Biden has selected Tom Vilsack, who previously served as secretary of agriculture under President Obama, to lead the department once again. Vilsack, a former governor of Iowa, is the seventh member of Biden's Cabinet to be chosen. If Fudge is confirmed by the Senate, she would join other diverse picks like Gen. Lloyd Austin and Xavier Becerra in fulfilling Biden's pledge for a diverse administration. However, Biden faces pressure from various groups with differing opinions on what it means to have a Cabinet that represents America. The selection process for key positions is a complex puzzle for Biden and his team, as they search for qualified candidates who align with the president-elect and help create a diverse administration that contrasts with Trump's. Rep. James Clyburn and other allies of Fudge have pushed for her to lead the Agriculture Department to focus on hunger issues in urban areas. Biden ultimately chose Vilsack, a white man from a rural farming state, instead of Fudge, a Black woman, for a position at HUD that is traditionally held by a Black secretary. This decision has the potential to disappoint those who supported Fudge, including members of the Congressional Black Caucus. Some civil rights activists are urging Biden to prioritize civil rights and nominate a Black attorney general, as he promised to address criminal justice, police reform, and mass incarceration during his campaign. Civil rights leader Al Sharpton mentioned in an interview before meeting with Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris that Biden had flown to Houston to discuss specific commitments before Sharpton delivered the eulogy for George Floyd. Sharpton emphasized the importance of keeping promises. Biden is currently considering candidates such as Sen. Doug Jones, Sally Yates, and Judge Merrick Garland for the position of leading the Justice Department. Jeh Johnson, a Black individual who served as Obama's secretary of homeland security, has removed himself from consideration for attorney general. During an interview with CNN last week, Biden acknowledged that advocacy groups are pushing for their desired changes, which is their responsibility. He defended his Cabinet picks as the most diverse in American history. However, advocates are not taking any 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 the importance of appointing an attorney general with a civil rights background in response to the previous administration. He also expressed a preference for a Black attorney general. In addition, Derrick Johnson of the NAACP urged Biden to establish a civil rights envoy reporting directly to the president. Johnson cited John Kerry's appointment as climate envoy as an example of a direct reporting relationship. "We believe that a national adviser on racial justice should hold a similar position." During the Democratic primary, Biden benefited from Sharpton's decision to remain neutral instead of endorsing Bernie Sanders. In the general election, Harris was supported by Sharpton's advocacy for a Black woman on the ticket rather than endorsing Stacey Abrams. This has given Sharpton some influence with the Biden-Harris transition team as they select administration members. Additionally, over 1,000 high-profile Black women signed a letter to Biden expressing concern about the lack of Black women considered for top positions in his administration and urged him to improve in this area. The women in the letter believe that Black women in leadership roles impacting the nation should be recognized and considered for Cabinet positions. Fudge, who has experience in Congress and had campaigned for agriculture secretary, expressed her willingness to serve in any capacity to help the president. She had previously considered challenging Speaker Pelosi but ultimately decided to support her after being assured that Black women would have a voice in decision-making. Now, Fudge will be leaving Congress to lead the housing agency. Her leaving will contribute to another challenge: how to keep the Democratic Party's small majority in the House, which has decreased significantly since the November elections. Biden choosing Rep. Cedric Richmond, an African American Democrat from Louisiana, as a senior adviser in the White House, already meant the party would need to protect that seat. Biden selecting Fudge for his Cabinet means Democrats will have to win another special election to fill her seat.