Many of President Obama's Cabinet members, including several who have said they will resign in the coming months, will participate in the National Day of Service on Jan. 19, part of Obama's historic second inauguration, according to the President's Inaugural Committee, which is coordinating the events.
"Continuing a tradition the First Family began four years ago, Inauguration weekend will begin with a National Day of Service to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.," the PIC said in a statement.
"Volunteers have organized events in all 50 states, and the PIC is sponsoring a Service Summit on the National Mall with 100 organizations and seven service projects under one tent. The President and his team have always believed that our country is strongest when we all work together, when neighbors help neighbors, and communities find common goals."
Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, Environmental Protection Agency Director Lisa Jackson and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar will all participate in the Day of Service. All three have announced their imminent resignations from Obama's Cabinet.
Solis and Salazar are both Hispanic, and Jackson is African-American, so their resignations severely impact the diversity of Obama's close staff, a fact noted by critics in recent weeks as the president has nominated four white men to his second-term Cabinet so far.
Susan Rice will also participate. She was the leading candidate to succeed Secretary of State Hillary Clinton until Republicans sank her nomination before it was even official.
The full list of staff members taking part in the Day of Service is: Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Acting Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, USTR Ambassador Ron Kirk, UN Ambassador Susan Rice, Small Business Administrator Karen Mills.
Clinton is still recuperating from an illness and injury in December.
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