President-Elect Announces Groundbreaking Nomination of Dr. Rachel Levine

President-elect Joe Biden today announced the groundbreaking nomination of Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine to be the US Assistant Secretary of Health.

Levine is the first transgender person nominated to a Senate-confirmable position, and if confirmed, she will be the highest transgender official in the US government.

“President-elect Biden said throughout his campaign that his administration would represent America. Today, he made clear that transgender people are an important part of our country,” said Mara Keisling, the executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality. “President-elect Biden, like he has done throughout his time in public service, is helping to break down barriers.”

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health (OASH) oversees the department's key public health offices and programs, a number of presidential and secretarial advisory committees, 10 regional health offices across the nation, and the Office of the Surgeon General and the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.

Dr. Levine is the current Pennsylvania Secretary of Health. (2018-present). She is currently the highest-ranking appointed trans official in the United States. She was previously the Physician General of Pennsylvania (2015-2017). She was unanimously confirmed both times by the Republican controlled State Senate.

“I want to congratulate my good friend Dr. Levine on her nomination. She has demonstrated her commitment to public service and is highly skilled. She has earned the chance to serve our country at the highest levels,” Keisling said. “We look forward to more transgender and non-binary Americans being appointed in the new Biden administration.”