COVID czar Jeff Zients expected to replace White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain: reports

Klain had reportedly asked Zients to help oversee staff transitions following the midterms.

Former White House COVID-19 czar Jeff Zients is expected to replace President Joe Biden's chief of staff Ron Klain, according to multiple media reports.

Klain is expected to resign in the coming weeks, likely after Biden's State of the Union address next month, and news emerged Sunday that Klain tapped Zients to fill his position, Axios reported, citing a person familiar with the matter.

When Zients stepped down from his role as White House COVID response coordinator in March, Biden described him as "a man of service and an expert manager." He also worked as co-chairman of the Biden transition team before leading the pandemic response.

Klain had asked Zients to help oversee staff transitions following the midterms, Politico reported, citing three people with knowledge of the decision. Zients will be relied upon to manage daily White House activities while other senior advisers focus on Biden's reelection efforts, one person said.