“Indian-Americans are taking over the US”: US President Joe Biden as they continue to occupy key positions in Administration
US President Joe Biden, acknowledging the growing presence of the Indian-American community in key sectors of the country including the administration, has remarked, “Indian-Americans are taking over the US.” He said this during a meeting with NASA’s Swati Mohan who led the Mars 2020 mission.
In conversation with Mohan, Biden said, “What an honor it is to talk to you. You guys, (Indian-Americans) are doing an incredible job, thank you”, while specifically mentioning her, Vice-President Kamala Harris and Speechwriter Vinay Reddy.
Apart from their contribution in science and technology, Indian-Americans have made a place for themselves in US Politics. In less than 50 days after Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States, more than 55 Indian-Americans have been appointed at key positions in the administration.
This follows the precedent set by the Obama-Biden administration (2007-2019) which held the distinction of appointing the largest number of Indian-Americans in any administration. The previous Donald Trump administration had appointed the first ever Indian-American with a cabinet rank and in the National Security Council.
Remarking on the community’s rising presence and contribution in the US, eminent Indian-American philanthropist and Indiaspora Founder M Rangaswami said, “It is impressive to see how many Indian-Americans were ready to go into public service. I am so proud to see our community going from strength to strength!”
The success of the Indian-American community in the US has not only been a topic of discussion and admiration in India, but also in the US with successive administrations reposing their confidence and faith in them, to the extent that Indian-Americans now occupy key positions in the country’s governance.
Indian-American’s in the Biden Administration:
Notably, nearly half of the Indian-American appointees in the Biden administration are women and a sizeable number of them are working in the White House.
Indian-American women working at key positions include – Uzra Zeya, Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, State Department; Mala Adiga: Policy Director to Dr Jill Biden; Aisha Shah: Partnership Manager, White House Office of Digital Strategy; Sameera Fazili, Deputy Director, US National Economic Council (NEC); Sumona Guha: Senior Director for South Asia at the National Security Council, White House; and Sabrina Singh: Deputy Press Secretary, Vice President White House.
The administration also includes Gautam Raghavan, Deputy Director in Office of Presidential Personnel; Bharat Ramamurti, Deputy Director of National Economic Council; Tarun Chhabra, Senior Director for Technology and National Security at National Security Council White House; Vedant Patel, Assistant Press Secretary President at the White House, among others.
