Michael Leach, the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at the White House, is set to bid farewell after three years of dedicated service.
Leach, who served as a special assistant to President Joe Biden, assumed his role during the 2020 campaign, leading efforts to create the most diverse electoral and White House teams in history.
His departure, announced on Thursday, marks the end of an era during which he played a crucial role in championing inclusive perspectives in administration policy.
Jen O’Malley Dillon, the White House Deputy Chief of Staff, praised Leach’s instrumental role in fulfilling Biden’s commitment to building an administration that reflects the diversity of America.
“President Biden promised to build an administration that looks like America and delivers for the American people,” O’Malley Dillon said, according to The Associated Press on Friday, January 26. “From the campaign to now, Michael Leach was an instrumental partner to us in fulfilling this promise.”
Leach, reflecting on his tenure, described it as “the honor of a lifetime” and expressed optimism about the administration’s ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion.
As there is no immediate replacement for the top diversity officer role, the White House has initiated a job search, emphasizing the importance of continuing the work initiated by Leach.
While Leach plans to take time to contemplate strategies to enhance equity across institutions, his departure occurs amidst growing resistance to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts, particularly from right-leaning organizations and Republican politicians who view these initiatives as discriminatory.
Democrats, however, perceive DEI efforts as vital for ensuring diverse perspectives in public life.
Anthony Fauci, a prominent figure in the administration, attests to Biden’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, citing Leach as the right person for the job.
Fauci acknowledges skepticism surrounding DEI efforts but underscores their value in creating a more inclusive society. “As we’re getting deeper and deeper into the issue of diversity, equity and inclusion, a lot of people have skepticism,” Fauci said. “But I have found in my own experience, having lived through both eras — the era when there was no diversity, there was no equity and there was no inclusion, versus now when we’re seeing a fair amount of it — it is a value and has made us really better off.”
Leach’s departure prompts a call for renewed intentionality to build on the progress achieved. The demographics of the White House staff, with about half identifying as people of color and nearly 60% as women, reflect Biden’s dedication to fulfilling his promise of a government that mirrors the diversity of America.
Before his tenure in the Biden administration, Leach spent a decade in labor relations roles at the National Football League. His exit comes weeks after revelations that John Kerry, the U.S. special envoy on climate, is also on his way out of the Biden administration.
