Biden poised to pick Covid response chief as his next chief of staff

U.S. President Joe Biden is expected to name Jeff Zienz, who is in charge of the government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, as his next chief of staff, according to sources.

Ron Klain, Biden’s current top aide, is preparing to leave in the coming weeks.

Since serving as coordinator of the Covid-19 response, Mr Zients has returned to the White House in a low-key capacity to deal with personnel issues for the remainder of Biden’s first term.

The top-level executive change comes as Mr. Biden turns to a defensive stance after two years in office, against the desire of the House Republican majority to investigate the conduct of his administration and his family.

The White House remains mired in controversy over the discovery of classified documents at Biden’s Wilmington, Delaware, home and his former research institute in Washington, with the latest batch of records revealed late Saturday.

Biden, 80, is also preparing to launch his re-election campaign in the coming weeks, fueled by a string of legislative accomplishments during his first two years as president when Democrats took control of both chambers of Capitol Hill.

The Republican presidential race he faces is far from fully formed but is currently led by former President Donald Trump, whom Biden defeated in 2020.

In addition to Mr. Zients, the President’s primary field of political and legislative advisors will continue to include Presidential Counselor Steve Ricchetti, Senior Counsel Mike Donilon and Anita Dunn, Legislative Affairs Director Louisa Terrell and Jen O’Malley Dillon and Bruce Reed, who is Deputy Chief of Staff .

Mr. Kline will remain on Mr. Biden’s political trajectory — not unlike the role played by Cedric Richmond, the president’s first White House, according to a person familiar with Kline’s plans. Director of the Office of Public Engagement and now a senior adviser to the White House Office of Public Affairs at the Democratic National Committee.

The outgoing chief of staff has been known to be friendly to the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. But some of Mr. Zients’ liberal critics were quick to attack even before his official appointment, emphasizing in particular his ties to the private sector.

Jeff Hauser, founder and director of the Revolving Door Project, a progressive group that advocates for liberal appointments in government, said choosing Mr. Zients as a top White House aide was akin to Mr. Biden’s “Joe Scranton.” The political image does not match.

“Unfortunately, Zients is a veteran of private equity, greedy health care providers and Big Tech, which raises a fundamental question that could determine Biden’s political future: Will the Zients-led administration go after People unwelcome misbehavior like Jeffrey Zients?

“Pursuing corporate lawlessness is against Zients character, but it’s the only way Biden can maintain a populist veneer against the likes of (Florida Governor Ron) DeSantis and Trump.”

Mr. Zients, Biden’s vice-chairman for transition operations following the November 2020 election, brings significant management expertise to both the government and the private sector.

He served as director of the National Economic Council and acting director of the Office of Management and Budget during the Barack Obama administration.