Xavier Becerra worked in the Biden-Harris administration for four years as HHS Secretary, during which he was known for being absent, late, or ineffective
SAN FRANCISCO — It’s a clear pattern: The people who know Xavier Becerra best and worked closest to him are not endorsing him. Kamala Harris today announced endorsements for a slate of California statewide offices, and she notably left Becerra — a member of the Biden cabinet — off.
As an administration official, Becerra was not favored among many of his colleagues. White House officials, including Susan Rice, privately referred to him as an “idiot,” and President Biden even "tore into" him during meetings. Becerra's internal reputation was so poor that his own cabinet colleagues passed notes in meetings warning, “Don't save him.”
“Becerra’s colleagues in the Biden Administration had a front row seat to his incompetence, so it’s no surprise that they are sitting this one out,” said Steyer for Governor spokesperson Kevin Liao. “They see what we see: an incompetent leader who failed migrant children, mismanaged public health crises, and shied away when things got tough. California deserves better.”
Becerra’s record of mismanagement and bungling crises had real consequences. As HHS Secretary, he lost track of 85,000 children and removed protections that left them vulnerable to trafficking.
And as HHS secretary, he was late, absent, or ignorant — causing missteps for COVID, monkeypox, and bird flu.
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