According to two sources familiar with President-elect Biden's decision-making process, he has selected Tom Vilsack, who previously served as secretary of agriculture under former President Barack Obama for eight years, to lead the department once again. Vilsack, 69, a former governor of Iowa, is the seventh member of Biden's Cabinet to be chosen. If confirmed by the Senate, Marcia Fudge, 68, would also join retired Gen. Lloyd Austin and Xavier Becerra as part of Biden's efforts to create a diverse administration. Biden is facing pressure from various groups and lawmakers with differing opinions on what it means to have an administration that represents the diversity of America. The process of selecting key positions has become a complex puzzle for Biden and his team as they seek qualified candidates who align with the president-elect and contribute to a diverse Cabinet that contrasts with the Trump administration. Rep. James Clyburn and other allies of Fudge have advocated for her to be appointed to lead the Agriculture Department, where she aims to shift the focus towards addressing hunger, especially in urban areas. Instead, Biden chose Vilsack, a white man from a rural farming state, over Fudge, who is black. This decision to appoint Fudge to HUD instead of a more traditional place for a Black secretary may disappoint those advocating for her, including members of the Congressional Black Caucus. The current housing secretary, Ben Carson, is also Black. After nominating Austin as defense secretary, Black civil rights activists urged Biden to prioritize civil rights and nominate a Black attorney general as he promised during his campaign. In an interview before meeting with Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, civil rights leader and talk show host Al Sharpton discussed Biden's commitments and the importance of keeping promises. Biden is considering several candidates to lead the Justice Department, including Sen. Doug Jones, Sally Yates, and Judge Merrick Garland, but Jeh Johnson, a former secretary of homeland security, has removed himself from consideration. During an interview with CNN last week, Biden acknowledged that various advocacy groups are constantly advocating for their interests, which he believes is their responsibility. He defended his Cabinet picks as the most diverse in American history. Despite this, advocates are taking no chances. A meeting between the president-elect, vice president-elect, Sharpton, and other civil rights leaders lasted nearly two hours and allowed them to present their arguments. Sharpton emphasized to Biden the importance of appointing an attorney general with a background in civil rights to counteract what he described as the most racist and bigoted administration in recent memory. He specifically suggested a Black attorney general. Additionally, Derrick Johnson from the NAACP urged Biden to create a civil rights envoy position in the West Wing that would directly report to the president, similar to the climate envoy position held by John Kerry. “We believe that a national adviser focused on racial justice is necessary. During the Democratic primary, Biden benefited from Sharpton’s decision to remain neutral instead of endorsing Sen. Bernie Sanders. In the general election, Harris benefitted from Sharpton advocating for a Black woman on the ticket rather than endorsing Stacey Abrams. This has given Sharpton some influence with the Biden-Harris transition team. Additionally, over 1,000 high-profile Black women signed a letter to Biden expressing concern over the lack of Black women candidates for top positions in his administration and urging him to improve.” The letter written by Black women advocates called for the recognition and consideration of the leadership of Black women serving in policy areas that impact the nation for positions in the administration's Cabinet. Among those recommended was Fudge, who had campaigned to become Biden's agriculture secretary. However, Fudge accepted the selection to lead the housing agency, expressing willingness to help the president in any way possible. She had previously considered challenging Speaker Pelosi but ultimately endorsed her after being assured that Black women would have a voice in decision-making in Congress. The departure of Marcia Fudge will create another challenge: how to keep the Democratic Party's small majority in the House, which has decreased significantly since the November elections. Biden's selection of Cedric Richmond as a senior adviser in the White House had already required the party to defend his seat. By choosing Fudge for his Cabinet, Democrats now have to win another special election to fill her seat.