President Joe Biden has appointed Shuwanza Goff as his newest Director of the Office of Legislative Affairs, making her the first Black woman to hold the title. She will also serve as Assistant to the President.
Who Is Shuwanza Goff?
As a longtime congressional aide with strong relationships with both Democrats and Republicans, Goff is the perfect woman for the job. She previously held the title of the White House’s Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs and House Liaison. Earlier this year, she left the administration for the private sector. Now, she is returning and will take the place of Louisa Terrell who announced this month that she will be stepping down.
Goff first started out as a staff assistant in Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer’s office in 2008. At the time, she was a graduate student at American University. She became the first Black woman to serve as floor director in the house, under Hoyer. When she held the role as Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs, Goff led negotiations with congressional leaders on issues like infrastructure, COVID-19, postal overhaul and gun violence, according to a statement from the White House.
“As my Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs, Shuwanza helped pass monumental pieces of legislation through Congress: from the American Rescue Plan and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill to the Chips and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act,” Biden said in a statement about her appointment. “Shuwanza’s close partnership with my decades-long friends in the House and Senate, and her expertise, instincts, and deep respect for the United States Congress will continue to serve our Administration and the American people well.”