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Denis McDonough

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Denis McDonough
Democratic Party
Prior offices:
U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Years in office: 2021 - 2025
Predecessor: Dat Tran (Nonpartisan)
Successor: Todd Hunter (Nonpartisan)
White House Chief of Staff
Years in office: 2013 - 2017
Deputy National Security Advisor
Years in office: 2010 - 2013
Director of Strategic Communications for the National Security Council
Years in office: 2009 - 2010
Education
Bachelor's
St. John's University
Graduate
Georgetown University
Personal
Religion
Christian: Catholic

Denis Richard McDonough was the secretary of veterans affairs in the Biden administration from 2021 to 2025.[1] The Senate confirmed his nomination on February 8, 2021, by a vote of 87-7. He was the second non-veteran to hold the office.[2]

He was a former White House chief of staff to President Barack Obama.[3] He held this role from February 2013 to January 2017.[1]

McDonough also previously served as deputy national security advisor and chief of the White House national security staff for Obama. He previously worked on Obama's 2008 presidential campaign and a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress.[4]

Biography

McDonough was born in Stillwater, Minnesota, and graduated from St. John's University. He earned his master's degree from Georgetown University before beginning his career in politics.[5] He worked in the U.S. House of Representatives in policy and leadership positions, including as a professional staff member on the International Relations Committee. He was also a White House chief of staff and principal deputy national security advisor in the Obama administration.[1]

Career

Below is an abbreviated outline of McDonough's academic, professional, and political career:[5]

  • 2021-2025: Secretary of veterans affairs
  • 2013-2017: White House chief of staff
  • 2010-2013: Deputy national security advisor
  • 2009-2010: Acting chief of staff of the National Security Council
  • 2009-2010: Director of strategic communications for the National Security Council
  • 2008-2009: Member of Barack Obama's transition team
  • 2006-2008: Foreign policy advisor for Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign
  • 2004-2006: Senior fellow at the Center for American Progress
  • 1999-2004: Foreign policy advisor for Sen. Tom Daschle
  • 1996-1999: Staffer for the House International Relations Committee
  • 1996: Earned master's degree from Georgetown University
  • 1992: Graduated from St. John's University

Nomination for secretary of veterans affairs

See also: Joe Biden presidential transition and Confirmation process for Denis McDonough for secretary of veterans affairs
Joe Biden's Cabinet
Candidate: Denis McDonough
Position: Secretary of Veterans Affairs
ApprovedaAnnounced:December 10, 2020
ApprovedaHearing:January 27, 2021
ApprovedaCommittee:Veterans Affairs
ApprovedaReported:Favorable (Unanimous)
ApprovedaConfirmed:February 8, 2021
ApprovedaVote:87-7

On December 10, 2020, former Vice President Joe Biden (D) announced he would nominate McDonough to serve as secretary of veterans affairs in his administration.[1]

McDonough said during his confirmation hearing, "As a former White House chief of staff, I bring a deep and extensive knowledge of government. I understand how to untangle and solve large, complex challenges, both across and within large agencies.”[6]

The Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs held McDonough's confirmation hearing on January 27, 2021. The Senate confirmed McDonough on February 8, 2021, by a vote of 87-7.[7]

Summary of Senate vote on Denis McDonough's nomination for secretary of veterans affairs (February 8, 2021)
Party Votes for Votes against Not voting
Democratic Party Democrats 48 0 0
Republican Party Republicans 37 7 6
Grey.png Independents 2 0 0
Totals 87 7 6


Click on the following table to view the full roll call.

Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
McDonough and his spouse have three children.[4]

Recent news

This section links to a Google news search for the term Denis + McDonough + Chief + Staff

Denis McDonough News Feed

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Biden-Harris Transition, "President-elect Biden Announces Key Members of His Administration," December 10, 2020
  2. ↑ Military.com, "'Steep Learning Curve:' Muted Response to VA Secretary Nominee from Veterans Groups," December 11, 2020
  3. ↑ Politico, "Obama names Denis McDonough new White House chief of staff," accessed January 25, 2013
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Huffington Post, "Biographical information for Denis McDonough," accessed January 25, 2013
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Washington Post, "Denis McDonough," accessed January 22, 2013
  6. ↑ Government Executive, "Biden's VA Pick Says He Can 'Unstick Problems' Within the Bureaucracy," January 27, 2021
  7. ↑ NPR, "Senate Confirms Denis McDonough To Head Veterans Affairs Department," February 8, 2021

Political offices
Preceded by
Dat Tran 		U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs
2021-2025		 Succeeded by
Todd Hunter
Preceded by
- 		White House Chief of Staff
2013-2017		 Succeeded by
-
Preceded by
- 		Deputy National Security Advisor
2010-2013		 Succeeded by
-
Preceded by
- 		Director of Strategic Communications for the National Security Council
2009-2010		 Succeeded by
-
v • e
U.S. Executive Branch
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Executive Office of the President
Executive departments
Cabinet-level agencies
Department of Agriculture
Department of Defense
Department of Education
Department of Energy
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Homeland Security
Department of the Interior
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Department of Labor
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Department of Veterans Affairs
Independent agencies
Administrative Conference of the United States • Agency for Global Media • Chemical Safety Board • Commodity Futures Trading Commission • Consumer Financial Protection Bureau • Consumer Product Safety Commission • Corporation for National Community Service • Corporation for Public Broadcasting • Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board • Equal Employment Opportunity Commission • Export-Import Bank of the United States • Farm Credit Administration • Federal Communications Commission • Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation • Federal Election Commission • Federal Energy Regulatory Commission • Federal Housing Finance Agency • Federal Labor Relations Authority • Federal Maritime Commission • Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission • Federal Reserve System • Federal Trade Commission • General Services Administration • Government Accountability Office • Interstate Commerce Commission • Merit Systems Protection Board • National Credit Union Administration • National Labor Relations Board • Office of Personnel Management • Securities and Exchange Commission • Securities Investor Protection Corporation • Social Security Administration • United States Postal Service
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Glossary
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