Washington: One of the most important positions in an administration preparing for a potential re-election campaign is White House Chief of Staff, a position that President Joe Biden named former top Covid-19 aide Jeff Zients to on Friday.

Ron Klain, who accompanied Biden through the first two years of his term in the position—possibly the most important behind-the-scenes position in any US administration—is replaced by Zients. On February 8, the day after Biden gives his State of the Union address to Congress, the swap will take place.

The departure of Klain will deprive the 80-year-old president of an especially close, trusted aide. Klain has worked with Biden throughout his decades-long Washington career, from senator to vice president, then winner over Donald Trump in 2020.

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The president's chief of staff handles everything, including controlling who has access to him, setting his agenda, liaising with political insiders, managing crises constantly, and serving as a sounding board for ideas.

Ron and I have faced some significant struggles over the past 36 years. And you really get to know someone when you spend as much time together in the trenches as I have with Ron. You can clearly see their composition, according to Biden's statement.

Klain is credited with orchestrating the complex, behind-the-scenes negotiations between the White House and congressional representatives that allowed Biden to pass a number of historic laws over the past two years, frequently defying expectations.

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Democrats had a slim majority in both houses of Congress up until the midterm elections in November, and Klain played a key role in preventing key party faction splits.

Klain was referred to by Biden as a "once in a generation talent with fierce intellect and heart" on Twitter.

Zients, who oversaw the extensive Covid-19 pandemic response when Biden took office, is regarded as a skilled technocrat who will work to ensure that the earlier legislative victories are carried out despite lacking Klain's extensive political connections.

The efficient and just implementation of the laws that have been passed is a significant task going forward, according to Biden. I pledged to make the government work for the American people when I ran for office. Jeff performs that," Biden said. "I have no doubt that Jeff will carry on Ron's smart, steady leadership style."

Although Biden has not yet announced his candidature, many believe he will, potentially pitting him against Trump in 2024.

Republicans will be flexing their muscles in the House of Representatives, where they won their own narrow majority in November, as Zients also take power. As the hard-right of the party gains ground, Biden will likely be the target of a number of aggressive inquiries into his policies and his son Hunter's business dealings.

Additionally, Biden is currently under investigation by the Justice Department after a small number of classified documents were found in his home and at a former workplace. After Biden served as Barack Obama's vice president, the White House claims that the documents were accidentally misplaced.

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Trump is also being investigated for handling classified documents, though in his case there are hundreds of them and the Republican has consistently refused to cooperate with investigators.