President Biden will tap someone from outside his administration to coordinate efforts to implement the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill that passed Congress last week.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki confirmed at a briefing on Friday that Biden would seek out a person to oversee the distribution of funding and get projects underway. She did not specify who was under consideration, but said the expectation is it would be “someone from outside the administration.”
The so-called infrastructure czar is likely to hold a similar role as Gene Sperling, the former Obama administration official who was brought in to supervise the implementation of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan earlier this year.
Biden will hold a ceremony at the White House on Monday to sign the bipartisan infrastructure bill into law. The White House has invited lawmakers from both parties, as well as governors, mayors and business leaders who helped push for the bill’s passage, Psaki said.
The Biden administration is hoping to implement parts of the infrastructure bill as quickly as it can, hoping it can turn the legislation into jobs and visible progress on roads, bridges, ports and other projects as it tries to make the case for its leadership on the economy.