WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump chose Kevin Hassett, an economics adviser to past Republican presidential candidates, on Friday to be chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers. Hassett will play a critical role in analyzing the performance of the economy and impact of policy changes.
Hassett is the research director for domestic policy at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank that he joined in 1997. He has provided economic advice to the presidential campaigns of John McCain, George W. Bush and Mitt Romney. With a doctorate in economics from the University of Pennsylvania, Hassett has worked as a senior economist at the Federal Reserve and taught at Columbia University’s business school.
Jason Furman, the previous CEA chair under former President Barack Obama, hailed Hassett as an “excellent pick” on Twitter.
“He is serious about substance, committed to dialogue, & knows how to navigate DC,” Furman wrote.
An expert on taxes and budget policy, Hassett also co-wrote a paper challenging the NFL conclusions about the New England Patriots using under-inflated footballs to gain an advantage against the Indianapolis Colts in a 2015 playoff game.