President Donald Trump reportedly tapped Stephen Feinberg, co-founder and CEO of Cerberus Capital Management, which owns 36-hospital system Steward Health Care in Boston, to head up his intelligence advisory board, six sources familiar with the matter told Foreign Policy.
Here are six things to know about Mr. Feinberg and the advisory board.
1. The President's Intelligence Advisory Board was initially created in 1956 by former President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The board is typically composed of independent experts in business and academia or retired military and intelligence professionals.
2. The board's effectiveness depends on its own leadership and how close the board chairman is to the president, according to Foreign Policy.
3. Mr. Feinberg does not possess any government experience. However, he reportedly donated nearly $1 million to a pro-Trump political action committee five days before the 2016 election. He has also reportedly been considered for several national security and military roles during President Trump's first year in office, according to the report.
4. One source familiar with Mr. Feinberg's plans told Foreign Policy Mr. Feinberg aims to conduct on-site reviews of U.S. intelligence agencies, a role typically conducted by more senior officials within the administration.
5. Previous candidates for the position included Peter Thiel, who founded PayPal and several other companies, and Oracle CEO Safra Catz, who may still serve on the board, according to the report.
6. A spokesperson for Mr. Feinberg declined to comment to Foreign Policy about the potential appointment.