Biden appoints Jeff Zients as White House Chief of Staff

WASHINGTON, Jan 27 (KUNA) -- US President Joe Biden appointed on Friday former White House coronavirus coordinator and president counselor Jeff Zients as the White House Chief of Staff.
"I've seen Jeff Zients tackle some of the toughest issues in government," Biden said referring to Zients roles in his administration and that of former president Barack Obama.
"When I was Vice President, I first got to know him at the beginning of the Obama-Biden Administration, working closely on American Recovery and Reinvestment Act implementation as Jeff was a leader at the Office of Management and Budget," the president added.
Zients was later handed the daunting and complicated task of fixing healthcare system.
"Which he did successfully, helping get millions of Americans quality, affordable health insurance. He led the National Economic Council, and shares my focus on strengthening our economy to work for everyone," he noted.
President Biden added that Zients helped manage his Administration's transition into office under incredibly trying circumstances.
"Thanks to Jeff, we had a historically diverse team in place on Day one ready to go to work. And he led our COVID response, a massive logistical undertaking of historic proportions," he said.
Next week, the White House will host an official event to welcome Jeff back to the White House in this role. (end) rsr.ams.ibi