A 24-year old former campaign staffer for President Donald Trump recently took over as deputy chief of staff at the Office of National Drug Control Policy, following a series of staff turnovers and vacancies at the office, according to an investigative report from The Washington Post.
The ONDCP is responsible for coordinating the federal government's antidrug initiatives and is meant to play a key role in President Trump's response to the opioid crisis. The office lacks a permanent director, a post commonly referred to as "drug czar."
Here are five things to know about Taylor Weyeneth and his sharp rise within the Trump administration.
1. Mr. Weyeneth earned his bachelor's degree in legal studies from Saint John's University in New York City in May 2016. His only professional experience prior to becoming a political appointee was as a staffer on President Trump's campaign. While three resumes obtained by the Post list "MA Political Science" at Fordham's Center for Electoral Politics and Democracy, one does not provide the dates he attended the program and the others list course work from 2016 to June 2017. Fordham spokesman Bob Howe told the Post there was a student by the name of Taylor Weyeneth enrolled in Fordham's "Master's program for electoral and campaign management. He has not completed his degree yet."
2. An official with the Trump administration, who spoke with the Post on the condition of anonymity, said ONDCP hired Mr. Weyeneth "after seeing his passion and commitment on the issue of opioids and drug addiction." The unnamed official said Mr. Weyeneth was affected by the death of relative who overdosed on heroin several years ago.
3. Mr. Weyeneth initially served as a White House liaison for the ONDCP. He garnered the title of deputy chief of staff at the office while taking on additional roles amid staff vacancies. At least seven Trump administration ONDCP appointees have left their positions over the last year, including the general counsel and acting chief of staff. Mr. Weyeneth has been responsible for assuming some additional duties created by these vacancies.
"ONDCP leadership recognizes that we have lost a few talented staff members and that the organization would benefit from an infusion of new expert staff," said Richard Baum, ONDCP's acting director in a Jan. 3 memo obtained by the Post. "The functions of the Chief of Staff will be picked up by me and the deputy chief of staff."
4. The unnamed official said Mr. Weyeneth's work at the office has been primarily focused on administrative duties, rather than policy work. Mr. Weyeneth did not respond to the Post's request for an interview.
5. Current and former ONDCP officials — who have served both Democratic and Republican presidents — told the Post turmoil at the ONDCP, including the ascension of Mr. Weyeneth, hinders efforts to rally the government to take action against the opioid crisis.
"It sends a terrible message," Gil Kerlikowske, a former Seattle police chief and former commissioner of Customs and Border Protection who ran the ONDCP under the Obama administration, told the Post. "It's a message that we're not taking this drug issue seriously."
More articles on opioids:
Walmart rolls out safe opioid disposal program: 3 things to know
Tennessee VA hospital cuts opioid prescriptions by 49% since 2012
FDA: Cough and cold products with opioids should no longer be given to kids