By: Terresa Monroe-Hamilton
UPDATED: Welcome to new visitors from Michelle Malkin… I am updating this post from a more current one, so you have the most up-to-date info. The ‘duties’ sections should be finished today.
This is the third official update on Obama’s Czars. Here is a list of Obama’s current and prospective Czar positions:
1. Afghanistan-Pakistan (Af-Pak) Czar: Richard Holbrooke
Actual Title: US Envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan
Presidential Appointment Established: 2009
- He believes in the power of negotiations to bring peace and prosperity to an increasingly fractured world. But he says diplomacy will only succeed if the U.S. pursues robust relationships with allies as well as with enemies, especially in places like the Middle East. He has also opposed unilateral action by U.S. officials;
- Afghanistan – Holbrooke will help Obama execute his Afghanistan plan. Obama plans to bolster American forces in Afghanistan, increase aid to Pakistan, and set strict standards for measuring progress in fighting Al Qaeda and the Taliban. Holbrooke was one of the architects of the plan, though he has maintained a relatively low profile so far.“The exit strategy,” he told the New York Times, “includes governance, corruption, but above all, and this is the single most difficult aspect of what we are talking about today, it requires dealing with Western Pakistan;”
- H.I.V. and AIDS – Holbrooke has called the rapid spread of H.I.V. and AIDS “the greatest problem we face today,” saying that the disease has destabilized governments and economies across the world.
While ambassador to the U.N., Holbrooke organized the Security Council’s first session on the diseases, a move that helped convince world leaders that AIDS was a security as well as a health problem. He has visited ten African countries and served as chief executive officer of the Global Business Council on H.I.V. and AIDS since 2000;
- United Nations Reform – Holbrooke has said the U.N. should bolster its peace-keeping abilities and increase the number of staff dedicated to that effort. He has also called on the U.N. to reduce the size of the Department of Information, the organization’s press conference; and
- Genocide Prevention – Holbrooke is a strong proponent of using multilateral military force to stem violence throughout the world. He has called the U.S. policy in Rwanda a terrible mistake and believes Americans should have engaged sooner.
He led the Security Council delegation to Congo in 1999 after fighting broke out in the country. It was one of the riskiest trips ever taken by U.N. officials. He also supported efforts to enforce sanctions on Angolan rebels in 2000.
2. AIDS Czar: Jeffrey Crowley
Actual Title: Director of the Office of National AIDS Policy
Presidential Appointment Established: 2003
- Coordinate the continuing domestic efforts to reduce the number of new infections in the United States;
- Work to coordinate an increasingly integrated approach to the prevention, care and treatment of HIV/AIDS; and
- Emphasize the domestic and international efforts to combat HIV/AIDS.
3. Autism Czar: Not appointed yet.
Actual Title: Federal ASD Coordinator
Presidential Appointment Established: 2009
- To oversee and coordinate a nationwide effort to deal proactively with ASD;
- To conduct diverse but credible research, treatment, personal care/assistance and family support; and
- To work with existing national and state organizations and taskforces.
4. Auto Recovery Czar: Ed Montgomery
Actual Title: Director of Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers
Presidential Appointment Established: 2009
- Charged with making sure displaced employees and struggling towns have access to federal stimulus funds and assistance.
5. Behavioral Science Czar: Not appointed yet.
Actual Title: Director of Social and Behavioral Research
Energy Secretary Appointment Established: 2009
To establish a social and behavioral sciences research program at the Department of Energy, and for other purposes.
The Secretary shall appoint or designate a Director of Social and Behavioral Research to carry out the program established under this section.
(c) Duties of the Director – The Director shall –
- Develop a research plan in accordance with section 2;
- Implement the research program under this section;
- Work with the relevant Department of Energy program offices to integrate the results of social and behavioral research into their work;
- Develop tools, practices, and information to apply and integrate the results of social and behavioral research into programs that –
- design, develop, and demonstrate technologies that supply energy and improve energy efficiency; and
- provide information on energy consumption to consumers.
This person will be charged with getting you to agree with government programs, to see why we do what we do and what motivates us….and get us to be motivated to follow government directives. These duties would be set up to identify and understand social and behavioral factors that influence energy consumption to promote the utilization of the results of social and behavioral research to improve the design, development, demonstration and application of energy technologies’ policies and programs.
6. Bailout Czar: Herbert Allison Jr.
Actual Title: Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Financial Stability
Senate-Confirmed Established: 2009
- Handle mechanisms for purchasing troubled assets;
- Determine methods for pricing and valuing troubled assets;
- Dictate procedures for selecting asset managers;
- Determine criteria for identifying troubled assets;
- Oversee securities asset management services;
- Oversee whole loan asset management services;
- Oversee custodian, accounting, auction management and other infrastructure services; and
- Dictate other broad, vague and undefined powers granted by the Treasury.
7. Border Czar: Alan Bersin (Former US attorney)
Actual Title: Assistant Secretary for International Affairs and Special Representative for Border Affairs, US Department of Homeland Security
Senate-Confirmed Established: 2002
- Improving relationships with the Department’s partners in the international community, as well as those at the state and local level including elected officials, law enforcement, community organizations and religious leaders; and
- Leading the Department’s efforts to crack down on violence along the Southwest border highlighted in Secretary Napolitano’s March 24 announcement including the deployment of additional personnel and enhanced technology to help Mexico target illegal guns, drugs and cash.
8. Car Czar: Ron Bloom
Actual Title: Head of the Obama Administration’s Auto Task Force
Presidential Appointment Established: 2009
- Determine how much loan money each company gets, using the automakers’ requests as a guide;
- Determine “appropriate measures” for assessing each automaker’s progress in carrying out their restructuring goals;
- Determine if the car companies are acting in “good faith” if they can’t get restructuring plans in by March 31; and, if their faith is good, give them an extra 30 days to finish the plans;
- Determine whether to provide “long-term financial assistance” to help make their restructuring plans a reality;
- Determine allocation of loans, based on the automaker’s proximity of demise, the potential impact of failure on the economy and its restructuring plan;
- Determine whether the original, seven-year loans need to be extended, and if so, determine the extended repayment plan;
- Examine any financial books, company records and other data of the companies and those of any subsidiary or affiliate;
- Approve or veto “any asset sale, investment, contract, commitment, or other transaction” worth $25 million or more (i.e., czar ultimately has final say on any major business move);
- Determine the “consequences for failure to comply” (i.e., decide how to punish the car companies if they aren’t making adequate progress);
- Determine whether to take equity (invest) in the car companies using taxpayer money, and if so, decide how much equity to take;
- Determine what qualifies as exorbitant executive compensation, including inappropriate executive bonuses or incentive compensation and golden parachutes — and prohibit it; and
- Determine whether he or she needs additional powers, and if so, submit a report to Congress asking for them.
9. Climate Change Czar: Todd Stern
Actual Title: Special Envoy for Climate Change
Presidential Appointment Established: 2009
- To “serve as a principal advisor on international climate policy and strategy;
- He will be the Administration’s chief climate negotiator;
- He will be leading efforts with United Nations negotiations and processes involving a smaller set of countries and bilateral sessions;
- Because the main cause of climate change is the burning of fossil fuel and because the solution rests with our ability to shift the global economy from a high to a low carbon energy base, the Envoy will be a lead participant in the development of climate and clean energy policy; and
- He will participate in all energy-related policy discussions that, across our government, can have an impact on carbon emissions, and will be looking for opportunities to forge working alliances.
10. Copyright Czar: Not appointed yet.
Actual Title: Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator
Presidential Appointment Established: 2009
- The IPEC would provide guidance to other federal departments and agencies in their efforts to combat IP infringement;
- The IPEC would mainly achieve this by chairing an IP enforcement advisory committee, made up of the Office of Management and Budget, the Justice Department, the Commerce Department, the Office of the United States Trade Representative, the State Department, Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, the Agriculture Department, and the U.S. Copyright Office; and
- The IPEC cannot control how these agencies investigate or prosecute IP infringement cases–but he or she will guide the development of a “Joint Strategic Plan” the advisory committee is charged to create to combat counterfeiting and infringement. The aim of the strategic plan is to disrupt counterfeiting and IP infringement both in the U.S. and abroad, ensure that enforcement efforts aren’t duplicated by the various agencies, establish a protocol for consulting with private industry, establish international standards for IP enforcement, and help other countries improve their IP enforcement efforts.
11. Counterterrorism Czar: John Brennan
Actual Title: Deputy National Security Advisor for Homeland Security
Presidential Appointment Established: 2004
- Overseeing plans to protect the country from terrorism; and
- Responding to natural disasters.
12. Cybersecurity Czar: Not appointed yet.
Actual Title: Director of the White House Office of Cybersecurity
Presidential Appointment Established: 2009
- She will lead a review of the government’s efforts to secure computer networks against spies, terrorists and economic criminals;
- She will be in charge of curtailing Internet fraud; and
- She will head the new White House office of cybersecurity.
13. Disinformation Czar: Linda Douglass
Actual Title: Communications Director, Office of Health Reform
Presidential Appointment Established: 2009
- Keep track of disinformation on health insurance reform;
- As legislation takes shape in Congress, will make sure Democrats have a unified message when it comes to controversial issues such as the need for a publicly funded health insurance option; and
- To make sure the American people understand any big changes to the current system, such as a proposed new national exchange on which consumers can buy insurance.
14. Domestic Violence Czar: Lynn Rosenthal
Actual Title: White House Advisor On Violence Against Women
Presidential Appointment Established: 2009
- Advising the President and Vice President on domestic violence and sexual assault issues.
15. Drug Czar: Gil Kerlikowske
Actual Title: Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy
Presidential Appointment Established: 1982
- This position is charged with running the office of the Director of National Drug Control Policy that is colloquially known as the “Drug Czar,” a term first used in the media by then-Senator Joe Biden in October 1982;
- The Director evaluates, coordinates, and oversees both the international and domestic anti-drug efforts of executive branch agencies and ensures that such efforts sustain and complement State and local anti-drug activities;
- The Director advises the President regarding changes in the organization, management, budgeting, and personnel of federal agencies that effect U.S. anti-drug efforts; and
- The Director advises the President regarding federal agency compliance with their obligations under the National Drug Control Strategy, an annual report required by law.
16. Economic Czar: Larry Summers
Actual Title: Director of the National Economic Council
Presidential Appointment Established: 2009
- To coordinate policy-making for domestic and international economic issues;
- To coordinate economic policy advice for the President;
- To ensure that policy decisions and programs are consistent with the President’s economic goals; and
- To monitor implementation of the President’s economic policy agenda
17. Economic Czar II: Paul Volcker
Actual Title: Chairman of the Economic Recovery Advisory Board
Presidential Appointment Established: 2009
- The Board will meet regularly and provide advice directly to the President on the design, implementation, and evaluation of programs to jump-start economic growth, create jobs, raise wages and living standards, address the housing crisis, and stabilize financial markets; and
- The Board will also focus on how the response to the short-run economic crisis is laying the groundwork for the reforms necessary for longer-run prosperity.
18. Education Czar: Arne Duncan
Actual Title: Secretary of Education
Presidential Appointment Established: 1981
- Establishes policies relating to federal financial aid for education, administers distribution of those funds, and monitors their use;
- Collects data and oversees research on America’s schools and disseminates this information to educators and the general public;
- Identifies the major issues and problems in education and focuses national attention on them; and
- Enforces federal statutes prohibiting discrimination in programs and activities receiving federal funds and ensures equal access to education for every individual;
19. Energy Czar: Carol M. Browner
Actual Title: Assistant to the President, White House Office of Energy and Climate Change
Presidential Appointment Established: 2009
- Overseer, promoting smooth cooperation among the different energy and climate entities.
20. Food Safety Czar: Michael Taylor
Actual Title: Special Assistant to the FDA Commissioner for Food Safety
Presidential Appointment Established: 2009
- A single agency accountable for providing consistent and coordinated oversight of food safety, from farm to table;
- Institution of Pathogen Reduction: HACCP, with performance standards verified by pathogen testing, at every step of food production;
- Recall authority, access to records, and penalties for lapses in safety procedures;
- Standards for imported foods equivalent to those for domestic foods; and
- Food safety to take precedence over commercial considerations in trade disputes.
21. Government Performance Czar: Jeffrey Zients
Actual Title: Chief Performance Officer
Senate-Confirmed Established: 2009
- He is also the Deputy Director for Management of the Office of Management and Budget in the federal government of the United States; and
- To help “streamline processes, cut costs, and find best practices throughout” the U.S. government.
22. Great Lakes Czar: Cameron Davis
Actual Title: Great Lakes Czar
Presidential Appointment Established: 2009
- He will coordinate efforts of about a dozen federal agencies working on the administration’s Great Lakes project, which deals with issues such as invasive species, polluted harbors, sewage overflows and degraded wildlife habitat.
23. Green Jobs Czar: Van Jones
Actual Title: Special Advisor for Green Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in the White House
Presidential Appointment Established: 2009
- Helping to shape and implement job-generating climate policy;
- Working to ensure equal protection and equal opportunity in the administration’s climate and energy proposals; and
- Publicly advocating the administration’s environmental and energy agenda.
24. Guantanomo Closure Czar: Daniel Fried
Actual Title: US Department of State Special Envoy for Guantanomo Closure
Secretary of State Appointment Established: 2009
- To plead individual war on terror detainee cases in Europe and the Middle East;
- To persuade European countries as well as Yemen to take back some of the 240 or so long-held prisoners; and
- To empty Guantanomo by the end of President Obama’s first year in office, to be preceded by a now ongoing case-by-case review of the detainees’ files.
25. Health Czar: Nancy-Ann DeParle
Actual Title: Director of the White House Office of Health Reform
Presidential Appointment Established: 2009
Duties:20
- Will work with the Health and Human Services Secretary as the President’s point person coordinating outreach to Congress on the administration’s ambitious health care reform agenda; and
- Will also oversee the stimulus package funds to establish 126 new health centers. The centers will be designed to help provide primary and preventive health care services to people without health insurance.
26. Infotech Czar: Vivek Kundra
Actual Title: Chief Information Officer of the United States
Presidential Appointment Established: 2009
- He will be part of the Office of Management and Budget;
- He will oversee $71 billion in annual technology spending across the government; and
- He will set standards for the design of federal systems.
27. Intelligence Czar: Admiral Dennis Blair
Actual Title: Director of National Intelligence
Presidential Appointment with the Advice and Consent of the Senate Established: 2005
- Serving as the principal adviser to the President, the National Security Council, and the Homeland Security Council for intelligence matters related to the national security;
- Serving as the head of the sixteen-member Intelligence Community; and
- Overseeing and directing the National Intelligence Program.
28. Latin-American Czar: Arturo Valenzuela
Actual Title: U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs
Senate-Confirmed Established: 1944
- Strengthening an Inter-American community formed by economic partners that are democratic, stable, and prosperous;
- Strengthening an Inter-American community formed by friendly neighbors that help secure our region against terrorism and illegal drugs; and
- Strengthening an Inter-American community formed by nations that work together in the world to advance shared political and economic values.
29. Mideast Peace Czar: George Mitchell
Actual Title: Special Envoy to the Middle East
Presidential Appointment Established: 2009
- Focus on achieving a two-state solution;
- Continuing the efforts to improve the economy and security of Palestinians and Israelis; and
- Resolving the Arab Israeli conflict and furthering US national interests in the region.
30. Mideast Policy Czar: Dennis Ross
Actual Title: Special Advisor for Iran, the Persian Gulf and Southwest Asia
Presidential Appointment Established: 2009
- Trying to integrate policy development and implementation across a number of offices and officials in the State Department;
- Providing the secretary with strategic advice; and
- Ensuring that there’s a coherence in our policies and strategies across the region.
31. Pay Czar: Kenneth Feinberg
Actual Title: Special Master for TARP Executive Compensation
Treasury Appointment Established: 2009
- To oversee the compensation of the top executives at companies which have received federal bailout assistance; and
- He will have broad discretion to set the salaries and bonuses for their five most senior executives and their 20 most highly paid employee.
32. Regulatory Czar: Cass Sunstein
Actual Title: Director of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs
Senate-Confirmed Established: 1980
- Reviewing draft regulations under Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review;
- Reviewing proposed collections of information under the Paperwork Reduction Act; and
- Developing and overseeing the implementation of Administration policies in the areas of:
– Statistical policy;
– Information technology;
– Privacy; and
– Data quality.
33. Religion Czar: Joshua Dubois
Actual Title: Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships
Presidential Appointment Established: 2001
- The Office’s top priority will be making community groups an integral part of our economic recovery and poverty a burden fewer have to bear when recovery is complete;
- It will be one voice among several in the administration that will look at how we support women and children, address teenage pregnancy, and reduce the need for abortion;
- The Office will strive to support fathers who stand by their families, which involves working to get young men off the streets and into well-paying jobs, and encouraging responsible fatherhood; and
- Finally, beyond American shores this Office will work with the National Security Council to foster interfaith dialogue with leaders and scholars around the world.
34. ‘Safe Schools’ Czar: Kevin Jennings
Actual Title: Assistant Deputy Secretary, Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools
Presidential Appointment Established: 2009
- Provide financial assistance for drug and violence prevention activities and activities that promote the health and well being of students in elementary and secondary schools, and institutions of higher education. Activities may be carried out by State and local educational agencies and by other public and private nonprofit organizations;
- Participate in the formulation and development of ED program policy and legislative proposals and in overall Administration policies related to violence and drug prevention; drafting program regulations;
- Participate in interagency committees, groups, and partnerships related to drug and violence prevention, coordinating with other Federal agencies on issues related to comprehensive school health, and advising the Secretary on the formulation of comprehensive school health education policy;
- Participate with other Federal agencies in the development of a national research agenda for drug and violence prevention; and
- Administer the Department’s programs relating to citizenship and civics education.
35. Science Czar: John Holdren
Actual Title: Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy
Senate-Confirmed Established: 1976
- Advise the President and others within the Executive Office of the President on the impacts of science and technology on domestic and international affairs;
- Lead an interagency effort to develop and implement sound science and technology policies and budgets;
- Work with the private sector to ensure Federal investments in science and technology contribute to economic prosperity, environmental quality, and national security;
- Build strong partnerships among Federal, State, and local governments, other countries, and the scientific community; and
- Evaluate the scale, quality, and effectiveness of the Federal effort in science and technology.
36. Stimulus Oversight Czar: Earl Devaney
Actual Title: Inspector General, US Department of the Interior
Senate-Confirmed Established: 2009
- Delivering unprecedented levels of transparency through Recovery.gov; and
- Coordinating and conducting oversight of Recovery funds to prevent fraud, waste of abuse.
37. Sudan Czar: J. Scott Gration
Actual Title: Special Envoy to Sudan
Presidential Appointment Established: 2009
- Support full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, including holding credible national elections in 2009 and a credible referendum in 2011;
- Facilitate a political agreement that stops the violence in Darfur, including cross-border violence with Chad, and allows the return of displaced persons to their home areas; and
- Promote regional engagement that effectively counters terrorism and supports stability.
38. TARP Czar: Elizabeth Warren
Actual Title: Assistant Secretary for Financial Stability, US Department of the Treasury
Senate-Confirmed Established: 2009
- He is responsible for developing and coordinating Treasury’s policies on legislative and regulatory issues affecting financial stability, including overseeing the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP).
39. Technology Czar: Aneesh Chopra
Actual Title: Federal Chief Technology Officer of the United States
Presidential Appointment Established: 2009
- To promote technological innovation to help the country meet its goals such as job creation, reducing health care costs, and protecting the homeland; and
- Together with the Chief Information Officer, their jobs are to make the government more effective, efficient, and transparent.
40. Trade Czar: Ron Kirk
Actual Title: United States Trade Representative
Presidential Appointment Established: 1962
- Conducting trade negotiations at bilateral and multilateral levels; and
- Coordinating trade policy within the government through the interagency Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) and Trade Policy Review Group (TPRG).
41. Urban Affairs/Housing Czar: Adolfo Carrion
Actual Title: Director of the White House Office of Urban Affairs Policy
Presidential Appointment Established: 2009
- To provide leadership for and coordinate the development of the policy agenda for urban America across executive departments and agencies;
- To coordinate all aspects of urban policy with all executive departments and agencies to ensure that any policy developed has been examined for its impact on urban affairs;
- To ensure that Federal Government dollars targeted to urban areas are effectively spent on the highest-impact programs; and
- To engage in outreach and work closely with State and local officials, with nonprofit organizations, and with the private sector, both in seeking input regarding the development of a comprehensive urban policy and in ensuring that the implementation of Federal programs advances the objectives of that policy.
42. War Czar: Douglas Lute
Actual Title: Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for Iraq and Afghanistan
Presidential Appointment Established: 2007
- Oversee the war in Iraq; and
- Oversee the war in Afghanistan.
43. Water Czar: David J. Hayes
Actual Title: Deputy Secretary of the Interior
Senate-Confirmed Established: 2009
- Statutory responsibility as the Chief Operating Officer to help lead a Department of 67,000 employees and an annual budget of approximately $16 billion, including annual and permanent funding; and
- Overseeing modern water management approaches in the West, settling long-standing Indian water and land disputes and establishing new National Parks.
44. Weapons Czar: Ashton Carter
Actual Title: Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics
Presidential Appointment Established: 2009
- Supervising Department of Defense acquisition;
- Establishing policies for acquisition (including procurement of goods and services, research and development, developmental testing, and contract administration) for all elements of the Department of Defense;
- Establishing policies for logistics, maintenance, and sustainment support for all elements of the Department of Defense;
- Establishing policies of the Department of Defense for maintenance of the defense industrial base of the United States; and
- The authority to direct the Secretaries of the military departments and the heads of all other elements of the Department of Defense with regard to matters for which the Under Secretary has responsibility.
45. Weapons of Mass Destruction Czar: Gary Samore
Actual Title: National Security Council Staff
Presidential Appointment Established: 2009
- Oversees efforts to reduce existing nuclear arsenals, stop proliferation to additional countries and prevent terrorists and other non-state actors from acquiring nuclear weapons; and
- Top priorities include convincing Russia to negotiate a new strategic-arms reduction treaty, de-nuclearizing North Korea through six-party talks and stopping Iran from developing its nuclear weapons capacity.
Potential Czars not yet vetted:
1. Income Redistribution Czar: Not appointed yet.
Actual Title: No information currently.
Presidential Appointment Established: 2009
Duties:
No information currently. Source: NewsMax – Obama Era of 1,000 Czars Ushers in Caesar
2. Consumer Financial Protection Czar, aka Mortgage Czar: Not appointed yet.
Actual Title: No information currently.
Presidential Appointment Established: 2009
Duties:
No information currently. Source: Yahoo! Finance – Obama wants new financial agency for consumers
3. Land-Use Czar: Not appointed yet.
Actual Title: No information currently.
Presidential Appointment Established: 2009
Duties:
No information currently. Source: BOVARD – Ten Thousand Czars
4. Radio-Internet Fairness Czar: Not appointed yet.
Actual Title: No information currently.
Presidential Appointment Established: 2009
Duties:
No information currently. Source: NewsMax – Obama Era of 1,000 Czars Ushers in Caesar
5. Student Loan Czar: Not appointed yet.
Actual Title: No information currently.
Presidential Appointment Established: 2009
Duties:
No information currently. Source: Glenn Beck TV Show
6. Voter List Czar: Not appointed yet.
Actual Title: No information currently.
Presidential Appointment Established: 2009
Duties:
No information currently. Source: NewsMax – Obama Era of 1,000 Czars Ushers in Caesar
7. Zoning Czar: Not appointed yet.
Actual Title: No information currently.
Presidential Appointment Established: 2009
Duties:
No information currently. Source: BOVARD – Ten Thousand Czars
A special thank you goes out to American Daughter Media Center who provided me with further details and corrections to this list…
As we get further updates and/or corrections, they will be posted on the blog. Please feel free to send us any info. you get on the subject… A correction of previous statements: I believe that if a ‘Czar’ is appointed by the President, he/she only answers to the President or if deferred, to his Vice President or Cabinet. If the ‘Czar’ is Senate-Confirmed, they are subject to congressional oversight. If someone out there knows I’m wrong on this – let me know and I will correct the previous statement.
Update: Maggie’s Farm – Come the Revolution!
