Senior Advisor to the President of the United States

Senior Advisor to the President is a title used by high-ranking political advisors to the president of the United States. Senior advisors to the president do not have formal government decision making authority, but they can have significant influence over decisions. Their role is to provide strategic advice, analysis, and recommendations to the president on key issues.

White House senior advisors are senior members of the White House Office. The title has been formally used since 1993.

Responsibilities Over time, a senior advisor has had responsibility for the following groups:

White House departments (previously headed by a senior advisor in past administrations) American Rescue Plan / COVID-19 Relief Office of American Innovation White House Office on Clean Energy Innovation and Implementation White House Office of Infrastructure Implementation Coordination White House Office of Communications White House Office of Strategic Initiatives White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs White House Office of Political Affairs White House Office of Public Engagement White House Office of the Staff Secretary

Prior administrations In prior administrations before 1993, the position of "senior advisor" was a title used for various other purposes. Numerous examples of the position also exist throughout the executive departments and in the branch's independent agencies. For example, the Food and Drug Administration includes a position with the title Senior Advisor for Science; the Department of the Interior has a position with the title Senior Advisor for Alaskan Affairs.

Examples of people who had the responsibilities and/or influence of a senior advisor without the title included Edward M. House (to Woodrow Wilson) and Louis Howe (to Franklin D. Roosevelt)

List of senior advisors to the president NamePortfolioStartEndPartyPresident(s)Political AffairsStrategic PlanningPolicyDemocratic(1993–2001)Strategic PlanningPolicyPolitical AffairsCommunicationsPolicy Political AffairsStrategic PlanningPolicy CommunicationsPolicyPolitical AffairsStrategic InitiativesCommunicationsRepublican(2001–2009)Political AffairsStrategic PlanningCommunicationsDavid AxelrodPolitical AffairsCommunicationsDemocratic(2009–2017)Public EngagementIntergovernmental AffairsStrategic PlanningPolitical AffairsCommunicationsMessage and CommunicationsPolitical AffairsCommunicationsClimate and EnergyCommunicationsStrategic PlanningAmerican InnovationRepublican(2017–2021)PolicySpeechwritingWomen's IssuesWorkforce DevelopmentEntrepreneurshipEconomic IssuesOpposition researchLegal issuesChief StrategistDemocratic(2021–2025)CommunicationsPublic EngagementCOVID-19 ReliefAmerican Rescue PlanHealthcare PolicyUnited States Digital ServiceInfrastructure Implementation CoordinationIntergovernmental AffairsPublic EngagementClean Energy Innovation and ImplementationInternational Climate Policy AdvisorPublic EngagementIntergovernmental AffairsWhite House Deputy Chief of Staff for OperationsCommunicationsPress SecretaryArab, Middle Eastern, and African AffairspresentRepublican(2025–present)Government EfficiencyIndependent

See also

Counselor to the President Senior advisor

Notes

Explanatory footnotes

References