Justin George Muzinich ( , born November 5, 1977) is an American businessman and lawyer. He served as the United States Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, from December 2018 to January 2021, during the first Trump presidency.
Early life and education
Muzinich was born to Camille Muzinich, a docent for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, and George Milan Muzinich, president of Muzinich & Company, a New York finance firm.
After attending Groton School, Muzinich entered Harvard College where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree magna cum laude and as a member of Phi Beta Kappa in 2000. He earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School in 2005 as a Baker Scholar, and a Juris Doctor degree from Yale Law School in 2007, where he was a John M. Olin Fellow.
Business career
Prior to joining the Treasury department, Muzinich was previously employed at EMS Capital and at
Morgan Stanley in the mergers and acquisitions group. He also served as president of Muzinich & Company, an international investment firm founded by his father. He has also taught at Columbia Business School from 2014 to 2016.
Following his term as Deputy Secretary, Muzinich returned to Muzinich & Company. Muzinich currently serves as the CEO, and is a member of the Board of Owners.
Public sector
Jeb Bush campaign
Muzinich served as Policy Director for former Florida Governor Jeb Bush’s 2016 Presidential campaign. In this role, Muzinich oversaw a team that produced policy proposals for the campaign. Governor Bush later announced his public support of Muzinich’s 2018 nomination to Treasury.
United States Treasury
Muzinich served as United States Deputy Secretary of the Treasury. In that role, Muzinich helped oversee the Department’s $2.2 trillion rescue plan for the COVID-19 outbreak and the Administration’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
The New York Times reported that he kept a low public profile.
Nomination
On March 13, 2018, President
Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Muzinich as the new United States Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, succeeding
Sigal Mandelker. The United States Senate confirmed his nomination with a 55–44 vote.
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017
Muzinich was an architect of the Administration's tax reform effort, ultimately resulting in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.
CARES Act
Muzinich helped draft and oversee the U.S. government's $2.2 trillion rescue plan for the COVID-19 outbreak.
The Wall Street Journal profiled his work on the
CARES Act.
ProPublica reported in June 2020 that Muzinich transferred his ownership of at least $60 million in assets to his father who would be free to return them to Muzinich after he leaves government. The assets in question are shares in the company Muzinich & Co., which specializes in junk bonds. This firm was a beneficiary of a unprecedented decision by the Treasury and Federal Reserve to bail out the junk bond market as a response to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Muzinich's actions had been disclosed to and approved by the Treasury Ethics Office and the Office of Government Ethics.
Personal life
Muzinich married Eloise Davis Austin in 2008. He is a member of the Board of Trustees at NewYork–Presbyterian Hospital and the Board of Directors of the Council on Foreign Relations.
[ Bloomberg Executive Profile: Justin George Muzinich J.D.][ Trustees at NewYork-Presbyterian – NYP.org]
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