Trump’s 24-year-old drug policy appointee will step down amid controversy

Published: Jan 25, 2018, 7:29 am • Updated: Jan 25, 2018, 1:07 pm

By Robert O’Harrow Jr., The Washington Post

A 24-year-old former Trump campaign worker who rose rapidly to a senior post in the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy will step down by the end of the month because of controversy surrounding his appointment, the White House said late Wednesday.

Taylor Weyeneth, who graduated from college in May 2016, was named a White House liaison to the drug office in March and then promoted to deputy chief of staff in July, at age 23. His only professional experience after college and before becoming a political appointee was working on the Trump presidential campaign.

The office, known as ONDCP, is responsible for coordinating anti-drug initiatives at 16 federal agencies and supporting President Trump’s efforts to confront the opioid epidemic.

“Mr. Weyeneth has decided to depart ONDCP at the end of the month,” the White House statement said. A spokesman said Weyeneth was not available to speak.

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The announcement follows Washington Post stories that detailed Weyeneth’s rapid rise at ONDCP – in large part because of staff turnover and vacancies – and inconsistencies and inaccuracies on three résumés he submitted to the government.

Early last year, Weyeneth revised dates relating to certain jobs he held, including one at a New York law firm. A partner at the firm told The Post that Weyeneth was “discharged” because he stopped showing up for work.

On all three résumés, Weyeneth maintained that he had a master’s degree from Fordham University, although a university spokesman said Weyeneth had not completed his coursework.

In response to inquiries from The Post, the White House on Jan. 12 said that Weyeneth would remain at ONDCP but take on a less-important job.

Weyeneth stayed on through the brief government shutdown that began over the weekend and was one of three ONDCP employees designated as essential, officials said. The White House’s announcement Wednesday came after questions from The Post about that designation.

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