Joe Biden

If confirmed, the retired general would become the first black Defence secretary even as Biden goes about the task of putting together what he calls the most diverse team of senior administration officials in American politics.

He called these elections a disgrace to the US while speaking at the Oval Office of the White House during a ceremony where he was presenting the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Dan Gable who is wrestler and coach.

Becerra, 62, has been a member of the US House of Representatives for more than two decades before beginning serving as Attorney General of California in 2017.

If confirmed by the Senate, Austin, a retired four-star general of the US Army, would be the first black man to lead the Department of Defence, Xinhua news agency quoted the Politico news report as saying on Monday.

The moments include the cheerful timing of United States Vice President-elect Kamala Harris to the heart-wrenching death of African-American George Floyd.

Fauci, who has served as the director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984, is also one of the most prominent members of the Donald Trump administration's coronavirus task force.

Biden is expected to make the announcement in coming days, along with choices for other key health posts, including head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reports Xinhua news agency.