Attorney General Eric Holder Eric Himpton HolderThe Hill's Campaign Report: Trump's rally risk | Biden ramps up legal team | Biden hits Trump over climate policy Biden campaign forming 'special litigation' team ahead of possible voting battle Pompeo, Engel poised for battle in contempt proceedings MORE and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius Kathleen SebeliusThe Hill's Coronavirus Report: Mike Roman says 3M on track to deliver 2 billion respirators globally and 1 billion in US by end of year; US, Pfizer agree to 100M doses of COVID-19 vaccine that will be free to Americans The Hill's Coronavirus Report: Former HHS Secretary Sebelius gives Trump administration a D in handling pandemic; Oxford, AstraZeneca report positive dual immunity results from early vaccine trial Coronavirus Report: The Hill's Steve Clemons interviews Kathleen Sebelius MORE will stay in their positions in President Obama’s second term, White House officials said Thursday.

Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki Eric Ken ShinsekiVA might not be able to end veteran homelessness, but we shouldn't stop trying Bill HR 2333 is a good step to helping curb veteran suicide Senate confirms Trump's VA pick despite opposition from some Dems MORE also will remain, the officials said.

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In 2012, the House voted to hold the attorney general in contempt of Congress for failing to provide information demanded by Republicans in a probe into a gun-walking operation known as “Fast and Furious.”

Seventeen Democrats voted in favor of placing Holder in contempt in the 255-67 vote. The House was also authorized in a separate 258-95 vote to take civil action against Holder, a step it took because the Department of Justice did not intend to pursue the criminal contempt measure. Twenty-one Democrats voted for the civil action.

Holder and Democrats said the probe and vote pushed by Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) were politically motivated.

“Today’s vote is the regrettable culmination of what became a misguided and politically motivated investigation during an election year,” Holder said at the time. “By advancing it over the past year and a half, Congressman Issa and others have focused on politics over public safety.”

The White House has been facing criticism about diversity in the Cabinet and in the halls of the West Wing, but Holder's and Sebelius's decisions to stay keep a high-profile African-American and a woman in Obama's Cabinet.

Obama's last two appointments — Sen. John Kerry John Forbes KerryDivided country, divided church TV ads favored Biden 2-1 in past month Feehery: How Trump wins MORE (D-Mass.) and former Sen. Chuck Hagel Charles (Chuck) Timothy HagelWhile our foes deploy hypersonic weapons, Washington debates about funding Hillicon Valley: Democrats request counterintelligence briefing | New pressure for election funding | Republicans urge retaliation against Chinese hackers National security leaders, advocacy groups urge Congress to send election funds to states MORE (R-Neb.) — are white men. And Obama is expected to nominate White House chief of staff Jack Lew Jacob (Jack) Joseph LewApple just saved billion in tax — but can the tax system be saved? Lobbying World Russian sanctions will boomerang MORE to be Treasury secretary as soon as this week.



The White House also announced Wednesday that Labor Secretary Hilda Solis would leave the administration.

White House press secretary Jay Carney on Wednesday, responding to a White House-released photo of a mostly-male inner circle staff, said it was "not reflective of the diversity of the White House staff."

—This story was posted at 4:53 p.m. and updated at 5:40 p.m.