Taylor Weyeneth
Taylor P. Weyeneth (born August 30, 1993) is an American former Deputy Chief of Staff for the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and White House Liaison who served from January 23, 2017, to February 27, 2018, under President Donald Trump. The Deputy Chief of Staff position is considered to be the "second most important position" in the ONDCP.[1] Before taking the position at ONDCP, Weyeneth served as the Deputy White House Liaison at the United States Department of the Treasury, as an advisor to the executive director of the Presidential Transition Team, and began his political career as a campaign staffer for Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential election.
Taylor P. Weyeneth | |
---|---|
Chief of Staff for the New York State Assembly | |
In office January 1, 2021 – present | |
Deputy Chief of Staff for the Office of National Drug Control Policy | |
In office March 13, 2017 – February 27, 2018 | |
President | Donald Trump |
Deputy White House Liaison for the United States Department of the Treasury | |
In office January 23, 2017 – March 13, 2017 | |
President | Donald Trump |
Personal details | |
Born | Morristown, New Jersey | August 30, 1993
Political party | Republican Party (United States) |
Education | Skaneateles High School |
Alma mater | St. John’s University |
Website | 20kstrategies |
In 2018, Weyeneth stepped down from his position at the ONDCP due to controversy surrounding his age and credentials.[2]
Career
Following his graduation from college in 2016, Weyeneth worked on the Trump presidential campaign.[3] Proceeding the presidential election in 2016, Weyeneth became the advisor to Rick Dearborn, the executive director of the Presidential Transition Team.[4] After President Trump was inaugurated, Taylor was hired to be the Deputy White House Liaison at the United States Department of the Treasury, where he served through the confirmation of Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin. After the secretary was confirmed, Weyeneth accepted a role in the White House as the White House Liaison to the Drug Czar.[4]
After months on the job at the White House Drug Policy Office, Weyeneth was promoted to Deputy Chief of Staff. After nearly a year of service at the Office of National Drug Control Policy, Weyeneth was faced with controversy due to his age and lack of experience in an executive position. When Weyeneth's role at the ONDCP was revealed, "outrage ensued", as "questions quickly arose about his qualifications after multiple discrepancies popped up on several of his résumés and reports surfaced that another job he held at a New York law firm... [which] ended after Weyeneth failed to show up for work."[5][6] Business Insider wrote Weyeneth had "no experience with drug policy, government service, or law, unlike his predecessors in previous administrations."[2] After initially being demoted to administrative work, Weyeneth moved to the Department of Housing and Urban Development in a mid-level position for a brief time.[7] He resigned that position at age 24.
Once leaving government, Weyeneth began a consulting firm based in Washington, D.C. by the name of 20K Strategies, LLC that deals with public policy, strategic communications, and corporate restructuring.[8]
Weyeneth started a Political Action Committee in December 2018 called End the Stigma PAC, dealing with substance use disorders and mental health disorders.[9]
Personal life
Taylor attended Skaneateles High School and was a state champion on their soccer team in 2010.[10] He graduated in May 2016 from St. John's University, where he was vice-president of his fraternity, Kappa Sigma.[11][12] He plans on running for public office one day.[13]
References
- Hartmann, Margaret (January 15, 2018). "Trump Had a 24-Year-Old Former Campaign Staffer Serving As Deputy Drug Czar". New York Mag. Archived from the original on March 8, 2019. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
- Relman, Eliza (January 25, 2018). "A 24-year-old Trump appointee who held a top drug policy job despite having no relevant experience quit after an investigation into his credentials". Business Insider. Archived from the original on November 15, 2021. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
- Mosbergen, Dominique (January 22, 2018). "Trump's Deputy Drug Czar Is A 24-Year-Old With A Flimsy Work History". HuffPost. Archived from the original on February 8, 2019. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
- Weiner, Mark (January 25, 2018). "From Skaneateles to White House: At 24, his fast rise invites skepticism". syracuse.com. Archived from the original on November 15, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
- Covucci, David (January 25, 2018). "Trump's 24-year-old opioid czar leaves administration". The Daily Dot. Archived from the original on February 1, 2018. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
- Visser, Nick (January 25, 2018). "Trump's 24-Year-Old Deputy Drug Czar To Resign After Questions Over Work History". HuffPost. Archived from the original on February 15, 2019. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
- Woellert, Lorraine (March 7, 2018). "Ousted White House drug-policy aide joins HUD". Politico. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
- "About Us". 20K Strategies. Archived from the original on August 6, 2020. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
- "Meet The Team". End the Stigma PAC. Archived from the original on March 8, 2019. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
- Weiner, Mark (January 25, 2018). "From Skaneateles to White House: At 24, his fast rise invites skepticism". Syracuse.com. Archived from the original on November 15, 2021. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
- Moreno, Reza (April 20, 2016). "Fraternity gives back". Torch Online. Archived from the original on March 8, 2019. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
- Barca, Christopher (February 1, 2018). "Trump aide, SJU alum quits over resume lies". Queens Chronicle. Archived from the original on March 8, 2019. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
- Weiner, Mark (June 15, 2018). "From Skaneateles to White House to Miss USA: 24-year-old lands new job". Syracuse.com. Archived from the original on November 15, 2021. Retrieved March 7, 2019.