Lael Brainard | |
---|---|
Director of the National Economic Council | |
Assumed office February 21, 2023 | |
President | Joe Biden |
Preceded by | Brian Deese |
22nd Vice Chair of the Federal Reserve | |
In office May 23, 2022 – February 18, 2023 | |
President | Joe Biden |
Preceded by | Richard Clarida |
Succeeded by | Philip Jefferson |
Member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors | |
In office June 16, 2014 – February 18, 2023 | |
President | Barack Obama Donald Trump Joe Biden |
Preceded by | Elizabeth Ashburn Duke |
Succeeded by | Adriana Kugler |
Under Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs | |
In office April 20, 2010 – November 8, 2013 | |
President | Barack Obama |
Preceded by | David H. McCormick |
Succeeded by | Nathan Sheets |
Personal details | |
Born | Hamburg, West Germany (now Germany) | January 1, 1962
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | |
Children | 3 |
Education | Wesleyan University (BA) Harvard University (MA, PhD) |
Lael Brainard (born January 1, 1962) is an American economist serving as the 14th director of the National Economic Council since February 21, 2023. She previously served as the 22nd vice chair of the Federal Reserve between May 2022 and February 2023. Prior to her term as vice chair, Brainard served as a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, taking office in 2014. Before her appointment to the Federal Reserve, she served as the under secretary of the treasury for international affairs from 2010 to 2013.
Brainard was nominated by Barack Obama to serve as the Under Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs at the Department of the Treasury on March 23, 2009.[1] She was confirmed to the position by a 78–19 vote in the U.S. Senate on April 20, 2010, and was sworn in on the same day.[2] She tendered her resignation on November 8, 2013, in advance of her nomination by Obama to serve on the Fed board.[3]
President Biden nominated Brainard to serve as Vice Chair of the Federal Reserve on November 22, 2021, succeeding Richard Clarida in the role.[4] On April 26, 2022, her nomination as Federal Reserve Vice Chair was confirmed by the U.S. Senate.[5] She was sworn in on May 23, 2022.[6] In February 2023, Biden announced Brainard as Brian Deese's successor as Director of the National Economic Council (NEC).[7] She resigned her positions as Federal Reserve governor and Vice Chair on February 18, 2023.[8] As NEC director, Brainard additionally serves as chair of the White House Competition Council.[9]
Brainard took the NEC role in February, succeeding Brian Deese. Both also served as chair of the White House Competition Council. Brainard touted measures such as restricting so-called "junk fees" and curbing the cost of hearing aids.