On Tuesday, President Joe Biden announced that Ron Klain will be stepping down from his role as White House chief of staff and will be replaced by Jeff Zients.
Klain has served as Biden’s chief of staff since the beginning of his term, and his departure comes as Biden’s first 100 days in office are coming to a close. In a statement, Biden thanked Klain for his service and praised him for his “extraordinary leadership” during a “challenging time.”
Klain’s departure comes as no surprise, as it had been rumored for months that he would be stepping down. Klain had previously served as chief of staff to Vice President Al Gore and President Barack Obama, and was widely seen as a key figure in Biden’s successful 2020 presidential campaign.
His replacement, Jeff Zients, is no stranger to the White House. Zients served as director of the National Economic Council under Obama, and has also served as acting director of the Office of Management and Budget.
In a statement, Zients said he is “honored and humbled” to be chosen as Biden’s new chief of staff. He also thanked Klain for his “dedication and tireless service” to the president and the American people.
Klain will remain in the White House in a senior advisory role, and will focus on the Biden administration’s efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic. Zients, meanwhile, will take on the role of chief of staff on Monday.
Biden’s decision to replace Klain with Zients is seen as a sign that the president is looking to shift his focus from the pandemic to other issues, such as infrastructure and climate change. With Zients at the helm, the White House is expected to take a more aggressive approach to policy-making in the coming months.
