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Biden Administration International Affairs Personnel Tracker
Joseph Goffman
Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation, Environmental Protection Agency
Before entering federal service, Goffman was a senior attorney at Environmental Defense (formerly known as the Environmental Defense Fund) focusing on air pollution problems. He has previous experience in the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works as the Democratic chief counsel (1989-1990) but is most known for his work at the Office of Air and Radiation (OAR) from 2009 to 2017 as the Associate Assistant Administrator for Climate and Senior Counsel where “he provided policy and legal counsel on a wide range of climate policy and Clean Air Act regulatory and implementation issues and rulemakings.” From late 2017 to when he rejoined the EPA in January 2021, Goffman was Executive Director of the Environmental & Energy Law Program at Harvard Law School.
This position does not require Senate confirmation.
On China
Joseph Goffman does not appear to have any publicly-available opinions on China or the U.S.-China relationship at this time.
The closest he has been to making a public comment on this relationship was when he mentioned in a Reuters interview in November 2021 the importance of working with the international community to reduce global emissions.
Notable Speeches, Testimony & Commentary
Joseph Goffman has made multiple public appearances, congressional testimonies, and written works over the decades, but none appear to focus on or mention China or the U.S.-China relationship.
- “Disempowering the EPA: How Statutory Interpretation of the Clean Air Act Serves the Trump Administration’s Deregulatory Agenda,” 70 Case W. Rsrv. L. Rev. 929, Joseph Goffman and Laura Bloomer, 2020
- “We Helped Write the Clean Power Plan, and Trump’s Do-Nothing Replacement Is an Outrage,” Newsweek Opinion, Gina McCarthy, Janet McCabe, Joseph Goffman, June 27, 2019
Media Commentary & Public Perceptions
- “United States: Regan Rejoins EPA: A “Who’s Who” Guide To The Key Officials Who Will Shape The Agency,” Mondaq, March 17, 2021
Goffman has experience working on both sides of the aisle, including a stint at the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. Importantly, he is well regarded by many Republicans, having earned a reputation as ‘the ideal guy to be quarterbacking’ regulatory efforts to limit power plant pollution.
- “Biden’s first steps on drilling,” POLITICO, January 22, 2021
…played a major role in crafting the Clean Power Plan as a top adviser during the Obama administration
- “Joe Goffman Joins EPA as Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation,” EELP News, January 21, 2021
Joe has been a wonderful intellectual partner to me in growing our program and increasing its impact. And he has been a terrific leader of our staff. Although I am sad to see him go, it is to the country’s benefit. Joe is the perfect fit for EPA’s Air office at this crucial moment. No one knows the Clean Air Act better. He will help the administration to hit the ground running on its climate agenda.
- “Biden Recruits Harvard Law Faculty For Transition Team,” The Harvard Crimson, November 19, 2021
- “Obama’s ‘dream team’ to smooth Biden’s transition,” E&E News, November 12, 2020
As a top aide on climate and air policy, he helped author the Clean Power Plan, the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule and other regulations.
Page Last Updated: February 10, 2022
*None of the personnel in this tracker are associated with the Institute for China-America Studies. All images used on this page are sourced from the official Biden-Harris transition website buildbackbetter.gov or the public domain.*
