Jeff Zients will succeed Ron Klain as President Joe Biden‘s White House chief of staff in the coming weeks, Biden himself confirmed Friday morning.
Klain had sent an email to White House officials earlier Friday morning saying he planned to depart shortly after the State of the Union, Biden’s second as president, on Feb. 7.
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“During the last 36 years, Ron and I have been through some real battles together. And when you’re in the trenches with somebody for as long as I have been with Ron, you really get to know the person. You see what they’re made of,” Biden wrote in a statement. “Working together, we have made incredible progress fighting COVID, reviving our economy, rebuilding our infrastructure, and winning the confirmation of almost 100 federal judges, including the first Black woman on the United States Supreme Court. We have taken big steps to tackle climate change, advance civil rights, and address student debt. We’ve been reasserting America’s place in the world, and maybe most important of all — restoring faith in our democracy.”
“This progress will be the legacy of this White House team, working under Ron’s leadership,” the president continued. “While we have accomplished an extraordinary amount, the real mark of Ron’s success is that he is beloved by the team he leads here at the White House. They’re going to miss him just as much as I will.”
Biden noted that Zients can “fill Ron’s shoes” after witnessing him “tackle some of the toughest issues in government.”
Zients worked with Biden in both the Obama administration and again as the head of the president’s coronavirus task force. He was replaced by Dr. Ashish Jha earlier this year after departing the role of his own accord.
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“I’m confident that Jeff will continue Ron’s example of smart, steady leadership, as we continue to work hard every day for the people we were sent here to serve. I am grateful for his service and that of his family — his wife Mary and their children — for making this commitment with him,” Biden concluded Friday. “Next week, the White House will host an official transition event to thank Ron for his tireless work and officially welcome Jeff back to the White House in this role.”
