Biden-Harris Administration where she will be a vital voice to advance the President and the Administration’s priorities,” the statement said.
The announcement comes less than a month after the White House committed to naming a senior-level AAPI liaison following pressure from Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois and Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, both Democrats who expressed frustration with the lack of AAPI representation in the Cabinet and top administration roles and threatened to block the nominations of non-diverse administration picks.
Home/News from NPR/Biden Appoints Erika Moritsugu To Asian American Liaison Role Moritsugu will bring her experience and expertise to the Biden-Harris Administration where she will be a vital voice to advance the President and the Administration s priorities, officials said.
Biden Appoints Erika Moritsugu To Asian American Liaison Role
By Vanessa Romo
April 14, 2021
The Biden administration on Wednesday named Erika Moritsugu as deputy assistant to the president and Asian American and Pacific Islander senior liaison.
The announcement of the new role comes after weeks of pressure from Democratic Sens. Tammy Duckworth from Illinois and Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, who confronted White House officials about the lack of AAPI representation in key cabinet and senior level positions.
The Biden administration on Wednesday named Erika Moritsugu as deputy assistant to the president and Asian American and Pacific Islander senior liaison.
The announcement of the new role comes after weeks of pressure from Democratic Sens. Tammy Duckworth from Illinois and Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, who confronted White House officials about the lack of AAPI representation in key cabinet and senior level positions.
Together, they threatened to vote no on any non-diverse nominee that came to the Senate. But Hirono, who is of Japanese descent, and Duckworth, who is Thai American, changed their positions after Biden pledged to add the senior liaison position now filled by Moritsugu.