Jeff Zients to be Biden’s next chief of staff

Jeff Zients to be Biden’s next chief of staff

President Joe Biden is expected to tap Jeff Zients as his next chief of staff, three people familiar with the decision confirmed Sunday. A former Obama administration

President Joe Biden is expected to tap Jeff Zients as his next chief of staff, three people familiar with the decision confirmed Sunday. A former Obama administration

official and close Biden confidant, Zients ran the White House’s Covid response, winning internal praise for his cross-government management skills and initial success in bringing

official and close Biden confidant, Zients ran the White House’s Covid response, winning internal praise for his cross-government management skills and initial success in bringing

the pandemic under control. He’s held a number of high-level positions across the Obama and Biden presidencies — experience that allies argue makes him among the most

the pandemic under control. He’s held a number of high-level positions across the Obama and Biden presidencies — experience that allies argue makes him among the most

well-prepared Biden advisers for the all-encompassing chief of staff job — but will take over amid a divided government, an increasingly contentious debt ceiling fight and a

well-prepared Biden advisers for the all-encompassing chief of staff job — but will take over amid a divided government, an increasingly contentious debt ceiling fight and a

likely launch of a reelection campaign. Zients has maintained close ties to departing chief of staff Ron Klain and other senior Biden aides dating back to the Obama

likely launch of a reelection campaign. Zients has maintained close ties to departing chief of staff Ron Klain and other senior Biden aides dating back to the Obama

administration, when he did stints atop the National Economic Council and Office of Management and Budget. In recent months, Klain had tasked Zients with overseeing a project to

administration, when he did stints atop the National Economic Council and Office of Management and Budget. In recent months, Klain had tasked Zients with overseeing a project to

prepare for the expected staff transition that typically occurs following the midterms. The move underscored Zients’ status as an administration insider and broadened his

prepare for the expected staff transition that typically occurs following the midterms. The move underscored Zients’ status as an administration insider and broadened his

familiarity with the staff he’ll soon lead. The president, a person familiar with the decision said, views Zients as a “master implementer.” But what Zients has in

familiarity with the staff he’ll soon lead. The president, a person familiar with the decision said, views Zients as a “master implementer.” But what Zients has in

organization acumen he lacks in extensive political experience. He will likely be relied on to manage the day-to-day workings of the White House, allowing other senior advisers to

organization acumen he lacks in extensive political experience. He will likely be relied on to manage the day-to-day workings of the White House, allowing other senior advisers to

focus more on Biden’s expected reelection campaign, one person familiar with the matter said.

focus more on Biden’s expected reelection campaign, one person familiar with the matter said.