Denis McDonough
Denis Richard McDonough was the secretary of veterans affairs in the Biden administration from 2021 to 2025.[1] The Senate confirmed his nomination on February 8, 2021, by a vote of 87-7. He was the second non-veteran to hold the office.[2]
He was a former White House chief of staff to President Barack Obama.[3] He held this role from February 2013 to January 2017.[1]
McDonough also previously served as deputy national security advisor and chief of the White House national security staff for Obama. He previously worked on Obama's 2008 presidential campaign and a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress.[4]
Biography
McDonough was born in Stillwater, Minnesota, and graduated from St. John's University. He earned his master's degree from Georgetown University before beginning his career in politics.[5] He worked in the U.S. House of Representatives in policy and leadership positions, including as a professional staff member on the International Relations Committee. He was also a White House chief of staff and principal deputy national security advisor in the Obama administration.[1]
Career
Below is an abbreviated outline of McDonough's academic, professional, and political career:[5]
- 2021-2025: Secretary of veterans affairs
- 2013-2017: White House chief of staff
- 2010-2013: Deputy national security advisor
- 2009-2010: Acting chief of staff of the National Security Council
- 2009-2010: Director of strategic communications for the National Security Council
- 2008-2009: Member of Barack Obama's transition team
- 2006-2008: Foreign policy advisor for Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign
- 2004-2006: Senior fellow at the Center for American Progress
- 1999-2004: Foreign policy advisor for Sen. Tom Daschle
- 1996-1999: Staffer for the House International Relations Committee
- 1996: Earned master's degree from Georgetown University
- 1992: Graduated from St. John's University
Nomination for secretary of veterans affairs
- See also: Joe Biden presidential transition and Confirmation process for Denis McDonough for secretary of veterans affairs
| Joe Biden's Cabinet | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate: Denis McDonough | ||
| Position: Secretary of Veterans Affairs | ||
 | Announced: | December 10, 2020 |
| Hearing: | January 27, 2021 |
| Committee: | Veterans Affairs |
| Reported: | Favorable (Unanimous) |
| Confirmed: | February 8, 2021 |
| Vote: | 87-7 |
On December 10, 2020, former Vice President Joe Biden (D) announced he would nominate McDonough to serve as secretary of veterans affairs in his administration.[1]
McDonough said during his confirmation hearing, "As a former White House chief of staff, I bring a deep and extensive knowledge of government. I understand how to untangle and solve large, complex challenges, both across and within large agencies.”[6]
The Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs held McDonough's confirmation hearing on January 27, 2021. The Senate confirmed McDonough on February 8, 2021, by a vote of 87-7.[7]
| Summary of Senate vote on Denis McDonough's nomination for secretary of veterans affairs (February 8, 2021) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Votes for | Votes against | Not voting |
 Democrats |
48 | 0 | 0 |
 Republicans |
37 | 7 | 6 |
 Independents |
2 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 87 | 7 | 6 |
Click on the following table to view the full roll call.
| Senate vote on Denis McDonough's nomination for secretary of veterans affairs (February 8, 2021) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Richard Shelby | Republican |
Yes |
| Alabama | Tommy Tuberville | Republican |
Yes |
| Alaska | Lisa Murkowski | Republican |
Yes |
| Alaska | Dan Sullivan | Republican |
Yes |
| Arizona | Kyrsten Sinema | Democrat |
Yes |
| Arizona | Mark Kelly | Democrat |
Yes |
| Arkansas | John Boozman | Republican |
Yes |
| Arkansas | Tom Cotton | Republican |
No |
| California | Dianne Feinstein | Democrat |
Yes |
| California | Alex Padilla | Democrat |
Yes |
| Colorado | Michael F. Bennet | Democrat |
Yes |
| Colorado | John Hickenlooper | Democrat |
Yes |
| Connecticut | Richard Blumenthal | Democrat |
Yes |
| Connecticut | Chris Murphy | Democrat |
Yes |
| Delaware | Tom Carper | Democrat |
Yes |
| Delaware | Chris Coons | Democrat |
Yes |
| Florida | Rick Scott | Republican |
No |
| Florida | Marco Rubio | Republican |
Yes |
| Georgia | Jon Ossoff | Democrat |
Yes |
| Georgia | Raphael Warnock | Democrat |
Yes |
| Hawaii | Mazie Hirono | Democrat |
Yes |
| Hawaii | Brian Schatz | Democrat |
Yes |
| Idaho | Mike Crapo | Republican |
Yes |
| Idaho | James E. Risch | Republican |
Yes |
| Illinois | Dick Durbin | Democrat |
Yes |
| Illinois | Tammy Duckworth | Democrat |
Yes |
| Indiana | Mike Braun | Republican |
Yes |
| Indiana | Todd Young | Republican |
Yes |
| Iowa | Chuck Grassley | Republican |
Yes |
| Iowa | Joni Ernst | Republican |
No |
| Kansas | Roger Marshall | Republican |
No |
| Kansas | Jerry Moran | Republican |
Not voting |
| Kentucky | Mitch McConnell | Republican |
Yes |
| Kentucky | Rand Paul | Republican |
Not voting |
| Louisiana | Bill Cassidy | Republican |
Yes |
| Louisiana | John Kennedy | Republican |
Yes |
| Maine | Susan Collins | Republican |
Yes |
| Maine | Angus King | Independent |
Yes |
| Maryland | Benjamin L. Cardin | Democrat |
Yes |
| Maryland | Chris Van Hollen | Democrat |
Yes |
| Massachusetts | Elizabeth Warren | Democrat |
Yes |
| Massachusetts | Ed Markey | Democrat |
Yes |
| Michigan | Debbie Stabenow | Democrat |
Yes |
| Michigan | Gary Peters | Democrat |
Yes |
| Minnesota | Amy Klobuchar | Democrat |
Yes |
| Minnesota | Tina Smith | Democrat |
Yes |
| Mississippi | Roger Wicker | Republican |
Yes |
| Mississippi | Cindy Hyde-Smith | Republican |
Yes |
| Missouri | Josh Hawley | Republican |
No |
| Missouri | Roy Blunt | Republican |
Yes |
| Montana | Steve Daines | Republican |
Yes |
| Montana | Jon Tester | Democrat |
Yes |
| Nebraska | Deb Fischer | Republican |
Yes |
| Nebraska | Ben Sasse | Republican |
Yes |
| Nevada | Jacky Rosen | Democrat |
Yes |
| Nevada | Catherine Cortez Masto | Democrat |
Yes |
| New Hampshire | Jeanne Shaheen | Democrat |
Yes |
| New Hampshire | Maggie Hassan | Democrat |
Yes |
| New Jersey | Robert Menendez | Democrat |
Yes |
| New Jersey | Cory Booker | Democrat |
Yes |
| New Mexico | Ben Ray Luján | Democrat |
Yes |
| New Mexico | Martin Heinrich | Democrat |
Yes |
| New York | Charles E. Schumer | Democrat |
Yes |
| New York | Kirsten Gillibrand | Democrat |
Yes |
| North Carolina | Richard Burr | Republican |
Not voting |
| North Carolina | Thom Tillis | Republican |
Yes |
| North Dakota | John Hoeven | Republican |
Yes |
| North Dakota | Kevin Cramer | Republican |
Yes |
| Ohio | Rob Portman | Republican |
Yes |
| Ohio | Sherrod Brown | Democrat |
Yes |
| Oklahoma | James M. Inhofe | Republican |
Not voting |
| Oklahoma | James Lankford | Republican |
Yes |
| Oregon | Ron Wyden | Democrat |
Yes |
| Oregon | Jeff Merkley | Democrat |
Yes |
| Pennsylvania | Pat Toomey | Republican |
Not voting |
| Pennsylvania | Robert P. Casey | Democrat |
Yes |
| Rhode Island | Jack Reed | Democrat |
Yes |
| Rhode Island | Sheldon Whitehouse | Democrat |
Yes |
| South Carolina | Lindsey Graham | Republican |
Yes |
| South Carolina | Tim Scott | Republican |
Yes |
| South Dakota | John Thune | Republican |
Yes |
| South Dakota | Mike Rounds | Republican |
Yes |
| Tennessee | Bill Hagerty | Republican |
No |
| Tennessee | Marsha Blackburn | Republican |
Yes |
| Texas | John Cornyn | Republican |
Yes |
| Texas | Ted Cruz | Republican |
No |
| Utah | Mitt Romney | Republican |
Yes |
| Utah | Mike Lee | Republican |
Yes |
| Vermont | Patrick Leahy | Democrat |
Yes |
| Vermont | Bernie Sanders | Independent |
Yes |
| Virginia | Mark R. Warner | Democrat |
Yes |
| Virginia | Tim Kaine | Democrat |
Yes |
| Washington | Maria Cantwell | Democrat |
Yes |
| Washington | Patty Murray | Democrat |
Yes |
| West Virginia | Shelley Moore Capito | Republican |
Yes |
| West Virginia | Joe Manchin | Democrat |
Yes |
| Wisconsin | Ron Johnson | Republican |
Yes |
| Wisconsin | Tammy Baldwin | Democrat |
Yes |
| Wyoming | John Barrasso | Republican |
Not voting |
| Wyoming | Cynthia Lummis | Republican |
Yes |
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
McDonough and his spouse have three children.[4]
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term Denis + McDonough + Chief + Staff
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Biden-Harris Transition, "President-elect Biden Announces Key Members of His Administration," December 10, 2020
- ↑ Military.com, "'Steep Learning Curve:' Muted Response to VA Secretary Nominee from Veterans Groups," December 11, 2020
- ↑ Politico, "Obama names Denis McDonough new White House chief of staff," accessed January 25, 2013
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Huffington Post, "Biographical information for Denis McDonough," accessed January 25, 2013
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Washington Post, "Denis McDonough," accessed January 22, 2013
- ↑ Government Executive, "Biden's VA Pick Says He Can 'Unstick Problems' Within the Bureaucracy," January 27, 2021
- ↑ NPR, "Senate Confirms Denis McDonough To Head Veterans Affairs Department," February 8, 2021
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Dat Tran |
U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs 2021-2025 |
Succeeded by Todd Hunter |
| Preceded by - |
White House Chief of Staff 2013-2017 |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Deputy National Security Advisor 2010-2013 |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Director of Strategic Communications for the National Security Council 2009-2010 |
Succeeded by - |
