Karine Jean-Pierre to become White Home press secretary, the primary Black and out LGBTQ person within the position

Jean-Pierre at the moment serves because the White House's principal deputy press secretary.

"Karine not only brings the experience, expertise and integrity needed for this tough job, but she is going to continue to prepared the ground in communicating about the work of the Biden-Harris Administration on behalf of the American folks," Biden said in an announcement, including that "Jen Psaki has set the usual for returning decency, respect and decorum to the White House Briefing Room."

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

Final Could, Jean-Pierre became the second Black woman in historical past to carry the daily press briefing. She has served on the White House's senior communications crew 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 includes her companion, CNN nationwide correspondent Suzanne Malveaux, and their daughter.

"I am still processing it as a result of, as Jen said, on the prime this is a historic moment and it isn't misplaced on me. I perceive how necessary it is for therefore many individuals on the market. So many alternative communities that I stand on their shoulders," Jean-Pierre mentioned.

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

Jean-Pierre also took a second to thank Psaki.

"She has been just a wonderful colleague, a buddy, a mentor, during this past 12 months and a half and I don't think I'd be right here with out so many people, however including her and she is just just a true strong, wonderful individual," Jean-Pierre said.

Jean-Pierre is aware of her new position. She is usually within the room when Psaki briefs reporters, has stuffed in for her for on the lectern and has also gaggled with reporters touring with Biden on Air Force One. Lately, she replaced Psaki at the final 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 depart.

Psaki's departure is unsurprising, given she had been public about her plan to leave after one 12 months on the job. Several names had been into consideration to interchange her, including Pentagon spokesman John Kirby, who has change into a visible 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 rostrum with her and the 2 ladies embraced as Psaki went by means of Jean-Pierre's qualifications and the significance of her taking the job.

"I just need to take the chance to have a good time and congratulate my friend, my colleague, my companion in fact, Karine Jean-Pierre, the next White Home press secretary," Psaki informed reporters on the White House.

She added: "She would be the first black lady, the primary out LGBTQ+ particular person to serve on this function, which is superb because illustration matters and she or he is going to, she is going to give a voice to so many and allow and show so many what is truly possible whenever you work arduous, and dream huge and that matters, and ... we should always rejoice that."

Psaki also elaborated on Jean-Pierre's career up, describing her as a "outstanding" particular person with "a long time of expertise."

"I just can't wait to see her shine at the podium. So congratulations, and I can not wait to see you convey your individual fashion, and brilliance, to this job, " Psaki stated.

Close Biden adviser returns to White Home

The staffing shakeup within the press office comes because the White Home is making a number of different personnel strikes 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 workforce additionally shores up the White Home counsel's workplace, given Republicans have promised to launch a slew of investigations in the event that they retake the bulk.

Dunn is permanently leaving her consulting agency, SKDK, individuals acquainted with the matter inform CNN. She will now not be a companion within the agency or listed on the corporate's website, people familiar with the matter say.

Whereas Dunn no longer owns a piece of the firm, after it was sold in 2015, her role as a prime strategist to Biden, former President Barack Obama and plenty of different elected Democratic officials has given SKDK vital prominence in Washington and beyond. During the presidential marketing campaign and the primary several months of the Biden administration, Dunn took a depart of absence from the firm. But given the new position at the White Home, people familiar with the matter say, she is severing ties with the firm.

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

This story has been updated with further developments on Thursday.

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