Scoop: Zients hints at last-minute Biden action on AI
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White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients (on right) speaks with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer at the White House on June 4. Photo: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images
White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients is asking his team to "sprint to the finish line" to cement the president's legacy, reshape the federal judiciary and spend all the money they possibly can in their final 42 days in office.
Why it matters: President Biden and Zients want to ensure a smooth transition to President-elect Trump's second term, but they also want to lock in any policy changes allowed by law.
- That includes obligating funds in Biden's four signature pieces of legislation: The American Rescue Plan, The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act.
Driving the news: With many White House officials hunting for jobs, Zients is essentially giving them a pep talk, reminding them of their accomplishments — but also that there's more important work to do.
- "Under the President's and the Vice President's leadership, this team got more done in one term than most presidencies get done in two," Zients wrote in a memo obtained by Axios.
- "Expect more action on high-speed internet funds to states, CHIPS incentives funding, IRA funding, and more," Zients wrote.
The intrigue: Zients also previewed new action on artificial intelligence, hinting at "announcements to come on everything from climate to conservation to AI and more."
- Along with Deputy Chief of Staff Bruce Reed, Zients has taken a special interest in AI policy, and worked to convince private companies to sign public pledges on how they will use the technology.
Zoom out: Biden passed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan in the opening weeks of his presidency to help ensure that the economy continued to grow during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Republicans claimed that it was too expensive and today some economists blame it for stoking inflation. But inside the White House it is still largely celebrated.
- Biden also signed a bipartisan infrastructure law, which authorized more than $1 trillion in spending, the $52 million CHIPS and Science Act, as his climate and health care law. It was a pared down version of his initial $3.5 trillion Build Back Better proposal.
- That final piece of legislation will end up costing some $1.2 trillion, much higher than the initial price tag, in part because of the popularity of some of its tax credits.
What's next: The White House has several concrete goals for the next six weeks.
- In addition to getting money out the door on his domestic agenda, officials are focused on working with the Senate to confirm judges – and break Trump's record for the total number of appointments.
- On the foreign policy front, officials are still working to achieve a ceasefire in the war in Gaza and to keep supporting Ukraine.
