Justin Muzinich


Justin George Muzinich is an American businessman and Trump administration official currently serving as the United States Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, in office since December 2018. Muzinich previously served as the Counselor to the Secretary at the United States Department of the Treasury.
ProPublica reported in June 2020 that Muzinich transferred his ownership of at least $60 million in assets to his father who would be free to return them to Muzinich after he leaves government. The assets in question are shares in the company Muzinich & Co., which specializes in junk bonds. This firm was a beneficiary of a unprecedented decision by the Treasury and Federal Reserve to bail out the junk bond market as a response to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Early life and education

Muzinich was born to parents Camille Muzinich, a docent for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and George Milan Muzinich, who served as president of Muzinich & Company, a New York finance firm.
After attending Groton School, Muzinich entered Harvard College where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree magna cum laude in 2000. He earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School in 2005 as a Baker Scholar, and a Juris Doctor degree from Yale Law School in 2007, where he was an Olin Fellow.

Career

Prior to joining the Treasury department, Muzinich was previously employed at EMS Capital and at Morgan Stanley in the mergers and acquisitions group. He also served as president of Muzinich & Company, an international investment firm founded by his father. He has also taught at Columbia Business School from 2014 to 2016.
On March 13, 2018, President Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Muzinich as the new United States Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, succeeding Sigal Mandelker. His nomination was confirmed by the United States Senate on a 55–44 vote.
While at the Treasury Department, Muzinich led efforts on the Administration's tax reform, ultimately resulting in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. He has also been leading negotiations by the United States on digital taxation, including in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Muzinich also oversaw the U.S. government's $2.2 trillion rescue plan for the COVID-19 outbreak.

Personal life

Muzinich married Eloise Davis Austin in 2008. He is a member of the board of trustees of NewYork–Presbyterian Hospital.