The turnover in President Joe Biden's White House has continued with the announcement this week that yet another senior adviser is set to exit the administration in the near future.
In a stunning announcement on Monday, it was revealed that Domestic Policy Adviser Susan Rice will be leaving her post at the White House next month, Politico reported.
Rice will be at least the fourth high-level aide to Biden to depart this year, following the exits of former Chief of Staff Ron Klain, former National Economic Council Director Brian Deese, and former Council of Economic Advisers chief Cecilia Rouse.
President Biden himself issued a statement on Monday to herald Susan Rice, who previously was known for serving in foreign policy roles as National Security Adviser and U.N. Ambassador, for her work on the domestic front as his policy adviser.
"But what I knew then and what we all know now -- after more than two years of her steady leadership of the Domestic Policy Council -- it’s clear: there is no one more capable, and more determined to get important things done for the American people than Susan Rice," Biden said.
The president proceeded to thank Rice for her "tireless efforts" on a range of issues, including the Affordable Care Act, Medicare price negotiations, gun control, marijuana decriminalization, racial equity, student loan debt, childcare, hunger and disease, and immigration, among other things.
"As the only person to serve as both National Security Advisor and Domestic Policy Advisor, Susan’s record of public service makes history," Biden said. "But what sets her apart as a leader and colleague is the seriousness with which she takes her role and the urgency and tenacity she brings, her bias towards action and results, and the integrity, humility and humor with which she does this work."
"I thank Susan for her service, her counsel and her friendship. I will miss her," he added. "I also want to thank her husband Ian and her children Jake and Maris for yet again sharing Susan with us."
Later, during Monday's press briefing, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who was joined by National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, also addressed the impending exit of Susan Rice, who "will depart the White House late next month."
"Susan has served at the highest levels of government for the last three Democratic administrations: eight years in the Clinton administration, eight years in the Obama administration, and since day one here with President Biden. It’s truly very impressive," Jean-Pierre continued.
She highlighted some of the purported accomplishments as listed in President Biden's statement and added, "On a personal note, I have known Susan for many, many years. She is a -- she has become a friend and a mentor to me. And we are -- I am very sad to see her go but also very thankful for her service to this country."
Sullivan also weighed in and said, "I’m also very sad to see Susan go, although we still have a few more weeks with her. And, you know, really grateful for having had the opportunity to serve with her in this administration, in this White House, as well as in the previous administration as well."
Politico noted that while no replacement for Rice has been formally announced as of yet, multiple sources suggested that Biden's staff secretary and senior adviser Neera Tanden was the odds-on favorite to be tapped for the high-level role that will soon be empty just as Biden's team gets going on his re-election effort.
Readers may recall that Tanden, who used to run the highly partisan Center for American Progress, was initially nominated to head the Office of Management and Budget in early 2021 but was ultimately withdrawn amid bipartisan Senate opposition over her long history of overtly combative bias against Republicans. Notably, the domestic policy adviser position does not require Senate approval, per Politico.
