Joshua Bolten

Josh Bolten
Born	Joshua Brewster Bolten 16 8, 1954
Birthplace	United States
Nationality	American
Occupation	Lawyer, government official, business executive
Known for	White House Chief of Staff (2006–2009), Director of the Office of Management and Budget (2003–2006), CEO of the Business Roundtable (2017–present)
Education	Princeton University (AB) Stanford University (JD)

Joshua Brewster Bolten (born August 16, 1954) is an American lawyer, government official, and business executive who served in several senior positions in the administration of President George W. Bush, including as the 22nd White House Chief of Staff from April 2006 to January 2009. Before assuming that role, Bolten served as the 34th Director of the Office of Management and Budget from 2003 to 2006 and as White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy from 2001 to 2003, making him one of the longest-serving and most influential members of the Bush White House inner circle. A graduate of Princeton University and Stanford Law School, Bolten built a career that spanned international trade law, investment banking, and public service before entering the executive branch. Since 2017, he has served as president and chief executive officer of the Business Roundtable, an association of chief executive officers of major American companies, where he has been an active voice on issues ranging from trade policy and permitting reform to fiscal responsibility.

Early Life

Joshua Brewster Bolten was born on August 16, 1954. His mother, Analouise Clissold Bolten, was a native of the Netherlands who became a CIA employee after immigrating to the United States. Bolten has described having a strong Jewish identity, which he inherited from his father's side of the family. His upbringing was shaped by his family's diverse cultural background, with European roots on his mother's side and Jewish heritage on his father's.

Bolten grew up in a household that valued public service and international engagement. His mother's career at the CIA and her experience as an immigrant exposed him to global perspectives from an early age. These influences would later manifest in Bolten's career trajectory, which included work in international trade law and government positions dealing with fiscal and policy matters at the highest levels.

Education

Bolten attended Princeton University, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree. At Princeton, he was involved in campus life and developed interests that would guide his subsequent career in law and public policy. The university later recognized his career accomplishments as a notable alumnus.

After completing his undergraduate studies, Bolten enrolled at Stanford Law School, where he earned his Juris Doctor degree. His legal education at Stanford provided the foundation for his early career in international trade law and his subsequent work in government. Stanford Law School later profiled Bolten as a distinguished graduate, highlighting his path from legal practice to senior government service.

Career

Early Legal and Business Career

Following his graduation from Stanford Law School, Bolten began his professional career in the field of international trade law. He practiced law before transitioning into the private sector, where he worked in investment banking. His experience in both law and finance gave him a broad understanding of economic and regulatory issues that would prove valuable in his later government roles.

Bolten also gained experience in government before the George W. Bush administration. He worked on Capitol Hill and developed expertise in policy and legislative affairs. This combination of private-sector and governmental experience positioned him as a skilled operator in the overlapping worlds of business, law, and politics.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy (2001–2003)

When George W. Bush took office on January 20, 2001, Bolten was appointed White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, succeeding Maria Echaveste, who had held the position under President Bill Clinton. In this role, Bolten was responsible for coordinating domestic and economic policy development across the executive branch. He served under Chief of Staff Andrew Card and worked closely with other senior advisors to manage the president's policy agenda.

Bolten's tenure as deputy chief of staff coincided with a period of significant policy activity, including the administration's response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the enactment of the Bush tax cuts. His role placed him at the center of policy deliberations within the White House, and he was regarded as a steady and methodical manager. He held this position until June 2003, when he was nominated to lead the Office of Management and Budget. He was succeeded as deputy chief of staff by Harriet Miers.

Director of the Office of Management and Budget (2003–2006)

On June 6, 2003, Bolten became the 34th Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), succeeding Mitch Daniels. The OMB directorship placed Bolten in charge of overseeing the preparation of the president's annual budget proposal to Congress and managing federal spending across all executive agencies. His deputy at OMB was Joel Kaplan.

Bolten's time at OMB was marked by significant fiscal challenges. The federal budget had shifted from surplus to deficit in the early years of the Bush administration, driven by a combination of the 2001 tax cuts, increased defense and homeland security spending following the September 11 attacks, and the costs associated with the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. As OMB director, Bolten was tasked with managing these competing fiscal pressures while advancing the administration's domestic and defense spending priorities.

During his nearly three years at OMB, Bolten worked to implement the administration's stated goal of reducing the federal deficit while maintaining support for the president's tax and spending policies. He served in the position until April 14, 2006, when he was elevated to White House Chief of Staff. He was succeeded at OMB by Rob Portman.

White House Chief of Staff (2006–2009)

On March 28, 2006, President Bush announced that Andrew Card had resigned as White House Chief of Staff and that Bolten would replace him. Bolten formally assumed the role on April 14, 2006, becoming the 22nd person to hold the position. The transition came at a time when the Bush administration was facing declining public approval ratings, criticism of the Iraq War, and the aftermath of the federal response to Hurricane Katrina. Card had served as chief of staff since the beginning of the Bush presidency in January 2001, making his more than five-year tenure one of the longest in the modern era.

Upon taking office, Bolten moved to reshape the White House staff and bring what observers described as a fresh management approach to the administration's final years. He oversaw a number of personnel changes in the weeks following his appointment, including the departure of several senior officials. His management style was described as more structured and deliberate compared to his predecessor's, with an emphasis on clear lines of authority and decision-making processes.

Bolten served as chief of staff through the remainder of the Bush presidency, a period that included the 2006 midterm elections, which resulted in Democrats taking control of both the House and the Senate; the 2007–2008 financial crisis; and the administration's response to the economic downturn, including the passage of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) and other emergency economic measures. He remained in the position until President Bush left office on January 20, 2009, and was succeeded by Rahm Emanuel, who served under President Barack Obama.

In later interviews, Bolten discussed his experiences in the Bush White House, offering reflections on the decision-making processes and challenges the administration faced during a turbulent period in American history.

Post-Government Career and Private Sector

After leaving the White House in January 2009, Bolten transitioned back to the private sector. During the years between his government service and his role at the Business Roundtable, he remained engaged in policy discussions and maintained connections within the Republican Party and the broader Washington policy establishment.

Business Roundtable (2017–present)

In 2017, Bolten became president and chief executive officer of the Business Roundtable, an association whose members are chief executive officers of major U.S. companies. In this role, Bolten has served as the organization's primary spokesperson and advocate on a range of economic, trade, and regulatory policy issues.

Under Bolten's leadership, the Business Roundtable has taken public positions on numerous policy matters. In May 2025, Bolten released a statement welcoming a trade deal announced between the United States and the United Kingdom, underscoring the organization's support for international trade agreements.

Bolten has also advocated for permitting reform, expressing support for the bipartisan Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Efficient Development (SPEED) Act in December 2025 and urging passage of comprehensive permitting reforms to streamline infrastructure development processes.

On fiscal matters, Bolten has used his position to urge Congress to maintain government operations and avoid shutdowns. In September 2025, he issued a statement urging Congress to avoid a government shutdown, and in October 2025, after a shutdown occurred, he issued a further statement on behalf of the organization.

In July 2025, Bolten released a statement on behalf of the Business Roundtable applauding the U.S. Senate's passage of a budget reconciliation bill referred to as the "One Big Beautiful Bill." In December 2025, he welcomed an executive order issued by President Donald Trump concerning proxy advisory firms and shareholder proposals.

In February 2026, Bolten issued a statement on a U.S. Supreme Court decision regarding the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), reflecting the organization's engagement with legal and constitutional issues affecting American businesses.

Personal Life

Bolten has maintained a relatively private personal life. He has described having a strong Jewish identity, which he has discussed publicly on several occasions.

His mother, Analouise Clissold Bolten, was born in the Netherlands and later worked for the Central Intelligence Agency in the United States.

Bolten is a member of the Republican Party.

Legacy

Joshua Bolten's career spans more than four decades of engagement in American law, government, and business leadership. His service in three major roles within the George W. Bush administration — as deputy chief of staff for policy, OMB director, and chief of staff — places him among a small group of officials who held multiple senior positions within a single presidential administration. His continuity in the Bush White House from its first day to its last gave him an unusual depth of involvement in the administration's key policy decisions and crises.

As OMB director, Bolten oversaw federal budget processes during a period of significant fiscal transition, from the post-surplus era through the escalating costs of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. As chief of staff, he managed White House operations during the political challenges of the administration's final years, including the 2008 financial crisis.

His post-government role as CEO of the Business Roundtable has positioned him as a continuing participant in American economic policy debates. The organization under his leadership has engaged on trade policy, fiscal responsibility, permitting reform, corporate governance, and other issues affecting the American business environment.

The Miller Center at the University of Virginia has included Bolten's service as part of its scholarly examination of the George W. Bush presidency, reflecting the historical significance of his roles during that period.