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{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Jack Lew
| name = Jack Lew
| image = Jacob Lew official portrait.jpg
| image = Jacob J. Lew, U.S. Ambassador (cropped).jpg
| caption = Official portrait, 2013
| caption = Official portrait, 2023
| status =
| status =
| office = [[List of ambassadors of the United States to Israel|United States Ambassador to Israel]]
| office = [[List of ambassadors of the United States to Israel|United States Ambassador to Israel]]
| president = [[Joe Biden]]
| president = [[Joe Biden]]
| term_start = October 31, 2023
| term_start = November 5, 2023
| term_end =
| term_end =
| succeeding =
| succeeding =
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| office2 = 25th [[White House Chief of Staff]]
| office2 = 25th [[White House Chief of Staff]]
| president2 = [[Barack Obama]]
| president2 = [[Barack Obama]]
| deputy2 = [[Alyssa Mastromonaco]]<br>[[Nancy-Ann DeParle]]<br>[[Mark B. Childress]]
| term_start2 = January 27, 2012
| term_start2 = January 27, 2012
| term_end2 = January 20, 2013
| term_end2 = January 20, 2013
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| office4 = 32nd and 38th Director of the<br>[[Office of Management and Budget]]
| office4 = 32nd and 38th Director of the<br>[[Office of Management and Budget]]
| president4 = [[Barack Obama]]
| president4 = [[Barack Obama]]
| deputy4 = [[Jeffrey Liebman]] (acting)<br>[[Heather Higginbottom]]
| term_start4 = November 18, 2010
| term_start4 = November 18, 2010
| term_end4 = January 27, 2012
| term_end4 = January 27, 2012
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| successor4 = [[Sylvia Mathews Burwell]]
| successor4 = [[Sylvia Mathews Burwell]]
| president5 = [[Bill Clinton]]
| president5 = [[Bill Clinton]]
| term_start5 = May 21, 1998
| deputy5 = Joshua Gotbaum (acting)<br>[[Sylvia M. Mathews]]
| term_end5 = January 19, 2001
| term_start5 = July 31, 1998
| term_end5 = January 19, 2001<br />Acting: May 21, 1998 – July 31, 1998
| predecessor5 = [[Franklin Raines]]
| predecessor5 = [[Franklin Raines]]
| successor5 = [[Mitch Daniels]]
| successor5 = [[Mitch Daniels]]
| office3 = 1st [[Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources|United States Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources]]
| office6 = 1st [[Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources|United States Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources]]
| president3 = [[Barack Obama]]
| president6 = [[Barack Obama]]
| term_start3 = January 28, 2009
| term_start6 = January 28, 2009
| term_end3 = November 18, 2010
| term_end6 = November 18, 2010
| predecessor3 = ''Position established''
| predecessor6 = ''Position established''
| successor3 = [[Thomas R. Nides]]
| successor6 = [[Thomas R. Nides]]
| birth_name = Jacob Joseph Lew
| birth_name = Jacob Joseph Lew
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1955|8|29}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1955|8|29}}
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| children = 2
| children = 2
| education = [[Harvard University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[Georgetown University Law Center|Georgetown University]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])
| education = [[Harvard University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[Georgetown University Law Center|Georgetown University]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])
| signature = Jacob_Lew_new_money_signature.svg
| signature = Jacob Lew new money signature.svg
| module = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Treasury Secretary Jack Lew Testifies on the FY2015 Federal Budget Before the House Ways and Means Committee.ogg|title=Jack Lew's voice|type=speech|description=Lew testifies on the FY2015 federal budget before the [[House Ways and Means Committee]]<br/>Recorded March 6, 2014}}
| module = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Treasury Secretary Jack Lew Testifies on the FY2015 Federal Budget Before the House Ways and Means Committee.ogg|title=Jack Lew's voice|type=speech|description=Lew testifies on the FY2015 federal budget before the [[House Ways and Means Committee]]<br/>Recorded March 6, 2014}}
}}
}}
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Born in New York City, Lew was educated at [[Harvard College]] and the [[Georgetown University Law Center]]. He began his legal career as a [[legislative assistant]] to Representative [[Joe Moakley]], and as a senior policy adviser to former [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|House Speaker]] [[Tip O'Neill]]. Lew then worked as an attorney in private practice before joining Boston's office of management and budget as a deputy. In 1993, he began work for the [[Clinton administration]] as a [[Special Assistant to the President|special assistant to the president]]. In 1994, Lew served as associate director for legislative affairs and deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget, then served as the agency's director, from 1998 to 2001. Following his work in the Clinton administration, Lew became executive vice-president of operations at [[New York University]], serving from 2001 to 2006, then the COO at [[Citigroup]], from 2006 to 2008. During the [[Obama administration]], Lew served as the first [[Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources|deputy secretary of state for management and resources]] from 2009 to 2010, before returning to his former post of OMB Director from 2010 to 2012. He then served as chief of staff for the remainder of President [[Barack Obama]]’s first term from 2012 to 2013.
Born in New York City, Lew was educated at [[Harvard College]] and the [[Georgetown University Law Center]]. He began his legal career as a [[legislative assistant]] to Representative [[Joe Moakley]], and as a senior policy adviser to former [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|House Speaker]] [[Tip O'Neill]]. Lew then worked as an attorney in private practice before joining Boston's office of management and budget as a deputy. In 1993, he began work for the [[Clinton administration]] as a [[Special Assistant to the President|special assistant to the president]]. In 1994, Lew served as associate director for legislative affairs and deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget, then served as the agency's director, from 1998 to 2001. Following his work in the Clinton administration, Lew became executive vice-president of operations at [[New York University]], serving from 2001 to 2006, then the COO at [[Citigroup]], from 2006 to 2008. During the [[Obama administration]], Lew served as the first [[Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources|deputy secretary of state for management and resources]] from 2009 to 2010, before returning to his former post of OMB Director from 2010 to 2012. He then served as chief of staff for the remainder of President [[Barack Obama]]’s first term from 2012 to 2013.


On January 10, 2013, during Obama's second term, Lew was nominated to replace retiring Treasury Secretary [[Timothy Geithner]],<ref name="NYT1.10">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/11/us/politics/lew-to-complete-change-of-obamas-economic-team.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Jackie Calmes|title=Lew Would Complete Transformation of Obama's Economic Team|date=January 10, 2013|access-date=January 10, 2013}}</ref> was confirmed by the Senate February 27, 2013, and then sworn in on the following day, serving until the conclusion of the Obama administration. Since 2017, he has been a managing partner at [[Lindsay Goldberg]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Team {{!}} Lindsay Goldberg|url=https://www.lindsaygoldbergllc.com/team|access-date=October 17, 2020|language=en-US}}</ref> a [[private equity firm]] headquartered in New York City. He is currently a visiting professor at the [[School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University|School of International and Public Affairs]] of [[Columbia University]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=October 5, 2021|title=Former Treasury Secretary Jack Lew on why the debt ceiling matters|url=https://journalistsresource.org/economics/debt-ceiling-jack-lew/|access-date=October 5, 2021|website=The Journalist's Resource|language=en-US}}</ref>
On January 10, 2013, during Obama's second term, Lew was nominated to replace retiring Treasury Secretary [[Timothy Geithner]],<ref name="NYT1.10">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/11/us/politics/lew-to-complete-change-of-obamas-economic-team.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Jackie Calmes|title=Lew Would Complete Transformation of Obama's Economic Team|date=January 10, 2013|access-date=January 10, 2013}}</ref> was confirmed by the Senate February 27, 2013, and then sworn in on the following day, serving until the conclusion of the Obama administration. Since 2017, he has been a managing partner at [[Lindsay Goldberg]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Team {{!}} Lindsay Goldberg|date=April 10, 2019 |url=https://www.lindsaygoldbergllc.com/team|access-date=October 17, 2020|language=en-US}}</ref> a [[private equity firm]] headquartered in New York City. He is currently a visiting professor at the [[School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University|School of International and Public Affairs]] of [[Columbia University]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=October 5, 2021|title=Former Treasury Secretary Jack Lew on why the debt ceiling matters|url=https://journalistsresource.org/economics/debt-ceiling-jack-lew/|access-date=October 5, 2021|website=The Journalist's Resource|language=en-US}}</ref>


On September 5, 2023, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Lew to serve as United States ambassador to Israel.<ref>{{Cite news|date=September 5, 2023|title=President Biden Announces Jacob J Lew as Nominee for Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the State of Israel| url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/09/05/president-biden-announces-jacob-j-lew-as-nominee-for-ambassador-extraordinary-and-plenipotentiary-to-the-state-of-israel/ |access-date=September 5, 2023|website=The White House|language=en-US}}</ref> His nomination was confirmed by the [[United States Senate]] on October 31, 2023.
On September 5, 2023, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Lew to serve as United States ambassador to Israel.<ref>{{Cite news|date=September 5, 2023|title=President Biden Announces Jacob J Lew as Nominee for Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the State of Israel| url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/09/05/president-biden-announces-jacob-j-lew-as-nominee-for-ambassador-extraordinary-and-plenipotentiary-to-the-state-of-israel/ |access-date=September 5, 2023|website=The White House|language=en-US}}</ref> His nomination was confirmed by the [[United States Senate]] on October 31, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 118th Congress - 1st Session |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1181/vote_118_1_00275.htm |access-date=2024-01-22 |website=www.senate.gov}}</ref>


==Early life, education, and early career==
==Early life, education, and early career==
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He worked as an aide to Rep. [[Joe Moakley]] (D-Mass.) from 1974 to 1975.<ref>{{cite web
He worked as an aide to Rep. [[Joe Moakley]] (D-Mass.) from 1974 to 1975.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/203739-jack-lew-like-rahm-sans-
|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/102547-incoming-white-house-chief-of-staff-jack-lew-like-rahm-sans/
|title=Incoming White House Chief of Staff Jack Lew like Rahm sans %@#!
|title=Incoming White House Chief of Staff Jack Lew like Rahm sans %@#!
|work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]
|work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]
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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303234434/http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/203739-jack-lew-like-rahm-sans-
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303234434/http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/203739-jack-lew-like-rahm-sans-
|archive-date=March 3, 2014
|archive-date=March 3, 2014
|url-status=dead
|url-status=live
}}</ref> In 1979, he was a senior policy adviser to [[United States House of Representatives|House]] [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|Speaker]] [[Tip O'Neill]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://seattletimes.com/html/politics/2017198748_apuslewbiobox.html |title=Biographical information on Jack Lew |newspaper=[[The Seattle Times]] |date=January 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303234434/http://seattletimes.com/html/politics/2017198748_apuslewbiobox.html |archive-date=March 3, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Under O'Neill he served at the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee as Assistant Director and then Executive Director, and was responsible for work on domestic and economic issues including [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]], [[Medicare (United States)|Medicare]], budget, tax, trade, appropriations, and energy issues.<ref name=national>{{cite news
}}</ref> In 1979, he was a senior policy adviser to [[United States House of Representatives|House]] [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|Speaker]] [[Tip O'Neill]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://seattletimes.com/html/politics/2017198748_apuslewbiobox.html |title=Biographical information on Jack Lew |newspaper=[[The Seattle Times]] |date=January 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303234434/http://seattletimes.com/html/politics/2017198748_apuslewbiobox.html |archive-date=March 3, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Under O'Neill he served at the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee as Assistant Director and then Executive Director, and was responsible for work on domestic and economic issues including [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]], [[Medicare (United States)|Medicare]], budget, tax, trade, appropriations, and energy issues.<ref name=national>{{cite news
|last=Cook
|last=Cook
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}}</ref> There, Lew was chief operating officer responsible for day-to-day management of a staff of 500. He had crosscutting responsibilities to coordinate [[Presidency of Bill Clinton|Clinton administration]] efforts on budget and appropriations matters. He frequently served as a member of the Administration negotiating team, including regarding the [[Balanced Budget Act of 1997]].
}}</ref> There, Lew was chief operating officer responsible for day-to-day management of a staff of 500. He had crosscutting responsibilities to coordinate [[Presidency of Bill Clinton|Clinton administration]] efforts on budget and appropriations matters. He frequently served as a member of the Administration negotiating team, including regarding the [[Balanced Budget Act of 1997]].


President Clinton nominated Lew to be Director of the OMB,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://clinton4.nara.gov/WH/New/html/19980415-12692.html |title=President Clinton Announces OMB Director Raines' Departure |publisher=clinton4.nara.gov |date=April 14, 1998 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303234434/http://clinton4.nara.gov/WH/New/html/19980415-12692.html |archive-date=March 3, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the [[United States Senate]] confirmed him for that job on July 31, 1998.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://clinton3.nara.gov/omb/organization/lew.html |title=OMB's Organization |publisher=clinton3.nara.gov |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303234434/http://clinton3.nara.gov/omb/organization/lew.html |archive-date=March 3, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He served in that capacity until the end of the Clinton administration in January 2001. As OMB Director, Lew had the lead responsibility for the Clinton Administration's policies on budget, management, and appropriations issues. As a member of the Cabinet and senior member of the economic team, he advised the President on a broad range of domestic and international policies. He represented the Administration in budget negotiations with Congress and served as a member of the [[United States National Security Council|National Security Council]].
President Clinton nominated Lew to be director of the OMB,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://clinton4.nara.gov/WH/New/html/19980415-12692.html |title=President Clinton Announces OMB Director Raines' Departure |publisher=clinton4.nara.gov |date=April 14, 1998 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303234434/http://clinton4.nara.gov/WH/New/html/19980415-12692.html |archive-date=March 3, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and his nomination was confirmed by the [[United States Senate]] on July 31, 1998.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://clinton3.nara.gov/omb/organization/lew.html |title=OMB's Organization |publisher=clinton3.nara.gov |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303234434/http://clinton3.nara.gov/omb/organization/lew.html |archive-date=March 3, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He served in that capacity until the end of the Clinton administration in January 2001. As OMB director, Lew had the lead responsibility for the Clinton Administration's policies on budget, management, and appropriations issues. As a member of the Cabinet and senior member of the economic team, he advised the president on a broad range of domestic and international policies. He represented the Administration in budget negotiations with Congress and served as a member of the [[United States National Security Council|National Security Council]].


==Between Clinton and Obama tenures==
==Between Clinton and Obama tenures==
After leaving public office in the Clinton administration, Lew served as the Executive Vice President for Operations at [[New York University]] and was a Clinical Professor of Public Administration at NYU's [[Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service|Wagner School of Public Service]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://realclearpolitics.blogs.time.com/2008/12/23/natl-security-team-additions/ |title=Nat'l Security Team Additions |publisher=[[RealClearPolitics]] |date=December 23, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707213453/http://realclearpolitics.blogs.time.com/2008/12/23/natl-security-team-additions/ |archive-date=July 7, 2011 }}</ref> While at NYU, Lew aided the university in ending graduate students' collective bargaining rights. The Obama administration has maintained that Lew supports workers' union rights.<ref>{{cite web
After leaving public office in the Clinton administration, Lew served as the executive vice president for operations at [[New York University]] and was a clinical professor of public administration at NYU's [[Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service|Wagner School of Public Service]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://realclearpolitics.blogs.time.com/2008/12/23/natl-security-team-additions/ |title=Nat'l Security Team Additions |publisher=[[RealClearPolitics]] |date=December 23, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707213453/http://realclearpolitics.blogs.time.com/2008/12/23/natl-security-team-additions/ |archive-date=July 7, 2011 }}</ref> While at NYU, Lew aided the university in ending graduate students' collective bargaining rights. The Obama administration has maintained that Lew supports workers' union rights.<ref>{{cite web
|last=Eidelson
|last=Eidelson
|first=Josh
|first=Josh
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|url-status=dead
|url-status=dead
|date=January 9, 2013
|date=January 9, 2013
}}</ref> According to a 2004 report in NYU's student newspaper, the ''[[Washington Square News]]'', Lew was paid $840,339 during the 2002-2003 academic year.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324329204578269821728015016|author=James Freeman|title=What Did Lew Do at NYU?|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date= January 30, 2013}}</ref> In addition, the university forgave several hundred thousand dollars in mortgage loans it made to Lew.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kaminer |first=Ariel |title=NYU will cease loans to top employees for second homes |url=https://www.cnbc.com/id/100965438 |work=The New York Times |access-date=August 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303234434/http://www.cnbc.com/id/100965438 |archive-date=March 3, 2014 |url-status=dead |date=August 15, 2013 }}</ref> In 2004, President [[George W. Bush]] appointed Lew as a member of the Board of Directors of the [[Corporation for National and Community Service]], a position he held until 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/108th-congress/2048|title=PN2048 — Jacob Joseph Lew — Corporation for National and Community Service|work=United States Congress|date=November 21, 2004}}</ref>
}}</ref> According to a 2004 report in NYU's student newspaper, the ''[[Washington Square News]]'', Lew was paid $840,339 during the 2002–2003 academic year.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324329204578269821728015016|author=James Freeman|title=What Did Lew Do at NYU?|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date= January 30, 2013}}</ref> In addition, the university forgave several hundred thousand dollars in mortgage loans it made to Lew.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kaminer |first=Ariel |title=NYU will cease loans to top employees for second homes |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2013/08/15/nyu-will-cease-loans-to-top-employees-for-second-homes.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=August 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303234434/http://www.cnbc.com/id/100965438 |archive-date=March 3, 2014 |url-status=live |date=August 15, 2013 }}</ref> In 2004, President [[George W. Bush]] appointed Lew as a member of the board of directors of the [[Corporation for National and Community Service]], a position he held until 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/108th-congress/2048|title=PN2048 — Jacob Joseph Lew — Corporation for National and Community Service|work=United States Congress|date=November 21, 2004}}</ref>


In June 2006, Lew was named chief operating officer of [[Citigroup]]'s Alternative Investments unit, a [[proprietary trading]] group. The unit he oversaw invested in a hedge fund "that bet on the housing market to collapse."<ref>{{cite web
In June 2006, Lew was named chief operating officer of [[Citigroup]]'s Alternative Investments unit, a [[proprietary trading]] group. The unit he oversaw invested in a hedge fund "that bet on the housing market to collapse."<ref>{{cite web
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On November 18, 2010, Lew was confirmed by the Senate by [[unanimous consent]].
On November 18, 2010, Lew was confirmed by the Senate by [[unanimous consent]].


The $3.7 trillion 2011 budget President Obama unveiled the administration estimated reductions to federal spending deficits by $1.1 trillion over the next decade if adopted and economic assumptions were fully achieved. Two-thirds of that estimated reduction would come from spending cuts through a 5-year freeze in discretionary spending first announced in Obama's [[2011 State of the Union]] address, as well as savings to mandatory programs such as [[Medicare (United States)|Medicare]] and lower interest payments on the debt that would result from the lower spending. Tax increases are responsible for the other third of the reduction, including a cap on itemized reductions for wealthier taxpayers and the elimination of tax breaks for oil and gas companies.<ref>{{cite web
The $3.7 trillion 2011 budget President Obama unveiled the administration estimated reductions to federal spending deficits by $1.1 trillion over the next decade if adopted and economic assumptions were fully achieved. Two-thirds of that estimated reduction would come from spending cuts through a five-year freeze in discretionary spending first announced in Obama's [[2011 State of the Union]] address, as well as savings to mandatory programs such as [[Medicare (United States)|Medicare]] and lower interest payments on the debt that would result from the lower spending. Tax increases are responsible for the other third of the reduction, including a cap on itemized reductions for wealthier taxpayers and the elimination of tax breaks for oil and gas companies.<ref>{{cite web
|last=Wasson
|last=Wasson
|first=Erik
|first=Erik
|url=http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/budget/143777-obama-tries-to-prove-cost-cutting-credentials-in-budget-rollout
|url=https://thehill.com/policy/finance/82567-obama-2012-budget-proposes-1-1t-deficit-cut-over-next-decade/
|title=Obama 2012 budget proposes $1.1T deficit cut over next decade
|title=Obama 2012 budget proposes $1.1T deficit cut over next decade
|work=The Hill
|work=The Hill
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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131010032006/http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/budget/143777-obama-tries-to-prove-cost-cutting-credentials-in-budget-rollout
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131010032006/http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/budget/143777-obama-tries-to-prove-cost-cutting-credentials-in-budget-rollout
|archive-date=October 10, 2013
|archive-date=October 10, 2013
|url-status=dead
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Economist and former financial fraud investigator [[William K. Black]] warned that the OMB budget statement prepared under Lew's direction was "an ode to austerity," and that austerity would force the U.S. economy back into recession.<ref>{{cite web
}}</ref> Economist and former financial fraud investigator [[William K. Black]] warned that the OMB budget statement prepared under Lew's direction was "an ode to austerity," and that austerity would force the U.S. economy back into recession.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://neweconomicperspectives.org/2012/12/obamas-omb-channels-its-inner-tea-party.html
|url=http://neweconomicperspectives.org/2012/12/obamas-omb-channels-its-inner-tea-party.html
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[[File:Rob Nabors, Barack Obama, and Jack Lew.jpg|thumb|right|Lew meeting with President Barack Obama and the Legislative Affairs Director [[Rob Nabors]]]]
[[File:Rob Nabors, Barack Obama, and Jack Lew.jpg|thumb|right|Lew meeting with President Barack Obama and the Legislative Affairs Director [[Rob Nabors]]]]


In an op-ed in the ''[[Huffington Post]]'', Lew cited top Administration priorities to achieve deficit reduction; including: $400 billion in savings from non-security discretionary spending freezes, $78 billion in cuts to the [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]], returning to the Clinton-era tax rates for the top 2% of income earners, and lowering the [[Corporate tax in the United States|Corporate tax]] from 35% to 25%.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jacob-lew/the-2012-budget_b_823041.html|title=The 2012 Budget|newspaper=The Huffington Post|date=February 14, 2011|access-date=January 7, 2013|first=Jacob|last=Lew}}</ref>
In an op-ed in the ''[[Huffington Post]]'', Lew cited top Administration priorities to achieve deficit reduction; including: $400 billion in savings from non-security discretionary spending freezes, $78 billion in cuts to the [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]], returning to the Clinton-era tax rates for the top 2% of income earners, and lowering the [[Corporate tax in the United States|corporate tax]] from 35% to 25%.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jacob-lew/the-2012-budget_b_823041.html|title=The 2012 Budget|newspaper=The Huffington Post|date=February 14, 2011|access-date=January 7, 2013|first=Jacob|last=Lew}}</ref>


===Chief of Staff===
===Chief of Staff===
On January 9, 2012, President Obama announced that Lew would replace [[William M. Daley]] as White House Chief of Staff.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57355349-503544/obama-chief-of-staff-bill-daley-to-step-down-budget-chief-jack-lew-to-step-up/|title=Obama chief of staff Bill Daley steps down, budget chief Jack Lew steps up|work=[[CBS News]]|date=January 9, 2012|access-date=November 14, 2012}}</ref> Lew's nomination was followed with criticism<ref>{{cite web
On January 9, 2012, President Obama announced that Lew would replace [[William M. Daley]] as White House Chief of Staff.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.cbsnews.com/news/obama-chief-of-staff-bill-daley-steps-down-budget-chief-jack-lew-steps-up/|title=Obama chief of staff Bill Daley steps down, budget chief Jack Lew steps up|work=[[CBS News]]|date=January 9, 2012|access-date=November 14, 2012}}</ref> Lew's nomination was followed with criticism<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.salon.com/2012/01/10/the_new_wh_chief_of_staff_and_citigroup/
|url=http://www.salon.com/2012/01/10/the_new_wh_chief_of_staff_and_citigroup/
|title=The new WH Chief of Staff and Citigroup
|title=The new WH Chief of Staff and Citigroup
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}}</ref>
}}</ref>


During his tenure as chief of staff, Lew was seen as a supporter and top negotiator for a "grand bargain" deal between President Obama and House Speaker [[John Boehner]], to avoid "[[United States fiscal cliff|Fiscal cliff]]" sequester cuts and tax increases.<ref name=national/>
During his tenure as chief of staff, Lew was seen as a supporter and top negotiator for a "grand bargain" deal between President Obama and House Speaker [[John Boehner]], to avoid "[[United States fiscal cliff|fiscal cliff]]" sequester cuts and tax increases.<ref name=national/>


===Secretary of the Treasury===
===Secretary of the Treasury===
[[File:Jacob J Lew Signature.svg|thumb|left|175px|Lew's signature]]
[[File:Jacob J Lew Signature.svg|thumb|left|175px|Lew's signature]]
[[File:Jacob Lew new money signature.svg|thumb|left|175px|Lew's currency signature]]
[[File:Jacob Lew new money signature.svg|thumb|left|175px|Lew's currency signature]]
On January 10, 2013, President Obama nominated Lew for the position of [[Secretary of the Treasury (U.S.)|Secretary of the Treasury]].<ref name="NYT1.10"/> The nomination became the subject of some humorous commentary, due to Lew's unusual loopy signature, which would have appeared on all newly issued U.S. paper currency for the duration of his tenure;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2013/01/likely-treasury-secretary-under-fire-for-signature/|title=Likely Treasury Secretary Under Fire for Signature|work=[[ABC News]]|date=January 9, 2013|access-date=January 9, 2013}}</ref> the signature generated enough media attention that Obama joked at a press conference that he had considered rescinding his nomination when he learned of it.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/01/10/obama-mocks-lews-signature/|title=Obama mocks Lew's signature |first=Rachel|last=Weiner|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=January 10, 2013|access-date=January 10, 2013}}</ref> Lew later adopted a more conventional signature for currency.<ref>{{Cite news|title = Treasury Secretary Jack Lew unveils new signature after quibbles with his scribble|date = June 18, 2013|url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/treasury-secretary-jack-lew-unveils-new-signature-after-quibbles-with-his-scribble/2013/06/18/5c904a90-d858-11e2-a9f2-42ee3912ae0e_story.html|last=Goldfarb|first = Zachary A.|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=July 29, 2013}}</ref> The [[Senate Finance Committee]] held confirmation hearings for Lew on February 13, 2013.<ref>[https://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/gpo45996 Nomination of Jacob J. Lew: Hearing Before the Committee on Finance, United States Senate, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, First Session, on the Nomination of Jacob J. Lew, to be Secretary, Department of the Treasury, February 13, 2013]</ref> During his confirmation hearings before the [[United States Senate Committee on Finance]], Republican Senator [[Chuck Grassley]] expressed concern that Lew did not know what [[Ugland House]] was, though he had invested in it.<ref name="TNT Ugland House">{{cite web|title=Grassley Says Lew's Ignorance of Ugland House "Does not Build Confidence"|publisher=Tax Notes Today|page=2013 TNT 31–26|date=February 13, 2013}}</ref> Lew had invested heavily in funds in Ugland House, while he worked as an investment banker at Citigroup during the 2008 financial meltdown.<ref>{{cite news|title=From the Citi to the Caymans|newspaper=WSJ News|date=February 12, 2012|access-date=February 21, 2013|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323696404578298352191611608 }}</ref> Lew had taken advantage of current tax law, and his financial allocation in the venture resulted in Lew taking roughly a 2.8% loss, a $1,582 decrease in his investment principal.<ref>{{cite news
On January 10, 2013, President Obama nominated Lew for the position of [[Secretary of the Treasury (U.S.)|Secretary of the Treasury]].<ref name="NYT1.10"/> The nomination became the subject of some humorous commentary, due to Lew's unusual loopy signature, which would have appeared on all newly issued U.S. paper currency for the duration of his tenure;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2013/01/likely-treasury-secretary-under-fire-for-signature/|title=Likely Treasury Secretary Under Fire for Signature|work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|date=January 9, 2013|access-date=January 9, 2013}}</ref> the signature generated enough media attention that Obama joked at a press conference that he had considered rescinding his nomination when he learned of it.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/01/10/obama-mocks-lews-signature/|title=Obama mocks Lew's signature |first=Rachel|last=Weiner|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=January 10, 2013|access-date=January 10, 2013}}</ref> Lew later adopted a more conventional signature for currency.<ref>{{Cite news|title = Treasury Secretary Jack Lew unveils new signature after quibbles with his scribble|date = June 18, 2013|url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/treasury-secretary-jack-lew-unveils-new-signature-after-quibbles-with-his-scribble/2013/06/18/5c904a90-d858-11e2-a9f2-42ee3912ae0e_story.html|last=Goldfarb|first = Zachary A.|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=July 29, 2013}}</ref> The [[Senate Finance Committee]] held confirmation hearings for Lew on February 13, 2013.<ref>[https://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/gpo45996 Nomination of Jacob J. Lew: Hearing Before the Committee on Finance, United States Senate, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, First Session, on the Nomination of Jacob J. Lew, to be Secretary, Department of the Treasury, February 13, 2013]</ref> During his confirmation hearings before the [[United States Senate Committee on Finance]], Republican senator [[Chuck Grassley]] expressed concern that Lew did not know what [[Ugland House]] was, though he had invested in it.<ref name="TNT Ugland House">{{cite web|url=https://www.taxnotes.com/research/federal/legislative-documents/congressional-news-releases/grassley-says-lew%27s-ignorance-of-ugland-house-%27does-not-build/dzsr |title=Grassley Says Lew's Ignorance of Ugland House "Does not Build Confidence"|publisher=Tax Notes Today|page=2013 TNT 31–26|date=February 13, 2013}}</ref> Lew had invested heavily in funds in Ugland House, while he worked as an investment banker at Citigroup during the 2008 financial meltdown.<ref>{{cite news|title=From the Citi to the Caymans|newspaper=WSJ News|date=February 12, 2012|access-date=February 21, 2013|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323696404578298352191611608 }}</ref> Lew had taken advantage of current tax law, and his financial allocation in the venture resulted in Lew taking roughly a 2.8% loss, a $1,582 decrease in his investment principal.<ref>{{cite news
|title=Politically inconvenient taxation
|title=Politically inconvenient taxation
|url=http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/political-potpourri/2013/feb/16/treasury-secretary-jack-lew-politically-inconvenie/#ixzz2LIWk9Izz
|url=http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/political-potpourri/2013/feb/16/treasury-secretary-jack-lew-politically-inconvenie/#ixzz2LIWk9Izz
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On February 27, 2013, the full Senate voted and approved Lew for Secretary of the Treasury by a 71–26 vote.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1131/vote_113_1_00025.htm|title=On the Nomination (Confirmation Jacob J. Lew, of New York, to be Secretary of the Treasury)|website=United States Senate|date=October 31, 2023|access-date=October 31, 2023}}</ref> He was sworn into office on February 28, 2013.<ref>{{cite web
On February 27, 2013, the full Senate voted and approved Lew for Secretary of the Treasury by a 71–26 vote.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1131/vote_113_1_00025.htm|title=On the Nomination (Confirmation Jacob J. Lew, of New York, to be Secretary of the Treasury)|website=United States Senate|date=October 31, 2023|access-date=October 31, 2023}}</ref> He was sworn into office on February 28, 2013.<ref>{{cite web
|title=Jack Lew Gets Enough Senate Votes to Be Confirmed as Treasury Secretary
|title=Jack Lew Gets Enough Senate Votes to Be Confirmed as Treasury Secretary
|url=https://www.cnbc.com/id/100503428
|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2013/02/27/senate-confirms-jack-lew-as-the-next-treasury-secretary.html
|publisher=CNBC
|publisher=CNBC
|access-date=February 27, 2013
|access-date=February 27, 2013
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303234434/http://www.cnbc.com/id/100503428
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303234434/http://www.cnbc.com/id/100503428
|archive-date=March 3, 2014
|archive-date=March 3, 2014
|url-status=dead
|url-status=live
|date=February 27, 2013
|date=February 27, 2013
}}</ref>
}}</ref>


In December 2013, Lew said that the government might run out of cash to pay the country's bills by late February or early March 2014. That set up yet another showdown in Congress over raising or suspending the [[debt limit]], a statutory limit on the total amount of United States borrowing, early in the year. "The creditworthiness of the United States is an essential underpinning of our strength as a nation; it is not a bargaining chip to be used for partisan political ends", Mr. Lew said in the letter. "Increasing the debt limit does not authorize new spending commitments. It simply allows the government to pay for expenditures Congress has already approved."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/20/business/congress-is-warned-anew-on-debt-ceiling.html?ref=politics&_r=0 |author=Annie Lowrey |title=Congress Is Warned Anew Not to Breach Debt Ceiling |newspaper=[[International New York Times]] |date=December 19, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303234434/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/20/business/congress-is-warned-anew-on-debt-ceiling.html?ref=politics&_r=0 |archive-date=March 3, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In December 2013, Lew said that the government might run out of cash to pay the country's bills by late February or early March 2014. That set up yet another showdown in Congress over raising or suspending the [[debt limit]], a statutory limit on the total amount of United States borrowing, early in the year. "The creditworthiness of the United States is an essential underpinning of our strength as a nation; it is not a bargaining chip to be used for partisan political ends," Mr. Lew said in the letter. "Increasing the debt limit does not authorize new spending commitments. It simply allows the government to pay for expenditures Congress has already approved."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/20/business/congress-is-warned-anew-on-debt-ceiling.html?ref=politics&_r=0 |author=Annie Lowrey |title=Congress Is Warned Anew Not to Breach Debt Ceiling |newspaper=[[International New York Times]] |date=December 19, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303234434/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/20/business/congress-is-warned-anew-on-debt-ceiling.html?ref=politics&_r=0 |archive-date=March 3, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


In May 2014, Lew received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from [[Georgetown University]], and spoke at the first commencement ceremony of the [[McCourt School of Public Policy]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.georgetown.edu/hoyas2014/speakers.html |title=Georgetown Announces Speakers for 2014 Commencement |date=May 1, 2014 |work=Georgetown University |access-date=May 1, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502033259/http://www.georgetown.edu/hoyas2014/speakers.html |archive-date=May 2, 2014 }}</ref>
In May 2014, Lew received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from [[Georgetown University]], and spoke at the first commencement ceremony of the [[McCourt School of Public Policy]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.georgetown.edu/hoyas2014/speakers.html |title=Georgetown Announces Speakers for 2014 Commencement |date=May 1, 2014 |work=Georgetown University |access-date=May 1, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502033259/http://www.georgetown.edu/hoyas2014/speakers.html |archive-date=May 2, 2014 }}</ref>


In 2016, a fictionalized version of Lew appeared in the 2016 episodes [[List of Mr. Robot episodes#ep12|"eps2.0_unm4sk-pt2.tc"]] and [[List of Mr. Robot episodes#ep21|"eps2.9_pyth0n-pt1.p7z"]] in Season 2 of the series ''[[Mr. Robot]]''.<ref name="How Mr. Robot Got President Obama to Say 'Tyrell Wellick'">{{cite web|last1=Riesman|first1=Abraham|title=How Mr. Robot Got President Obama to Say 'Tyrell Wellick'|url=http://www.vulture.com/2016/07/mr-robot-obama.html|work=[[Vulture.com]]|access-date=June 23, 2017|archive-url=https://archive.today/20170623160625/http://www.vulture.com/2016/07/mr-robot-obama.html|archive-date=June 23, 2017|url-status=live|language=en|date=July 13, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2904648/mr-robot-which-mostly-new-characters-live-only-in-elliots-mind/|title=Mr. Robot: Which (Mostly) New Characters Live Only In Elliot's Mind?|work=MTV News|access-date=June 24, 2017|language=en}}</ref>
In 2016, a fictionalized version of Lew appeared in season 2 [[List of Mr. Robot episodes#ep12|episode 2]] and [[List of Mr. Robot episodes#ep21|episode 11]] in the series ''[[Mr. Robot]]''.<ref name="How Mr. Robot Got President Obama to Say 'Tyrell Wellick'">{{cite web |last1=Riesman |first1=Abraham |date=July 13, 2016 |title=How Mr. Robot Got President Obama to Say 'Tyrell Wellick' |url=http://www.vulture.com/2016/07/mr-robot-obama.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170623160625/http://www.vulture.com/2016/07/mr-robot-obama.html |archive-date=June 23, 2017 |access-date=June 23, 2017 |work=[[Vulture.com]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Mr. Robot: Which (Mostly) New Characters Live Only In Elliot's Mind? |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2904648/mr-robot-which-mostly-new-characters-live-only-in-elliots-mind/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160715144209/http://www.mtv.com/news/2904648/mr-robot-which-mostly-new-characters-live-only-in-elliots-mind/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 15, 2016 |access-date=June 24, 2017 |work=MTV News |language=en}}</ref>


==Biden administration==
==Biden administration==
===Ambassador to Israel===
===Ambassador to Israel===
[[File:248th U.S. Independence Day Celebration in Israel. July 3, 2024 97.jpg|thumb|Jack Lew and Israeli president [[Isaac Herzog]] at the [[Embassy of the United States, Jerusalem|U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem]] on July 3, 2024]]
On September 5, 2023, President Biden nominated Jack Lew to be the US Ambassador to [[Israel]].<ref>{{cite web
On September 5, 2023, President Biden nominated Lew as the U.S. ambassador to [[Israel]]. A hearing on his nomination took place before the [[United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations|Senate Foreign Relations Committee]] on October 18, 2023. Lew's confirmation coincided with Congress responding to the [[2023 Hamas attack on Israel|October 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel]] and the ensuing [[2023 Israel–Hamas war|war in Gaza]]. Although Biden had nominated Lew before the war began, the urgency surrounding his confirmation heightened as hostilities between Israel and Gaza intensified. While Republicans recognized the necessity of a Senate-confirmed ambassador, they opposed Lew, expressing concerns about his role in the [[Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action|multinational nuclear pact with Iran]] during the Obama years. They argued that this made him an unreliable interlocutor with Israel and questioned him about the deal during his confirmation hearing.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Gregoran |first1=Deborah |last2=Shabad |first2=Rebecca |date=October 18, 2023 |title=Biden's ambassador pick tells senators 'Israel's security is paramount' |language=en-US |website=NBC News |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senate-hold-jack-lew-confirmation-hearing-ambassador-israel-rcna120648 |access-date=October 26, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Demirjian |first=Karoun |date=2023-10-31 |title=Senate Confirms Lew as U.S. Ambassador to Israel |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/31/us/politics/jacob-lew-confirmed-israel-ambassador.html |access-date=2023-11-04 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
|title=President Biden Announces Jacob J. Lew as Nominee for Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the State of Israel

|url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/09/05/president-biden-announces-jacob-j-lew-as-nominee-for-ambassador-extraordinary-and-plenipotentiary-to-the-state-of-israel/
On October 25, 2023, the committee advanced his nomination by a 12–9 vote, with Senator [[Rand Paul]], Republican of [[Kentucky]], joining all of the Democrats to advance his nomination to the full Senate.<ref>{{Cite news|date=October 25, 2023|last1=Shabad|first1=Rebecca|last2=Thorp V|first2=Frank|title=Senate committee advances Jack Lew's nomination to be U.S. ambassador to Israel|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna122095|website=NBC News|access-date=October 26, 2023|language=en-US}}</ref> On October 31, 2023, the [[United States Senate]] invoked cloture on his nomination by a 53–44 vote.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1181/vote_118_1_00275.htm|title=On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture: Jacob J. Lew to be Ambassador of the United States of America to the State of Israel)|website=United States Senate|date=October 31, 2023|access-date=October 31, 2023}}</ref> Later that day, Lew's nomination was confirmed by a 53–43 vote, with Republican senators [[Rand Paul]] and [[Lindsey Graham]] voting to confirm his nomination.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1181/vote_118_1_00276.htm|title=On the Nomination (Confirmation: Jacob J. Lew, of New York, to be Ambassador of the United States of America to the State of Israel)|website=United States Senate|date=October 31, 2023|access-date=October 31, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rimmer |first=Morgan |last2= |date=2023-10-31 |title=Senate confirms Jack Lew as US ambassador to Israel following vocal GOP opposition over Iran deal |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/31/politics/senate-confirms-jack-lew/index.html |access-date=2024-11-13 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref> Lew presented his credentials to President [[Isaac Herzog]] on November 5, 2023.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/herzog-accepts-credentials-of-new-us-ambassador-jack-lew/ |title=Herzog accepts credentials of new US Ambassador Jack Lew |date=2023-11-05 |website=The Times of Israel |access-date=2023-11-05}}</ref>
|publisher=White House

|access-date=September 5, 2023
In January 2024, Lew advocated the [[US State Department]] to approve [[Boeing]] manufactured [[GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb]] sales to Israel, asserting that the Israeli air force would minimize civilian death. GBU-39 bombs were later identified in attacks on dense civilian areas, including the [[Tel al-Sultan attack]], [[Al-Sardi school attack]], and [[Al-Tabaeen school attack]]. Embassy officials in both Jerusalem and Washington say that concerns about civilian death tolls, including the targeting of Palestinian embassy employees and their families, were brought to Lew repeatedly. Such concerns were not found in Lew's diplomatic cables.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Murphy |first=Brett |date=2024-10-04 |title=Inside the State Department’s Weapons Pipeline to Israel |url=https://www.propublica.org/article/israel-gaza-america-biden-administration-weapons-bombs-state-department |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=ProPublica |language=en}}</ref>
|date=September 5, 2023
}}</ref> On October 18, 2023, a hearing on his nomination was held before the [[United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations|Senate Foreign Relations Committee]]. During his confirmation hearing, he was questioned by Republican senators on the committee relating to the [[Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action|Iran nuclear deal]] in 2015.<ref>{{Cite news|date=October 18, 2023|last1=Gregoran|first1=Deborah|last2=Shabad|first2=Rebecca|title=Biden's ambassador pick tells senators 'Israel’s security is paramount'|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senate-hold-jack-lew-confirmation-hearing-ambassador-israel-rcna120648|website=NBC News|access-date=October 26, 2023|language=en-US}}</ref> On October 25, 2023, the committee advanced his nomination by a 12–9 vote, with Senator [[Rand Paul]], Republican of [[Kentucky]], joined all of the Democrats to advance his nomination to the full Senate.<ref>{{Cite news|date=October 25, 2023|last1=Shabad|first1=Rebecca|last2=Thorp V|first2=Frank|title=Senate committee advances Jack Lew's nomination to be U.S. ambassador to Israel|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna122095|website=NBC News|access-date=October 26, 2023|language=en-US}}</ref> On October 31, 2023, the [[United States Senate]] invoked cloture on his nomination by a 53–44 vote.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1181/vote_118_1_00275.htm|title=On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture: Jacob J. Lew to be Ambassador of the United States of America to the State of Israel)|website=United States Senate|date=October 31, 2023|access-date=October 31, 2023}}</ref> Later that day, Lew's nomination was confirmed by a 53–43 vote, with Republican Senators [[Rand Paul]] and [[Lindsey Graham]] voting to confirm his nomination.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1181/vote_118_1_00276.htm|title=On the Nomination (Confirmation: Jacob J. Lew, of New York, to be Ambassador of the United States of America to the State of Israel)|website=United States Senate|date=October 31, 2023|access-date=October 31, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/senate-confirms-jack-lew-as-u-s-ambassador-to-israel/ar-AA1jaBEQ?OCID=ansmsnnews11|title=Senate confirms Jack Lew as U.S. ambassador to Israel|publisher=MSN|accessdate=October 31, 2023}}</ref>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Lew married his high school sweetheart, Ruth Schwartz.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://riverdalepress.com/stories/Riverdalian-named-for-top-treasury-post,51684|title=Riverdalian named for top treasury post|last=Wisnieski|first=Adam|date=January 16, 2013|newspaper=The Riverdale Press|access-date=December 17, 2016}}</ref> As Chief of Staff, Lew commuted to Washington from the couple's home in the Riverdale neighborhood of the Bronx, New York City.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/14-things-you-should-know-about-jack-lew/2013/01/07/c6860ba4-5925-11e2-9fa9-5fbdc9530eb9_gallery.html|title=14 things you should know about Jack Lew|date=January 7, 2013|newspaper=The Washington Post|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286|access-date=December 17, 2016}}</ref> They have two grown children,<ref name=":0" /> one of whom is [[Shoshana Lew]], head of the [[Colorado Department of Transportation]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Chief operating officer Shoshana Lew will head Colorado's transportation department |url=https://www.providencejournal.com/news/20181227/ri-transporation-official-heads-west |access-date=October 31, 2019 |work=Providence Journal |date=December 27, 2018 |quote=Lew, a former U.S. DOT official under President Barack Obama and daughter of former U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew}}</ref>
Lew married his high school sweetheart, Ruth Schwartz.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://riverdalepress.com/stories/Riverdalian-named-for-top-treasury-post,51684|title=Riverdalian named for top treasury post|last=Wisnieski|first=Adam|date=January 16, 2013|newspaper=The Riverdale Press|access-date=December 17, 2016}}</ref> As Chief of Staff, Lew commuted to Washington from the couple's home in the Riverdale neighborhood of the Bronx, New York City.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/14-things-you-should-know-about-jack-lew/2013/01/07/c6860ba4-5925-11e2-9fa9-5fbdc9530eb9_gallery.html|title=14 things you should know about Jack Lew|date=January 7, 2013|newspaper=The Washington Post|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286|access-date=December 17, 2016}}</ref> They have two grown children,<ref name=":0" /> one of whom is [[Shoshana Lew]], head of the [[Colorado Department of Transportation]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Chief operating officer Shoshana Lew will head Colorado's transportation department |url=https://www.providencejournal.com/news/20181227/ri-transporation-official-heads-west |access-date=October 31, 2019 |work=Providence Journal |date=December 27, 2018 |quote=Lew, a former U.S. DOT official under President Barack Obama and daughter of former U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew}}</ref>


Lew is an [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox Jew]] who observes the Jewish [[Sabbath|Shabbat]]<ref name="huff">Wagner, Ellis, White House Correspondent, [http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/07/16/jacob-lew-bill-clintons-budget-brain-returning-to-the-omb-hel "Clinton's Budget Brain Returning to OMB Helm", Politics Daily, July 16, 2010] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114180907/http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/07/16/jacob-lew-bill-clintons-budget-brain-returning-to-the-omb-hel/ |date=January 14, 2012 }}, retrieved February 5, 2012.</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Obama names Jack Lew new chief of staff|date=January 9, 2012 |access-date=January 9, 2012|first=Yitzhak|last=Benhorin |work=[[Ynetnews]] |url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4173501,00.html}}</ref> and has attended [[Beth Sholom Congregation and Talmud Torah|Beth Sholom Congregation]] in [[Potomac, Maryland]], TheShul of the Nation's Capital <ref>{{Cite news|title=Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner's choice of neighborhood narrows the focus on Chabad|language=en-US|newspaper=The Washington Post|first=Julie|last=Zauzmer|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2017/01/05/ivanka-trump-and-jared-kushners-choice-of-neighborhood-narrows-the-focus-on-chabad/|access-date=June 9, 2021|issn=0190-8286}}</ref> and [[Kesher Israel (Washington, D.C.)|Kesher Israel Congregation]] in Washington, D. C.,<ref name="BJL">{{cite news|url=http://www.baltimorejewishlife.com/news/news-detail.php?SECTION_ID=2&ARTICLE_ID=36505|title=A School for D. C.'s Jewish Elite|last=Hoffman|first=Allison|date=April 3, 2013|work=Baltimore Jewish Life|access-date=December 2, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022150712/http://www.baltimorejewishlife.com/news/news-detail.php?SECTION_ID=2&ARTICLE_ID=36505|archive-date=October 22, 2014}}</ref> and the [[Hebrew Institute of Riverdale]] in the [[Bronx]], New York.<ref name="hamodia">{{cite web|last=Donn|first=Yochonon|url=https://www.hamodia.com/inthepaper.cfm?ArticleID=1133|title=Jack Lew: Liberal Jew, White House's First "Gabbai"|publisher=Hamodia|access-date=January 3, 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130216053945/https://www.hamodia.com/inthepaper.cfm?ArticleID=1133|archive-date=February 16, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> Interviewed in a 2010 article, Lew's former boss on the [[United States National Security Council|National Security Council]], [[Sandy Berger]], commented that "Lew's faith never got in the way of performing his duties".<ref name=huff/> A 2011 press release from the ''[[Religion News Service]]'' noted that Lew also "has extensive connections in the American Jewish community", and that he might be able to help President Obama "build a more friendly rapport" with Israeli Prime Minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Gibson |first=David|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/10/white-house-cecilia-munoz-jacob-lew_n_1197664.html|title=New White House Staffers, Cecille Munoz and Jacob Lew, Have Strategic Catholic, Jewish Ties|work=[[The Huffington Post]]|date=January 10, 2012|access-date=February 5, 2012}}</ref>
Lew is an [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox Jew]] who observes the Jewish [[Sabbath|Shabbat]]<ref name="huff">Wagner, Ellis, White House Correspondent, [http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/07/16/jacob-lew-bill-clintons-budget-brain-returning-to-the-omb-hel "Clinton's Budget Brain Returning to OMB Helm", Politics Daily, July 16, 2010] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114180907/http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/07/16/jacob-lew-bill-clintons-budget-brain-returning-to-the-omb-hel/ |date=January 14, 2012 }}, retrieved February 5, 2012.</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Obama names Jack Lew new chief of staff|date=January 9, 2012 |access-date=January 9, 2012|first=Yitzhak|last=Benhorin |work=[[Ynetnews]] |url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4173501,00.html}}</ref> and has attended [[Beth Sholom Congregation and Talmud Torah|Beth Sholom Congregation]] in [[Potomac, Maryland]]; TheSHUL of the Nation's Capital<ref>{{Cite news|title=Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner's choice of neighborhood narrows the focus on Chabad|language=en-US|newspaper=The Washington Post|first=Julie|last=Zauzmer|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2017/01/05/ivanka-trump-and-jared-kushners-choice-of-neighborhood-narrows-the-focus-on-chabad/|access-date=June 9, 2021|issn=0190-8286}}</ref> and [[Kesher Israel (Washington, D.C.)|Kesher Israel Congregation]] in Washington, D.C.;<ref name="BJL">{{cite news|url=http://www.baltimorejewishlife.com/news/news-detail.php?SECTION_ID=2&ARTICLE_ID=36505|title=A School for D. C.'s Jewish Elite|last=Hoffman|first=Allison|date=April 3, 2013|work=Baltimore Jewish Life|access-date=December 2, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022150712/http://www.baltimorejewishlife.com/news/news-detail.php?SECTION_ID=2&ARTICLE_ID=36505|archive-date=October 22, 2014}}</ref> and the [[Hebrew Institute of Riverdale]] in the [[Bronx]], New York.<ref name="hamodia">{{cite web|last=Donn|first=Yochonon|url=https://www.hamodia.com/inthepaper.cfm?ArticleID=1133|title=Jack Lew: Liberal Jew, White House's First "Gabbai"|publisher=Hamodia|access-date=January 3, 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130216053945/https://www.hamodia.com/inthepaper.cfm?ArticleID=1133|archive-date=February 16, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> Interviewed in a 2010 article, Lew's former boss on the [[United States National Security Council|National Security Council]], [[Sandy Berger]], commented that "Lew's faith never got in the way of performing his duties."<ref name=huff/> A 2011 press release from the ''[[Religion News Service]]'' noted that Lew also "has extensive connections in the American Jewish community," and that he might be able to help President Obama "build a more friendly rapport" with Israeli prime minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Gibson |first=David|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/10/white-house-cecilia-munoz-jacob-lew_n_1197664.html|title=New White House Staffers, Cecille Munoz and Jacob Lew, Have Strategic Catholic, Jewish Ties|work=[[The Huffington Post]]|date=January 10, 2012|access-date=February 5, 2012}}</ref>

In 1971, at the age of 16, Lew helped organize The New York March Against Hunger. In 2018, Lew was honored by [[Queens Community House]] for his lifelong contributions to social equality.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Davenport |first=Emily |date=2018-09-14 |title=Jacob Lew to be honored at upcoming gala in Astoria hosted by Queens Community House |url=https://qns.com/2018/09/jacob-lew-honored-upcoming-gala-astoria-hosted-queens-community-house/ |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=qns.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of Jewish United States Cabinet members]]


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:Clinton administration cabinet members]]
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[[Category:Members of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of the United States to Israel]]

Latest revision as of 02:55, 13 November 2024

Jack Lew
Official portrait, 2023
United States Ambassador to Israel
Assumed office
November 5, 2023
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byStephanie Hallett (interim)
76th United States Secretary of the Treasury
In office
February 28, 2013 – January 20, 2017
PresidentBarack Obama
DeputyNeal S. Wolin
Mary J. Miller (acting)
Sarah Bloom Raskin
Preceded byTimothy Geithner
Succeeded bySteven Mnuchin
25th White House Chief of Staff
In office
January 27, 2012 – January 20, 2013
PresidentBarack Obama
DeputyAlyssa Mastromonaco
Nancy-Ann DeParle
Mark B. Childress
Preceded byWilliam M. Daley
Succeeded byDenis McDonough
32nd and 38th Director of the
Office of Management and Budget
In office
November 18, 2010 – January 27, 2012
PresidentBarack Obama
DeputyJeffrey Liebman (acting)
Heather Higginbottom
Preceded byPeter R. Orszag
Succeeded bySylvia Mathews Burwell
In office
July 31, 1998 – January 19, 2001
Acting: May 21, 1998 – July 31, 1998
PresidentBill Clinton
DeputyJoshua Gotbaum (acting)
Sylvia M. Mathews
Preceded byFranklin Raines
Succeeded byMitch Daniels
1st United States Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources
In office
January 28, 2009 – November 18, 2010
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byThomas R. Nides
Personal details
Born
Jacob Joseph Lew

(1955-08-29) August 29, 1955 (age 69)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseRuth Schwartz
Children2
EducationHarvard University (BA)
Georgetown University (JD)
Signature

Jacob Joseph Lew (born August 29, 1955) is an American attorney and diplomat serving as the United States ambassador to Israel. He was the seventy-sixth United States secretary of the treasury from 2013 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, he also served as the twenty-fifth White House chief of staff from 2012 to 2013 and as director of the Office of Management and Budget in both the Clinton administration and Obama administration.

Born in New York City, Lew was educated at Harvard College and the Georgetown University Law Center. He began his legal career as a legislative assistant to Representative Joe Moakley, and as a senior policy adviser to former House Speaker Tip O'Neill. Lew then worked as an attorney in private practice before joining Boston's office of management and budget as a deputy. In 1993, he began work for the Clinton administration as a special assistant to the president. In 1994, Lew served as associate director for legislative affairs and deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget, then served as the agency's director, from 1998 to 2001. Following his work in the Clinton administration, Lew became executive vice-president of operations at New York University, serving from 2001 to 2006, then the COO at Citigroup, from 2006 to 2008. During the Obama administration, Lew served as the first deputy secretary of state for management and resources from 2009 to 2010, before returning to his former post of OMB Director from 2010 to 2012. He then served as chief of staff for the remainder of President Barack Obama’s first term from 2012 to 2013.

On January 10, 2013, during Obama's second term, Lew was nominated to replace retiring Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner,[1] was confirmed by the Senate February 27, 2013, and then sworn in on the following day, serving until the conclusion of the Obama administration. Since 2017, he has been a managing partner at Lindsay Goldberg,[2] a private equity firm headquartered in New York City. He is currently a visiting professor at the School of International and Public Affairs of Columbia University.[3]

On September 5, 2023, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Lew to serve as United States ambassador to Israel.[4] His nomination was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 31, 2023.[5]

Early life, education, and early career

[edit]

Lew was born in New York City, the son of Ruth (née Turoff) and Irving Lew.[6][7] His family is Jewish.[8] He attended New York City public schools, graduating from Forest Hills High School.[9] His father was a lawyer and rare book dealer who came to the United States from Poland as a child.[10] Lew attended Carleton College in Minnesota for a year, where his faculty adviser was Paul Wellstone, who eventually represented Minnesota in the U.S. Senate.[11] He graduated from Harvard College in 1978 and the Georgetown University Law Center in 1983.[12]

He worked as an aide to Rep. Joe Moakley (D-Mass.) from 1974 to 1975.[13] In 1979, he was a senior policy adviser to House Speaker Tip O'Neill.[14] Under O'Neill he served at the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee as Assistant Director and then Executive Director, and was responsible for work on domestic and economic issues including Social Security, Medicare, budget, tax, trade, appropriations, and energy issues.[15]

Lew practiced as an attorney for five years as a partner at Van Ness Feldman and Curtis.[16] His practice dealt primarily with electric power generation. He has also worked as Executive Director of the Center for Middle East Research, Issues Director for the Democratic National Committee's Campaign 88, and Deputy Director of the Office of Program Analysis in the city of Boston's Office of Management and Budget.[17][18]

Clinton administration

[edit]

From February 1993 to 1994, Lew served as Special Assistant to the President under Bill Clinton.[19] Lew was responsible for policy development and the drafting of the national service initiative (AmeriCorps) and health care reform legislation.[20]

Lew left the White House in October 1994 to work as OMB's Executive Associate Director and Associate Director for Legislative Affairs.[21] From August 1995 until July 1998, Lew served as Deputy Director of OMB.[22] There, Lew was chief operating officer responsible for day-to-day management of a staff of 500. He had crosscutting responsibilities to coordinate Clinton administration efforts on budget and appropriations matters. He frequently served as a member of the Administration negotiating team, including regarding the Balanced Budget Act of 1997.

President Clinton nominated Lew to be director of the OMB,[23] and his nomination was confirmed by the United States Senate on July 31, 1998.[24] He served in that capacity until the end of the Clinton administration in January 2001. As OMB director, Lew had the lead responsibility for the Clinton Administration's policies on budget, management, and appropriations issues. As a member of the Cabinet and senior member of the economic team, he advised the president on a broad range of domestic and international policies. He represented the Administration in budget negotiations with Congress and served as a member of the National Security Council.

Between Clinton and Obama tenures

[edit]

After leaving public office in the Clinton administration, Lew served as the executive vice president for operations at New York University and was a clinical professor of public administration at NYU's Wagner School of Public Service.[25] While at NYU, Lew aided the university in ending graduate students' collective bargaining rights. The Obama administration has maintained that Lew supports workers' union rights.[26] According to a 2004 report in NYU's student newspaper, the Washington Square News, Lew was paid $840,339 during the 2002–2003 academic year.[27] In addition, the university forgave several hundred thousand dollars in mortgage loans it made to Lew.[28] In 2004, President George W. Bush appointed Lew as a member of the board of directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service, a position he held until 2008.[29]

In June 2006, Lew was named chief operating officer of Citigroup's Alternative Investments unit, a proprietary trading group. The unit he oversaw invested in a hedge fund "that bet on the housing market to collapse."[30] During his work at Citigroup, Lew had invested heavily in funds in Ugland House while he worked as an investment banker at Citigroup during the 2008 financial meltdown.[31] Lew also had oversight of Citigroup subsidiaries in countries including, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, and Hong Kong; and during his time at Citigroup, Citigroup subsidiaries in the Cayman Islands increased to 113.[32][33]

Lew co-chaired the Advisory Board for City Year New York.[34] He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Brookings Institution Hamilton Project Advisory Board, and the National Academy of Social Insurance.[35] Lew is also a member of the bar in Massachusetts and the District of Columbia.[36]

Obama administration

[edit]

Deputy Secretary of State

[edit]
Lew with former Chair of the Joint Chiefs Admiral Mike Mullen at the Combined Press Information Center in Baghdad, July 27, 2010.

As Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, Lew was the State Department's chief operating officer and was primarily responsible for resource issues, while James Steinberg, who also served as Deputy Secretary of State during that period was responsible for policy.[37][38] Lew was co-leader of the State Department's Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review.[39]

Budget director

[edit]

On July 13, 2010, the White House announced that Lew had been chosen to replace Peter Orszag as director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), subject to Senate confirmation.[40] During confirmation hearings in the Senate, in response to questioning by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Lew said that he did not believe deregulation was a "proximate cause" of the financial crisis of 2007–2008: Lew told the panel that "the problems in the financial industry preceded deregulation," and after discussing those issues, added that he didn't "personally know the extent to which deregulation drove it, but I don't believe that deregulation was the proximate cause."[41][42]

On November 18, 2010, Lew was confirmed by the Senate by unanimous consent.

The $3.7 trillion 2011 budget President Obama unveiled the administration estimated reductions to federal spending deficits by $1.1 trillion over the next decade if adopted and economic assumptions were fully achieved. Two-thirds of that estimated reduction would come from spending cuts through a five-year freeze in discretionary spending first announced in Obama's 2011 State of the Union address, as well as savings to mandatory programs such as Medicare and lower interest payments on the debt that would result from the lower spending. Tax increases are responsible for the other third of the reduction, including a cap on itemized reductions for wealthier taxpayers and the elimination of tax breaks for oil and gas companies.[43] Economist and former financial fraud investigator William K. Black warned that the OMB budget statement prepared under Lew's direction was "an ode to austerity," and that austerity would force the U.S. economy back into recession.[44]

Lew meeting with President Barack Obama and the Legislative Affairs Director Rob Nabors

In an op-ed in the Huffington Post, Lew cited top Administration priorities to achieve deficit reduction; including: $400 billion in savings from non-security discretionary spending freezes, $78 billion in cuts to the Department of Defense, returning to the Clinton-era tax rates for the top 2% of income earners, and lowering the corporate tax from 35% to 25%.[45]

Chief of Staff

[edit]

On January 9, 2012, President Obama announced that Lew would replace William M. Daley as White House Chief of Staff.[46] Lew's nomination was followed with criticism[47][48][49][50] after renewed reports that he received over $900,000 in bonuses while working at Citigroup, which had been rescued with $45 billion from the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) after losing $27.7 billion, or 90% of its value.[51][52]

During his tenure as chief of staff, Lew was seen as a supporter and top negotiator for a "grand bargain" deal between President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner, to avoid "fiscal cliff" sequester cuts and tax increases.[15]

Secretary of the Treasury

[edit]
Lew's signature
Lew's currency signature

On January 10, 2013, President Obama nominated Lew for the position of Secretary of the Treasury.[1] The nomination became the subject of some humorous commentary, due to Lew's unusual loopy signature, which would have appeared on all newly issued U.S. paper currency for the duration of his tenure;[53] the signature generated enough media attention that Obama joked at a press conference that he had considered rescinding his nomination when he learned of it.[54] Lew later adopted a more conventional signature for currency.[55] The Senate Finance Committee held confirmation hearings for Lew on February 13, 2013.[56] During his confirmation hearings before the United States Senate Committee on Finance, Republican senator Chuck Grassley expressed concern that Lew did not know what Ugland House was, though he had invested in it.[57] Lew had invested heavily in funds in Ugland House, while he worked as an investment banker at Citigroup during the 2008 financial meltdown.[58] Lew had taken advantage of current tax law, and his financial allocation in the venture resulted in Lew taking roughly a 2.8% loss, a $1,582 decrease in his investment principal.[59] The committee approved his nomination by a 19–5 vote on February 26, 2013, sending his nomination to the full Senate.[60]

Lew is sworn as Secretary of the Treasury by Vice President Joe Biden in the Oval Office of the White House, February 28, 2013.

On February 27, 2013, the full Senate voted and approved Lew for Secretary of the Treasury by a 71–26 vote.[61] He was sworn into office on February 28, 2013.[62]

In December 2013, Lew said that the government might run out of cash to pay the country's bills by late February or early March 2014. That set up yet another showdown in Congress over raising or suspending the debt limit, a statutory limit on the total amount of United States borrowing, early in the year. "The creditworthiness of the United States is an essential underpinning of our strength as a nation; it is not a bargaining chip to be used for partisan political ends," Mr. Lew said in the letter. "Increasing the debt limit does not authorize new spending commitments. It simply allows the government to pay for expenditures Congress has already approved."[63]

In May 2014, Lew received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Georgetown University, and spoke at the first commencement ceremony of the McCourt School of Public Policy.[64]

In 2016, a fictionalized version of Lew appeared in season 2 episode 2 and episode 11 in the series Mr. Robot.[65][66]

Biden administration

[edit]

Ambassador to Israel

[edit]
Jack Lew and Israeli president Isaac Herzog at the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem on July 3, 2024

On September 5, 2023, President Biden nominated Lew as the U.S. ambassador to Israel. A hearing on his nomination took place before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on October 18, 2023. Lew's confirmation coincided with Congress responding to the October 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel and the ensuing war in Gaza. Although Biden had nominated Lew before the war began, the urgency surrounding his confirmation heightened as hostilities between Israel and Gaza intensified. While Republicans recognized the necessity of a Senate-confirmed ambassador, they opposed Lew, expressing concerns about his role in the multinational nuclear pact with Iran during the Obama years. They argued that this made him an unreliable interlocutor with Israel and questioned him about the deal during his confirmation hearing.[67][68]

On October 25, 2023, the committee advanced his nomination by a 12–9 vote, with Senator Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky, joining all of the Democrats to advance his nomination to the full Senate.[69] On October 31, 2023, the United States Senate invoked cloture on his nomination by a 53–44 vote.[70] Later that day, Lew's nomination was confirmed by a 53–43 vote, with Republican senators Rand Paul and Lindsey Graham voting to confirm his nomination.[71][72] Lew presented his credentials to President Isaac Herzog on November 5, 2023.[73]

In January 2024, Lew advocated the US State Department to approve Boeing manufactured GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb sales to Israel, asserting that the Israeli air force would minimize civilian death. GBU-39 bombs were later identified in attacks on dense civilian areas, including the Tel al-Sultan attack, Al-Sardi school attack, and Al-Tabaeen school attack. Embassy officials in both Jerusalem and Washington say that concerns about civilian death tolls, including the targeting of Palestinian embassy employees and their families, were brought to Lew repeatedly. Such concerns were not found in Lew's diplomatic cables.[74]

Personal life

[edit]

Lew married his high school sweetheart, Ruth Schwartz.[75] As Chief of Staff, Lew commuted to Washington from the couple's home in the Riverdale neighborhood of the Bronx, New York City.[75][76] They have two grown children,[75] one of whom is Shoshana Lew, head of the Colorado Department of Transportation.[77]

Lew is an Orthodox Jew who observes the Jewish Shabbat[78][79] and has attended Beth Sholom Congregation in Potomac, Maryland; TheSHUL of the Nation's Capital[80] and Kesher Israel Congregation in Washington, D.C.;[81] and the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale in the Bronx, New York.[82] Interviewed in a 2010 article, Lew's former boss on the National Security Council, Sandy Berger, commented that "Lew's faith never got in the way of performing his duties."[78] A 2011 press release from the Religion News Service noted that Lew also "has extensive connections in the American Jewish community," and that he might be able to help President Obama "build a more friendly rapport" with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.[83]

In 1971, at the age of 16, Lew helped organize The New York March Against Hunger. In 2018, Lew was honored by Queens Community House for his lifelong contributions to social equality.[84]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Jackie Calmes (January 10, 2013). "Lew Would Complete Transformation of Obama's Economic Team". The New York Times. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
  2. ^ "Team | Lindsay Goldberg". April 10, 2019. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  3. ^ "Former Treasury Secretary Jack Lew on why the debt ceiling matters". The Journalist's Resource. October 5, 2021. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  4. ^ "President Biden Announces Jacob J Lew as Nominee for Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the State of Israel". The White House. September 5, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  5. ^ "U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 118th Congress - 1st Session". www.senate.gov. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  6. ^ "Paid Notice: Deaths LEW, RUTH (TUROFF)". The New York Times. July 23, 2003. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
  7. ^ "Jack Lew's Life Shaped by Faith and Service". The Forward. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
  8. ^ JTA. "US Treasury secretary named in suit over tax-free donations to Israel". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  9. ^ "Homecoming". whitehouse.gov. June 27, 2011 – via National Archives.
  10. ^ "Trusted Aide to Obama Faces Test in Budget Showdown". The New York Times. December 1, 2012.
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[edit]
Political offices
Preceded by Director of the Office of Management and Budget
1998–2001
Succeeded by
New office Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources
2009–2010
Succeeded by
Preceded by Director of the Office of Management and Budget
2010–2012
Succeeded by
Preceded by White House Chief of Staff
2012–2013
Succeeded by
Preceded by United States Secretary of the Treasury
2013–2017
Succeeded by
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas Former Vice President Order of precedence of the United States
Within Israel
Succeeded byas US Secretary of State
Preceded byas Former US Cabinet Member Order of precedence of the United States
Outside Israel
Succeeded byas Former US Cabinet Member
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by United States ambassador to Israel
2023–present
Incumbent