List of U.S. executive branch czars


In the United States, the informal political term "czar" or "tsar" is employed in media and popular usage to refer to high-level officials who oversee a particular policy. There have never been any U.S. government offices with the title "czar", but various governmental officials have sometimes been referred to by the nickname "czar" rather than their actual title.
The earliest known use of the term for a U.S. government official was in the administration of Franklin Roosevelt, during which eleven unique positions were so described. The term was revived, mostly by the press, to describe officials in the Nixon and Ford administrations and continues today.

By administration

The list is subjective and imprecise, since frequently individuals or offices might be referred to by the nickname "czar" by some publication or a political opponent, yet the actual governmental official, a majority of publications and others do not use the term. One possible definition is only those officials who are appointed by the president without Senate confirmation.
President's namePartyIn officeNumber of
czar titles		Number of
appointees		Appointees not
confirmed by Senate
Franklin RooseveltD1933–1945111918
Harry TrumanD1945–1953665
Dwight EisenhowerR1953–1961110
Lyndon JohnsonD1963–1969331
Richard NixonR1969–1974355
Gerald FordR1974–1977222
Jimmy CarterD1977–1981232
Ronald ReaganR1981–1989111
George H. W. BushR1989–1993230
Bill ClintonD1993–20018117
George W. BushR2001–2009334928
Barack ObamaD2009–2017385039
Donald TrumpR2017-1TBD 42TBD 40

The numbers are based upon the sortable list below. Please see it for details and references. Note that what is measured is the popularity of the word czar, rather than an objective measure of authority.
Also note that under George W. Bush only 33 Czar titles had been currently found, thus only 33 Czars, although many of these titles were used by several distinct individuals. For example, there has been an Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health since the passage of the Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, but the phrase "mine safety czar" was only applied to the position since the controversial appointment of Richard Stickler to the post in 2006. Similarly, there has been a director of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs since the office was created by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, but the term "regulatory czar" was not applied to the post until 2001.

List of executive branch czars

The following are executive branch officials who have been described by the media as a czar of some kind.
Czar titleOfficial titleOffice holderTenureType of appointmentAppointing administrationSenate confirmed
AfPak czar, Afghanistan and Pakistan czarSpecial Representative for Afghanistan and PakistanHolbrooke, Richard2009–2010President appointed
AIDS czarNational AIDS Policy Coordinator, Member of White House Domestic Policy CouncilGebbie, Kristine1993–1994President appointed
AIDS czarDirector of the Office of National AIDS PolicyFleming, Patricia1993–1997President appointed
AIDS czarDirector of the Office of National AIDS Policy, Presidential Envoy for AIDS CooperationThurman, Sandra1997–2000President appointed
AIDS czarDirector of the Office of National AIDS PolicyEvertz, Scott2001–2002President appointed
AIDS czarDirector of the Office of National AIDS PolicyO'Neill, Joe2002–2003President appointed
AIDS czarDirector of the Office of National AIDS PolicyThompson, Carol2004–2006President appointed
AIDS czarDirector of the Office of National AIDS PolicyCrowley, Jeffrey2009–2012President appointed
AIDS czarDirector of the Office of National AIDS PolicyColfax, Grant2012–2014President appointed
AIDS czarDirector of the Office of National AIDS PolicyBrooks, Douglas2014–2016President appointed
anti-poverty czar, poverty czarDirector of Office of Economic OpportunityShriver, Sargent1965–1969President nominated, Senate confirmed✓
Asian Carp czarAsian Carp Director, Council on Environmental QualityGoss, John2010–UnknownCouncil on Environmental Quality selected
auto czar, car czarTreasury Advisor, Head of the Auto Task ForceRattner, Steve2009 Feb–JulSec. of Treasury appointed
auto czar, car czarSenior Advisor President's Automotive Task ForceBloom, Ron2009–2011President appointed
auto recovery czar, autoworker czarMember Presidential Task Force on the Auto Industry, Director of Recovery for Auto Communities and WorkersMontgomery, Ed2009–UnknownPresident appointed
bank bailout czar, Troubled Asset Relief Program czarUnited States Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Financial Stability, Senior Advisor to Secretary of the TreasuryKashkari, Neel.2008–2009, President nominated, Senate confirmed✓
bank bailout czar, TARP czarUnited States Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Financial StabilityAllison, Herbert2009–2013President nominated, Senate confirmed✓
bioethics czarAdvisor to the President, Chairman of The President's Council on BioethicsKass, Leon2001–2005, Exec order, President appointed
bird flu czarAssistant Secretary of Health and Human Services, Advisor to the President for Public Health Emergency PreparednessSimonson, Stewart2004–2006, President appointed
birth control czarDeputy Assistant Secretary of Population Affairs, Department of Health and Human ServicesKeroack, Eric2006–2007President appointed
border czarU.S. attorney and Special Representative for the Southwest Border, Department of JusticeBersin, Alan1995–1998President nominated, Senate confirmed as U.S. Attorney, Appointed as Special Representative✓
border czarAssistant Secretary for International Affairs, Special Representative for Border Affairs, Dept of Homeland Security,Bersin, Alan2009–2011Sec of Homeland Security appointed
budget czarDirector of the Office of Management and BudgetDaniels, Mitchell E.2001–2003President nominated, Senate Confirmed✓
budget czarDirector of the Office of Management and BudgetBolten, Joshua2003–2006President nominated, Senate confirmed✓
budget czarDirector of the Office of Management and BudgetPortman, Rob2006–2007President nominated, Senate confirmed✓
cleanup czarSpecial Assistant Attorney General Morris, Newbold1952, fired after 63 days by Atty General for demanding records access; AG then forced to resign by President TrumanAttorney General appointed
cleanup czarAssistant Secretary for Environmental Management, Department of Energy Roberson, Jessie2001–2004President nominated, Senate confirmed✓
cleanup czarAssistant Secretary for Environmental Management, Department of Energy Rispoli, James2005–2008Sec. of Energy appointed, Senate confirmed✓
climate czarAssistant to the President and Staff Secretary, President's Coordinator for Climate Change, Senior negotiator at Kyoto and Beuenos Aires negottiationsTodd D. Stern1997–1999President appointed
climate czarSpecial Envoy for Climate ChangeStern, Todd D.2009Sec. of State appointed
climate czar, energy czar, global warming czarAssistant to the President for Energy and Climate ChangeBrowner, Carol2009–2011
copyright czarIntellectual Property Enforcement Coordinatorvacant; position approved but not filled during Bush administration2008–2009
copyright czarIntellectual Property Enforcement CoordinatorEspinel, Victoria2009–2013
communications czarCounselor to the President, Special counselor to the PresidentBartlett, Dan2005–2007President appointed
compensation czar, Gulf claims czar, pay czarSpecial Master for TARP Executive CompensationFeinberg, Kenneth2009–2011, 2014-2016?Sec. of Treasury appointed
consumer czarSpecial Advisor for the Consumer Financial Protection BureauWarren, Elizabeth2010–2011, President appointed
car czarChief domestic policy advisor and Director of the White House Domestic Policy CouncilReed, Bruce1993–2001, Exec order, President appointed
cyber security czar, cyber czarSpecial Advisor to the President on Cybersecurity, Office of Management and Budget Clarke, Richard A.2001 Oct–2003 Feb, President appointed
cyber security czar, cyber czarDirector, National Cybersecurity CenterBeckstrom, Rod2008–2009, Presidential directive, President appointed
cyber security czar, cyber czarDirector of the White House Office of Cybersecurity, Cybersecurity CoordinatorHathaway, Melissa2009 May–July, Acting czar ; resignedOffice created May 31, 2009.
cyber security czar, cyber czarDirector of the White House Office of Cybersecurity, Cybersecurity CoordinatorRobert Joyce2017–PresentOffice created May 31, 2009.Donald J. Trump
czar of censorshipDirector, Office of CensorshipPrice, Byron1941–1945Exec Order, President appointed
czar of informationDirector, Office of War InformationDavis, Elmer1942–1945Exec order, President appointed
czar of Latin American affairsAssistant Secretary of State for Inter-American AffairsMann, Thomas C.1964–1965President nominated, Senate confirmed✓
democracy czarDeputy National Security Advisor for Global Democracy StrategyAbrams, Elliott2005–2008President appointed
domestic czarSpecial Assistant to the President, domestic policy aideCalifano, Joseph1965–1969President appointed
domestic policy czarChief Domestic Policy Coordinator, Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor to the President, White House Deputy Chief of StaffRove, Karl2004–2006President appointed
domestic violence czarAdvisor to the President and the Vice President on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault IssuesRosenthal, Lynn2009Vice President appointed
drug czarHead of Drug programs, Special Action Office of Drug Abuse PreventionJaffe, Jerome1971President appointed
drug czarDirector of the National Institute on Drug Abuse and head of the Narcotics Treatment AdministrationDuPont, Robert1973–1978
drug czarDirector of the White House Drug Abuse Policy, Special Assistant to the President for Drug Abuse, Member of Executive Board of the National Narcotics Border Interdiction System Cabinet Level, Deputy Assistant to the President for Drug Abuse Policy Turner, Carlton1982–1988, Exec order, President appointed
drug czarDirector, Office of National Drug Control PolicyBennett, William J.1989–1990 created by Congress, President nominated, Senate Confirmed✓
drug czarDirector, Office of National Drug Control PolicyMartinez, Bob1991–1993President nominated, Senate Confirmed✓
drug czarDirector, National Drug Control PolicyBrown, Lee P.1993–1995President nominated, Senate Confirmed✓
drug czarDirector, National Drug Control PolicyMcCaffrey, Barry1996–2001President nominated, Senate confirmed✓
drug czarDirector, National Drug Control PolicyWalters, John P.2001–2009President nominated, Senate confirmed✓
drug czarDirector, National Drug Control Policy Kerlikowske, R. Gil2009–2014President nominated, Senate confirmed✓
drug czarDirector, National Drug Control PolicyBotticelli, Michael P.2015–2017President nominated, Senate confirmed✓
Ebola czarEbola Response CoordinatorKlain, Ron2014–2015President appointed
e-commerce czar, e-czarExecutive Director, Electronic Commerce Working GroupElizabeth Echols1998–2000Vice President appointed✓
economic czar, economic czar of World War IIDirector, Office of Economic StabilizationByrnes, James1942–1943, Exec order, President appointed
economic czarDirector, Office of Economic StabilizationVinson, Fred M.1943–1945President appointed
economic czarDirector, Office of Economic StabilizationDavis, William Hammatt1945–1946President appointed
economic czar, big-picture economic czarChairman, Economic Recovery Advisory BoardVolcker, Paul A.2009President appointed
energy czarDirector of the Energy Policy OfficeLove, John Arthur1973, Exec order, President appointed
energy czarFederal Energy Office AdministratorSimon, William E1973–1974President appointed
energy czarAdministrator, Federal Energy AdministrationSawhill, John1974President appointed
energy czarAdministrator, Federal Energy Administration, Assistant to the President for Energy Affairs, Executive Director of Energy Resources CouncilZarb, Frank1974–1977President appointed
energy czarDirector, Department of Energy Schlesinger, James1977–1979, Legislation enacted, President nominated, Senate confirmed✓
ethics czar, transparency czarspecial counsel to the president for ethics and government reformEisen, Norm2009–2010, Exec order, President appointed
ethics czar, transparency czarWhite House CounselBauer, Robert2010–2011President appointed
faith-based czar, faith czarDirector, White House Office of Faith-Based and Community InitiativesDiIulio, John2001–2002, Exec order, President appointed
faith-based czar, faith czarDirector, White House Office of Faith-Based and Community InitiativesTowey, Jim2002–2006President appointed
faith-based czar, faith czarDirector, White House Office of Faith-Based and Community InitiativesHein, Jay2006–2008President appointed
faith-based czarDirector of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood PartnershipsDuBois, Joshua2009–2013President appointed
faith-based czarDirector of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood PartnershipsMelissa Rogers2013–2014?President appointed
food czarFood Administrator and Secretary of AgricultureWickard, Claude1942–1943Exec order
food czarWar Food AdministratorDavis, Chester C.1943Exec order
food czarWar Food AdministratorJones, Marvin1943–1945Exec order
food czarChairman Citizens Food CommitteeLuckman, Charles1947 Sep–NovPresident appointed
food safety czarAssistant Commissioner for Food ProtectionAcheson, David W. K.2007–2008President appointed
foreign aid czarAdministrator of the US Agency for International Development Tobias, Randall2006–2007President nominated, Senate confirmed✓
global AIDS czarCoordinator of U.S. Government Activities to Combat HIV/AIDS Globally with the rank of AmbassadorTobias, Randall2003–2006, President nominated, Senate confirmed✓
global AIDS czarCoordinator of U.S.Government Activities to Combat HIV/AIDS Globally, with the rank of AmbassadorDybul, Mark2006–2009President nominated, Senate confirmed✓
Great Lakes czarSenior Advisor to the EPA AdministratorDavis, Cameron2009–2017
green-jobs czarSpecial Advisor for Green Jobs, Enterprise, and Innovation at the White House, Member of the White House Council on Environmental QualityJones, Van2009 Apr–SepPresident appointed
Guantanamo Base closure czarUS Department of State Special EnvoyFried, Daniel2009–2013Sec. of State appointed
health care czar, technology czar, internet czar, e-czarSenior Advisor for Policy DevelopmentMagaziner, Ira,1993–1998President appointed
health czarDirector of the White House Office of Health Reform and Counselor to the PresidentDeParle, Nancy-Ann2009–2011Exec Order
health czar for the World Trade Center Special coordinator to respond to health effects of September 11 attacks, World Trade Center Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program, also served as Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and HealthHoward, John2006–2008President Appointed
health IT czarNational Coordinator for Health Information Technology, Department of Health and Human ServicesBrailer, David J.2004–2006, Exec order, appointed by Sec. of HHS
health IT czarNational Coordinator for Health Information Technology, Department of Health and Human ServicesBlumenthal, Dr. David2009 -Exec order, appointed by Sec. of HHS
homeland security czarAssistant to the President for Homeland Security and CounterterrorismRidge, Tom2001–2002, Exec Order, President appointed
homeland security czarSecretary, U.S. Department of Homeland SecurityRidge, Tom2003–2004, Legislation enacted, President nominated, Senate confirmed✓
homeland security czarSecretary, U.S. Department of Homeland SecurityChertoff, Michael2005–2009President nominated, Senate confirmed✓
homeless czar, homelessness czarExecutive Director, United States Interagency Council on HomelessnessPhil Mangano2002–2008President appointed
housing czarHousing Expediter in the Office of War Mobilization and ReconversionWyatt, Wilson1945–1946, President appointed
Gulf Coast reconstruction czar, hurricane Katrina recovery czarFederal Coordinator of Hurricane Katrina Recovery EffortPowell, Donald E.2005–2008President appointed
inflation czar, anti-inflation czarSpecial Trade Representative, Chief U.S. trade negotiatorStrauss, Robert1978President appointed
inflation czarAdvisor to the President, Chairman Council on Wage and Price StabilityKahn, Alfred1977–1980President appointed
information czar, infotech czarChief Information Officer at the White HouseKundra, Vivek2009–2011, created by statute, President appointed
information czar, infotech czarChief Information Officer at the White HouseVanRoekel, Steven2011–2014created by statute, President appointed
intelligence czarDirector of National IntelligenceNegroponte, John2005–2007, Congress mandated, President nominated, Senate confirmed✓
intelligence czarDirector of National IntelligenceMcConnell, John Michael2007–2009President nominated, Senate confirmed✓
intelligence czarDirector of National IntelligenceBlair, Dennis2009–2010President nominated, Senate confirmed✓
intelligence czarDirector of National IntelligenceClapper, James2010–2017President nominated, Senate confirmed✓
Iran czarSpecial Advisor for the Persian Gulf and Southwest Asia Ross, Dennis2009–2011President appointed
manpower czarDirector, War Manpower CommissionMcNutt, Paul V.1942–1945Exec order
manufacturing czarAssistant Secretary for manufacturing and services, U.S. Commerce DepartmentFrink, Albert2004–2007, President nominated, Senate confirmed✓
manufacturing czarAssistant Secretary of Commerce for Manufacturing and ServicesSutton, William G.2007–2008President nominated, Senate confirmed✓
manufacturing czarSenior Counselor for Manufacturing PolicyBloom, Ron2009–2011President appointed
Middle East czarSpecial Envoy for Middle East PeaceMitchell, George2009–2011Sec. of State appointed
mine safety czarAssistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and HealthStickler, Richard2006–2008Recess appointment—2 prior presidential nominations were rejected by the Senate
missile czarAssistant Secretary of the Air Force for Research and DevelopmentGardner, Trevor1954–1956Sec. of Defense appointed, Senate confirmed✓
mobilization czar, civilian economy czarDirector, Office of Defense MobilizationWilson, Charles E.1950–1952, Exec order
oil czarPetroleum Coordinator for National Defense, Secretary of the InteriorIckes, Harold L.1941–1946President nominated, Senate confirmed as Secy of Interior✓
patronage czarPostmaster General Post Office Department, Cabinet-level positionHannegan, Bob1945–1947President nominated, Senate confirmed✓
performance czarUnited States Chief Performance Officer and Deputy Director for Management at the Office of Management and BudgetZients, Jeffrey2009–2013President nominated, Senate confirmed✓
policy czarAssistant to the President for Policy and Strategic PlanningGerson, Michael2005–2006President appointed
price czarAdministrator, Office of Price AdministrationHenderson, Leon1941–1942, Exec order, President appointed
price czarAdministrator, Office of Price AdministrationBrown, Prentiss Marsh1942–1943President appointed
price czarAdministrator, Office of Price AdministrationBowles, Chester1943–1946President appointed
price czarChairman of the Price CommissionGrayson, C. Jackson, Jr.1971, President appointed
production czarDirector, War Production BoardNelson, Donald1942–1944, Exec order, President appointed
production czarDirector, War Production BoardKrug, Julius1944–1945President appointed
public diplomacy czarSpecial advisor to the President, Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public AffairsHughes, Karen2005–2007President nominated, Senate confirmed✓
public diplomacy czarUndersecretary of State for Public Affairs and Public DiplomacyGlassman, James2008–2009President nominated, Senate confirmed✓
reading czarPresident's Advisor on Reading First Initiative, Member of the President's Commission on Excellence in Special EducationLyon, G. Reid2001–2005President appointed
reconversion czarDirector of War Mobilization and ReconversionSnyder, John1945–1946President appointed
regulatory czarDirector of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs Office of Management and BudgetGraham, John D.2001–2006President nominated, Senate confirmed✓
regulatory czarDirector of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs Office of Management and BudgetDudley, Susan2006–2009Recess appointment, nominee did not receive a Senate vote
regulatory czarDirector of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs Office of Management and BudgetSunstein, Cass2009–2012President nominated, Senate confirmed✓
rubber czarRubber DirectorJeffers, Bill1942–1943, Exec order, appointed by Chairman of War Production Board
savings & loan czarDirector, Office of Thrift SupervisionRyan, T. Timothy, Jr.1990–1997President nominated, Senate confirmed✓
science czarScience Advisor to the President, Director, White House Office of Science and Technology PolicyMarburger, John2001 Oct–2009 JanPresident nominated, Senate confirmed✓
science czarDirector of the Office of Science and Technology PolicyHoldren, John2009–2017President nominated, Senate confirmed✓
shipping czarAdministrator, War Shipping AdministrationLand, Emory S.1942–1946Exec order
stimulus accountability, stimulus oversightChairman, Recovery Accountability and Transparency BoardDevaney, Earl2009, created by statute, President appointed
technology czar, chief technology czarAssociate Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, Chief Technology Officer, Assistant to the PresidentChopra, Aneesh2009–2012President nominated, Senate confirmed✓
terrorism czar, counter-terrorism czarNational coordinator for security, infrastructure protection and counter-terrorism, member of National Security Council, cabinet-level positionClarke, Richard A.1998 May–2001 JanPresident appointed
terrorism czarNational coordinator for security, infrastructure protection and counter-terrorism, cabinet level rank removedClarke, Richard A.2001 Jan–Oct President Clinton appointed
terrorism czar, counterterrorism czarNational Director for Combating Terrorism, Deputy National Security AdvisorDowning, Wayne2001 Nov–2002 Jun, President appointed
terrorism czarAssistant to the President for Homeland Security and CounterterrorismBrennan, John O.2009President appointed
trade czarSenior Policy Advisor in the White House on behalf of the United States Trade Representative.Mary Ryckman2012Appointed by USTR Michael Froman in 2012 She also represents the USTR on the President's Council on Women and Girls.
transportation czarDirector, Office of Defense TransportationEastman, Joseph Bartlett1941–1944, Exec order, President appointed
transportation czarDirector, Office of Defense TransportationJohnson, J. Monroe1944–1949President appointed
urban affairs czarDirector of the White House Office of Urban Affairs PolicyCarrion, Adolfo2009–2010Exec Order, President appointed
war czarAssistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for Iraq and AfghanistanLute, Douglas2007–2009, President nominated, Senate confirmed✓
war czarAssistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for Iraq and AfghanistanLute, Douglas2009–2010? President Bush nominated, Senate confirmed✓
weapons czarUnder Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics Carter, Ashton2009President nominated, Senate confirmed✓
weapons of mass destruction czar, nonproliferation czarSpecial Assistant to the President and White House Coordinator for Arms Control and Weapons of Mass Destruction, Proliferation, and TerrorismSamore, Gary2009–2013President appointed
weatherization czarProgram Manager, Office of Weatherization and Intergovernmental Program, U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Sperling, Gil2008–UnknownCareer incumbent, retained from George W. Bush administration,