Michael Leach, the pioneering chief diversity and inclusion officer for the White House, is stepping down from his post, the administration confirmed Thursday. As reported by the Associated Press, Leach was the first individual to take on this role and has served since President Joe Biden's 2020 campaign, working to shape the most diverse cabinet and staff in U.S. history.
During his tenure, nearly half of the administration's appointees have been individuals from racially or ethnically diverse backgrounds, and women make up about 59% of White House staff members, as of a June report. Despite this achievement, Leach's exit occurs amidst a national pushback against diversity initiatives, with right-leaning organizations and lawmakers targeting these policies as purportedly discriminatory. While the White House has not immediately found a replacement, a search for a new chief diversity officer is underway.
"President Biden promised to build an administration that looks like America and delivers for the American people," Jen O'Malley Dillon, the White House deputy chief of staff, said in a statement. "From the campaign to now, Michael Leach was an instrumental partner to us in fulfilling this promise." Leach himself described the role as "the honor of a lifetime" and expressed "great optimism" about the administration's future diversity and inclusion efforts, according to what he told the Associated Press.
Fighting against an undercurrent of resistance to diversity and inclusion programs, notably in the educational sector, Republicans have clashed with Biden's approach. Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida signed a bill last year that forbids public colleges from using state or federal funds for diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, as per NBC News.
Leach's background includes a decade at the National Football League in labor relations roles and time as an assistant to the head coach for the Chicago Bears. "You could tell that Michael was destined for bigger things," Bears Chairman George McCaskey reflected,.
