Pete Buttigieg Makes History As First Openly Gay Cabinet Member

Pete Buttigieg, former 2020 presidential candidate and mayor of South Bend, Indiana, made history Wednesday when he was sworn into office as Secretary of Transportation as the first openly gay Cabinet member in U.S. history. The Senate confirmed his nomination on Tuesday.

Vice President Kamala Harris shared a photo on her official Vice President Instagram account of her swearing in Buttigieg. Buttigieg’s husband, Chasten, was also in attendance.

“This morning, I swore in Pete Buttigieg as Secretary of Transportation,” wrote Harris. “Secretary Buttigieg is a true problem-solver. He will bring people together to strengthen our nation’s infrastructure. And he will keep breaking boundaries while he’s at it. Congratulations, Mr. Secretary.”

As transportation secretary, Buttigieg pledges that he recognized how infrastructure in America has the power to bridge together racial and economic disparities. He will also work with President Biden’s agenda of climate change, creating jobs and delivering life-saving COVID-19 vaccines.

After Buttigieg was sworn into office, he tweeted a video thanking Americans and outlining his plan for the next four years.

At the age of 39, Buttigieg is also the youngest person nominated to Biden’s Cabinet.