Zients Replacing Klain as Biden’s Chief of Staff – According to multiple reports, Jeffrey Zients, the former COVID coordinator under the Biden administration, will be taking over as White House chief of staff. Ron Klain, the current chief of staff, is expected to step down in the coming weeks. This is the first major change among President Biden’s senior staff since he took office over two years ago.
Jeffrey Zients left the White House in April after overseeing the administration’s response to COVID-19, but returned in the fall to work with Ron Klain on staff issues. According to The Washington Post, in recent weeks, Klain has given Zients different projects, which some viewed as preparation for the role of chief of staff. The Post also suggests that the chief of staff role will come with less responsibility as the Biden team shifts its focus to the upcoming reelection campaign.
The Times reported Saturday that “Mr. Klain takes pride that he has lasted longer than any other Democratic president’s first chief of staff in more than half a century.” The Biden White House has also seen none of the tumultuous turnover that Donald Trump’s cabinet underwent by the midpoint of his presidency — including the ouster of two chiefs of staff.
Ron Klain, 61, is viewed as a key player in the Biden administration’s legislative successes and other major initiatives, including the pandemic response. He has also been a prominent user of Twitter, while Jeffrey Zients, who is set to replace him, does not use the platform. Klain has been a long-time aide of Biden, and Zients,56, has not been active on Twitter.
Zients, a former management consultant, originally served in the Obama administration, then returned to the private sector, including a stint on the board of Facebook. He eventually joined the Biden campaign, served as co-chair of his transition team, and then took over the U.S. COVID response and ran the country’s vaccine rollout.
READ MORE
Ron Klain to Reportedly Step Down as Biden Chief of Staff
Jacinda Ardern Resigns As Prime Minister Of New Zealand
President Joe Biden Congratulates Kevin McCarthy After He Is Elected New House Speaker
