Other White House officials with private-sector experience will work with Kushner on the new Office of American Innovation, including National Economic Council director Gary Cohn, a former president and chief operating officer at Goldman Sachs Group Inc., said the official, who asked not to be named.
Others expected to work with the office are Dina Powell, senior counselor to the president for economic initiatives and deputy national security adviser; Chris Liddell, assistant to the president for strategic initiatives; and Reed Cordish, assistant to the president for intragovernmental and technology initiatives, according to Bloomberg.
The initiative is seen as a step toward fulfilling some of Trump’s campaign promises to do away with excessive government regulations and streamline federal practices with concepts that have been shown to be effective in companies.
Trump signed an executive order in February to impose additional oversight on government regulations, designating officials within government agencies who will monitor rule-making and identify needed policy changes.
“Excessive regulation is killing jobs,” Trump said at an Oval Office signing ceremony Friday. “Every regulation should have to pass a simple test: Does it make life better or safer for American workers or consumers? If the answer is no, we will be getting rid of it.”
The plans for the new office to be led by Kushner were earlier reported by the Washington Post.
The innovation office is likely to expand Kushner’s influence in the White House and on the president, for whom he acts as a confidant. Kushner, 36, a former real-estate and media executive, is married to Trump’s oldest daughter, Ivanka.