President Biden on Monday tapped Gene Sperling, a veteran of the Obama and Clinton administrations, as his coronavirus-relief czar to implement the government’s new $1.9 trillion stimulus plan.
Sperling was one of Biden’s main economic advisers during the 2020 campaign and served as director of the National Economic Council in the Clinton and Obama administrations.
“I learned from my experience implementing the Recovery Act just how important it is to have someone who can manage all the moving parts with efficiency, speed and integrity and accountability,” Biden said Monday in announcing the appointment.
Sperling will be responsible for ensuring that the aid earmarked for state and local governments, businesses, schools and vaccine distribution moves along smoothly.
He had been considered a potential nominee to head up the federal Office of Management and Budget after Neera Tanden withdrew her name amid a controversy surrounding her past tweets that harshly criticized Republican lawmakers and progressive Democrats.
Biden has not yet named a candidate to replace Tanden.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki has likened Sperling’s role to the one Biden adopted as vice president under Obama, when he shepherded the administration’s stimulus package after the 2008 financial crisis.
“The president believes it’s a model, looking back at the Recovery Act, where having a person who can pull all the levers of government and engage with mayors and city leaders and community leaders is an effective means of ensuring that implementation is efficient moving forward,” she said.