Brian Deese

Deese was born in Belmont, Massachusetts. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Middlebury College in 2000 and a Juris Doctor from Yale Law School in 2009.{{cite web|title=Middlebury College National Fellowship & Scholarship Competition Results|url=http://www.middlebury.edu/administration/sfas/competitions/2001-02_competitions.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060812040112/http://www.middlebury.edu/administration/sfas/competitions/2001-02_competitions.htm|archive-date=2006-08-12|quote=2002 Nominees: Claire Bowen '02 (American Literature), Brian Deese '00 (Political Science) ... 2002 Finalists: Claire Bowen, Brian Deese}} In 2002, Deese was named a finalist for the Rhodes Scholarship, though he was not ultimately selected.

Deese worked as a junior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and as a research assistant at the Center for Global Development,{{cite web |url=http://www.petersoninstitute.org/staff/author_bio.cfm?author_id=131 |title=Biography: Brian Deese |publisher=PetersonInstitute.org |access-date=2011-07-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721065025/http://www.petersoninstitute.org/staff/author_bio.cfm?author_id=131 |archive-date=2011-07-21 }} hired by founder Nancy Birdsall, according to The New York Times, where he co-authored the book Delivering on Debt Relief. Later he worked as a senior policy analyst for economic policy at the Center for American Progress, under Gene Sperling.{{cite web |last=Deese |first=Brian |title=That Rosy Unemployment Rate |url=https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/economy/news/2004/09/13/1056/that-rosy-unemployment-rate/ |publisher=AmericanProgress.org |date=2004-09-13 |access-date=2011-07-07 |archive-date=March 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303050623/https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/economy/news/2004/09/13/1056/that-rosy-unemployment-rate/ |url-status=live }}

After the Center for American Progress, Deese joined Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign as her economic policy director. After Clinton was defeated in the primaries, Deese went to work as an economic advisor to the Barack Obama 2008 presidential campaign.{{cite web |last=Block |first=Sandra |url=https://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/taxes/2008-10-16-obama-mccain-tax-proposals_N.htm |title=McCain vs. Obama: The story on taxes |publisher=USA Today |date=2008-10-18 |access-date=2011-07-07 |archive-date=December 5, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205041411/http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/taxes/2008-10-16-obama-mccain-tax-proposals_N.htm |url-status=live }}

Following the 2008 presidential election, he served as a member of the Economic Policy Working Group for the presidential transition.{{cite web |url=http://change.gov/learn/policy_working_groups/ |title=Policy Working Groups |publisher=Change.gov |access-date=2011-07-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719184530/http://change.gov/learn/policy_working_groups |archive-date=2011-07-19 |url-status=dead }}

File:P20210122CW-0144 (50912466231).jpg

At the start of the Obama presidency, Deese was appointed as a special assistant to the president for economic policy, serving in the National Economic Council (NEC). According to The New York Times, he emerged as "one of the most influential voices" on the auto industry, and specifically the Chrysler and GM bailout. Deese argued against the government letting Chrysler liquidate based on a concern around the impact on industrial communities across the mid-west.{{cite book |last=Rattner |first=Steven |author-link=Steven Rattner |date=2011 |title=Overhaul: An Insider's Account of the Obama Administration's Emergency Rescue of the Auto Industry |publisher=Mariner Books |page=122 |isbn=978-0547577425}}

In 2011, Deese was named deputy director of the NEC. In this role, he coordinated policy development for the White House on taxes, financial regulation, housing, clean energy, manufacturing, and the automotive industry. According to The New Republic, he was among Washington's "most powerful, least famous people".{{cite magazine| last = The Editors| title = Washington's Most Powerful, Least Famous People| url = http://www.tnr.com/article/politics/96131/washingtons-most-powerful-least-famous-people?passthru=ZTM3Y2VhYmZjNmIzMjllNzQ3MjMxOGEzMmJlZjg1NzI| magazine = The New Republic| date = 2011-11-03| access-date = 2011-10-25| archive-date = December 15, 2019| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191215140027/http://www.tnr.com/article/politics/96131/washingtons-most-powerful-least-famous-people?passthru=ZTM3Y2VhYmZjNmIzMjllNzQ3MjMxOGEzMmJlZjg1NzI| url-status = live}}

Deese was named deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget in the summer of 2013. He briefly served as the acting director in summer 2014, between the departure of Sylvia Mathews Burwell and the appointment of Shaun Donovan.{{Citation needed|date=November 2020}}

Following the departure of John Podesta, Deese took over his brief on climate and energy. Unlike Podesta, who served as Counselor to the President, Deese was promoted to the position of Senior Advisor to the President.{{cite news|last1=Dovere|first1=Edward-Isaac|title=Brian Deese to succeed John Podesta|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2015/01/brian-deese-to-succeed-john-podesta-114478.html|access-date=2015-02-16|publisher=Politico|date=21 January 2015|archive-date=February 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216095803/http://www.politico.com/story/2015/01/brian-deese-to-succeed-john-podesta-114478.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web| title= Senior Advisor Brian Deese| url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/administration/staff/brian-deese| access-date= 2015-03-02| quote= Brian Deese is currently serving as Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor. His duties include overseeing climate, conservation and energy policy and advising the President on a range of domestic and international policy issues.| archive-date= July 14, 2019| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190714134100/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/administration/staff/brian-deese| via= National Archives| work= whitehouse.gov| url-status= live}} In this position, Deese played an influential role in negotiating the Paris Climate Agreement in December 2015{{Cite web|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2015/12/12/statement-president-paris-climate-agreement|title=Statement by the President on the Paris Climate Agreement|date=2015-12-12|access-date=2016-07-23|archive-date=January 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170121002227/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2015/12/12/statement-president-paris-climate-agreement|via=National Archives|work=whitehouse.gov|url-status=live}} working to secure climate agreements with China,{{Cite news |last=Davenport |first=Coral |date=2015-09-15 |title=U.S. and Chinese Climate Change Negotiators to Meet in Los Angeles |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/16/us/us-and-chinese-climate-change-negotiators-to-meet-in-los-angeles.html |access-date=2022-10-27 |issn=0362-4331}} India,{{Cite news |title=Obama Adviser During Recession Is Given New Challenge: Climate Change |work=The New York Times |date=April 9, 2015 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/10/us/obama-adviser-during-recession-is-given-new-challenge-climate-change.html |last1=Davenport |first1=Coral |last2=Davis |first2=Julie Hirschfeld }} Brazil,{{Cite magazine |title=U.S., China and Brazil Commit to New Climate Change Goals |url=https://time.com/3941783/china-brazil-usa-climate-change/ |access-date=2022-10-27 |magazine=Time |language=en}} and other countries. Deese also chaired the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate in 2015 and 2016.Chair’s Summary Meeting of the Major Economies Forum September 22–23, 2016. https://legacy-assets.eenews.net/open_files/assets/2016/10/18/document_cw_01.pdf Deese spearheaded the administration's effort to ratify the Paris Agreement{{Cite news |title=US, China ratify Paris climate agreement |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2016/09/03/china-parliament-ratifies-paris-climate-change-agreement.html |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=CNBC |date=September 3, 2016 |language=en}} and to reach a global agreement to phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) through the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol.{{Cite web |date=2016-08-23 |title=Statement from the Press Secretary on Senior Advisor Brian Deese's Travel to China |url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2016/08/23/statement-press-secretary-senior-advisor-brian-deeses-travel-china |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=White House |language=en}} Deese also oversaw the Obama administration's efforts to protect more land and water than any previous president, including the largest protected marine monument in the world.{{Cite web |last=Deese |first=Brian |date=2016-09-02 |title=What President Obama's Trip Ahead Means for Conservation and Combating Climate Change |url=https://medium.com/@Deese44/what-president-obamas-trip-ahead-means-for-conservation-and-combating-climate-change-2c51c5706f82 |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=Medium |language=en}} In November that year, President Obama explained that Deese "engineered the Paris Agreement, the [Hydrofluorocarbons] Agreement, the Aviation Agreement, [and] may have helped save the planet."{{Cite magazine |last=Wenner |first=Jann S. |date=2016-11-29 |title=The Day After: Obama on His Legacy, Trump's Win and the Path Forward |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/the-day-after-obama-on-his-legacy-trumps-win-and-the-path-forward-113422/ |access-date=2023-03-27 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}

Along with Katie Beirne Fallon, Deese helped to negotiate the 2015 Bipartisan Budget Act, which replaced the budget sequestration and increased federal spending by $80 billion over two years.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/28/us/politics/congress-white-house-budget-deal-boehner.html|title=A Budget Deal Promising Peace Is Rooted in Modest Goals|last=Herszenhorn|first=David M.|date=2015-10-27|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=2016-07-23|archive-date=November 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151102204418/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/28/us/politics/congress-white-house-budget-deal-boehner.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2015/11/02/remarks-president-signing-budget-act-2015|title=Remarks by the President at Signing of the Budget Act of 2015|date=2015-11-02|access-date=2016-07-23|archive-date=February 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216093702/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2015/11/02/remarks-president-signing-budget-act-2015|via=National Archives|work=whitehouse.gov|url-status=live}} In February 2016, the President tapped Deese to oversee the Supreme Court nomination process, which led to the President's nomination of Chief Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court on March 16, 2016.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2016/02/29/obama-taps-senior-adviser-brian-deese-to-run-supreme-court-nomination-process/|title=Obama taps senior adviser Brian Deese to run Supreme Court nomination process|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=2016-07-23|archive-date=August 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822114331/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2016/02/29/obama-taps-senior-adviser-brian-deese-to-run-supreme-court-nomination-process/|url-status=live}}

As Global Head of Sustainable Investing from October 2017 until December 2020, Deese led BlackRock's Sustainable Investing Team which "is focused on identifying drivers of long-term return associated with environmental, social and governance issues."{{cite web |title=Brian Deese Biography |url=https://www.blackrock.com/institutions/en-us/biographies/brian-deese |website=BlackRock |access-date=5 May 2020 |archive-date=October 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017092518/https://www.blackrock.com/institutions/en-us/biographies/brian-deese |url-status=live }} In an interview with The Weather Channel, Deese was asked about BlackRock's "heavy investments" in the fossil fuel industry.{{cite web |title=Climate Corner Office: BlackRock's Brian Deese Talks Sustainable Investing with Neil Katz |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXB-OYUxO20 |website=YouTube |publisher=The Weather Channel |access-date=5 May 2020 |archive-date=August 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808030937/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXB-OYUxO20 |url-status=live }} Deese said that BlackRock's role is to provide clients with "more choices and more options" in investments and "this is not just about excluding entire industries or entire classes of companies, but it’s also about getting to understand, again, which of these companies is better positioned for the transition."

During this time his salary was at least $2.3 million, with the possibility that through BlackRock's restricted stock plan, Deese could have made an additional $2.4 million.{{Cite web | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/obama-biden-white-house-wealth-b1820239.html | title=Obama-era officials return to White House under Biden after getting very rich in the interim | website=Independent.co.uk | date=March 21, 2021 }}{{Cite web|last=Schwartz|first=Brian|date=2021-03-20|title=Biden's closest advisors have ties to big business and Wall Street with some making millions|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/20/bidens-closest-advisors-have-ties-to-big-business-with-some-making-millions.html|access-date=2021-03-27|website=CNBC|language=en}}

On December 3, 2020, President-elect Biden appointed Deese as Assistant to the President and Director of the National Economic Council.{{Citation |title=Introducing Brian Deese as Director of the National Economic Council |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiFRS660iM4 |language=en |access-date=2022-11-14}} In this role, Deese coordinates international and domestic economic policy for the administration. Deese has been a principal architect of the Biden economic agenda, including the American Rescue Plan, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act.

At the NEC, Deese was the first and last person Biden consulted on economic issues and was a driving force behind the President's domestic policy legacy. According to Biden, "Brian has a unique ability to translate complex policy challenges into concrete actions that improve the lives of American people." Deese is also credited with assembling the most diverse staff in terms of race and gender in the council's history.{{Cite news |last=Tankersley |first=Jim |date=2023-02-02 |title=Deese, Top Economic Aide to Biden, Will Step Down This Month |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/02/us/politics/brian-deese-biden-economic-adviser.html |access-date=2023-02-13 |issn=0362-4331}}

Deese served as a central figure in congressional negotiations leading up to the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Between the spring and fall of 2021, Brian Deese, Steve Ricchetti, and Louisa Terrell were frequent visitors to Capitol Hill, brokering policy conversations and building a coalition of support among Senate Democrats and Republicans.{{Cite news |last=Min Kim |first=Seung |date=August 1, 2021 |title=The quiet Biden-GOP talks behind the infrastructure deal |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/the-quiet-biden-gop-talks-behind-the-infrastructure-deal/2021/08/01/4f669dea-f165-11eb-81d2-ffae0f931b8f_story.html}}

In April 2022, Deese laid out the case behind the administration's pursuit of a modern industrial strategy, stating: “The question should move from ‘why should we pursue an industrial strategy?’ to ‘how do we pursue one successfully?’”{{Cite web |date=2022-04-20 |title=Remarks on a Modern American Industrial Strategy By NEC Director Brian Deese |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2022/04/20/remarks-on-a-modern-american-industrial-strategy-by-nec-director-brian-deese/ |access-date=2023-01-16 |website=The White House |language=en-US}} In October 2022, Deese described a modern American industrial strategy as "the best antidote to [the] risk of lower productivity and lower economic capacity in the years ahead," citing the need for strategic, long-term investments in high-return sectors, where public capital helps reduce price pressures, taps into growing global demand, and increases the country's export competitiveness.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-13 |title=Remarks on Executing a Modern American Industrial Strategy by NEC Director Brian Deese |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2022/10/13/remarks-on-executing-a-modern-american-industrial-strategy-by-nec-director-brian-deese/ |access-date=2023-06-25 |website=The White House |language=en-US}} Deese worked closely with Secretary Gina Raimondo to design and advocate for the CHIPS and Science Act, viewing it as an essential component to the President's industrial strategy. Upon passage, Deese was directed by President Biden to co-chair the new law's 16-member implementation council.

Deese also served as President Biden's primary policy negotiator for key climate, health, and tax reform measures passed in the Inflation Reduction Act.{{Cite web |last=Mattingly |first=Phil |date=2022-09-13 |title='Keep talking': How a simple philosophy helped lead to a White House celebration {{!}} CNN Politics |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/13/politics/joe-biden-joe-manchin-inflation-reduction-act-deal/index.html |access-date=2022-12-23 |website=CNN |language=en}} Deese was particularly involved in landing the clean energy and climate provisions, visiting West Virginia with Senator Manchin in March 2022.{{Cite news |title=In West Virginia, the clean-energy transition rests on Joe Manchin |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2022/05/18/joe-manchin-climate-change/ |access-date=2023-03-13 |issn=0190-8286}} After going zip-lining with the senator near the New River Gorge, Deese took to Twitter to extoll the state. "Coal and energy communities helped make America what it is, the strongest economy in the world and the global leader of democracy," Deese wrote. "Nobody should forget that, and President Biden certainly doesn't." Deese later participated in the final bill negotiations, conducted in secret, between Senators Manchin and Schumer in July 2022. Environmentalist Fred Krupp described Deese as "indispensable in crafting and negotiating the most important climate law in U.S. history."{{Cite web |title=Top White House Aide Brian Deese "Indispensable" in Historic Climate Action |url=https://www.edf.org/media/top-white-house-aide-brian-deese-indispensable-historic-climate-action |access-date=2023-03-13 |website=Environmental Defense Fund |language=en}} Beyond IRA passage, Deese developed a reputation for weaving climate action into the fabric of White House economic policymaking.

As NEC director, Deese prioritized competition policy as a way to counter decades of growing corporate concentration in the economy. He pushed to establish the first-ever White House Competition Council, which he chairs, and has spoken publicly on the need to increase entrepreneurship and reduce barriers to entry in key U.S. industries.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2021-09-10 |title=Readout of the Inaugural Meeting of the White House Competition Council |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/09/10/readout-of-the-inaugural-meeting-of-the-white-house-competition-council/ |access-date=2022-11-14 |website=The White House |language=en-US}}

In February 2023, it was announced that Deese would be leaving his position.{{Cite web |last=Concepcion |first=Summer |date=2023-02-02 |title=Brian Deese, top economic adviser to Biden, to resign |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/brian-deese-top-economic-adviser-biden-set-resign-rcna68803 |access-date=2023-02-14 |website=NBC News |language=en}} Vice Chair of the Federal Reserve Lael Brainard was selected as his replacement.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-economic-advisers-lael-brainard-jared-bernstein/|title=Biden announces reshaped economic team, naming 2 new top advisers|date=February 14, 2023 |publisher=CBS|accessdate=February 14, 2023}}

In July 2023, Deese was appointed the Institute Innovation Fellow{{Cite web|url=https://news.mit.edu/2023/mit-welcomes-brian-deese-its-next-institute-innovation-fellow-0711|title=MIT welcomes Brian Deese as its next Institute Innovation Fellow|date=July 11, 2023|website=MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology}} at MIT. Deese's role as Fellow includes research and development of strategies to address climate change and promote sustainable economic growth. His extensive experience in government policy will provide practical insights into academic research. MIT anticipates his arrival will foster a productive nexus between policy-making and technological innovation, vital for addressing the global climate crisis. Deese's tenure commenced in the summer of 2023.

{{reflist|colwidth=32em}}

• {{Commons category-inline}}
• [https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/author/brian-deese "Brian Deese, Senior Advisor." The White House.]
• {{cite web| url=https://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/gpo44712 | title= Nomination of Brian C. Deese to be Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget | date= May 13, 2013 | publisher= U.S. Government Printing Office| format= PDF}}

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Category:1978 births

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