White House’s First Chief Diversity Officer Departs, Leaving a Legacy of Inclusion

In a significant development for the Biden administration, Michael Leach, the White House’s first chief diversity and inclusion officer, is set to leave his position later this month. A White House official confirmed the departure, highlighting Leach’s instrumental role in helping assemble the most diverse administration in U.S. history. Leach, who has been with the administration since President Joe Biden assumed office, has been a key figure in advancing diversity and inclusion efforts. According to a White House official, his departure was a planned move that had been in the works for some time. Despite the impending vacancy, the administration is committed to continuing Leach’s work and is actively searching for his replacement. One of Leach’s significant achievements, as noted by the White House official, was his pivotal role in staffing up the administration with a diverse group of individuals. This commitment to diversity was reflected in a June report filed by the Biden administration, indicating that it employed the most diverse White House staff in U.S. history. Nearly half of the administration’s appointees identified as racially or ethnically diverse, and approximately 59% of White House staff members were women at the time of the report. Leach, who led President...