“Brenda Mallory’s confirmation today as chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality underscores President Joe Biden’s commitment to significantly strengthening environmental protections and policy. Mallory is a proven leader with deep expertise coupled with a demonstrated commitment to protecting everyone, including the most vulnerable, from environmental pollution. Mallory’s leadership sends a strong signal of Biden’s commitment to address both the climate and biodiversity crises while combatting environmental injustice,“ said Stephen Schima, senior legislative counsel at Earthjustice.

Most recently, Mallory was the director of Regulatory Policy at the Southern Environmental Law Center. She also served as acting general counsel and principal deputy general counsel at the Environmental Protection Agency and general counsel at the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) during the Obama administration. 

As chair of CEQ, Mallory will serve as the president’s top in-house environmental advisor, guiding environmental policy decisions across the federal government. From land use and protecting endangered species to addressing environmental justice issues, CEQ plays a critical role in setting policy and advising the president.