Chris Liddell, a top White House staffer who has worked closely on a project with Jared Kushner, will soon step into a new role as deputy chief of staff for policy coordination, the White House announced on Monday.
Liddell will work just under chief of staff John Kelly and alongside Joe Hagin, deputy chief of staff for operations, press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement.
“He has extensive experience managing large organizations and has already overseen a number of interagency processes in the White House,” Sanders added. “In his new role Chris will manage the policy process as we continue to enact the president’s agenda.”
Liddell’s promotion comes during a time of upheaval in the West Wing. Rick Dearborn, a top aide who announced his resignation in December, finished out his tenure last week, while communications director Hope Hicks and National Economic Council Chairman Gary Cohn are preparing to cede their positions to others. President Trump has yet to select a replacement for Hicks.
“Chris is widely respected across the administration and is highly qualified to oversee and coordinate our policy process. We look forward to having him in this new role,” Kelly said in a statement.
Liddell’s background in the private sector — he held executive positions at Microsoft and General Motors, among others — made him an ideal fit for the Office of American Innovation, a Kushner-led initiative that once aimed to streamline the function of federal government.
The White House said Monday that Liddell will continue to work with the Office of American Innovation as he transitions into his role as a top policy aide to Kelly.
