Following Congress’ confirmation of the Electoral College vote yesterday, Biden announced his pick for Secretary of Labor earlier this afternoon. If confirmed, Boston mayor Marty Walsh would take the helm at the agency in the new administration.
Biden’s nominee has served as mayor of Boston since 2014. Prior to his current position, Walsh served 17 years as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. In addition, he is a former head of the Boston Building and Construction Trades Council, an association of unions.
Walsh’s strong ties to labor unions is a clear indicator DOL initiatives will be of high priority during the Biden administration, fulfilling Biden’s campaign promise to advocate for workers. The pair have also worked closely together in the past, signaling a solid foundation for further partnership in their new roles.
Walsh faces an extensive agenda upon his arrival, with a heavy focus on DOL’s response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Biden’s goals for the agency include an emergency standard to safeguard workers against infection while on the job, as well as streamlining the distribution of unemployment insurance benefits to those currently out of work. Walsh’s efforts as Secretary will be crucial in the country’s recovery from the economic effects of the pandemic.
By Lily Kerr, Associate Consultant at DCI Consulting Group
