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November 30, 2017

The Koch Government: These 44 Trump Officials Have Close Ties to Right-Wing Billionaire Brothers

Alan Zibel Ethics and Lobbying Reform, Regulatory Safeguards, Trump’s Threat to Democracy Taking on Trump

The relationship between Donald Trump and the Koch brothers has gone from chilly to warm.

During the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly sparred with Charles and David Koch, the billionaires who control the second-largest private company in America and run a right-wing political empire. As is typical for Trump, the tensions were evident on Twitter:

 

Starting right after the election, political operatives and policy experts who have worked at numerous Koch-funded organizations have fanned out through the Trump Administration. They are influencing policies involving taxes, the environment, energy, education and health care — all in service of a far-right anti-government agenda.

A Public Citizen review of the Koch brothers’ connections to the Trump administration and policy agenda in Washington, D.C. finds:

  • 44 Trump administration officials have close ties to the Koch brothers and their network of political groups, particularly Vice President Mike Pence, White House Legislative Affairs Director Marc Short, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and White House budget director Mick Mulvaney.
  • The bulk of Koch allies are in the White House, with 21 officials working there or nominated for White House jobs.
  • Koch allies are also staffing jobs at the Environmental Protection Agency, Interior Department, Energy Department and the Treasury Department — reflecting the Kochs’ economic interest in reducing the size of government, lowering corporate taxes, loosening environmental regulations and opening up public land to oil and gas extraction.
  • The Kochs have already achieved the majority of goals contained in “Roadmap to Repeal” — a policy document published in January 2017 by Freedom Partners, a Koch group.

Our list of Koch-tied officials is below.

CORPORATIONEXECUTIVETITLEINDUSTRYMEETING DATE(S)FIRST 100 DAYS MEETING TALLY
3MInge ThulinChairman/PresidentConglomerate2/23/171
AccentureJulie SweetCEO of North AmericaBusiness Services2/13/171
ACE Clearwater EnterprisesKellie JohnsonPresidentManufacturing3/31/171
AECOM and Tishman RealtyDaniel TishmanVice Chairman and PrincipalReal Estate/Construction4/4/171
AetnaMark BertoliniChairman/CEOInsurance2/27/171
AkorbiClaudia MirzaCo-founder/CEOBusiness Services3/27/171
Alaska AirlinesBrad TildenPresident/CEOTransportation/Automotive2/9/171
Alibaba GroupJack MaFounder/Executive ChairmanTechnology1/9/170
Alphabet/GoogleLarry PageCEOTechnology12/14/160
Alphabet/GoogleEric SchmidtExecutive ChairmanTechnology12/14/160
AltecLee StyslingerChairman/CEOTelecommunications2/23/171
AmazonJeff BezosCEOTechnology12/14/160
American Financial Group and FC CincinnatiCarl Lindner IIICo-CEO/Co-President and OwnerFinance/Banking2/11/171
AmgenRobert BradCEOPharmaceuticals1/31/171
Anthem, Inc.Joe SwedishChairman/President/CEOInsurance2/27/171
Apache Stainless EquipmentEd ParadowskiPresidentManufacturing3/31/171
Apollo Global ManagementJosh HarrisCo-FounderFinance/Banking3/8/171
AppleTim CookCEOTechnology12/14/160
ArbillJulie CopelandCEO/Co-ownerBusiness Services3/31/171
Archer Daniels MidlandJuan LucianoChairman/CEOFood/Beverage2/23/171
ArconicKlaus KleinfeldChairman/CEOManufacturing1/23/171
Ariel CorporationKaren Buchwald-WrightChairman/CEO/PresidentFossil Fuels3/31/171
Associated Partners LPWilliam BerkmanManaging PartnerFinance/Banking4/4/171
AT&TRandall StephensonCEOTelecommunications1/12/170
Atlas AirWilliam FlynnPresident/CEOTransportation/Automotive2/9/171
AutoZoneBill RhodesChairman/President/CEORetail2/15/171
Bank of BenningtonLeslie AndersenPresident/CEOFinance/Banking3/9/171
Bayer AGWerner BaumannCEOPharmaceuticals1/11/170
BB&TJohn Allison IVFormer CEOFinance/Banking11/28/160
Best BuyHubert JolyCEORetail2/15/171
BlackRockLarry FinkChairman/CEOFinance/Banking2/3/17, 4/11/172
BlackstoneStephen A. SchwarzmanChairman/CEO/Co-FounderFinance/Banking2/3/17, 4/4/17, 4/11/173
Blue Cross Blue Shield AssociationScott SerotaPresident/CEOInsurance2/27/171
Blue Cross Blue Shield North CarolinaBrad WilsonPresident/CEOInsurance2/27/171
BMW GroupHarald KrugerCEOTransportation/Automotive3/17/171
BNSFMatthew RoseExecutive ChairmanTransportation/Automotive4/11/171
BNY MellonGerald HassellChairman/CEOFinance/Banking4/4/171
BoeingDennis MuilenburgCEODefense12/21/160
BoeingJim McNerneyFormer Chairman/President/CEODefense2/3/17, 4/11/172
Boston Consulting GroupRich LesserPresident/CEOBusiness Services2/3/17, 4/11/172
BTE TechnologiesChuck WetheringtonPresidentBusiness Services3/31/171
Campbell Soup CompanyDenise MorrisonPresident/CEOFood/Beverage2/23/171
Canadian Imperial Bank of CommerceJennifer WarrenManaging DirectorFinance/Banking4/4/171
Cape Cod Five Mutual CompanyDorothy SavaresePresident/CEOFinance/Banking3/9/171
Carlyle GroupDavid RubinsteinCo-CEO/Founder/DirectorFinance/Banking12/28/160
Carolina ColorMatt BarrChairman/CEOManufacturing3/31/171
Caterpillar Inc.Doug OberhelmanChairman/Former CEOManufacturing2/23/171
Celeebrate UsLisa PhillipsOwnerMisc3/27/171
CelgeneRobert HuginExecutive ChairmanPharmaceuticals1/31/171
Centerbridge PartnersMark GalloglyCo-Founder and Managing PrincipalFinance/Banking4/4/171
Centinel BankRebeca Romero RaineyPresident/CEOFinance/Banking3/9/171
Cerberus Capital ManagementStephen FeinbergCo-founder/CEOFinance/Banking2/16/171
Charter CommunicationsThomas RutledgeCEOTelecommunications3/24/171
Chesapeake BankJeff SzyperskiCEOFinance/Banking3/9/171
Chicago CubsTodd RickettsCo-ownerMedia/Entertainment11/20/160
Cigna CorporationDavid CordaniPresident/CEOInsurance2/27/171
CiscoChuck RobbinsCEOTechnology12/14/160
Citigroup Inc.Michael CorbatCEOFinance/Banking4/4/171
CNN WorldwideJeff ZuckerPresidentMedia/Entertainment11/21/160
Collective[i]Heidi MesserCo-Founder/ChairmanBusiness Services4/4/171
Colony CapitalThomas Barrack, Jr.FounderFinance/Bankingbefore 1/20/170
CorningWendell WeeksChairman/CEOManufacturing1/23/17, 2/23/172
Crete Carrier CorporationTonn OstergaardPresident/CEOTransportation/Automotive3/23/171
CRST InternationalJohn SmithChairmanTransportation/Automotive3/23/171
Dana Inc.James KamsickasPresident/CEOTransportation/Automotive2/23/171
Delaware North Companies, Inc.Jerry JacobsCo-CEOFood/Beverage4/4/171
Dell TechnologiesMichael DellFounder/Chairman/CEOTechnology1/23/17, 2/23/172
DeloitteCatherine EngelbertCEOBusiness Services4/4/171
Delta AirlinesEd BastianCEOTransportation/Automotive2/9/171
Dow ChemicalAndrew LiverisChairman/President/CEOChemicals12/10/16, 1/23/17, 2/23/17, 3/17/173
E-J Electric Installation Co.Anthony MannPresident/CEOReal Estate/Construction4/4/171
Eagle ManufacturingJoe EddyPresident/CEOManufacturing3/31/171
Ehrenkranz Partners LPJoel EhrenkranzPartner and Co-FounderFinance/Banking4/4/171
EisnerAmper LLPCharles WeinsteinCEOBusiness Services4/4/171
Eli LillyDave RicksCEOPharmaceuticals1/31/171
Elliott Management CorporationPaul SingerPresident/CEO/Co-CIO/Senior Risk Manager/DirectorFinance/Banking2/16/171
Emerson ElectricDavid FarrChairman/CEOManufacturing2/23/171
EYMark WeinbergerChairman/CEOBusiness Services2/3/17, 4/11/172
FacebookSheryl SandbergCOOTechnology12/14/160
FedexFred SmithChairman/President/CEOTransportation/Automotive11/17/16, 2/8/171
FedEx CorporationDave BronczekPresident/COOTransportation/Automotive2/9/171
FedEx FreightMichael DuckerPresident/CEOTransportation/Automotive3/23/171
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NVSergio MarchionneCEOTransportation/Automotive1/24/171
First Data CorporationFrank BisignanoChairman/CEOFinance/Banking4/4/171
First State Bank of St. CharlesLuanne CundiffPresident/CEOFinance/Banking3/9/171
FirstCapital Bank of TexasKen BurgessChairmanFinance/Banking3/9/171
Florida BluePat GarrityCEOInsurance2/27/171
Ford Motor CompanyAlan MulallyFormer CEOTransportation/Automotive12/8/160
Ford Motor CompanyMark FieldsPresident/CEOTransportation/Automotive1/23/17, 1/24/17, 2/23/173
Fox NewsBill ShineCo-presidentMedia/Entertainment11/21/160
Fox NewsJack AbernethyCo-presidentMedia/Entertainment11/21/160
Fox NewsJay WallaceVice President of News/Senior Executive ProducerMedia/Entertainment11/21/160
Fox NewsSuzanne ScottExecutive Vice President, Programming and DevelopmentMedia/Entertainment11/21/160
Gap Inc.Art PeckCEORetail2/15/171
General AtlanticBill FordCEOFinance/Banking3/8/171
General DynamicsPhebe NovakonicChairwoman/CEODefense2/23/171
General ElectricJack WelchFormer Chairman/CEOConglomerate2/3/171
General ElectricElyse AllanVice PresidentConglomerate2/13/171
General ElectricJeff immeltChairman/CEOConglomerate2/23/171
General ElectricBeth ComstockVice ChairManufacturing4/4/171
General MotorsMary BarraChairman/CEOTransportation/Automotive1/24/17, 2/3/17, 4/11/173
Generation Investment ManagementAl GoreCo-founderFinance/Banking12/5/160
Giuliani PartnersMayor Rudolph GiulianiCEOBusiness Services1/31/171
Global Infrastructure PartnersAdebayo OgunlesiChairman/Managing PartnerFinance/Banking2/3/17, 4/11/172
Grupo CarsoCarlos SlimFounderConglomerate12/19/160
Guggenheim Partners, LLCAlan SchwartzExecutive ChairmanFinance/Banking4/4/171
Harley-DavidsonMike LevatichCEOTransportation/Automotive2/2/171
Harris CorporationBill BrownChairman/President/CEODefense2/23/171
HearstSteven SwartzPresident/CEOMedia/Entertainment4/4/171
Hewlett-PackardCarly FiornaFormer CEOTechnology12/12/160
HSBC Bank USAPatrick BurkePresident/CEOFinance/Banking4/4/171
HumanaBruce BroussardCEOInsurance2/27/171
Huntington Ingalls IndustriesMike PettersPresident/CEODefense3/17/171
IBMGinni RomettyChairman/President/CEOTechnology12/14/16, 2/3/17, 3/17/17, 4/11/173
IHS MarkitDaniel YerginVice ChairmanFinance/Banking2/3/17, 4/11/172
IMMI, Inc.Doug MagyariCEOTechnology3/31/171
Independence Blue CrossDan HilfertyPresident/CEOInsurance2/27/171
InforCharles Phillips, Jr.CEOBusiness Services4/4/171
IntelBrian KrzanichCEOTechnology12/14/16, 2/8/271
International PaperMark SuttonChairman/CEOManufacturing1/23/17, 2/23/172
Interpublic GroupMichael RothChairman/CEOBusiness Services4/4/171
J.C. PennyMarvin EllisonChairman/CEORetail2/15/171
JBTC TruckingJames BurgOwnerTransportation/Automotive3/23/171
Jet Express TruckingKevin BurchPresidentTransportation/Automotive3/23/171
JetBlue Airways CorporationRobin HayesPresident/CEOTransportation/Automotive2/9/17, 4/4/172
Jo-Ann StoresJill SoltauPresident/CEORetail2/15/171
Johnson & JohnsonAlex GorskyCEOPharmaceuticals1/9/17, 1/23/17, 1/31/17, 2/23/173
Johnson Security BureauJessica Johnson-CopePresident/CEOBusiness Services3/27/171
JPMorgan ChaseJamie DimonChairman/CEOFinance/Banking2/3/171
K2 IntelligenceJeremy KrollCEO/Co-FounderBusiness Services4/4/171
Kaiser Foundation Health PlanBernard TysonChairman/CEOInsurance2/27/171
Kenan Advantage GroupDennis NashFounder/CEOTransportation/Automotive3/23/171
Koch IndustriesDavid KochExecutive Vice PresidentFossil Fuels4/8/171
Kraft GroupRobert KraftChairman/CEOConglomerate2/10/171
Langer Transport CorporationJerry LangerChief Commercial OfficerTransportation/Automotive3/23/171
Las Vegas SandsSheldon AdelsonCEOMedia/Entertainment2/15/171
LeFrakRichard LeFrakChairman/CEOReal Estate/Construction3/8/171
Linamar CorporationLinda HasenfratzCEOManufacturing2/13/171
Link Staffing and Tire DivaAmy Pope-WellsOwnerBusiness Services3/27/171
LiveOpsKeith LeimbachCEOBusiness Services2/23/171
Lockheed MartinMarillyn HewsonChairwoman/PresidentDefense1/13/17, 1/23/17, 2/23/172
Marlin SteelDrew GreenblattOwnerManufacturing3/31/171
Marvel EntertainmentIsaac PerlmutterCEOMedia/Entertainment12/28/160
Mason Capital Management, LLCKenneth GarschinaPrincipalFinance/Banking4/4/171
MasterCardAjay BangaPresident/CEOFinance/Banking4/4/171
Matrix 4 IncPatricia MillerCEOManufacturing3/31/171
Maverick CapitalLee Ainslie, IIIManaging PartnerFinance/Banking4/4/171
McGraw-Hill Education, Inc.David LevinPresident/CEOMedia/Entertainment4/4/171
MerckKenneth FrazierChairman/CEOPharmaceuticals1/31/17, 2/23/172
MicrosoftSatya NadellaCEOTechnology12/14/160
MicrosoftBill GatesFounder/Former CEOTechnology3/20/171
Mitsubishi International/Mitsubishi CorporationJason StevensPresident/CEOConglomerate4/4/171
Modell's Sporting GoodsMitchell ModellCEORetail4/4/171
MonsantoHugh GrantCEOChemicals1/11/170
MSNBCPhil GriffinPresidentMedia/Entertainment11/21/160
Murray Energy CorporationRobert MurrayCEOFossil Fuels12/13/16, 2/16/171
NantHealthPatrick Soon-ShiongFounder/CEO/ChairmanTechnology11/20/160
NBC NewsDeborah TurnessPresidentMedia/Entertainment11/21/160
Neenah EnterprisesTom RiordanCEOManufacturing3/31/171
Newmark Grubb Knight FrankBarry GosinCEOReal Estate/Construction4/4/171
Newport News ShipbuildingMatt MulherinPresidentDefense3/17/171
NewsmaxChristopher RuddyCEOMedia/Entertainment3/1/171
North America, Zurich Insurance Group LtdPaul HorganCEOInsurance4/4/171
Novartis AGJoe JimenezCEOPharmaceuticals1/31/171
NRStorAnnette VerschurenCEOTechnology2/13/171
NucorJohn FerriolaChairman/President/CEOManufacturing2/23/171
NYSEThomas FarleyPresidentFinance/Banking4/4/171
Old Dominion Freight LinesDavid CongdonCEOTransportation/Automotive3/23/171
Oliver WymanJohn RomeoManaging Partner, AmericasFinance/Banking4/4/171
Oracle CorporationSafra CatzCo-CEOTechnology11/17/16, 12/14/161
Oxbow Carbon LLCBill KochFounder/CEOFossil Fuels4/8/171
PalantirAlex KarpCEOTechnology12/14/160
Patomak Global Partners, LLCPaul AtkinsCEOBusiness Services2/3/17, 4/11/172
Paulson & Co., IncJohn PaulsonPresidentFinance/Banking4/4/171
PayPalPeter ThielCo-FounderTechnology12/14/160
PepsiCoIndra NooyiChairman/CEOFood/Beverage2/3/17, 4/11/172
Perella Weinberg Partners LPRobert SteelCEOFinance/Banking4/4/171
PJT Partners, LPPaul TaubmanChairman/CEOFinance4/4/171
RRE VenturesJames Robinson IIICo-Founder/General PartnerFinance/Banking4/4/171
Rubinstein CommunicationsSteven RubensteinPresidentBusiness Services4/4/171
Ruder Finn, IncKathy BloomgardenCEOBusiness Services4/4/171
Rudin Management Company Inc.William RudinCo-Vice Chairman/CEOReal Estate/Construction4/4/171
Runway VineyardsAbel MaldonadoCo-ownerFood/Beverage12/28/160
SalesforceMarc BenioffFounder/Chairman/CEOTechnology3/17/171
SchaefflerKlaus RosenfeldCEOManufacturing3/17/171
Schnitzer Steel IndustriesTamara LundgrenCEOManufacturing2/13/171
Siemens AG, MunichJoe KaeserCEOConglomerate3/17/171
Silver LakeGreg MondreManaging Partner/Managing DirectorFinance/Banking4/4/171
SoftBank Group CorporationMasayoshi SonCEOTelecommunications12/10/160
Sound Community BankLaurie StewartPresident/CEOFinance/Banking3/9/171
Southwest AirlinesGary KellyChairman/CEOTransportation/Automotive2/9/171
SpaceX and TeslaElon MuskChairman/CEOTechnology12/14/16, 1/23/17, 2/3/17, 3/8/173
Standard BankTim ZimmermanPresident/CEOFinance/Banking3/9/171
Staub Manufacturing SolutionsSteve StaubPresidentManufacturing3/31/171
Suffolk Construction CompanyJohn FishChairman/CEOReal Estate/Construction4/4/171
T&T SupermarketTina LeeCEOFood/Beverage2/13/171
TargetBrian CornellChairman/CEORetail2/15/171
Technology PartnersLisa NicholsCo-founder/CEOBusiness Services3/27/171
The Guardian Life Insurance CompanyDeanna MulliganPresident/CEOInsurance4/4/171
The Related Companies, LPJeff BlauCEOReal Estate/Construction4/4/171
The Williams Capital Group, LPChristopher WilliamsChairman/CEOFinance/Banking4/4/171
Tishman SpeyerJerry SpeyerChairmanReal Estate/Construction4/4/171
TMZHarvey LevinFounderMedia/Entertainment3/1/171
Toll BrothersBruce TollCo-founderReal Estate/Constructionunknown0
Tractor Supply CompanyGreg SandfortPresident/CEORetail2/15/171
TransAltaDawn FarrellPresident/CEOFossil Fuels2/13/171
Trumbell UnmannedDyan GibbensFounder/CEOFossil Fuels3/27/171
U.S. Xpress EnterprisesEric FullerCEOTransportation/Automotive3/23/171
Under ArmourKevin PlankFounder/Chairman/CEOClothing1/23/171
United AirlinesOscar MuñozPresident/CEOTransportation/Automotive2/9/171
United Parcel ServiceMyron GrayPresident, US OperationsTransportation2/9/171
United TechnologiesGreg HayesChairman/President/CEOManufacturing2/23/171
UnitedHealth GroupSteve HemsleyCEOInsurance2/27/171
UPS FreightRick McArdlePresidentTransportation/Automotive3/23/171
US SteelMario LonghiCEOManufacturing1/23/17, 2/23/172
USA Building, SKANSKARichard KennedyPresident/CEOReal Estate/Construction4/4/171
ValueBank TexasScott HeitkampPresident/CEOFinance/Banking3/9/171
Veresen Inc.Don AlthoffPresident/CEOManufacturing2/23/171
Vornado Realty TrustSteven RothChairman/CEOReal Estate/Construction3/8/17, 4/4/172
Wal-MartDoug McMillonPresident/CEORetail2/3/17, 4/11/172
Walgreens Boots AllianceStefano PessinaCEORetail2/15/171
WhirlpoolJeff FettigChairman/CEOManufacturing1/23/17, 2/23/172
Wynn ResortsSteve WynnChairman/CEOMedia/Entertainment2/12/171
ZMCStrauss ZelnickPartnerFinance/Banking4/4/171
TOTAL: 222
Sacrificing Public Protections on the Altar of Deregulation More Than Half the Members of Washington’s Lobbying Corps Have Plunged Into the Tax Debate

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