WASHINGTON — John Podesta, a veteran Democratic strategist who worked outside the White House to drive support for President Joe Biden’s climate agenda, is joining the administration to spearhead the government’s implementation of the sweeping clean energy law enacted last month.
The move is one of several changes to Biden’s team of top climate aides, with national White House climate adviser Gina McCarthy stepping down Sept. 16, and her current deputy, Ali Zaidi, set to take over the post. The changes, announced by the White House on Friday, come as the administration shifts its focus from advancing climate law on Capitol Hill to implementing environmental policy through federal agencies.
“Under Gina McCarthy and Ali Zaidi’s leadership, my administration has taken the most aggressive action ever — from historic legislation to bold executive actions — to confront the climate crisis head-on,” Biden said in a statement. “The Inflation Reduction Act is the biggest step forward on clean energy and climate in history, and it paves the way for additional steps we will take to meet our clean energy and climate goals.”
