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Denis McDonough

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This page was current at the end of the official's last term in office covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.
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
Department of Justice
Department of Labor
Department of the Treasury
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
Dissolved agencies
Glossary
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