President-Elect Trump has chosen Kevin Hassett, an economist currently working as a fellow at the Hoover Institute at Stanford University, to head the National Economic Council (NEC). The NEC works closely with the Treasury Department as a hands-on policy-making team.

Hassett was chief economist during the first Trump Administration, and has a history of providing economic analyses that usually supported Trump’s trade proposals. He has also written on tax policy. His history also includes a stint as a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. As head of the NEC, he will play a key role in coordinating strategy on tax and trade policy. One of his first orders of business will be negotiating extension of the expiring provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). He will also play a key role in implementing Trump promises to increase tariffs.

Prospects: The NEC is part of the executive office of the president, and its director does not require Senate confirmation. Thus, Hassett’s ascension to NEC director is likely to become effective very soon after President Trump’s inauguration on January 20.

NAIFA Staff Contact: Jayne Fitzgerald –Director – Government Relations, at jfitzgerald@naifa.org.