Stephen P. Vaughn is the general counsel to the

United States Trade Representative The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is an agency of the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government responsible for developing and promoting Trade policy of the United States, American trade ...

. Before

Robert Lighthizer Robert Emmet Lighthizer (; born October 11, 1947) is an American attorney and government official who served as the United States Trade Representative from 2017 to 2021. After he graduated from Georgetown University Law Center in 1973, Lighthiz ...

's confirmation as USTR, Vaughn served as the acting Trade Representative. Vaughn worked at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom representing

U.S. Steel United States Steel Corporation, more commonly known as U.S. Steel, is an American integrated steel producer headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with production operations primarily in the United States of America and in severa ...

. In 2016, he became a partner at King & Spalding international trade group. He focused on international trade litigation and policy issues. He represented United States producers such as U.S. Steel and

AK Steel AK Steel Holdings Corporation was a steelmaking company headquartered in West Chester Township, Butler County, Ohio. The company, whose name was derived from the initials of Armco, its predecessor company, and Kawasaki Steel Corporation, was a ...

. Vaughn started his career in commercial litigation and shifted his career to trade law in the early 2000s. He was a professor of law at

Georgetown Law School The Georgetown University Law Center (Georgetown Law) is the law school of Georgetown University, a private research university in Washington, D.C. It was established in 1870 and is the largest law school in the United States by enrollment and t ...

. Vaughn served on President

Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pe ...

's landing team to the

Office of the United States Trade Representative The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is an agency of the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government responsible for developing and promoting Trade policy of the United States, American trade ...

. Vaughn and official nominee Robert Lighthizer have worked together representing steel manufacturers in the past at

Skadden Arps Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates is an American multinational law firm headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1948, the firm consistently ranks among the top U.S. law firms by revenue. The company is known for its wo ...

. On March 2, 2017, due to the U.S. Senate's delay in confirming USTR nominee Robert Lighthizer, Trump appointed Vaughn to the position of USTR general counsel and elevated him to acting USTR. Vaughn's appointment was likely the first time that someone from outside the department was appointed as acting USTR. These appointments did not require Senate confirmation. Vaughn's positions on U.S. trade policy have been compared to those of

Alexander Hamilton Alexander Hamilton (January 11, 1755 or 1757July 12, 1804) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first United States secretary of the treasury from 1789 to 1795. Born out of wedlock in Charlest ...

and Trump. On April 22, 2019, the USTR announced Vaughn would resign his position in the coming weeks.

References

External links

USTR biography
Living people Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom people Trump administration cabinet members United States Trade Representatives Year of birth missing (living people) {{US-gov-bio-stub