White House senior adviser Gene Sperling is leaving his administration position to work with Vice President Kamala Harris' election campaign as the Democrats gear up to challenge Donald Trump on policy issues in the upcoming November election. Sperling will be a senior economic adviser to Harris' policy team, bringing his wealth of experience to the role.
Sperling has an impressive background, having served as director of the White House National Economic Council under both Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. President Joe Biden entrusted him with managing the $1.9 trillion pandemic aid package, where he played a key role in implementing the temporary expansion of the child tax credit and liaising with unions and car companies during auto strikes.
President Biden commended Sperling's leadership, highlighting the positive impact of the American Rescue Plan in delivering economic relief to cities and counties, protecting union pensions, and supporting small businesses. Sperling's collaboration with Vice President Harris dates back to her time as California attorney general, and they have worked closely together on various policy initiatives.
One of the notable achievements of the pandemic programs overseen by Sperling was the significant reduction in child poverty through tax credits benefiting 40 million families and providing rental assistance to 8 million households. However, critics have raised concerns about inflation, attributing it to the pandemic aid. The White House has defended its economic policies, emphasizing that the inflation is a global issue and highlighting the strength of the U.S. economy.
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper praised Sperling's efforts as driving 'generational investments' and acknowledged his collaboration with states to ensure the success of the programs. Sperling's transition to Harris' campaign signifies a strategic move by the Democrats to bolster their policy agenda and engage with voters ahead of the crucial election.
