The White House’s top diversity officer and first ever aide in the role is leaving the Biden administration after three years in his position. Michael Leach, a special assistant to President Joe Biden and the chief diversity and inclusion officer for the White House, departs after serving as a top aide to the Democrat since his 2020 presidential campaign. Both in office and during the campaign, Leach spearheaded efforts to create the most diverse general election and White House staffs in history. He was frequently involved in conversations advancing inclusive perspectives in administration policy.
Quick Read
Key Points of White House Diversity Officer’s Departure:
- Departure of Chief Diversity Officer: Michael Leach, the White House’s chief diversity and inclusion officer, is leaving the Biden administration after three years.
- Role in the Administration: Leach served as a special assistant to President Joe Biden, playing a crucial role in shaping the administration’s diversity and inclusion efforts both during the campaign and in office.
- Impact on Election and White House Staff: Leach was instrumental in creating one of the most diverse general election and White House staffs in U.S. history.
- Leach’s Reflection on His Tenure: Expressing pride in his work, Leach views his time in the role as “the honor of a lifetime” and remains optimistic about future diversity efforts in the administration.
- Next Steps for Leach: He plans to spend time considering how to further enhance equity across various institutions before moving to his next role.
- Search for Successor: The White House has not immediately named a replacement but is actively searching for a new top diversity officer.
- Growing Backlash Against DEI Efforts: Leach’s departure occurs amid increasing criticism of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, especially from right-leaning organizations and Republican politicians.
- Challenges to DEI Policies: DEI policies, aimed at reducing bias, face accusations of being discriminatory themselves, leading to legislative restrictions in some states.
Michael Leach’s departure marks a significant transition in the Biden administration’s diversity and inclusion efforts, highlighting the ongoing national debate and challenges surrounding these initiatives in various sectors.
The Associated Press has the story:
White House’s 1st chief diversity & inclusion officer is leaving Biden’s admin
Newslooks- NEW YORK (AP) —
The White House’s top diversity officer and first ever aide in the role is leaving the Biden administration after three years in his position.
Michael Leach, a special assistant to President Joe Biden and the chief diversity and inclusion officer for the White House, departs after serving as a top aide to the Democrat since his 2020 presidential campaign. Both in office and during the campaign, Leach spearheaded efforts to create the most diverse general election and White House staffs in history. He was frequently involved in conversations advancing inclusive perspectives in administration policy.
Leach said the role “has been the honor of a lifetime” and expressed “great optimism” about the administration’s future diversity and inclusion efforts. Leach, who spoke to The Associated Press on Wednesday ahead of Thursday’s announcement of his departure, will take time to reflect on how to best increase equity across institutions before his next role. The White House has not immediately replaced its top diversity officer role but has launched a job search for the position.
Leach’s departure comes as diversity, equity and inclusion efforts face growing backlash across major sectors including business, government, education and health care. Right-leaning organizations have increasingly challenged diversity and inclusion efforts, which are premised on decreasing bias, as themselves discriminatory. Republican politicians and activists have depicted “diversity, equity and inclusion,” or DEI, efforts as harmful to the country and enacted laws restricting such policies.
