“Personnel is policy” has shaped past administrations. Kevin Hassett, who has been tapped to lead the National Economic Council, will have a hand in tax reform, debt reduction, and more.
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ThefateofPresidentDonaldTrump’sambitiouseconomicpolicyplanswillbedeterminedbythepeopleheappointstocriticalpositions.Withadebtofover$36trillion(headingtoward$59trillionin2035bysomeestimates),inflationnotresolved,anentitlementcrisislooming,andtheneedtoextendthepresident’s2017taxcuts,we’dbetterhopethecooler,moreexperiencedheadsprevail.
Asithappens,KevinHassett,chairoftheCouncilofEconomicAdvisersandlaterasenioradvisertothepresidentduringTrump’sfirstadministration,hasbeenappointedtoleadtheNationalEconomicCouncil.ClearlyoneoftheeconomistsTrumptrustsmost,Hassettmightjustbethepersoncapableofchartingafiscallyresponsiblepaththroughchallengingcircumstances.
“Personnelispolicy”isnotjustaplatitude;it’safactthat’sshapedpastadministrations.Keyadvisershavelongplayedleadingrolescraf
