Karine Jean-Pierre to become White House press secretary, the primary Black and out LGBTQ individual within the function

Jean-Pierre at present serves as the White Home's principal deputy press secretary.

"Karine not only brings the experience, expertise and integrity wanted for this tough job, however she's going to continue to prepared the ground in communicating concerning the work of the Biden-Harris Administration on behalf of the American people," Biden said in a press release, including that "Jen Psaki has set the standard for returning decency, respect and decorum to the White Home Briefing Room."

Jean-Pierre will formally start following Psaki's last day, which will likely be Could 13. CNN reported in April that Psaki was planning on leaving her role for one at MSNBC.

Final Could, Jean-Pierre turned the second Black girl in history to hold the daily press briefing. She has served on the White House's senior communications staff since Biden took workplace and before that was an adviser to his marketing campaign and chief of staff to now-Vice President Kamala Harris.

Jean-Pierre's family consists of her companion, CNN nationwide correspondent Suzanne Malveaux, and their daughter.

"I am nonetheless processing it as a result of, as Jen said, at the high this is a historic second and it's not lost on me. I perceive how necessary it is for so many people out there. So many various communities that I stand on their shoulders," Jean-Pierre said.

She added: "It is an honor and a privilege to be behind this podium."

Jean-Pierre additionally took a second to thank Psaki.

"She has been only a fantastic colleague, a buddy, a mentor, during this previous year and a half and I don't think I might be here without so many people, however including her and she or he is just only a true strong, amazing person," Jean-Pierre stated.

Jean-Pierre is accustomed to her new function. She is usually within the room when Psaki briefs reporters, has stuffed in for her for at the lectern and has additionally gaggled with reporters touring with Biden on Air Pressure One. Recently, she changed Psaki on the last minute for Biden's four-day journey to Europe amid the Russian invasion after Psaki tested optimistic for Covid-19 the day before Biden was scheduled to go away.

Psaki's departure is unsurprising, given she had been public about her plan to depart after one yr on the job. A number of names had been into consideration to interchange her, together with Pentagon spokesman John Kirby, who has turn out to be a visual face of the administration in briefings and on cable tv since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine.

On the White House briefing Thursday, a visibly moved Psaki invited Jean-Pierre up to the podium together with her and the 2 girls embraced as Psaki went by way of Jean-Pierre's qualifications and the significance of her taking the job.

"I simply wish to take the opportunity to rejoice and congratulate my pal, my colleague, my associate in fact, Karine Jean-Pierre, the following White House press secretary," Psaki told reporters at the White House.

She added: "She will be the first black lady, the first out LGBTQ+ particular person to serve in this position, which is amazing because illustration matters and she or he is going to, she's going to give a voice to so many and permit and present so many what is really doable while you work laborious, and dream big and that matters, and ... we should have fun that."

Psaki also elaborated on Jean-Pierre's career up, describing her as a "exceptional" particular person with "many years of expertise."

"I simply cannot wait to see her shine on the podium. So congratulations, and I can not wait to see you bring your personal type, and brilliance, to this job, " Psaki stated.

Close Biden adviser returns to White House

The staffing shakeup within the press workplace comes as the White House is making several different personnel moves in preparation for a possible Republican takeover on Capitol Hill within the midterm elections. One in every of Biden's closest advisers, Anita Dunn, will return to the West Wing as a senior adviser, as his group also shores up the White Home counsel's office, given Republicans have promised to launch a slew of investigations if they retake the bulk.

Dunn is permanently leaving her consulting firm, SKDK, folks acquainted with the matter inform CNN. She will no longer be a companion within the firm or listed on the company's website, individuals conversant in the matter say.

Whereas Dunn no longer owns a piece of the firm, after it was sold in 2015, her function as a prime strategist to Biden, former President Barack Obama and lots of other elected Democratic officers has given SKDK significant prominence in Washington and past. Throughout the presidential marketing campaign and the first a number of months of the Biden administration, Dunn took a depart of absence from the firm. However given the new position on the White Home, folks aware of the matter say, she is severing ties with the firm.

An official says Dunn will now be a full-time staff member, and -- as with all different full-time workers member -- will sign the ethics pledge, file an OGE 278 and be topic to all White Home ethics and conflict of interest guidelines, including "rigorous counseling" on her ethics obligations.

This story has been updated with extra developments on Thursday.

CNN's Jeff Zeleny and Sam Fossum contributed to this report.