4 key names to watch as Biden leaves the White House

Hugh Clements

The former Providence police chief has a big decision to make, although it’s possible that it will be made for him by the new leaders at the US Department of Justice. He’s the director of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), and he’s made his presence felt within the department. You might remember that he played a key role in the scathing review of law enforcement’s response to the 2022 mass school shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, that left 19 children and two teachers dead.

Clements could speak the language of any administration – he’s a cop first, politician second – but Trump’s attempt to install Matt Gaetz as attorney general could be a step too far. If he does leave, he’ll have the chance to become one of the most sought-after law enforcement consultants in the country.

Mike Donilon

He’s been President Biden’s right-hand man for decades, so it’s entirely possible that he’ll ride off into the sunset once Biden leaves the White House on Jan. 20. But he’s still one of the smartest strategists in the Democratic Party, and he could play a crucial role in bridging the gap between the outgoing president and the next generation of party leaders.

Then again, Donilon has caught more flak than almost anyone in Camp Biden for Biden staying in the race for president for too long, and for over-relying on the “Trump is a threat to Democracy” argument for why voters would reject the former president.

Janet Coit

Rhode Island’s former director of the Department of Environmental Management is now the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. That role falls under Raimondo’s vast portfolio.Trump has vowed to dismantle regulations in his second term in the White House, thanks in large part to the US Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision earlier this year to curtail the power to federal agencies. Departments like the one Coit oversees could see sweeping changes.

Barbara Cottam

Another Raimondo hire, Cottam is a senior advisor at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and she leads the external engagement strategy for the Biden administration’s “Internet for all” initiative.

It’s highly unlikely that the Trump administration would pull the plug on the program – broadband = jobs – but Cottam is a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat who may not want to be part of the new administration.

This story first appeared in Rhode Map, our free newsletter about Rhode Island that also contains information about local events, links to interesting stories, and more. If you’d like to receive it via e-mail Monday through Friday, you can sign up here.

Dan McGowan can be reached at dan.mcgowan@globe.com. Follow him @danmcgowan.