A former Biden administration official transitions into a key Department of Labor position that extends into the next presidential term.
According to Daily Wire, Elizabeth Peña, who previously served as a Biden political appointee and worked on Kamala Harris's transition team, has secured a position as International Relations Officer at the Department of Labor through a specialized hiring arrangement.
Peña's extensive background includes roles in the Biden White House personnel office and the Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs from October 2021 to October 2024. Her recent appointment has drawn attention due to its timing and nature, particularly as it allows her to continue serving during the Trump administration.
The Labor Department employed a distinctive approach by hiring Peña as a "Term employee" rather than a permanent staff member. This classification circumvents traditional anti-burrowing procedures that typically require special permission from the Office of Personnel Management. The position offers a salary range of $117,962 to $153,354 and extends for three years.
The arrangement has prompted scrutiny of federal hiring practices. A comprehensive review of federal job advertisements revealed that among more than 80 International Relations Officer positions posted since 2019, none were classified as "term" positions until this particular opening.
Peña's career history demonstrates her significant involvement in political appointments. She previously worked on the Biden transition team, selecting Democrats for key positions, and served in the White House's Presidential Personnel Office. Her experience also includes work on Beto O'Rourke's presidential campaign, where she conducted extensive employee vetting.
The administration has implemented various personnel strategies that could affect Trump's ability to reshape the federal workforce. These measures include hiring permanent employees for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, positions that Trump may seek to eliminate.
On Monday, Peña announced her new role on LinkedIn, expressing her commitment to promoting equity principles. Her statement emphasized her intention to continue working on labor rights globally despite potential conflicts with the incoming administration's priorities.
The Department of Labor's spokesperson addressed the hiring arrangement, explaining that Peña's term position differs from both political appointee roles and permanent career positions. The spokesperson stated that if Peña seeks a career position in the future, she would need to undergo the standard Office of Personnel Management review process.
Congressional oversight has traditionally monitored the practice of "burrowing," where political appointees transition into permanent positions. The Congressional Research Service has highlighted concerns about such appointments, including questions about merit-based hiring and potential impacts on administrative continuity.
Representative Gerry Connolly (D-VA), incoming ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, stated, "I'm committed to protecting the civil service from partisan attacks and attempts to replace qualified experts with political loyalists."
The Department of Health and Human Services exemplifies broader personnel transitions, reportedly planning to modify position titles to preserve certain roles. This includes potential changes to the Chief Equity Officer position, currently held by Dia D. Harris, who may be redesignated as Senior Adviser.
Elizabeth Peña's appointment as International Relations Officer at the Department of Labor represents a significant development in federal workforce management. Through a specialized term position, she will continue serving during the Trump administration despite her previous roles in the Biden administration and Harris transition team. The arrangement highlights ongoing tensions between political appointments and career civil service positions while raising questions about the effectiveness of existing federal workforce transition protocols.
